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What Can a Chiropractor Do For You?
Chiropractor Frisco are able to treat the musculoskeletal system and can prevent or reduce pain. They do this by performing spinal manipulations and increasing nerve conductivity to the muscles and joints.
A chiropractor is a doctor that has specialized training in treating spinal abnormalities and optimizing overall health through diet and exercise, soft tissue techniques, joint bracing and acupuncture.
Poor posture is a big problem for the human body because it puts added strain on the bones, muscles and ligaments. It also skews the alignment of the spine, which is very important for good health. In addition, it can cause a number of other issues that can lead to pain and discomfort, such as sore shoulders and neck, lower back pain, fatigue and even difficulty breathing.
This type of posture is often caused by modern-day habits, such as sitting at a desk all day or slouching on the couch while watching TV. It can also be a result of carrying heavy items like purses or grocery bags that weigh down the front of your body, which causes you to stoop and hunch over. It can also be the result of a medical condition, such as osteoporosis or arthritis, which can cause your spine to curve abnormally.
Over time, bad posture can become a permanent condition and lead to painful problems in the joints, muscles and ligaments of the back, shoulders and neck. It can also affect the way your lungs and intestines work because it changes the position of the rib cage, which means that you can’t breathe as easily.
A chiropractor can help with this because they know how to identify the underlying cause of the problem. They can then perform adjustments and other treatments to improve the condition of your spine and correct your posture. They can also teach you some exercises and stretches that will help reduce tension in the overworked muscles and allow the weaker ones to strengthen, which can lead to better posture over time.
It may take a while to break the old habit of having poor posture and to start standing up straight, but with the right care and commitment, it is possible to achieve good posture for life. It just takes the right treatment from a chiropractor and some practice on your part to get you there!
One of the most common reasons people seek chiropractic care is for headaches. There are many different types of headaches, but the good news is that a chiropractor can usually help alleviate them. For instance, if you suffer from sinus headaches (also known as tension-type headaches), the changes in pressure that happen when your nasal passages fill can lead to pain on the top of your head. A chiropractor can treat this type of headache by working on the neck muscles to loosen them up. Another kind of headache that a chiropractor can address is cluster headaches. This painful headache occurs when there is a problem with nerves in the face, and it tends to affect only half of your head. It can also cause twitching on the affected side, and you may experience paralysis and sweating on that same side. A chiropractor can use a number of techniques to treat this type of headache, including acupressure and massages on the neck and scalp.
If you have migraine headaches, a chiropractor can help ease the symptoms and prevent future episodes by teaching you lifestyle and stress management techniques. They can also recommend acupuncture, which involves inserting small needles into specific points on the body. Acupuncture is believed to balance the energy in your body, which helps reduce headache symptoms.
Your spine serves as a busy pathway for chemical signals to travel from your brain to the rest of your body. When a spinal subluxation, or misalignment, occurs, these signals can become blocked and build up around your vertebrae and muscle joints. This can lead to an overload of chemicals and toxins that can trigger headaches. When your chiropractor removes the subluxation, it allows normal chemical signals to flow and decreases the frequency of your migraine headaches.
If you get headaches that occur frequently, a chiropractor can often help reduce them, and this will allow you to live your life with more peace of mind and enjoyment of your family and friends. You should talk to your healthcare provider about the best treatment plan for you, and remember that there is always something that can be done to improve your condition.
Pain in the muscles or joints is common and can be a symptom of many different issues. Muscle pain, also known as myalgia, is a dull, persistent feeling in a specific muscle or group of muscles and is often accompanied by other symptoms like stiffness and reduced mobility. Joint pain, on the other hand, is a sharp, intense sensation in a particular joint. It may also be accompanied by swelling and tenderness. Acute joint pain is generally accompanied by inflammation, and can be due to injury, overuse or autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.
Joints, particularly hinge joints such as the knee, are complex structures that are designed to bear weight and move the body through space. They consist of three bones: the femur (thigh bone), tibia and fibula, which are contained in a joint capsule called synovium and cushioned by cartilage. If these joints are not moving correctly, the muscles and tendons around them have to compensate, which can lead to increased stress and pain in those muscles and tendons. Chiropractors are experts in restoring the full range of motion to these joints and reducing the associated muscle pain.
