How Safe Is Chiropractic Care?

For the millions of people who suffer back pain and other ailments that are readily treated by chiropractors, a common concern is the safety of chiropractic care.  While chiropractic techniques are widely recognized as being safe and effective, there remain doubts as to whether or not this is the best option for individuals suffering from the result of an accident, injury or muscle strain.  Here we take a closer look at the safety of chiropractic care as well as the ailments commonly treated with this type of care.

What is chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care begins with trained chiropractors who perform hands-on spinal manipulation as well as other treatments to properly align the body’s musculoskeletal structure.  Chiropractic care is based on the concept that when the body is properly aligned, it is better able to heal itself without the use of surgery or medication.  Chiropractic care can be used on its own to treat and relieve pain for muscles, joints, cartilage, ligaments and tendons.  It can also be used with conventional medical treatment. 

Chiropractic care safety.

There are millions of patients who will attest to the benefits of chiropractic care.  While every form of health treatment poses some risk of negative side effects, when performed correctly, chiropractic care has an excellent safety record.  The key of course is making sure the chiropractor who performs the treatments is knowledgeable and skilled in the area of chiropractic care.  Spinal manipulation when not properly administered could result in serious complications; therefore it is essential to find the right chiropractor who has the training and experience needed to perform adjustments. 

Benefits versus risks.

The most common ailments treated with chiropractic care include back and neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms and legs as well as headaches.  As with any other treatment designed to address physical ailments, there are no guaranteed results of chiropractic care.  As a general rule, when performed correctly patients report feeling relief from pain after treatments, with some occasionally reporting soreness and aching.  If the sense of soreness or aching is similar to that of which you would feel after exercise or some other physical exertion, it is usually normal and fades within a day.  For many patients receiving chiropractic care, the short term pain relief is often better than that found after taking pain medication. 

Despite the relief reported by patients with both acute and chronic pain, there are certain risks associated with chiropractic care.  Spinal manipulation should be avoided by individuals who have osteoporosis, inflammatory arthritis or spinal cord compression.  To avoid a bad chiropractic experience, you must take the time to find the right chiropractor to address your needs.  There are thousands of chiropractors from which to choose, therefore it is important that you find one who is well trained and who has the experience to perform treatments with minimal risk.  One should ask friends, family members or co-workers if they have any experience with chiropractic care and if so who they would recommend for treatment.  By finding the right person to perform treatments, you increase the likelihood of success while reducing risk of injury. 

Your Tulsa Chiropractor

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

If you suffer from muscle spasms, you know that they can be at the very least annoying and severe ones can be downright painful. Muscle spasms are involuntary muscle contractions that cause your muscle to shorten. When you are experiencing a muscle spasm you will feel a tightness or cramping sensation. Muscle spasms can occur all over you body but are most common in the neck, legs (hamstrings, quadriceps), arms and back.

If you are experiencing a low intensity cramping in the muscle, or a twitch or tick in the muscle, it could very likely be a muscle spasm. Other common symptoms include severe pain in the muscle, tightening of the muscle, a sudden sharp unpleasant sensation in the muscle or even muscle fatigue.

There are a variety of causes that can lead to muscle spasms. One of the most common is prolonged or excessive exercise. When you exercise too often or for very long periods of time, your muscles do not have a chance to relax and as a result muscle spasms can occur. Muscle spasms can also occur from dehydration, an injury or some type of trauma to the muscle. Muscle spasms can also be symptoms of neuromuscular diseases like multiple sclerosis or MS.

Many people find relief from muscle spasms with good, consistent chiropractic care. Chiropractors are highly trained medical professionals that use drug free alternative methods to treat patients. While some people are skeptical of visiting a chiropractor for treatment, many swear by their practices for relief.

On your first visit to a chiropractor, you will be asked to share your medical history and explain your current conditions. The chiropractor will then perform an exam which will most often include a check of your range of motion and what your neurological muscle function ability is. The chiropractor will also play close attention to your joint mobility. You also may be sent for x-rays.

After your medical history and exam, the chiropractor will decide on a treatment plan for you. There are a variety of techniques that they may suggest for your care, all of which can help with muscle spasms. Here are some of the most common chiropractic treatments for muscle spasms.

Joint manipulation

Joint manipulation is the most common treatment that chiropractors use. Most often they manipulate your spine, but they can also be trained to manipulate joints in other areas. Manipulation allows you spine and joints to restore normal motion which in turn leads to reduced pain and a decrease in muscle spasms.

