Is chiropractic effective?
Chiropractic is effective in helping to remove postural imbalances and structural misalignments that can accumulate in our bodies over time. Chiropractic works by restoring your own inborn ability to be healthy. For your body to remain healthy, your nervous system must function well. In order for the nervous system to function properly it must be free of interference. Chiropractic adjustments can restore spinal function, which removes nerve interference from misaligned vertebrae.  This allows optimal nervous system function and, therefore, improved health.

Why should I see a Chiropractor?
A chiropractor is not only for back pain and neck pain. Chiropractic care is an excellent way to keep your entire body at its peak performance through nutrition, adjustment and overall wellness. In addition, chiropractic care has been known to help a wide range of conditions from fibromyalgia to diabetes.

What is Subluxation?
When a vertebrae comes out of alignment, or moves out of its normal position, this is referred to subluxation. Subluxations can be caused by a wide range of issues ranging from a minor slip or bump to a car accident or any sudden trauma. When a vertebrae is out of alignment, it begins to put pressure on nerves, blood vessels and everything around it. This pressure comes with a price. Messages sent from the brain need a clear path way, the subluxation interrupts this natural pathway.

How does chiropractic care work?
Chiropractic care is an overall way of looking at the human body. It's based on the idea that the body is self-sustaining and self-healing. The body is controlled by the brain through its connection via the spinal cord and the vast networks of nerves that make up the body. When this system is not functioning at its peak, the overall performance of the human body is lacking.

The chiropractic world does not utilize drage and medicine as the primary way of treating a patient. Supplements and nutrition are almost always a part of the bigger picture, drugs and prescriptions can be viewed as band-aids to treat symptoms rather than going to the source and treating the real problem.

Chiropractic care is often thought to be used solely to treat back and neck pain, but that is just a small part of what the profession is capable of handling. Chiropractors not only treat soft and hard tissue problems such as sciatica and joint pain, but are also called on to deal with more significant issues. Some of these issues include fibromyalgia, allergies, insomnia, headaches and many more.

What results can I expect from treatment?
Chiropractic is centered around the idea of removing imbalances, both structural and postural, in an effort to allow the body to heal itself. For this to happen, the network of nerves and signals from your brain, down your spinal cord, to the network of nerves must be allowed to flow freely without any interruption. Chiropractors have the ability and skill to remove these interruptions or misalignments and allow the body to perform as it was meant to.

If you've ever been in a car accident, played a sport, fell down or just bumped into something too hard, it's very possible that your body is not functioning at it's best due to a misalignment. While there are many potential causes, mechanical or structural, for misalignment, there are also chemical reasons. For example, if you smoke or drink excessively or even just have a poor diet, these can cause chemical issues in your body, which can eventually cause underlying conditions or disease to appear.

Allowing a chiropractor to get you back on track both chemically and structurally will bring your body back to the proper state it should be in to perform at its peak.

These simple movements or daily routines can end up hurting you if you're not careful. Make sure to do these simple activities the right way as outlined below:

Standing

Posture. Posture. Posture. Make sure that you keep your chin up and don't slouch. If you know that you are going to be standing for a long period of time, make sure that you wear comfortable shoes.

Working at a Desk

Make sure that you are getting up every 20 minutes to stretch. The type of chair you have is extremely important. It should fit you correctly so that your back touches the chair and your feet are on the floor with knees at a 90 degree angle. Try to avoid looking down at your computer screen. It should be at eye level.

Sitting

Make sure you have a chair that is supportive. When you are forced to sit for a long period of time, for instance at a desk job, make sure to get up and stretch every 20 minutes. Sit with your back against the chair, feet firmly on the floor. Do not cross your legs.

Lifting

Lifting objects is one of the most common ways to injure yourself. Even if it is a light object, twisting or pulling in the wrong direction when you're not stretched out can have a damaging effect on muscles and the spine. You always want to bend at the knees and avoid lifting anything you know is too heavy.