Muscle pain is usually confined to a small area of the body and subsides when that particular muscle is not being used. However, joint pain tends to be more widespread and can persist even when the affected joint is not being used. This can be a sign of arthritis, bursitis or inflammatory conditions such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
A chiropractor can treat the muscle and joint pain using a wide range of techniques. In most cases, the chiropractor will address the dysfunction and restrictions in the joint first by applying hands-on chiropractic manipulation techniques. After that, the chiropractor will treat the underlying muscles and tendons through a range of muscle therapy techniques. In addition, the chiropractor will teach patients stretching and strengthening exercises to help prevent recurrence of the joint or muscle pain. This will also reduce the need for medication. Pain that seems to be musculoskeletal is sometimes caused by problems in other parts of the body, such as kidney stones or gout.
In addition to treating musculoskeletal conditions, chiropractors can also help with general health issues. This is because of the way chiropractic treatments encourage the body to heal itself. For example, chiropractors use modalities that eliminate toxins, promote blood flow and oxygenation, and assist the healing process at a cellular level. These techniques will reduce inflammation and speed up recovery times, especially in cases of herniated discs.
The lungs also depend on nerve function to work properly, so chiropractors often treat patients with lung problems like acid reflux and asthma. They can do this by adjusting the spine and using other methods to relieve symptoms, including acupuncture and heat application. In some cases, a patient may need to take prescription medications, but this is usually only for a short time, as long term use of drugs can be problematic.
Chiropractors are able to offer advice on diet and nutrition, as well as exercises and stretches. This is important for the overall wellbeing of patients and can often make a significant difference in their quality of life. For example, if an athlete has been suffering from an injury that has prevented them from training and competing, a chiropractor can offer a number of different treatment options to help them get back on track as soon as possible.
Seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis can help to maintain the flexibility of muscles and joints, and this is particularly helpful for older people who have lost some of their natural mobility. In addition, it can help prevent sprains and strains.
A chiropractor will typically place a patient on a padded table and use controlled force to manipulate the spine or other joints. This can sometimes cause a popping or cracking sound. They will usually use their hands for the majority of the manipulation, although some chiropractors will also use a device known as an activator to apply pressure.
Chiropractors have a lot of experience in dealing with a variety of different conditions, and their services are generally considered safe for most patients. However, if you have any serious medical concerns, you should always consult your primary care physician before you start seeing a chiropractor.
Neck Pain Therapy
Neck pain may be caused by muscle or ligament strain, arthritis, or a pinched nerve. It typically improves with conservative therapy. Your doctor will perform a physical exam and take your complete medical history. Your provider may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of your cervical spine to look for herniated disks, signs of spinal stenosis and masses such as cysts or tumors.
Physical Therapy
A good neck pain therapy program starts with a careful medical exam. You may need a series of diagnostic tests, such as an X-ray, CT scan or an MRI to identify the type and cause of your neck problems. Your health care provider will ask you about your symptoms, past injuries and your work and exercise routines. You will also have a physical exam of your neck and shoulders. Then, your health care provider will order lab tests to look for causes of neck pain other than musculoskeletal injuries, such as infections, rheumatological conditions or cancers.
Most neck problems are not life threatening and will resolve with time and conservative treatment. Medication, including nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to ease inflammation and muscle relaxants to reduce stiffness, can help control pain and swelling. If your pain persists, your doctor may recommend steroid injections near the painful area to relieve pain and swelling.
Neck exercises can strengthen and stretch the muscles in your neck, improving your range of motion and flexibility. Your therapist can show you the right moves and suggest a stretching schedule to help prevent the problem from recurring. Your health care provider may also prescribe heat or ice to relieve pain and stiffness.
Many neck issues are caused by poor posture and injury, arthritis or normal aging. Treatments provided by a physiotherapist, osteopath or chiropractor can help to restore the alignment of your spine and loosen tight muscles that are contributing to your neck pain.
A click or grating noise when you move your neck can indicate that the nerves in your neck are being pinched. This is called crepitus and it is common. It’s usually not a serious symptom, but it can be alarming.
If you have severe neck pain, it is important to talk to your health care provider as soon as possible. This is especially true if you have muscle weakness, a disc herniation or neck pain that gets worse over time. You may need surgery if other treatments don’t relieve your neck pain or if you have neck pain that is accompanied by problems with your balance and coordination, changes in your bowel or bladder function or numbness or tingling in your arms or legs.