Soft Tissue Manipulation

Soft tissue manipulation is another common technique used when treating muscle spasms. Treatment can include therapeutic stretching and massage therapy. These types of treatments help to reduce fluid, reduce scar tissue and provide relief for muscle spasms.

Associated Therapies

The chiropractor may also use associated therapies for the treatment of muscle spasms. This can include hot and cold treatments, electrical stimulation of the affected muscle or ultrasound. These therapies help greatly to increase circulation to the muscles and also prevent swelling of the muscle and prevent scarring. Associated therapies very often reduce pain and are a means for prevention of further injury and injury recurrences. Of course the ultimate goal is to reduce the muscle spasm.

Exercise

Very often chiropractors will also recommend some strength training exercises and stretching moves for you to do in between visits.

Nutrition and Supplementation

Chiropractors are also trained in health and nutrition and very often will recommend diet changes and certain supplements that can help with the healing process.  Many chiropractors sell recommended supplements right at their office or they will recommend supplements that you can purchase elsewhere.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

Each year more than six million automobile accidents occur in the United States. As a result, around 3 million people annually suffer from some type of injury related to an automobile accident. One of the most common injuries is whiplash. Whiplash can be a result of even minor car accidents. Contrary to what some people believe, whiplash can be very serious and debilitating for those that are affected by it.

 If you have recently been in a car accident or even if you were in an accident months or years ago, and are suffering from any of the following symptoms, you very well could have whiplash. Whiplash can show up immediately or develop over time.

• Neck pain
• Stiffness in the neck or shoulders
• Shoulder pain
• Fatigue
• Tension or irritability
• Dizziness
• Blurred Vision
• Recurrent headaches
• Vertigo or ringing in the ears
• Numbness and/or pins and needle sensation
• Nausea
• Back pain, mainly lower
• Pain in feet or hands
• Pain in arms or legs
• Anxiety

Believe it or not, all of these symptoms can be related to whip lash. Many people suffer needlessly from these symptoms for months, years and even for the remainder of their life, not knowing that chiropractic care can be the answer.

If you have been in a car accident, it is a good idea to visit a chiropractor as soon as possible. Chiropractors are well educated and trained alternative doctors that specialize in the care of the musculoskeletal system. Their thought is that misalignments in the nervous system can cause a whole slew of problems, including symptoms of whip lash. Through spinal manipulations they are able to correct alignment and provide patients with relief.

When you are a in a car accident your ligaments, soft tissue and vertebrae in your neck and spine very often are injured.  Many people do not realize that a chiropractor can help, and instead will seek traditional medical treatment for their symptoms. While more and more traditional doctors are recognizing that chiropractic can benefit car accident patients, there are still many more that will treat whip lash symptoms with pain medication and even surgery. These treatment options very often do very little to help the accident victim heal.

When you first visit a chiropractor for whiplash, the Dr. will access your injury and very often take x-rays to help them with setting up a treatment plan that will work. In most cases the Chiropractor will provide treatment at your first visit. This will most often include spinal manipulation but can also include hot or cold treatment, massage, stretching and more.  The chiropractor may also recommend some exercises or stretching to be done at home in between treatments. Before you leave your first visit, the chiropractor will recommend and start you on an intense treatment plan. More than likely you will need to visit the chiropractor often, at least in the beginning of your treatment. As your symptoms begin to alleviate, you can usually go longer in between visits. Most people will set up maintenance treatments, usually about once a month, after they have healed.

Chiropractic care is considered safe for just about everyone. Even children and the elderly can benefit from chiropractic care after a car accident. Most health insurance companies recognize the benefits of chiropractic care and most health care insurance companies do cover chiropractic treatment. Before choosing a chiropractor you will want to make sure that they accept your insurance plan and it is not a bad idea to get referrals from friends or family members.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

Chiropractors are doctors that diagnose and treat patients who have issues that relate to their musculoskeletal system. Chiropractic care is considered, by the medical community, to be an alternative form of medicine. Chiropractors do not provide traditional means of care. They do not prescribe drugs nor do they provide surgical care. In fact, their approach to health and healing is quite different than traditional medicine. Chiropractors approach care by focusing on the patient’s overall health and well being. Chiropractor’s main plan of treatment is through spinal manipulation. Many chiropractors are also experts in nutrition and overall health and can recommend specific diets, supplements, certain therapeutic exercises and more to go along with your treatment plan.

