Continue reading »]]> Chiropractic care has been used as an alternative treatment for many ailments. Sufferers with everything from back pain to migraines to fibromyalgia visit a chiropractor to help ease their pain – but what about children with ADHD?

Is it possible that an alternative treatment like chiropractic care could actually help reduce the symptoms of this common childhood disease? The short answer is “yes.” Chiropractic care can help children that suffer from ADHD. The answer, however, is not quite that simple.

Back in 1975, a study was performed that compared the effectiveness of symptom relief between common ADHD medications and chiropractic care. According to the results of this study, chiropractic care was considered to be 24% more effective at reducing ADHD symptoms than common medications.

Another small study, conducted by Giesen at al, evaluated the results from seven subjects. The children were all of school age and had evidencing vertebral subluxation complex. Of the children studied, 57% of them showed improvement in radiographic findings after chiropractic care. 71.4% of them showed reduction in overt behavior activity. Additionally, autonomic activity and parental ratings of hyperactivity were improved by 57%.

The evidence definitely indicates that chiropractic care could be effective in treating ADHD. However, some medical experts do not consider ADHD an actual disease. This is often why chiropractic care is not officially considered a type of treatment. To have a treatment option, you must first have a medical disease.

Of course, this does not have to stop any parent from having their child evaluated by a chiropractor. In fact, it is suggested that every child with a vertebral subluxation be seen and treated by a chiropractor.

While there is still much research to be done to figure out the association between the subluxation correction and the brain, chiropractic care can be a much better alternative than treating your child with costly medications that sometimes produce troublesome side effects.

Continue reading »]]> If you have decided to visit a chiropractic doctor, you probably already have a little bit of an idea of what the field of chiropractic is all about. However, you may not know what to expect of your very first visit. There are several things that you can expect with your first visit to a chiropractor.

Your first visit to a chiropractor is very much a “getting to know you” visit. First, your chiropractor will ask you to give an in-depth description of your medical history and any problem areas that you want to have treated. For example, if you are seeking treatment for migraine headaches, you should be prepared to describe the frequency and severity of the pain, when the migraines began, what your triggers seem to be, and what activities seem to either improve or exacerbate the pain. You should also bring any migraine medications that you take with you.

The chiropractic doctor will perform a light physical examination (usually over your regular clothing) to observe the range of motion of your muscles and soft tissues, and your posture. Basic vitals such as your blood pressure, pulse, and reflexes may be assessed. Depending on your condition, the chiropractic doctor may take a full-body x-ray, and/or refer you to have a MRI. You may also receive an in-depth neurological assessment called a computerized electromyography, or EMG. This technology allows the chiropractor to measure the amount of electrical activity in the soft tissues surrounding your spine, and therefore determine where spinal abnormalities may be interfering with the function of your nervous system.

All of these tools help your chiropractor to formulate an in-depth diagnosis of your spine and nervous system, then recommend a course of treatment for you. Typically, your first adjustment will be performed by your chiropractic doctor on your second visit.

Continue reading »]]> If you suffer from back or neck pain, you know just how valuable chiropractic care can be. If you’ve never seen a chiropractor before, you might be at a loss when it comes to searching for one, though. It’s important to find a chiropractor who will help you find the best solutions for your care, without the need for costly medications.

While there is never any guarantee that chiropractic care will eliminate the need for any medications, chiropractic services have proven to be very successful in helping to treat pain, so the doctor you choose definitely makes a difference!

When it’s time to start looking for a chiropractor, there are many questions to consider, regardless of whether you’re switching doctors or if it will be your first time visiting one. How do you go about selecting the right chiropractic service for you? And how do you find one that is skilled in their profession and who really cares about your wellbeing?

If you’ve recently been told to see a chiropractor or are interested in seeing one for the first time, keep these basic tips in mind as you begin your search:

Ask around—Usually, if your primary care physician asks you to see a chiropractor, he or she will give you a recommendation. Still, make sure you ask around and talk to your friends and family members.

Know the different chiropractic techniques—Another important way to sift through countless chiropractic services to find the right one is to make yourself familiar with the different chiropractic techniques. Also beware of any chiropractor that claims to be able to cure certain conditions.

Ask about health tests—It isn’t uncommon for chiropractors to take x-rays or other health-related tests. They often need to do this in order to assess your condition. Still, you will want to exercise caution if they require many different tests, especially when you first start using their services.

