Foam rolling is a simple yet incredibly effective self-care technique that can bring relief to many Hollywood, Florida residents dealing with muscular discomfort and tension. Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, a desk-bound professional, or someone seeking pain relief, foam rolling can offer you a wealth of benefits. In this blog, we’ll explore the advantages of foam rolling and how this practice can be particularly beneficial for the active community in sunny Hollywood, Florida.
The Healing Benefits of Foam Rolling
Relief for Active Lifestyles in Hollywood, Florida:
For the active Hollywood resident, the sunshine and beautiful beaches of Florida beckon for outdoor activities. But physical activities often come with muscle soreness and tightness. Foam rolling is a fantastic way to alleviate post-exercise muscle tension, allowing you to make the most of your active lifestyle.
Pain Reduction and Prevention
Foam rolling can help reduce chronic pain associated with conditions like lower back pain, IT band syndrome, and plantar fasciitis. It’s also an excellent preventive measure to avoid injuries before they occur.
Enhanced Flexibility and Range of Motion:
Improved flexibility and mobility are essential for enjoying outdoor sports and activities in Hollywood, such as surfing or beach volleyball. Foam rolling can help break up muscle adhesions, resulting in greater range of motion and fewer movement restrictions.
Stress Reduction:
Hollywood, Florida, offers a vibrant and active lifestyle, but it can also be demanding. Foam rolling can provide a therapeutic, stress-reducing effect, calming the nervous system and promoting relaxation.
Quick Recovery:
After a day at Hollywood Beach or a rigorous workout at a local gym, foam rolling can accelerate muscle recovery. It enhances blood circulation, delivering essential nutrients to tired muscles, while simultaneously removing waste products.
In the quest for optimal physical performance and injury prevention, athletes and individuals in Hollywood, FL, are constantly seeking innovative approaches to enhance their training routines. One such methodology that has gained significant attention in recent years is Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS). Developed by the Prague School of Rehabilitation and Manual Medicine, DNS offers a unique perspective on movement patterns and their impact on overall function. In this article, we will explore the benefits of DNS and how it can help unleash your body’s potential in Hollywood, FL.
Enhances Core Stability and Postural Control:
DNS places a strong emphasis on core stability and postural control, considering them as the foundation for efficient movement. By integrating the deep stabilizing muscles, such as the diaphragm and pelvic floor, DNS helps activate the core and improves its ability to maintain stability throughout various dynamic movements. This enhanced core stability not only increases performance in sports and physical activities but also reduces the risk of injuries in Hollywood, FL.
Optimizes Movement Patterns:
DNS focuses on optimizing fundamental movement patterns, also known as developmental kinesiology patterns. These patterns are innate to human development, starting from infancy, and form the basis for more complex movements later in life. By retraining these patterns, DNS helps restore and optimize movement efficiency, allowing individuals in Hollywood, FL, to move with greater ease, coordination, and precision.
Improves Joint Stability and Mobility:
Through DNS exercises and techniques, joint stability and mobility can be significantly improved in Hollywood, FL. DNS targets the deep stabilizing muscles around the joints, facilitating optimal alignment and reducing excessive stress on the joints during movement. This enhanced joint stability not only enhances athletic performance but also aids in injury prevention by reducing the risk of sprains, strains, and other musculoskeletal issues in the Hollywood, FL, area.
Facilitates Rehabilitation and Recovery:
DNS is widely used in rehabilitation settings to promote efficient recovery from injuries. By restoring the body’s innate movement patterns, DNS helps re-establish the coordination between muscles, joints, and the nervous system. This approach facilitates more effective rehabilitation, enabling individuals in Hollywood, FL, to regain their function, strength, and mobility faster following an injury.
Enhances Performance in Athletics and Daily Life:
The principles and techniques of DNS can greatly benefit athletes in Hollywood, FL, of all levels. By optimizing movement patterns, improving stability, and enhancing coordination, DNS can unlock untapped potential and propel athletic performance to new heights. Moreover, the benefits of DNS extend beyond the sports arena. Improved movement efficiency and postural control can positively impact everyday activities, such as lifting objects, sitting, standing, and walking, leading to a higher quality of life for individuals in Hollywood, FL.
Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization offers a holistic approach to movement and performance enhancement in Hollywood, FL. By emphasizing core stability, optimizing movement patterns, improving joint stability and mobility, and facilitating rehabilitation and recovery, DNS provides a comprehensive framework for unlocking your body’s potential. Whether you are an athlete seeking a competitive edge or an individual looking to move better and reduce the risk of injuries in Hollywood, FL, DNS can be a valuable addition to your training regimen. Embrace the power of DNS and unleash your body’s innate capabilities in Hollywood, FL.
Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. TMJ disorder can cause a range of symptoms, including jaw pain, headaches, ear pain, and difficulty chewing or speaking. While the causes of TMJ disorder can vary, one potential treatment option that has gained popularity in recent years is chiropractic care.
Chiropractic is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, particularly those related to the spine. Chiropractors use a variety of techniques, including spinal manipulation, to alleviate pain and improve overall function. While chiropractic is most commonly associated with back pain and neck pain, it can also be beneficial for TMJ disorder.
If you are living in Hollywood, Florida, and experiencing TMJ pain, seeking chiropractic care may be an excellent option for you. Chiropractic care is a non-invasive, drug-free, and natural approach to treating TMJ disorder. It can provide significant relief to those who suffer from TMJ pain and other associated symptoms.
Chiropractic care for TMJ disorder typically involves a series of adjustments to the jaw, neck, and spine. The chiropractor will use their hands to apply gentle pressure to specific points, realigning the jaw and reducing muscle tension. They may also recommend exercises and stretches to improve jaw mobility and reduce pain.
In addition to adjustments and exercises, chiropractors may also use other techniques to treat TMJ disorder. For example, they may use ultrasound therapy or electrical stimulation to reduce inflammation and promote healing in the affected area.
One of the benefits of seeking chiropractic care for TMJ disorder is that it is a safe and non-invasive treatment option. Unlike surgery or medication, chiropractic care does not come with the risks and side effects associated with these treatments. Additionally, chiropractic care is a more affordable option for those who do not want to incur the high costs of surgery or other medical procedures.
If you are considering chiropractic care for TMJ disorder in Hollywood, Florida, it is essential to choose a reputable and experienced chiropractor. Look for someone who specializes in TMJ disorder and has experience treating patients with similar conditions. Ask for referrals from friends or family members or consult online reviews to find a chiropractor that meets your needs.
In conclusion, chiropractic care can be an effective treatment option for TMJ disorder, providing significant relief to those who suffer from pain and other associated symptoms. If you are living in Hollywood, Florida, and experiencing TMJ pain, consider seeking chiropractic care from a reputable and experienced chiropractor. With the right treatment plan and care, you can regain the function of your jaw and live a pain-free life.
Do you have difficulty raising your arms overhead or pain in your shoulders while lifting weights?
A recent study published by the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that as an individual age, the first joint to lose range of motion is the shoulder. The shoulder joint is one of the most mobile joints in the body and with that mobility comes to a tremendous amount of responsibility!
Unfortunately, Shoulder surgeries are becoming far too common and oftentimes are not due to a trauma or accident, but rather due to poor maintenance of shoulder health over the lifetime. Some of the most common causes of shoulder pain include rotator cuff tendinitis, frozen shoulder, impingement, Labrum tears, and AC separation.
While these conditions can be very frustrating and debilitating, the good news is that often times they are both preventable and treatable!
1. Move Daily
The shoulder joint has the ability to reach overhead, behind you, across your body as well as rotate inward and outwards. In order to properly maintain mobility in the shoulder, it is crucial that you take time every day to move your shoulder through a full range of motion.
By taking your shoulder overhead and behind your back daily, for example, you can help ensure that these motions do not become stiff and that, ultimately, your shoulder does not become a pain.
Below are a few unique ways that you can rotate your shoulder on a regular basis in order both maintain and improve your range of motion over time!
2. Avoid Compromising postures
Often times individuals will compromise the mobility of their shoulders without even realizing it!
Two of the biggest culprits that we see in the office are poor posture in the seated position and poor posture while sleeping.
