Chiropractor Frisco TX treats many conditions with spinal manipulation and soft tissue therapies. They use different techniques to increase mobility, reduce pain, and relieve symptoms.
Spinal misalignments are often at the root of many chronic body aches and pains. Chiropractors manually adjust the spine, improving alignment and reducing nerve irritation. They also help to retrain muscles and joints to function optimally.
Neck pain can be due to a variety of conditions such as muscle strains/sprains, herniated discs, and joint dysfunction. The first step in treating neck pain is to identify the main origin through a thorough history and evaluation. Once a diagnosis is formulated the Chiropractor can begin treatment to the area in question.
Typically, neck pain is caused by the overuse or misuse of the muscles, ligaments, and bones in the neck. This can result from poor posture, sleep position, or a traumatic injury such as whiplash. In some cases, a doctor may need to do tests such as blood tests or MRI to find the cause of neck pain.
Most of the time, neck pain and stiffness are not serious and will subside with rest, over-the-counter pain medications, or heat/ice therapy. However, if the pain is severe or limits your ability to move your head/neck in certain ways or if you have red flag symptoms such as fever, chills, weakness, or numbness in the arms, you should seek medical attention immediately.
The neck consists of a series of vertebrae that extend from your skull to the upper spine. These vertebrae are held together by a complex system of muscles, ligaments, and nerves. The neck has a wide range of movement which makes it prone to stress and injury from bad posture, falls, car accidents or even just sleeping on the wrong pillow.
If a bone in the neck shifts or moves, it can lead to neck pain and stiffness as well as pinched nerves and headaches. A chiropractor can gently manipulate and massage the neck muscles to restore the proper alignment of the spine. This can help relieve neck pain, reduce muscle spasms, and decrease the pressure on the nerves in the neck.
In some cases, neck pain is caused by a condition such as rheumatoid arthritis which causes chronic inflammation of the joints in the neck. Other times, neck pain is caused by a narrowing of the spinal canal which can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves. This can also cause numbness, weakness, and tingling in the arms or hands.
Back Pain
Back pain is the most common reason that people visit a chiropractor. It can be caused by herniated discs, muscle or tendon strains, and even poor posture or sleeping positions. Back pain may feel like achy or stiffness, or it may be sharp or burning. Sometimes, back pain can also cause numbness or tingling in the legs or feet. A chiropractor will usually perform a physical and neurological examination of the patient to make an accurate diagnosis before treating back pain.
Chiropractors treat back pain by releasing tight muscles, stretching the spine, and increasing spinal flexibility. They may also use soft tissue therapy, such as massage or trigger point work, kinesio taping, or other joint bracing to ease spasms and help the body heal. In addition to manual manipulation, chiropractors might employ other modalities, such as ultrasound, TENS (tiny electric pulses that don’t hurt), low-level laser, and infrared sauna to reduce inflammation and relax the muscles.
In many cases, chiropractors will teach patients at-home stretches and other exercises to prevent future injuries. They can also suggest changes to a patient’s lifestyle, such as modifying their diet or stopping smoking, to promote health and wellness.
Spinal adjustments increase the mobility of spinal vertebrae that have become locked or slightly out of alignment, thus reducing back pain and neck pain. These adjustments are often done by hand, and some people may feel a little achy and stiff for a few days after the adjustment because their bodies are adjusting to their new position. Chiropractors also perform traction treatments, which stretch the spine and can reduce herniated discs by easing pressure on nerve roots. Other therapies may include hot or cold therapy, exercise, acupuncture, and nutritional counseling to improve overall health. These interventions can reduce the need for surgery and prescription medications.
Headaches & Migraines
Migraines are recurrent episodes of moderate to severe throbbing and pulsating headaches that affect one side of the head. They are usually triggered by nerve-controlled inflammation of the blood vessels inside the dura, the membrane that covers the brain and spinal cord. This results in altered blood flow in the brain and changes to the way your senses work, like increased sensitivity to light or sound. A typical migraine attack may last a few hours to a few days and can also cause nausea, vomiting, and weakness. Migraines can occur at any age, but they are more common in children and women. Several things can trigger migraines: changes in weather, food or drinks such as alcohol, chocolate, and foods containing preservatives (like nitrates found in pepperoni and luncheon meat), stress, hormonal changes in women before menstruation and some prescription medications including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), amitriptyline and topiramate.
Tension headaches are the most common type of headache, and they can be triggered by tightness in your neck muscles or misalignments in the vertebrae in your neck. Chiropractors can ease tension headaches by massaging the neck and shoulders and adjusting the neck vertebrae.
A carcinogenic headache is a headache that starts in the neck and radiates to the temples, eyeballs, and forehead. Chiropractors can ease a cervicogenic headache by gently massaging the neck and shoulders and realigning the neck vertebrae.
In addition to addressing underlying structural issues, chiropractors can teach you exercises and stretches that can help relieve pain from both a sprain and a strain. They can also help you with techniques to prevent and manage the triggers of these types of headaches.
Sciatica is a painful condition that happens when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated. This can be caused by a bulging disc, spinal subluxation, or muscle spasms. The resulting pressure on the nerves causes pain, numbness, and weakness in your legs and feet. Sciatica can be treated by addressing the root cause of the problem, and chiropractors are experts at diagnosing and treating these conditions. They can adjust the spine to release the pressure on the nerves, allowing the body’s natural healing processes to take place.
Sports Injuries
Whether you’re an elite athlete or just an occasional weekend warrior, injuries can get in the way of your fun and your health. If you are suffering from a sports injury, a chiropractor can help!
Chiropractors treat a variety of sports injuries by realigning parts of the body to improve their health and function. They use hands-on manipulation and may also recommend stretching, strengthening, and dietary or nutritional changes.
Common sports injuries include fractures, dislocations, sprains and strains. A fracture is a break or cracks in a bone, usually in the arms, legs, feet, or knees. A dislocation occurs when the ends of two bones that form a joint come apart, often in the shoulder, wrists, elbows, or kneecaps. A sprain is a stretch or tear of the ligaments, which connect the ends of bones. The most common sprains are ankle, knee, and wrist injuries. A strain is a tightening or tear of the muscles or tendons, which connect the muscles to the bones. Tendonitis is a common condition that causes pain and tenderness of the tendons.
Overuse injuries are damage to a bone, muscle, ligament, or tendon caused by repeated stress without rest or recovery periods. Overuse injuries occur most commonly in the ankles, knees, and wrists, but can also affect the back and shoulders. Examples of overuse injuries are shin splints, tendonitis, and stress fractures. Another overuse injury is whiplash, which occurs when you’re “whipped” forward and backward in a car accident.
Chiropractors can treat a wide variety of sports injuries and prevent them from recurring. The best thing to do to protect yourself from sports injuries is to get a pre-sports physical before you start any new athletic activity, especially if you have a history of injury or medical conditions. We are happy to provide this service and can even assist you with your workers’ compensation paperwork if needed. We will also educate you on how to prevent injuries and what signs to look for so that you can play safely. Taking a break from a sport you love might hurt, but getting an injured body checked and treated quickly will allow you to heal more quickly and return to your favorite activities sooner.