Continue reading »]]> Many patients seek out chiropractic services to help assist them with all sorts of painful conditions. From disc problems, joint dysfunction, back or neck pain, and osteoarthritis, chiropractic services can help treat a myriad of medical problems. Aside from painful conditions such as these, though, did you know that a chiropractic office often offers many other different kinds of services?

Here at Back n’ Touch Wellness Center, we not only provide quality chiropractic services that can help correct things like your gait, posture, or carpal tunnel syndrome, but we also offer other therapeutic techniques for better overall health. We can even help with allergies, asthma, and injuries from automobile accidents.

Familiarize yourself with some of the top services we can provide, including:

Acupuncture—Acupuncture is a treatment method that involves inserting thin needles into your skin. The needles are placed at strategic points in your body and can help treat stress, inflammation, and arthritis. It is also very effective in providing relief from headaches, fibromyalgia, and tennis elbow.

Chirossage—Chirossage is a mixed treatment that gives you the best of both worlds—the benefits of both chiropractic and massage services. It is applied with various techniques, including heat, ultrasound, and electric stimulation. It is helpful for reducing stress and depression, increasing your blood circulation, and providing joint and muscle pain relief.

Massage Therapy—We offer different forms of massage therapy, including Swedish, Deep Tissue, Reiki, Shiatsu, and many more. All of these different forms of massage therapy target specific techniques that can help eliminate tension, stimulate blood circulation, and reduce muscle soreness.

If you suffer from any of the mentioned conditions or are interested in finding out how our variety of services can help you, give us a call today.

Continue reading »]]> TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, is the medical term for the joints that join the upper and lower jaw together. TMD, dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint, is classified by pain in these joints. Frequent popping may also accompany the pain.

While heat or cold to the area, diet changes, and anti-inflammatory medications may work for some, others find that they need a more aggressive type of treatment. In some cases, people turn to surgery to ease the pain. Others simply learn to live with the pain. However, there is an alternative.

Chiropractic care can help ease the pain of TMJ symptoms. If you have never thought of visiting a chiropractor for your TMJ pain, you are not alone. This is something that few people realize. However, some have found that chiropractic care is often more effective than other types of treatment. This is because chiropractic care focuses on correcting the problem instead of just treating the symptoms.

To correct TMJ problems, chiropractors first focus on correcting the misalignment of the spine. Correction of the spine leads to an improved nervous system. This reduces the pain experienced with TMD. This, however, is only the first part of the treatment plan.

Chiropractors focus on the muscles of the jaw as well. These muscles, when stiff and tight, cause tension in the joints. This is the reason that you experience pain. These muscles will be massaged and relaxed to help reduce the amount of tension found within the jaw around the joints.

Also, during treatment, adjustment to specific trigger points, or muscle fibers, will be performed to re-position the jaw. Re-positioning the jaw has been shown to provide more long-term relief than other treatment methods. In some cases, chiropractic treatment may even prevent the return of TMJ pain.

Continue reading »]]> Chiropractic services help treat a wide range of medical conditions, but one of the first things many people think of when they think of visiting a chiropractor is the service that is provided for  following up with an injury of some sort. Injuries from sports and auto accidents are some of the most common reasons patients visit a chiropractor, and an auto accident injury is an especially important concern that often leads to the pursuit of treatment.

Sadly, injuries from auto accidents are very unique and can be very tricky, which is why it’s crucial to seek chiropractic treatment immediately following the accident. These types of injuries can show up days, weeks, and sometimes even months after the accident actually takes place. If you walk away from the scene of an accident thinking you will be fine because you feel okay afterward, your body might not experience the aftermath until some time has passed.

Prevent Your Injuries from Worsening

If you decide to delay chiropractic treatment after an accident, you might not only overlook an injury, you may just make it worse. For example, neck and back injuries—when undiscovered and left untreated—can become worse with time and possibly lead to more serious injuries down the road.

Prevent Unnecessary Medical Bills

Another reason visiting a chiropractor is so important after an auto accident is that you might just wind up with more medical bills down the road if you leave your injuries untreated. Not only do they have time to fester and worsen, but once they do, you’ll be required to seek more treatment, which means more money out of your wallet.

Be proactive and prevent your auto accident injuries from causing more problems by talking to us as soon as possible after your accident.

Continue reading »]]> Each year, thousands and thousands of people suffer from fibromyalgia, a debilitating myofascial disorder that severely limits a person’s function. Those who struggle with fibromyalgia have reported a lack of sleep, an excessive fatigue and overall tiredness, and even extensive periods of deep depression.