Overall Physical Activity

If you know that you are going to be working or playing for a while, make sure that you are adequately stretched out and warmed up. Even if it's something light like gardening or just pushing your child on a bike, it's easy to pull something if you're not warmed up.

Talking On The Telephone

If you're forced to use the telephone for a long period of time, a speaker or a headset is a must. By all means try to avoid cradling the phone between your neck and your shoulder as this could cause you to damage the muscles or vertebrae in that area.

Resting or Sleeping

Straining your neck or back while you're sleeping is a very common occurrence. We often fall asleep in strange positions where we are not supported properly or our necks are at an odd angle. Make sure that if you are going to nap or watch tv in bed, that you are in a supportive position.

Auto Injury
Being in a car accident is a very difficult situation in many ways. Your pain is sometimes secondary to the aftermath of having your car at the mechanic, the stress of dealing with your insurance, and potentially missing work.

While dealing with getting your car fixed and back to your normal life, make sure to see your chiropractor before you make any major decisions. What you think is a minor stiff neck may actually be coming from underlying injuries that are not allowing your body to fully recover.  A car accident is a major event and the trauma that comes from them could be significant.

Chiropractors are specialists in soft and hard tissue problems including the results that could come from the trauma from a car accident. Call us today to get a full examination.
Personal Injury
Personal injury relates to bodily harm that comes from being involved in any type of accident or mishap. Chiropractors are professionals at uncovering underlying issues in personal injury accidents. Whether it be a single adjustment or a series of treatment, your chiropractor is one of the best options to get you healing on the right path and back to near perfect.

If you find yourself in a personal injury accident, make sure that you at least get a consultation with a chiropractor as you may have underlying issues that traditional medicine may have missed. Don't let that injury go unnoticed and cause more, and potentially major, issues in the future.
Sports Injury
Chiropractors have specific training in evaluating and treating the injuries and ailments of athletes. Chiropractors can often treat an injured athlete more effectively than a medical doctor, who is not well versed in sports injuries. In addition to treating athletic injuries, the chiropractor is skilled in aiding the athlete in injury prevention.

Athletes who receive treatment from a medical doctor find themselves frequently benched and on the sidelines. Others play and then spend hours after the game with ice packs and taking pain medication. Medical doctors do not treat the body as an integrated system, but rather treats each injury individually.

It has been said that chiropractic care most closely relates to the needs of the athlete because special attention is given to the spine, joints, muscles, tendons, and nerves. Chiropractic care ensures that all pieces of the musculoskeletal system are working in harmony and in their healthiest, most natural state.

If you are an athlete, chiropractic care will enable you to reach peak performance, without breaking yourself. Make an appointment today to ensure your body is performing to your maximum ability.

www.chiropracticissafe.org-Both insurance records and court cases have shown that chiropractic is the safest portal of entry health care available to the public today. Although no healthcare procdures are 100% safe, chiropractic is able to stand on it's own record of safety and effectiveness. 
The American Chiropractic Association
The Chiropractic Resource Organization
Chiropractic History Archive
The Chiropractic Profession and Its Research and Education Programs
Chiropractic in the United States: Training, Practice, and Research (1997)

Chiropractic treatments for back pain-A Spine-health.com feature (use menu points on left side)
Dynamic Chiropractic Online-ChiroWeb, Chiropractic news source
National Directory of Chiropractic-Listing of Chiropractors and information on education and the profession.
National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine -National Institute of Health Manipulative and Body-Based Practices
The Future of Chiropractic Revisited: 2005 to 2015
Olympic Games Inspire Optimal Athletic Care
Planet Chiropractic -One of the oldest websites about chiropractic, written by chiropractors for chiropractors and the general public.

Spine Health Website

PARTIAL SIT UP
Partial sit ups are recommended for people with back pain. The same muscle groups are worked out without putting stress on the lower back. You will start just like a regular sit up with your back on the floor, both feet on the floor, and your knees bent. Raise your head, neck, and shoulders off of the floor and hold that position for 5 seconds. This exercise will strengthen your core and is simple to do. Repeat as many times as you can, with a goal of increasing your reps each day.

