Chiropractic offers benefits for health, wellness, and optimum physical function


Health and wellness are life-enriching benefits that more and more people are obtaining through their chiropractic doctors.

Still, one of the primary reasons people seek chiropractic care is for relief from pain. Discomfort and pain are symptoms of changes and/or malfunctions in your body. Miami Valley Chiropractic Society doctors are committed to correcting the causes of such problems, returning you to full health and vitality.

Here are some of the more common conditions that can be addressed through chiropractic care …

Wellness
Lower Back Pain
Headaches
Arthritis
Neck Pain
Whiplash
Extremities and Joint Problems
Carpal Tunnel
Sciatica
Scoliosis
Pregnancy

Wellness
Good health is no longer considered just the absence of pain or disease. Today, more and more people want to feel good, strong, and full of vitality. It's a new approach to health called "wellness."

What is Wellness? Wellness goes beyond the traditional treatment of health problems or diseases. It's also more than just feeling better. It's a whole-life approach to health that includes a wide range of habits that promote optimum physical health. It also results in other desirable benefits, such as dramatically improved mental, emotional, and spiritual health.

How is Wellness Achieved? The wellness approach to health is both proactive and preventive in nature. It includes proper nutrition, exercise, sleep, and mental stimulation - plus an optimally functioning nervous system. Because it's a fact that your nervous system controls the function and health your entire body.

Chiropractic care can help correct malfunctions in the nervous system and promote health naturally through the unhindered operation of the body's own healing mechanisms. In addition, the complexity of our bodies requires regular attention. So, just like your teeth and eyes benefit from regular checkups … your chiropractor can help maintain the proper alignment in your spine, and the full function of your nervous system through regular chiropractic checkups.

For a maximum sense of wellness, you'll want to add chiropractic to your regular health regimen.

Back To Top


Lower Back Pain

It's one of the most common complaints - and affects people of all ages, sizes and lifestyles. Lower back pain can be the result of improper sitting, lifting, an injury, or an inherited abnormality. Left undetected, other conditions can result, such as damaged discs and constricted nerves. Chiropractic offers safer, and often more effective results than surgery, and offers techniques and exercises to avoid future recurrences.

Chiropractic care works!

What's causing the pain? Nerve-rich facet joints on the back side of each spinal bone are a common cause of back pain. If these pairs of interlocking "fingers" aren't moving right, they can produce painful symptoms. Discs between spinal bones can herniate or bulge, putting pressure on nearby nerves also inflicting pain. A sedentary lifestyle as well as over exertion can aggravate the symptoms.

What are my treatment options? Bed rest may be prescribed to subdue pain - however, research shows prolonged bed rest can actually delay recovery and worsen the condition. Physical therapy is another option, but exercising joints that aren't working properly will not always correct the problem. Drugs only disguise the pain, offering temporary relief. The most drastic treatment is surgery. Those considering surgery should be cautious because this invasive procedure is costly, risky, and more than half of these surgeries fail.

Chiropractic care is the healthcare solution that naturally improves spinal function and balance while correcting the underlying cause of the problem.

Back To Top


Headaches

Headaches are common, but they're not normal. By finding the cause of your pain, chiropractic care can give you natural relief to a discomfort that disrupts your life and often makes everyday tasks unbearable.

What causes headaches? There are many causes of headaches. These include physical or emotional trauma, emotional stress, chemical toxins, problems in the pelvis and lower back, and a malfunction in the upper spinal bones in the neck, affecting nerves, muscles and blood supply to the head.

Is there any danger in taking drugs for my headaches? Yes. Powerful drugs numb the nervous system so pain doesn't register, and can cause adverse effects on the stomach, liver and kidneys. Although a quick relief to the pain, drugs provide only a short-term solution to the problem. Worse, they don't correct the underlying cause of the headache, which in some situations can be a signal of a more serious illness and life-threatening problem.

Can chiropractic help the pain go away? Yes, many times it can. Your chiropractic doctor will examine you, pinpoint the cause of your pain and determine if chiropractic will alleviate your discomfort. If you are a good chiropractic candidate, your care will consist of a schedule of chiropractic adjustments to help normalize spinal function, restore essential spinal curves, improve circulation, and reduce nerve irritation. If a cause cannot be determined, we can refer you to other caregivers who may be able to help.

Back To Top


Arthritis

Arthritis has long been considered one of the many consequences of aging, manifesting itself in different degrees among individuals. But is arthritis really natural? Should it be accepted as unavoidable after its first onset? Evidence shows that it's much more complicated than that.

What Causes Arthritis? The cause of arthritis has eluded traditional medical practitioners for decades. Evidence is now revealing that subluxation degeneration is the underlying cause of osteoarthritis ("wear and tear" arthritis), and includes an excessive buildup of calcium and mineral deposits in the critical joints of the spine and elsewhere. This buildup is similar to the way the body mends broken bones - except now the body is slowly fusing adjacent spinal bones together.