Thankfully, along with treating other injuries, chiropractic care can greatly increase the quality of life for the person who lives with fibromyalgia. Along with other healthy lifestyle choices, patients can experience great results by seeing a chiropractor as needed to treat this painful condition.

How Does Chiropractic Care Help?

Fibromyalgia causes the muscles to continually tighten and cramp up, which in turn results in the spine losing its ability to move around properly. Because of this tightening, the muscles restrict even more due to a triggered neurological reflex. This leads to more pain and symptoms that worsen with time. As new trigger points emerge over time, symptoms not only worsen but they also flare up more frequently.

Chiropractic care helps to alleviate and even eliminate the chronic pain that is experienced with fibromyalgia by constantly adjusting the spine. Studies have been done over the years to test the success of spinal adjustments on fibromyalgia pain, and countless patients have reported a relief in pain all over their bodies.

For example, a study done in 1985 resulted in patients experiencing a better quality of sleep and less fatigue on a daily basis. Talk to us today about your treatment options if you or someone you know struggles with fibromyalgia symptoms. We’d be glad to help you learn how to manage your symptoms and achieve a better quality of life.

Continue reading »]]> Chiropractors see patients with many types of pain, and sciatica is a very common type they encounter. Many patients are aware of their condition and what causes it, but in some cases, the patient has no idea what is causing their pain. They see physician after physician with no answers, and they are left to figure out the problem on their own. Treatment may not even be an option because the patient’s physician doesn’t offer it.

You may be wondering what sciatica is, or if you even have it. Sciatica causes pain that originates in the lower back area or the buttock region. The pain it produces travels to one or both of your legs, and for many, it can be completely debilitating. In general, though, the pain varies from one patient to the next. Pain may not be regular, but intermittent instead. It may arise and disappear after a few days, or it may be constant and interfere with your ability to function properly.

A majority of patients describe sciatica the same way: a sharp, stabbing, or shooting pain. Some patients also describe it as feeling like pins and needles. This can feel like you have an electrical shock running down your leg and even into your foot. Numbness and tingling are also quite common, and they usually occur along with the sharp pains. This is a result of nerve compression, which is what makes sciatica a symptom instead of a disorder. So, sciatica is actually a symptom of a nerve compression disorder.

Treatment for sciatica is usually handled by a chiropractor, and it can be very effective. The type of treatment you undergo will mainly depend on the severity of your condition. Generally, you can expect to undergo a combination of therapies, which will be used to help provide proper treatment of the condition.

The most common treatments for sciatica sufferers are ultrasound and cold therapy, which help to reduce any inflammation of the nerve, while at the same time controlling the pain. It is often paired with a flexion/distraction technique, which helps to loosen tight musculature and mobilize tightened joints. It works by decompressing the irritated nerves and restoring proper motion. If you’re possibly suffering from crippling sciatica symptoms, talk to a chiropractor today.

Continue reading »]]> According to studies, nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. And while some suffer from only mild, occasional headaches, others don’t fare quite so lucky. In fact, there are some individuals that suffer from headaches that are so frequent and severe that they interfere with day to day life.

No matter how frequent or severe your headaches, chiropractic care can help. This can be a favorable alternative to taking medication, which can sometimes only result in having the problem return – or worse, not go away at all. It can also be better than just hoping that the headache goes away when nothing else works.

What a Chiropractor Does for Headaches

One or more methods may be used to treat your headaches. The methods used will depend greatly on the actual causes of your headaches. Your treatment will most likely start with an evaluation so that your chiropractor can narrow down the triggers or reasons behind your headaches. Once a source is found, your chiropractor may perform spinal manipulation, provide you with helpful nutritional advice, or offer advice on posture and relaxation that can help reduce tension.

Why Chiropractic Care Works for Headaches

Multiple studies have been done on the efficiency of chiropractic care treatment for headaches. Particularly for headaches that originate in the neck or from tension, these studies have shown that they are treated more effectively by chiropractic care than with medication.

Like many conditions treated in medicine, a headache is not an illness – it is a symptom. This means that your headache is best treated by addressing the cause or source. The reason that chiropractic care is so effective in treating headaches is that unlike medication, chiropractic care addresses the source of the headache.

Most patients who have received chiropractic care for their headaches report immediate results. They also report that the treatment results last much longer than with medication. Additionally, those who completed chiropractic care for headaches were more likely to receive sustainable therapy results than those who stopped taking headache medication. If you want to treat the source of your headaches instead of just treating the headache, visit a chiropractor.