A few ways to prevent shoulder pain while sitting or lying down include:
Use an appropriate desk and screen height so that your shoulders repair relaxed
Use a chair that allows for proper spine position and avoid an excess forward bend
Do not lean on one side for long periods of time while sitting
Avoid lying directly on the shoulder or sleeping with your shoulder overhead.
If your shoulder is prone is discomfort, use a pillow under your armpit for support while sleeping
Below is an example of how to set up your workstation for success!
3. Strengthen around the Shoulder
Shoulder strengthening may be one of the most misunderstood concepts when it comes to shoulder health.
When most people think of “shoulder strengthening”, they imagine exercises like bench presses, shoulder presses, and pull-ups.
While these exercises are great for overall upper body strengthening, the shoulder requires more specific attention in the form of movements such as external/internal rotation, face pulls, posterior flyes and Powell raises.
Below are a few exercises you can perform in the comfort of your own home with a simple set of bands!
4. Maintain Spine Health
The position of the spine dictates the quality of movement in all of the peripheral joints (shoulders, hips, knees, etc.).
In order to maintain both a high degree of range of motion in the shoulder as well as prevent pain, the spine, specifically the upper back and the neck, must be in good health and alignment.
Maintaining your physical health and joint health is not an easy task. It does require commitment and consistency in order to see results over the long term. In addition to habits such as regular stretching and exercise, chiropractic treatment, manual therapy, and posture correction, one of the most important factors in keeping any joint healthy is by keeping the ecosystem of your body healthy. This includes habits such as adequate sleep, proper nutrition, supplementation, sun exposure, meditation stress reduction.
If you are tired of dealing with cranky shoulders and would like a customized treatment and home exercise plan to meet your needs, please reach out by calling or clicking the link below!
What Makes Miami Spine and Performance in Hollywood, FL different?
At Miami Spine and Performance in Hollywood, FL we pride ourselves on using the power of chiropractic adjustments to help individuals with conditions such as lower back pain, neck pain, sciatica, and sports injuries. However, what our clinic really prides itself on is using a combination of therapies to provide our patients with lost lasting relief.
Soft Tissue Therapy in Hollywood, FL
At Miami Spine and Performance, we use a number of soft tissue tools to help reduce muscle tension and improve tissue quality so that you can move pain-free. Typically during a treatment session at our office, Dr. Adams will thoroughly examine both your joints and muscles to determine which areas need to be treated and which tool to use. At our clinic we use a number of highly effective soft tissue tools to treat our patients including Active Release Technique, Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Therapy, Muscle Energy Techniques, Percussion massage, and therapeutic cupping.
Active Release Technique in Hollywood, FL
Dr. Adams is the only full-body Active Release Technique provider in Hollywood, FL. Active Release Technique is a hands-on assessment and treatment technique designed to:
Restore optimal tissue tension, texture, and interface
Improve mobility and strength
Improve circulation
Reduce nerve interference to allow for proper conduction to muscle tissue
Active Release Technique (ART) is effective at treating a number of conditions including neck and back pain, elbow injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, knee injuries, and plantar fasciitis. ART allows our provider to locate soft tissue restrictions and nerve impingements that may be causing your pain or movement dysfunction. Once the restriction is located, the provider uses a combination of tension, pressure, and patient-guided movement to restore tissue length and quality. Patients often report significant relief of symptoms within only 2-3 sessions of ART.
Graston Technique in Hollywood, FL
Graston Technique utilizes a number of stainless steel instruments to improve soft tissue quality, reduce muscle tension and break up adhesions within the muscle tissue. At Miami Spine and Performance we use a number of stainless steel tools to reduce tension in the spine, shoulders, forearms, thighs, and calves. Treatment with Graston tools is painless and relaxing! We often use this technique in conjunction with therapeutic cupping to first reduce muscle tension and then restore blood flow to the injured area. See our video below for a sample treatment session!
Muscle Energy Techniques in Hollywood, FL
Muscle Energy Techniques involve gentle contract-relax stretching for various muscle groups that tend to become overly tight due to poor posture and movement dysfunction. Some of the most commonly restricted muscles treated with muscle energy techniques include:
Suboccipitals
Upper Trapezius
Pectoralis Major
Hip Flexors
Piriformis
Quadratus Lumborum (QL)
Hamstrings
Calves
When these muscles become overactive, they may not respond favorable to aggressive massage and other soft tissue techniques involving pressure directly onto the muscle. When a muscle is hypertonic or over-used, we utilize muscle energy techniques to progressively relax the muscle over the course of 2-5 minutes. Once these muscles are properly relaxed and there is no guarding, we are then able to perform more effective chiropractic adjustments!