Normal curves and proper disc spacing allow normal function of the spine and nervous system. Unfortunately, the buildup of calcium limits movement, fills in the spaces, and compresses the nerves and blood flow.

Can Chiropractic Stop this Degeneration? Chiropractic adjustments can prevent subluxation degeneration. With early detection from regular chiropractic checkups, appropriate chiropractic care has been shown to slow, stop, or even reverse the early stages of this subluxation degeneration (arthritis) process.

Back To Top


Neck Pain
Your recurring neck pain has flared up again. Do you take pain pills? Do you use a hot pack? Or get a massage? The smart solution is to address the cause instead of the symptoms by seeking chiropractic care. Here's why you should…

What's causing the pain? Neck pain is most often related to problems with posture, your spine's structure, repeated or prolonged strains or motions, as well as injury or trauma. Using both X-rays and a physical examination, your doctor of chiropractic will carefully check the curve of your spinal column, the nerves between the spinal bones, and the overall balance of your head and shoulders to determine the cause of your pain.

How does chiropractic address the cause? After a thorough examination, a chiropractor can find the underlying cause of your pain by carefully examining your health history and the curvature of your spine, including the cervical area that comprises your neck. The chiropractor then makes a series of adjustments to improve spinal structure, reduce nerve stress and restore proper alignment and spacing, thus eliminating the neck pain - all done without drugs and without invasive procedures.

Back To Top


Whiplash

Usually associated with automobile accidents, whiplash can occur in any situation that causes a sudden head movement backward, forward, or sideways. Whiplash happens quickly and unexpectedly, and its painful effects can be long lasting without immediate, proper treatment.

Why Does it Hurt So Much? Whiplash results in torn or strained muscles and ligaments, and misalignment of the bones in the neck and spine. Your ligaments and tendons may also become inflamed, prolonging the pain for weeks, or even months. The injury may have altered the natural forward curve in your neck, possibly straightening it, so it stretches the spinal cord. Your arms and hands may tingle because their nerves exit the spine through the injured area. Even lower back pain can result from the loss of proper spinal curves. Headaches are also common. All of these symptoms may appear soon after the accident, or may appear weeks or months later.

Chiropractic care helps restore normal motion and position to spinal bones and reduces inflammation of tissues and nerves.

What's the best course of care? Pain pills and muscle relaxers won't heal inflamed ligaments or torn muscles, but chiropractic spinal adjustments can help. Your chiropractor restores proper motion and position of spinal bones in your neck, which reduces inflammation and promotes proper healing. The most important factor in becoming pain-free and restoring proper function is to receive care immediately. People who delay seeking care often discover that scar tissue and spinal instability require prolonged chiropractic checkups.

Back To Top


Extremities and Joint Problems

Some people might write off their pain as "tennis elbow," "runner's knee," or "that old injury," but painful joints or loss of motion should not be something you have to live with. Joint damage from repetitive motion can result in pain, inflammation, and stiffness. Whatever the mobility problem, chiropractic care is the best way to increase your strength and agility and resume a healthy lifestyle.

What are the extremities and what causes injuries to these areas? Extremities are the arms and legs. Joints in the extremities include the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, hips, knees, ankles and feet. Repetitive motion - such as continually sitting in the wrong position, overexertion or strains, or falls and accidents are a few causes of pain to such areas. These actions impair joint function, causing inflammation, calcium buildup, scar tissue and loss of motion. Joints may feel locked up or jammed until the condition is repaired.

What are my care options? Drugs may numb the pain, but they won't help you regain your mobility. Steroid injections are sometimes prescribed, while other doctors splint the joints to reduce movement. Extreme cases are handled surgically, but these procedures are invasive and costly. Chiropractic care offers the most natural solution.

What does chiropractic involve? Mobilizing the injured joints will significantly help your condition. A chiropractor will make adjustments to restore the joint's normal range of motion and position, improving blood circulation, reducing scar tissue and enhancing the body's natural healing process.

Back To Top


Carpal Tunnel

Because we all work with our hands, carpal tunnel syndrome is a frequent complaint. It can start with a mild pain that's just a nuisance. Ultimately, the pain increases to the point that common, everyday tasks are difficult to perform. What most people don't realize is that the cause may be something unrelated to the location of the pain. Chiropractic may help - without surgery or drugs.

What causes carpal tunnel? Performing repetitive motions with your hands or fingers, like that done while typing or working with machinery, is a well-known cause of carpal tunnel syndrome. Pregnancy, stress, eating habits, sports, playing musical instruments, and sleeping in certain positions can also cause or aggravate the condition. It could be pinched nerves and circulation in the carpal "tunnel" in the wrist, but it is often a problem with nerves running through your neck and shoulder. The elbow, arm, shoulder, neck and spine can also be affected. Symptoms worsen as the habitual motion is continued.

