There are many conditions chiropractic can help, aside from the traditional and more common back and neck pain and headaches. The following is a list of common issues that Dr. Hedrix may be able to help you with. If you have questions about a specific problem or another condition, please call our office.
Arch Pain (Plantar Fascitis)
Flat feet, tight calf muscles, misalignments in the foot and ankle, and scar tissue build-up in the arch can all contribute to this debilitating condition. Treatment consists of chiropractic adjustments to restore proper foot and ankle alignment, Myofascial Release Techniques to reduce scar tissue, and stretching exercises to improve lower leg flexibility.
Arthritis
Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks cells lining inside joints. Chiropractic procedures diminish the pain by freeing up locked arthritic joints, thus restoring integrity to the nervous system.
Asthma
Asthma is marked by spasms in the bronchi of the lungs. More specifically, the nerves that exit between the bones of the spine become irritated when normal spinal movement is lost. These nerves travel to and affect every cell of the body, including the lungs. Chiropractors work to reduce irritation so that the nerves function properly and the lungs send the proper messages from the brain.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Every body function is controlled by the brain sending and receiving messages by the nerves. When the bones of the spine become misaligned and are not able to move in their normal pattern, the nerves that exit between those bones are affected. Chiropractic adjustments restrict the disruption of the body’s communication system.
Bursitis
Small, repetitive activities can give rise to bursitis, a condition in which swelling and irritation inflame a person’s shoulder, elbow, hip, knee or ankle areas. The culprit is the “bursa,” a small sac filled with fluid that in a healthy state allows tendons to slide smoothly over bone. When inflamed, however, pain and stiffness are usually the result.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by a pinched nerve in the wrist, resulting in pain, weakness and numbness in the index finger, middle finger and thumb. Chiropractic treatment aims to reduce pain and strengthen range of motion through gentle manipulation.
Disc Injuries
Poor body mechanics, lifting, and sports injuries can contribute to disc injuries. Chiropractors provide gentle manipulations and other therapies to restore proper motion and reduce nervous system involvement. Specialized spinal exercises and stretching programs will likely be integrated into the overall treatment program as well.
Ear Infections
Ear Infections are generally caused from a blockage of inner ear tubes, which allow equalized pressure on the eardrum and allow fluid to drain away from the inner ear. The tubes may be blocked by swollen tissue caused by misaligned vertebrae. As a result, fluid builds up causing an ear infection. Chiropractic adjustments remove tissue swelling, allowing the inner ear to drain and clearing the infection.
Digestive Problems
The nervous system controls all actions of the digestive system. When this communication is interrupted by spinal misalignment, imperfect information can result in digestive problems. Due to this miscommunication acid production in the stomach might be overactive resulting in heartburn and irritable bowel syndrome.
Dizziness and Vertigo
The cervical spine is extremely important in eye, head, and body movement and orientation. Sensory organs, including the eyes, ears, and sinuses receive their nerve supply from the nerves of the upper cervical spine. Therefore, when the upper cervical spine misaligns, these nerves can become irritated and affect the sensory organs. This irritation can cause dizziness and vertigo.
Headaches
Headaches arise when spinal bones in the neck aren’t supporting your head properly, affecting nerves, muscles, and even the blood supply to your head. Chiropractors locate those improperly moving bones and then make corrections through specific adjustments. Chiropractors in many cases successfully treat sinus, migraine or tension headaches without medication or invasive techniques.
High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. Many people are treated with drugs for high blood pressure. However, even when medication is part of their regimen, studies indicate that a multi-disciplined approach including chiropractic spinal manipulation can contribute to an even greater reduction in high blood pressure.
Knee Pain
Misalignments in the leg, foot and kneecap may result in an imbalance of strength in leg muscles contributing to knee pain. This condition can lead to arthritis. Treatment consists of identifying the muscle imbalances and misalignments, and correcting them through chiropractic manipulation and exercise rehabilitation.
Pregnancy
This period of rapid development, hormonal changes, loosening of connective ligaments, and shifting of weight-bearing structures, may cause many pregnant women to experience low back pain, which may be relieved by chiropractic adjustments. Also, many chiropractic patients report that their deliveries were faster and more comfortable than their deliveries prior to chiropractic care!!!
Rotator Cuff Injury
Problems in the shoulder often originate in the cervical portion of the spine when imbalances and irritation occur to nerves and their surrounding muscles. Pain and restricted range of motion follow. Corrective adjustments ease patients from pain. Stretching and strengthening programs are also prescribed at the appropriate time to stabilize the affected area and prevent recurrence.
Insomnia
During the deepest portion of the sleep cycle, the body's tissues and nervous system are replenished and restored at the cellular level. Chiropractic spinal adjustments restore balance within your nervous system facilitating deeper sleep.
Stress
The chiropractic approach to stress is to help normalize the function of your nervous system by removing spinal joint dysfunction. Finding the “weak links” in your spine and helping restore better function can make a profound difference in your response to stress.
Temporal Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Disorder
People who suffer from TMJ know full well the pain and stiffness of a “locked jaw.” The causes include injury, stress, poor posture, teeth grinding, and more. Chiropractors restore proper nervous system control through specific adjustments and other therapies.
Tennis Elbow and Golfer Elbow
These elbow injuries are repetitive stress injuries that occur when muscles and tendons in the elbow area are torn or damaged. It can even happen as a result of heavy computer work using improper wrist and arm posture. The chiropractor’s goal is to restore proper motion of spinal bones that have become misaligned.
Whiplash
Whiplash causes a violent misalignment of the spine sometimes resulting in torn muscles and ligaments. It is important to receive an immediate chiropractic consultation even though little, if any, pain or stiffness exists. When caught early enough, those injuries can be treated before they balloon into serious problems.