Therapeutic Cupping in Hollywood, FL
Therapeutic Cupping has been used in physical medicine for thousands of years! This manual therapy technique utilizes suction to improve blood flow to areas that are stiff or in spasm. Cupping can be used pre-training, post-training or on off day to assist in your recovery! See the video below of Dr. Adams using instrument assisted soft tissue therapy in conjuction with therapeutic cupping to help fellow chiropactic Dr. Eric Smith with his neck pain!
If you are interested in learning more about how chiropractic care can set you on a path to a healthier and happier lifestyle, please feel free to reach out to your Hollywood Chiropractor below!
Physical Stress such as clenching teeth or poor posture
Physiological stress in the form of excessive sugar or caffeine
Stress is a normal human reaction that can be used to improve productivity and awareness, but when excessive stress begins compounding, it can detrimental to your health.
Though a cycle of stress can be difficult to manage, simple strategies can help such as
Deep Breathing
Meditation
Quality Sleep
Eating nutrient-dense foods
Proper hydration
2. Posture
Common postural stressors include sitting with a rounded back, chin protrusion, or tilting/rotating the head to one side for a period of time.
These postures may lead to excessive tone in the muscles of the neck, leading to increased pressure on the nerves and joints.
3. Food/Drink Consumption
Food intolerances are one of the least known causes of headaches
Food/Drink triggers are very individualized, so be aware of what you are consuming when you are experiencing headaches
Common foods and beverages that may trigger headaches include:
Caffeine
Alcohol
MSG containing foods
Aged Cheeses
Excessively processed or salty foods
4. Hydration
Dehydration is a very common and overlooked reason you may be experiencing headaches, particularly living in South Florida.
Do not wait until you are thirsty to drink water, try and always have a bottle of water to sip throughout the day.
If you are physically active and sweat often, be sure to include electrolytes in your hydration program to replenish what is lost during activity.
5. Movement Quality
Poor movement quality and range of motion in the neck, shoulders, and upper back can lead to strain on sensitive structures such as joints, ligaments, and nerves.
Regularly moving the joints and muscles of the neck through a full range of motion can reduce the likelihood of excessive strain and headaches.
Strengthening the small stabilizing muscles of the neck and shoulder blades can balance muscles and reduce the over-use of larger muscle groups in the neck
If you or someone you know has been dealing with headaches and would like to schedule and evaluation with one of our physicians please give us a a call or click the link below!
Most individuals spend more time at their desks or workstation than they do at home. The workstation should be a place that you are able to be productive and comfortable but unfortunately, for many, the workstation is a place associated with stress, discomfort and often times, pain in the neck and back.
Below we are going to give you 5 practical tips in order to optimize your workstation so that your body feels great at the end of the workday and you don’t need to be distracted by neck and back pain during your workday.
1. Ensure the Brightness and Text size on your screen are appropriate
This first pointer for workstation ergonomics is one that is often overlooked when an individual is looking to make their workspace neck and back-friendly. The reason that improper brightness and text size can affect neck and back pain is that if you cannot read your screen you will be more inclined to lean forwards towards your computer, resulting in excessive protrusion of the chin, upper back flexion, and lower back flexion.
2. Place your Desk and Chair at a height that allows you to sit upright
Often times, individuals will neglect the importance of chair and desk height for ergonomic safety and health. Ideally, you want to have your chair at a height that allows you to have two feet on the floor and allow your forearms to rest on your desk.
If your desk is too high, you will be required to have your arms higher and ultimately this will lead to tension in the neck as well as an increased likelihood of carpal tunnel syndrome. Conversely, If the desk is too low, you may be more likely to lean forward or flex your spine excessively to reach the level of the screen.