Many people each year visit a chiropractor for extremity pain, complaining about issues related to knees, elbows, hips, wrists, shoulders, ankles and so on. There are numerous causes for extremity pain ranging from repetitive motion, falls, playing sports, improper sitting, overexertion or simply just gradual buildup of biomechanical stress. Commonly, people with extremity issues are diagnosed as having tennis elbow, heal spurs, carpal tunnel syndrome, runner’s knee, frozen shoulder, arch collapse and more. Traditional medical treatment for such conditions can range from pain medication to muscle relaxants to steroids or as a last resort surgery. Many people do not like these options, and instead will look for alternative treatment options, including chiropractic care.  

When you suffer an injury to one of your extremities in can be downright painful. Not to mention, that you more often than not will also have a slew of other not so pleasant symptoms. These can include reduced range of motion, inflammation, calcium buildup and even scar tissue. Good Chiropractic care, with a focus on therapy to the extremities can help to greatly improve the range of motion to the joints, enhance blood circulation to the area and reduce scar tissue. Overall, chiropractic care can shorten the healing time without the use of drugs, steroids or surgery.

When you first visit a chiropractor for extremity pain, they will exam you, try to determine the cause of the injury, offer treatment options and then work with you to determine a plan of action.  Most often the treatment plan will consist of spinal manipulations along with other treatments like heat therapy, massage, hot and cold therapy and a variety of active range of motion exercises that you will be asked to do at home. The chiropractor, when developing your treatment plan, will take into consideration such things as your age, lifestyle and any other current health conditions. At the beginning of your treatment you may need to visit your chiropractor a couple of times a week and then gradually decrease your visits as you begin to see improvement.

If you have extremity pain in your ankles or knees, for example, the chiropractor may also recommend and prescribe custom made stabilizing orthotics. Many issues that people have with joints and even back pain can be caused from foot pronation. For many people, spinal manipulations in conjunction with stabilizing orthotics and some corrective exercises can completely eliminate lower joint extremity pain.

Chiropractors very often, will also offer a variety of other services to patients who are interested. Many chiropractors, in addition to spinal manipulations, orthotics, therapeutic exercises, and so on also provide consultations on dietary and healthy lifestyle issues. Many will provide individual or group consolations, focusing on different areas of your overall health and well being. Some provide individual plans to help you lose and maintain a healthy weight. Many chiropractors will also offer a variety of nutritional supplements to their patients for purchase.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

Carpal tunnel syndrome can be a painful, long-term injury that causes most patients to seek medical treatment once they can no longer stand the pain or the feeling of weakness in their hands, fingers, and wrists. People generally will seek the advice of a chiropractor when they are having problems associated with their neck and their back but rarely does one realize the benefits of chiropractic care when it comes to other conditions, namely carpal tunnel syndrome.

What Is Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

Carpel tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a stress injury related to repetitive motion. For instance, administrative personnel who type all day long or those who work assembly line jobs and do the same motions over and over are susceptible to carpal tunnel syndrome which can cause pain and additional injury over time. The term stems from the bones of the wrist which are known as carpal bones and form a tunnel where nerves from the forearm go to the hand. The tendons in the affected area become swollen and leads to a pinched nerve in the carpal tunnel.

What Are the Symptoms of Carpal Tunnel?

Carpal tunnel symptoms usually involve numbness or pain in the fingers, hands, and wrist. Tingling sensations, weakness and shooting pains are commonly associated with carpal tunnel. In some patients both wrist will be affected but in others only one wrist will have the symptoms. The pain can be present at all times or in some cases, only during the repetitive motions act. Eventually the pain or lack of feeling can persist even after periods of non-activity and rest.

How Is Carpal Tunnel Diagnosed?

Diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome can be done through a physical exam, questions related to work and life habits, and x-rays. For patients experiencing pain in their hands and wrists that radiate into the arm, it is best to seek medical advice as soon as possible. The earlier carpal tunnel is diagnosed, the better the end result will be.

How Can a Chiropractor Treat Carpal Tunnel?

Chiropractic methods are a non-invasive treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome and an alternative for pain relief outside of medications and surgery. In research, chiropractic treatment for carpal tunnel has been very effective at helping a patient overcome repetitive stress injuries. The health and age of a person is a factor in the healing process but chiropractic care for treating carpal tunnel has been positive for all patients.

Spinal Manipulations

A chiropractor can use manipulation techniques to adjust the wrist and elbow. They can also work the upper spine by applying controlled pressure to a joint.