How do I know if I have carpal tunnel syndrome? Place your hands back to back with your fingers pointed toward the floor. Do you feel numbness, tingling, or pain? Do your hands/fingers get numb when you sleep? Do you have weakness in your hands or drop things? Carpal tunnel syndrome may be present. Always check with a health care professional, such as a well-trained chiropractor, for a complete evaluation.

Can chiropractic work better than surgery or drugs? Yes, because it is the most natural way of fixing the problem that is causing the pain. Chiropractic care involves making adjustments to return the spine or other joint to its normal function, reducing nerve irritation.

Back To Top


Sciatica

The sciatic nerve runs down the back of each leg, and when compressed or irritated, can cause severe leg pain called sciatica. This condition is painful and distracting. If left untreated, it cannot only interfere with a healthy lifestyle, but even cause permanent nerve damage. Chiropractic care has proven to be very effective in both identifying the cause of the pain and correcting the cause of the condition.

What is sciatica? Sciatica usually begins as an acute pain in the lower back and then extends down the back of either leg. The pain may worsen with long periods of sitting or standing, or even from the slightest movement. One of the most common sources of sciatic pain is actually found higher up in the spine, possibly due to a bulging disc or compressed spinal joints putting pressure on the surrounding nerves. Sciatica can be the result of an accident, years of poor posture, excess weight, or other factors. When vertebrae and/or discs interfere with the sciatic nerve, the pain is felt in either or both legs.

What is the safest and most effective care? Pain pills or muscle relaxers are unable to correct nerve irritation caused by the bulging disc or vertebral misalignment. Physical therapy focuses muscles rather than nerves. Surgery, often dangerous and irreversible, can be necessary for a disc pinching the sciatic nerve, but only a small percentage of cases need this drastic measure. Chiropractic care is appropriate for most of these types of cases by taking the pressure off the nerve through safe, effective chiropractic procedures.

Back To Top


Scoliosis

Whether the result of a birth or childhood trauma, or a hereditary problem, scoliosis is the sideways curving of the spine, accompanied by severe pain as the condition worsens. The chiropractic approach is to use specialized adjustment techniques, combined with corrective exercises, which often produces excellent success.

What Causes Scoliosis? Scoliosis is the sideways bending of the spine showing up as abnormal posture, uneven shoulders and hips, and in its worst form, extreme deformity. If allowed to advance, it can interfere with the lungs, heart and many other vital organs. It affects girls more frequently than boys, and usually between the ages of 8 to 18. Sufferers may have been born with a spinal deviation, or in other cases, may have been afflicted as the result of habitually assuming a distorted head or hip position.

Can chiropractic care help? While certain cases of severe scoliosis are treated with a surgical procedure, chiropractic care can improve the condition if detected and corrected early. The primary chiropractic course of action involves a series of adjustments to improve the spine's structure, strengthen muscles, and improve posture.

Can Scoliosis be prevented? The best form of prevention is consulting with a chiropractic doctor soon after your child's birth, then following up with periodic checkups throughout the child's developmental years.

Back To Top


Pregnancy

Many women feel low back pain during pregnancy, and it's no wonder, with rapid fetal development, hormonal changes, and the natural looseness of connective ligaments in preparation for childbirth. Chiropractic care can help relieve the discomfort, as well as maintain a normal nervous system function … leading to improved health for both mother and baby.

Is Chiropractic Care Safe During Pregnancy? Chiropractic care is ideal for caring for expectant mothers and their babies. It is one of the only healthcare practices that offers safe and natural solutions to relieving pain and improving the body's overall health and healing powers. Chiropractic care is ideal during pregnancy, because it heals without drugs and is completely safe for both mother and baby.

What are the benefits of chiropractic during pregnancy? Low back pain is a major complaint among pregnant women due to the shift in gravity, weight gain, and hormonal changes. Chiropractic improves the function of the spine and nervous system, benefiting the overall good health of the mother and baby. When the mother feels better, the baby feels better, and chiropractic can help reduce the pain and stress for both of them. In addition, many patients report shorter and easier births after receiving chiropractic care.

At What Stage of My Pregnancy Should I Receive Chiropractic Care? Doctors recommend seeing a chiropractor throughout your entire pregnancy. A woman's body changes repeatedly throughout the nine months, and receiving regular chiropractic checkups is one of the best ways to pamper yourself during this physically and emotionally stressful period.

How can Chiropractic Help My Baby? The birthing process can be the cause of a person's first spinal injury. Even the natural process of childbirth can affect an infant's spine. Colic, unusual crying, poor appetite, ear infections, or erratic sleeping habits can be signs of spinal distress. Newborn adjustments are made gently with very little pressure and can help your baby be more comfortable and healthy!

Back To Top