3. Have lumbar support on your chair to maintain your natural spinal curvature
Contrary to popular belief, your spine is not meant to be “straight”. Your spine has three distinct curves and is shaped more like the letter “S”. When individuals sit for an extended period of time, they are likely to round their lower back. Naturally, the lower back is meant to hold a slight arch, meaning that sitting oftentimes reverses its intended curvature.
Over time, when this flexed position of the lower back is held for an extended period of time, you are likely to experience lower back discomfort. We often recommend to our patients to use a Mckenzie Lumbar Roll or purchase a chair that allows them to maintain a normal lumbar curvature.
4. Take breaks regularly to move your hip and hips through a full range of motion
Microbreaks are an area of workplace ergonomics that most individuals partake in by necessity. After sitting for hours working on a project, it is natural to walk to get up, stretch, and walk around. Though walking around the office for a few minutes is a great start, we want you to be even more specific with your microbreaks. We recommended getting up for 5 minutes from your desk every hour or two.
While sitting at work, generally, the joints of the spine, as well as your hip and shoulders, are in a flexed position. Standing and walking, however, are positions considered to be relatively neutral. We know that joints love to be moved in all directions regularly, so what we want to do during our microbreaks is not only stand and walk but actively extend our joints. Here are some examples of extension based movements that can be performed during your breaks at work!
5. Practice Proper and Controlled Respiration through your abdomen
Proper respiration is one of the most significantly overlooked aspects of posture, ergonomics, and even physical activity. When individuals become stressed at work, their posture breaks down and they begin slightly hyperventilating (taking quick breaths).
Taking these short, choppy breaths forces you to use your shoulder elevator and neck musculature to assist in the breathing process. This causes a buildup for tension in the upper back and neck and puts small degrees of compression through your spine.
By focusing on expanding your abdomen while breathing, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth, you will be able to decompress your spine, protect your lower back and inhibition the muscles of the neck that commonly contribute to pain and tightness.
For more details on how to breathe properly and begin to train for respiration, please see the video below.
Patients in my practice are often surprised when I ask about their bowel movements. Let’s face it, talking about our pooping habits can be embarrassing. We may feel shy or uncomfortable talking about something so private and as a result, we may choose not to discuss our symptoms with our healthcare provider. Sometimes we may not be aware that our pooping habits are irregular at all. We may be accustomed to bothersome symptoms like gas, bloating, constipation, and accepted them as part of our “norm”. Addressing our gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms can have favorable effects on our health.
Our poop can offer us valuable insight into our health status. It can inform us about the health of our digestion, absorption, inflammation, gut health, brain health, and many other systems in our bodies. The gut is the gateway to our health. It’s the home of 80% of your immune system and powerful neurotransmitters are made there as well.1Trillions of microflora work together to ensure proper digestive function. They aid in the production of essential vitamins such as B vitamins and act as a protective barrier for the immune system. The bacterial balance in our gut also discourages the growth of unfavorable bacterial, parasitic, and/or fungal infections from compromising our gut function. Because our stool is formed in our GI tract we investigate the integrity of our gut to understand it’s a contribution to our signs and symptoms.
The Bristol Stool Chart is otherwise known as the “poop chart” is a very helpful tool used to characterize our stool. This chart was devised by doctors in the Bristol Royal Infirmary in England and it is used by doctors around the world to help characterize different types of stool.
Type 1–2 indicate constipation
Type 3–4 are ideal stools as they are easier to pass
Type 5–7 may indicate diarrhea and urgency.
Every person will have different bowel habits, but there are a few important characteristics to consider when discussing our stool. Ideally, poop should be soft, well-formed, and easily passed within a few minutes of sitting down on the toilet. The bowel movement should pass without pain or straining, and you should experience complete emptying of the bowels.
The following situations may suggest that it’s time to get your poop checked:
You’re not pooping every day or not pooping enough.
You see undigested foods in your stool except for some fibrous foods like beans, corn, grains, such as quinoa, peas, seeds, sunflower seeds, flax seeds, sesame seeds, or skins of vegetables, such as bell peppers or tomatoes.
You’re exhibiting some other type of digestive discomforts such as consistently loose bowel movements, stomach cramping, bloating, gas, indigestion, and hemorrhoids.