Ultrasound Treatment

This type of therapy will use high energy or low energy sound which can not be heard by the human ear. The ultrasound equipment uses sound waves that penetrate the tissue and will serve to relax muscles, reduce inflammation, and stop pain.

Rest

A patient may be advised to stop performing certain work altogether or for a designated period of time depending on the severity of the injury. If the area is inflamed, rest will be necessary to reduce the swelling before treatment can begin.

Exercise

A patient may be advised of certain exercises to be performed daily to alleviate pressure and pain on the wrist area.

Braces/Splints

Wrist supports can be utilized to keep the wrists aligned properly to prevent additional injuries during movement. The braces will keep the area immobile and allow the body to rest from the repetitive motions.

Seeking medical care when numbness or pain is first present is the best advice. A chiropractor can use their techniques to relieve the pressure on the nerves, fight the inflammation and swelling, and treat the current injury before it gets worse. Consider it as a beneficial alternative to more invasive procedures like surgery or to avoid having to take medications to alleviate the pain and pressure.

Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

What is Asthma?

Asthma is a breathing condition that affects many people of all ages. Some suffer with asthma for their entire life from childhood, while others can develop asthma later in life (adult onset asthma). Unfortunately, asthma does not have a cure, and depending on the severity of the condition, it can play a debilitating role in a person’s life.

When people breathe, air is inhaled and exhaled into and out of the lungs, so that oxygen can be taken into the body and carbon dioxide can be expelled. Within the lungs, the air travels through smaller and smaller tubes until it reaches the bronchioles. The bronchioles have a lining that is only one cell thick, which allows the gas exchange between the blood and the air within the lungs.

During an asthma attack, the bronchioles can spasm, swell, fill with liquid or any combination of these effects. As such, the air does not reach the blood as well, which means the person feels like he or she cannot breath. At the mildest, an asthma attack can cause an unpleasant feeling of not being able to catch your breath. At the worst, these attacks can prove to be fatal. As such, finding a successful method of treatment for this condition is extremely important.

Treating Asthma

In many cases, when a person suffers from an asthma attack, some type of medication is used to reduce the symptoms of the attack. There are basically two types of medication prescribed for those who suffer from asthma. Inhalers are often used to provide temporary relief during an attack, and other medicines, like steroids, are used by some to prevent asthma attacks from happening. As more and more research is done into asthma and what causes the condition, further treatment options besides medication are becoming available.

One method of treating asthma is through chiropractic treatments. The goal of any chiropractic treatment is to find the root cause of the symptoms and then treat that cause and not the symptoms themselves. In the case of asthma, the asthma attacks are actually the symptoms and the chiropractor works to determine what is causing the asthma so that it can be corrected. By correcting this root cause, the chiropractor will be treating the patient’s asthma as well.

There are many causes for asthma, so it is important that the right cause is found. In those that have adult onset asthma, it is not uncommon to find that the asthma started after some kind of injury. The injury could be anything from a car accident to a fall or an injury while playing a sport. By pinpointing this injury or trauma and making any corrections through chiropractic treatments, the asthma in the patient can be reduced or even eliminated.

Even in children or those who have had asthma since they were children, there have been studies that show that chiropractic treatments can help reduce the severity of the asthma. Based on the symptoms of asthma, there is a firm belief that the nervous system has a role in asthma attacks. As such, chiropractic treatments look for ways to reduce any pressure on the nervous system that may be affecting the lungs. One such example is a misalignment of the spine. If the spine is misaligned, this in turn can affect the nerves of the lungs. If these nerves are not functioning properly, then it is likely that the lungs won’t function properly either. By realigning the spine, the pressure on the nerves will be reduced, meaning the lungs can function better.

Chiropractic treatments have been used both to prevent asthma and during asthma attacks. Some people have found that if they have a chiropractic treatment while suffering an asthma attack, the treatment stops the attack and they are able to breathe normally without having to use any medication. There are many people who suffer from asthma and have found that with regular chiropractic treatments, their symptoms are either reduced or completely eliminated.

 Your Tulsa Chiropractor,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

www.MarshallChiropractic.com

You are invited to our patient appreciation day on Wednesday, May 12^th.  Come and enjoy a FREE MASSAGE from our massage therapist.  There will also be food and door prizes. We will be doing free consultations for you as well as your friends and family members, so please feel free to bring them as well.

Call to schedule your appointment today!  If it has been a while since your last visit this may be a great time to have any underlying problems checked out.  I would like the opportunity to personally thank you for being our patient and trusting us in playing a part in your health care.  We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, May 12^th. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Ryan Marshall, D.C.

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