KNEE TO CHEST
You start this exercise the same way as the partial sit up. Begin the exercise by drawing one of your knees to your chest, using both hands (only one foot is now in the air). Hold to the count of 10, then slowly release it to the rest position. Do 4-5 repetitions, and then repeat with your other leg, then both legs at the same time. This exercise stretches your glutes and back.

HIP ROLL
Start this exercise flat on your back with your arms extended out to the side. Bend your knees and lift your feet off of the ground. You will now rotate your hips to the side so that your legs become parallel with the floor. Rotate from side to side for 5-10 repetitions. This is another core exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles.

LOW BACK EXTENSION
Start by laying flat on your stomach with your hands to your side. Lift your head and upper body off of the ground by using the muscles in your lower back. Hold this position for 4-5 seconds and then lower yourself back down. Repeat 10-15 times.

CAT-CAMEL
Position yourself on all fours with hands directly beneath your shoulders and knees directly beneath your hips with your back straight. Use your abdominal muscles to push your back towards the ceiling, arching it like a cat. You should notice your head will point down towards the floor. Next, drop your back so that your lower back extends. Your head should raise when doing this. Make sure to keep your elbows straight the entire time, the only movement should be in your spine. Repeat this 12-15 times.

BACK EXTENSION
This exercise is best performed with a stability ball. Lay with your stomach on the stability ball with your hands behind your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles and use your lower back muscles by contracting your glutes to lift your shoulders and chest off the ball.

SUPERMAN
Lie face down with your arms extended above your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles and lift your arms and legs off the ground. It should look like you are in a Superman like flying position. Hold this for about 30 seconds and then release. You may be tempted to hold your breath when clenching your abdominal muscles. DON'T! Control your breathing while holding this position.

DOUBLE LEG LIFTS
Using a stability ball, lay face down with your hands on the floor in front of the ball. Raise both legs off of the floor until your body is horizontal and hold the position for about 10 seconds. Lower your legs back down to the floor and repeat 5-10 times.

SPINAL ROTATION
While seated in a chair, reach one arm across your stomach and grasp the opposite side of the chair. Look over the shoulder while rotating the low- and mid-back. Hold for 15-30 seconds.

EXTERNAL SHOULDER ROTATION
Start by lying on your right side with your right arm folded under your head. Your upper left arm should be parallel to your torso, bent at the elbow so that your forearm is lying across your stomach with your hand on the floor. By rotating your left shoulder, raise your forearm so that it is perpendicular to the side of your body.   Switch to your other side and repeat. This exercise can also be performed with a dumbbell.

INTERNAL SHOULDER ROTATION
Lay on your right side, like in the external shoulder rotation, but keep your right hand free this time. Keep your right arm next to your body and bend at the elbow. Rotate your shoulder to move your forearm. It will start flat on the floor, and then you will rotate it into your body so that your forearm is flat across your stomach. Repeat this motion 10-15 times and use a dumbbell if you prefer.

LATERAL DELTOID RAISE
Start with your arms to the side of your body, palms facing the thighs. Tighten the abdominals, bend the knees slightly, and position the feet about shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms straight out to your side until they are shoulder height. Hold that position briefly, and slowly return your arms to your sides.

FRONT DELTOID RAISE
Start with your arms in front of your body, palms facing the thighs. Tighten the abdominals, bend the knees slightly, and position the feet about shoulder-width apart. Raise your arms straight out in front of you until they are shoulder height. Hold that position briefly, and slowly lower your arms.

SINGLE-ARM LAT PULLDOWN
Begin with both hands overhead holding an elastic resistance band. Engage the abdominals, bend the knees slightly, and position the feet about shoulder-width apart.