You’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune condition. Scientific evidence shows that imbalances in our gastrointestinal bacteria are related to inflammation and autoimmune conditions. 2
Gut imbalances can also present as chronic fatigue, brain fog, skin-related symptoms, and other symptoms.3
Testing our poop can give us valuable information about our symptoms. Stool testing can help you and your doctor identify the types of bacteria that live in your GI and any potential bacterial, yeast or parasitic infections in the gut. A comprehensive stool test also looks at how well you break your food down into fiber, screens your immune system, determines your level of digestive enzymes, and how well you are digesting and absorbing your fats.
I want to encourage you to speak to your healthcare provider about your bowel habits and gut health. Get comfortable sharing information about your poop and don’t allow embarrassment to discourage you! At Miami Spine + Performance we offer comprehensive stool testing via Doctor’s Data Lab, to understand your unique digestive system. If you are interested in learning more about stool testing, please give us a call.
*If you’re getting gut symptoms regularly and experiencing any of the following symptoms, make sure to see your doctor immediately: unexplained weight loss, changes in bowel habits, such as loss of bowel control, persistent diarrhea, persistent constipation, blood in the stool.
From a very young age, we are reminded of the importance of good posture. Patients often talk about how their parents, grandparents, teachers, etc always told them to “sit up straight” or “stop slouching”. When we think about how many hours a day we spend looking at screens with our heads tilted forward and/or our back rounded over, it would make sense why people who care about us would give us this advice. We may be watching TV, reading a book, or doing the dishes and notice that our posture isn’t the best. We are reminded of our “bad posture” by our own bodies alerting us of the discomfort it’s feeling.
What is Posture?
Posture involves a sustained position of the body for prolonged periods of time. This position may be held while standing, sitting or lying down. Being in sustained positions is not harmful. However, the accumulation of sustained positions over an extended period of time may inevitably cause discomfort in some individuals. Especially those who have preexisting musculoskeletal pain.
What causes poor posture?
Poor posture can be due to a number of reasons such as obesity, pregnancy, stress, and muscle fatigue. Contrary to popular belief, poor posture is not caused by a weakness in core strength. Dr. Yoav Suprun, faculty with the Mckenzie Institute USA, debunks this common myth. He states that core strength does not hold someone in an upright position. In other words, the muscle development around the abdomen and low back will not help you achieve perfect posture. Instead, Dr. Suprun proposes that we learn how to sit, stand, lie down properly to avoid mechanical stresses especially when this stress is contributing to neck and low back pain that radiates down the arm or leg.
How can posture affect you?
Long term poor posture can lead to various health problems that can contribute to conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, sciatica, neck pain, thoracic outlet syndrome, breathing problems, and more. It is important to address postural stresses for the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal pain.
Good posture can:
Decrease stress on the joints that support the spine
Maintain correct alignment of bones and joints
Reduce stress on ligaments, minimizing the risk of injury
Prevent muscle strain, overuse, and pain
How can we maintain the correct posture?
The first step is body awareness! It is important to pay attention to your posture as you sit, stand or lie down. Keeping your spine in a neutral position can help decrease the discomfort of postural stress. Using back support when sitting and bringing screens to eye level can drastically reduce discomfort in the low back and neck. Taking short breaks to stand, walk, or stretch when sitting for prolonged periods of time can also help decrease pain. Slouch – Over Correct is a simple exercise to perform to help train your body to recognize proper posture. Sit slumped in your chair and round your back, then slowly raise up and over-arch your lower back. Do this about 10 times every few hours to improve seated posture and decrease back pain.
It is also important to monitor our posture during sleep. Be sure to find an ergonomically friendly pillow and mattress to support your sleeping postures at night. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to posture. Be sure to find the pillow, mattress, back support, exercise, and/or stretching routine that works for YOU.
If you are experiencing numbness, tingling, or burning sensations in your arm, hand, leg, and/or foot in certain postural positions, it is possible that you may be experiencing Sciatica or Carpal Tunnel like symptoms. With this particular presentation, it is important that you receive a proper movement assessment by your healthcare practitioner. Night pain that is constant and is unchanged by position may be a more serious health presentation and it important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
How can Chiropractic Care help?
