While I would hope that all of my patients know that chiropractic can provide more than just back pain relief, I’m aware that not all chiropractors are the same, and even those with similar techniques can practice quite differently. If you are looking for holistic, full body chiropractic care, you are in the right place. 🙂 I treat the entire body and am interested in far more than getting rid of your back pain (although I can do that, too). Even so, occasionally a long time patient will state – “Oh, well have this plantar fasciitis..or this trick elbow, or a chronic GI issue.. but you don’t help with that, do you?” I promise, I DO! Here I’ve outlined the basic concepts behind chiropractic, some complaints you might know that I treat, as well as a few that might surprise you.
When giving talks on chiropractic care I typically start by asking the audience what they believe to be the most important organ system in the body. Invariably (even if they know what I do) someone answers the heart or cardiovascular system. While proper heart functioning is integral to a healthy body (& I’m sure glad mine is working), the correct answer is your nervous system. Our nervous system controls nearly every function in our bodies. The basic tenets of chiropractic are based upon this fact, and it is for this reason that we can help with a litany of issues, far beyond back pain. Nature was immeasurably wise in the design of the human body by housing our most important organs, the brain and the spinal cord, within tough, protective, bony structures. The brain transmits signals via your spinal cord to your entire body. In the spine, keeping these segments moving is important not only for maintaining pain- free mobility, but also for the health of those exiting nerve roots, the surrounding musculature, and the organ systems that those nerves innervate. In other words, the health of your spine is important to the health of your entire body, and is why patients with symptoms other than back pain can benefit from chiropractic care. For instance, patients with chronic muscle tightness might be using those muscles on a daily basis, but they also might have a structural problem at that level of the spine (i.e.- the spine is out of alignment at that level, inhibiting that nerve from functioning properly, which then prohibits those muscles from receiving proper oxygen, blood supply and all the nutrients they need to stay happy and healthy). Additionally, that numbness in your hands might be coming from your hands or wrists, but it might also be coming from your neck. We treat more than symptoms; we address the root cause of them.
So now that you understand why chiropractic works, let’s look at who it works for (although we would argue everybody 🙂
5 “Expected” Chiropractic Conditions
1.) Neck and Low Back Pain – this is kind of a no brainer, but the reality is chiropractic care is super effective for treating these conditions. There are many pain producing structures in the spine and we can help discern a disc issue from a muscle strain or osteoarthritis. In general you want to think least aggressive to most aggressive when it comes to your health, and certainly this approach is less invasive than an injection or pharmaceutical.
2.) Headaches – Headaches can be caused by any number of things, from simple dehydration to food sensitivities to hormonal imbalances to tight muscles. We can help discover the root cause of the headache and provide relief via nutrition, massage therapy and chiropractic. Chiropractic is particularly effective for cervicogenic headaches, meaning coming from the neck.
3.) Sports Injuries/Motor Vehicle Accidents – Chiropractic is great for athletes needing care for sports injuries, but also for improving reaction times and overall performance. With accidents, chiropractic offers an invaluable resource since most injuries during this time are soft tissue related. Generally, allopathic or traditional medicine r only rules out fractures and offers pain medication, which poor long term outcomes for these patients.
4.) Spinal anomalies – These are conditions people are born with that may predispose them to increased back pain. They are considered variations of normal and include things like extra vertebrae or vertebrae that are not fully formed.
5.) Scoliosis – This is a condition close to my heart as it is the reason I am a chiropractor. Three years of chiropractic care took me from a 19 degree curvature and an outlook that I would never run or play sports to zero curve and a body that has played many sports, run many miles and is quite active to this day. Chiropractic can actually reverse scoliosis; surgery generally only stops the curve from progressing. Additionally, it doesn’t leave you with any extra hardware.
5 “Unexpected” Chiropractic Conditions
6.) Prenatal Patients – Quite frequently I’m asked about the safety of chiropractic during pregnancy, and the answer is not only is it safe but it reduces delivery time significantly, increases the likelihood of a natural birth, and eases Moms discomfort throughout pregnancy. Techniques are altered as to not induce any type of torque on the pelvis, and we work ligaments and muscles that are commonly overworked during pregnancy. This not only reduces pain and discomfort for the patient, but creates more room within the pelvis for baby to get into position for delivery. Webster technique is an incredible tool for flipping breech babies, and I’ve personally had it occur in as few as two visits.
7.) Babies/Kids – Delivery can be traumatic to both parties involved. Birthing injuries aside, good milestones for you have your baby checked are when she can lift her head, roll over, and walk. Additionally, indicators that your baby could have a spinal problem include things like only feeding on one side (or nursing difficulties in general) , colicky babies, babies with difficult digestion and allergies. And with toddlers- think about how many times they fall when learning to run or play sports (or just stay upright). While we tend to think of kids as resilient, their bodies compensate in the same ways adult ones do. Many times I see teenagers or young adults with issues that can be traced back to injuries occurring in their youth, which would have been much easier handled when they first occurred.
8.) Modern Day Work Hazards – While the term work hazard usually brings safety helmets to mind, a computer and desk chair are the major contributors to the pain and discomfort for the bulk of the patients I see. The reality is our bodies are not designed to be as stagnant as most people keep them, and the chronically forward flexed postures are producing a litany of disc issues, muscle strains & premature aging of the spine. Through adjustments, lifestyle changes and at home exercises, we can prevent these effects from occurring.
9.) Extremity Problems– While some chiropractors choose to focus on the spine alone (and sometimes even just one area of the spine), here at Absolute Wellness Center we take a holistic approach that focuses on the whole body. This means we have great success with problems like plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff injuries, foot issues, carpal tunnel and more. We utilize physiotherapy techniques in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments to effectively address both ends of the musculoskeletal spectrum.
10.) Wellness/Preventative Care – A common adage I use in practice is ” It’s easier to stay well than to get well.” Getting checked out when you’re not in pain is a great practice to check problems when they’re small and to prevent getting to a point of pain. Many times we can tweak some of the ways you’re currently living in your body that would set you up for problems in the future.
If any of the above applies to you, or if you heard something that sounds true, we’d love to help you. Feeling better is just a phone call away. Please feel free to email us at [email protected] or call us at 843-416-8218. We are never too busy to help you and your loved ones.