Pull downward to the side with one arm, adducting at the shoulder until the upper arm is next to the torso. Pause, then return slowly to the starting position. Keeps your arms slightly in front of the face to protect the back and shoulders.

STABILITY BALL PUSH-UPS
Start with the ball under your stomach and your hands on the floor in front of you. Roll forward slowly until your shins are balancing on the stability ball. Now perform pushups as your normally would by bending at the elbow.

SIDE LUMBAR BRIDGE
Lie on one side with your legs straight. Support the upper body by keeping the elbow directly beneath the shoulder. Being careful not to let the top hip rotate forward, engage the abdominals and use the torso to lift the hips. Hold this position for 10 to 15 seconds, maintaining a neutral neck and spine position.

SINGLE-LEG REVERSE CURL
Lie on your back with one knee flexed and foot flat on the floor and the other leg straight out slightly raised off the ground. Extend arms flat along body and maintain neutral alignment in the cervical spine.

Lift the working knee and leg in an upward diagonal direction over the belly button. Pause, then slowly lower the leg to the starting position. Repeat with other leg.

CRUNCH W/ STABILITY BALL
Lay down with your back on the stability ball and your hands behind your head or folded across your chest. Maintain a backwards-pelvic tilt and raise shoulder blades off the ball, return to the starting position, and repeat.

NECK FLEXION
Stand facing the wall and hold the stability ball at forehead height. Use your neck muscles to push your forehead into the stability ball. Relax and repeat.

NECK EXTENSION
Stand facing away from the wall and hold the stability ball behind your head. Push back of head into the ball.

NECK LATERAL
Stand sideways to the wall. Hold the stability ball above your shoulder at the side of your head. Push side of heads laterally into the ball.

NECK STRETCHES

• Bring your ear to your shoulder
• Let your neck sit in that position for 5 to 7 seconds.
• Force your ear toward your shoulder.
• Feel the stretch of your neck muscle on the opposite side.

Same principle as the exercise before.

• Bring head back as if you are looking toward the ceiling.
• Feel the stretch in the muscles located on the front part of your neck.

If this exercise causes dizziness, fainting or loss of balance… STOP THE EXERCISE AND CONTACT YOUR PHYSICIAN.

• Rotate your head toward your (R or L) shoulder and then
• Nod your head down and you will feel a stretch on the opposite side of which you are looking. Hold for a few seconds and repeat.

NECK EXERCISES FOR STRENGTH

• Put your hand on your forehead and force your forehead against your hand to provide resistance. You can do this in several sets of 6, 8, or 10 repetitions.
• Place your hands on the back of your neck and force your head back while providing resistance with your hands.

Do all of these exercises in several sets of 6, 8, or 10 several times a day and you will be surprised at the amount of flexibility that returns in a couple of months.
 

Going to the chiropractor is a new experience for many of us. Maybe you've heard about it through a friend or have done some research online. Possibly, you are just so tired of living in pain that you have finally decided it's time to do something about it. 

Your first visit to the chiropractor is not only about discussing your history, current condition, and goals, but also a time for you to get to know the chiropractor. As with any doctor's visit, you'll start by completing some new patient paperwork. When meeting with the doctor, you'll discuss your concerns and expectations as well as have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have. We will perform a physical examination and take x-rays to see what your current state is. Once this is complete, we'll take a look at the overall results of our conversation and the exams. Together, we'll come up with a plan of action which will begin when you are completely satisfied with the plan and ready to move forward.

Chiropractic care is an excellent means of dealing with workers compensation issues. If you've had an injury on the job and you have already tried traditional medical care, it may be time to try chiropractic care. Chiropractors are professionals that can help you deal with the underlying issues that have been missed by medical doctors. Finding the source of the injury can help you fix the problem, rather than just finding ways to deal with the pain.  

Chiropractors can also assist in the healing process and minimizing the need for addictive pain pills or potentially risky surgery. If you've been injured at work, be sure to go see a chiropractor for an initial consultation.