Your chiropractor can help you to maintain and correct your posture through chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapies, exercises and recommendations on proper positions during different activities. At Miami Spine + Performance we take a thorough look at your body’s biomechanics to address the root cause of your postural imbalances as well as teach you strategies to stay pain-free. It is our mission to build resiliency in your body and equip you with the tools necessary to prevent future episodes.
If you or someone you know is currently dealing with a postural pain and looking for permanent relief, we are here to help! Please click the link below to book an appointment.
Though Chiropractors are traditionally thought of as “Spine adjusters”, we are much more than that. To become a chiropractic physician, we attend 4 years of undergraduate pre-medical schooling followed by 4 years of Chiropractic school which includes hundreds of hours in the physical exam, diagnosis, nutrition, and chiropractic manipulation. physical therapy and spend at least one year in a clinical internship treating patients.
Our license gives us the full scope of practice of a medical doctor without the ability to prescribe medications and perform surgeries. This means that we do not require a referral and are trained to diagnose musculoskeletal and internal conditions using clinical history, physical exam, blood labs, and imaging if necessary. Because we take a “conservative first” approach, we are an excellent first option when you are considering seeking medical care or consultation.
2. Chiropractic Adjustments are just one tool in the toolbox
The chiropractic profession was founded on the premise that a disruption in spinal alignment can lead to excessive strain on the nervous system resulting in disease and dysfunction. One of the most powerful tools we have in conservative manual medicine today is chiropractic adjustment, as we can use a hands-on approach to restoring proper movement of the spine and ultimately high functionality of our nervous system.
While the adjustment is an excellent tool and treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions, utilizing manual soft tissue work to ease muscular tension and physical therapy to improve movement quality leads to exceptional clinical outcomes and long-term relief.
3. Chiropractors take a holistic approach to your health
As conservative healthcare physicians, we pride ourselves on spending significant time with you as the patient, listening to your concerns, and establishing clear goals for us to accomplish together during your course of care. The initial consultation will typically last an hour because we will discuss your full health history and make sure that we understand not only what is not working well in your body but also what is working great. Our philosophy is that because your body is a closed system, we cannot neglect the whole picture to treat one area.
For example, if you are experiencing lower back pain, we may also ask about nutrition, sleep, stress, and what you do for a living. This not only gives us context for your treatment but also allows us to explore and utilize all avenues of care to make sure that we get you to 100% as quickly as possible. Improving lifestyle factors like these will not only potentially help you with your pain but also create an environment for health to prevent future occurrences.
4. Chiropractors are extensively trained in hands-on care
One of the unique differentiating factors of seeing a chiropractic physician is that generally, a large portion of our treatment is hands-on. Taking a hands-on approach allows us to even better understand your condition by assessing joint motion and muscular tension, which is an important piece of our clinician assessment. Though a neurological, orthopedic and functional movement examination are an important part of telling the story of your condition, hands-on palpation will allow us as the clinician to interpret messages from your body in the form of muscular tension and joint restriction.
In treatment, we utilize a hands-on approach in several ways including chiropractic adjustments, active release technique, instrument-assisted soft tissue therapy, dry needling, and therapeutic cupping. The specific manual therapy tool that we use is always dependent on the findings of each case as well as patient preference. We want to make sure you are not only feeling better but also happy with your care.
5. Chiropractors can treat more than just joint and muscle pain
Most individuals consider chiropractors to be primarily specializing in musculoskeletal disorders (joint, muscle and nerve pain) but chiropractors are also trained extensively in acupuncture, nutrition, and functional medicine. Some chiropractors chose to specialize in Sports Chiropractic while others spend hundreds of hours in the training of internal disorders such as digestive issues, nutritional deficiencies, allergies, and hormone imbalances.
If you are dealing with any of the conditions listed previously, a chiropractor may be a great first option for resolving these issues. For Functional Medicine conditions, we take the same holistic approach we do with every patient but our visit will be more focused on your symptoms and lab work to find conservative solutions involving nutritional intervention, therapeutic supplementation, lifestyle recommendations as well as hands-on care or acupuncture as part of the treatment plan.
If you are currently dealing with musculoskeletal pain or would like to inquire about our functional medicine and acupuncture treatments, please give us a call or schedule below with one of our physicians. We are here to help and guide you through your health journey.