Massage
The neck supports the head and is made up of 7 bones (vertebrae) stacked one on top of each other, connected by 2 facet joints and a disc. It is surrounded by muscle that provides movement and support. Tension in these muscles and other problems of the joints or spine can cause neck pain. Massage can help relax tight neck muscles and improve flexibility. Some people also find it reduces stress and anxiety. In addition, it can improve circulation and blood flow to the tissues of the neck, which can decrease swelling, and improve range of motion.
A variety of techniques are used in massage, including kneading, friction, pressure and vibration. People can get massaged in a clinic or at home, although it is important to find a practitioner who has been trained.
Massage might not be a good treatment for people with certain health conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes. It is also not a good choice if you have open wounds, edema or pressure sores. Pressure sores are areas of swelling that develop in the skin and surrounding tissues. They may be a result of immobility or surgery.
Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture and chiropractic, might also ease neck pain. Acupuncture involves the insertion of thin, sterilized needles at specific points on the body. It is considered safe when performed by a certified practitioner with sterile needles.
TENS, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, uses electrodes placed on the skin to deliver low-level electric impulses that might relieve neck pain. It might also reduce inflammation and stiffness. It is usually done in a doctor’s office or physical therapy clinic, and the treatments might last up to half an hour.
Chiropractic Care
Neck pain and stiffness are common problems. Most often they are not serious and can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers, physiotherapy or chiropractic care.
The neck, or cervical spine, consists of seven square-shaped bones (cervical vertebrae) that are stacked on top of each other and connected by ligaments. The bones protect the spinal cord, which runs from the brain down through the throat. The bones are separated by intervertebral discs that allow the neck to move and act as shock absorbers. A herniated disk, bone spur or neck strain can cause neck pain. Aging, trauma, poor posture, repetitive activities and heavy body weight can also lead to neck problems.
Most neck pain is caused by muscle tightness and joint inflammation. If the symptoms do not go away, your health care provider may decide to perform a physical exam and some lab tests to see if there are other causes of the problem, such as a blood test or x-rays.
During the physical examination, your doctor will observe how you move your neck and head, check your posture and touch your neck to feel for areas of tension or tenderness. Your doctor may also do strength, sensation and reflex testing. They will most likely recommend a program of neck exercises, including isometric and range-of-motion exercises that gradually tighten and stretch the neck muscles. They may also use treatments, such as heat or massage, to ease the pain and stiffness.
In some cases, chiropractors or physical therapists will use a technique called cervical traction. This treatment gently extends the neck, opening the spaces between the cervical vertebrae and alleviating pressure on the discs. This is not recommended for patients with a broken bone, tumor, uncontrolled seizures or severe osteoporosis, as the traction can worsen these conditions. A soft neck collar is often used to support the neck and can help relieve pain by taking pressure off the neck. However, the collar should not be worn for more than three hours at a time or for more than two weeks, as it can weaken neck muscles and delay recovery.
Cervical Traction
Cervical traction is a treatment that involves lightly pulling on the neck to create space between the bones in the neck (the cervical vertebrae). This stretching technique helps reduce pressure on the spinal discs, joints and muscles of the neck. It’s a common neck pain therapy that can be done by your physical therapist, or at home using a cervical traction device.
Neck traction is generally considered an effective neck pain therapy because it removes compression from the spine and relieves tension in the neck muscles. It also improves the flow of oxygen and nutrients to the spinal joints, helping them heal faster.
It is often used in conjunction with other neck pain therapies, such as chiropractic and massage. It is also a popular treatment for herniated discs, which can be caused by degeneration or injury to the spine.
This is because traction helps to open up the space in the spinal column, which can relieve nerve pressure caused by the herniated discs. It also stretches the neck muscles and increases the flexibility of the spine. It is recommended to use a light traction force for neck problems such as degeneration and a herniated disc, while heavier traction forces may be better suited for other conditions, such as whiplash.
The traction can be applied in both the seated and supine positions, depending on the patient’s preference. It is usually preferred to apply a brief, intermittent sequence of rest and traction rather than continuous traction. This is because it allows the spinal nerves and bones to relax between traction cycles.
Two trials of moderate quality (Cheung Lau 2011; NNTB 5, Gonzalez-Iglesias 2009 JO) showed that cervical manipulation was more effective than the use of oral medications for acute and subacute neck pain without radicular symptoms at immediate follow up. Another trial of low quality (NNTB 1, Gemmell 2010) showed that a specialized mobilisation technique was more effective than an Activator instrument for improving pain, function and mobility at short-term follow up. However, the number of participants in this trial was too small to draw any conclusions on whether the difference was clinically significant.
