Chiropractors in Elkhorn know the difference. What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals is the fact that chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations. The word "subluxation" comes from the Latin words meaning "somewhat or slight" (sub) and "to dislocate" (luxate). So the term 'vertebral subluxation' literally means a slight dislocation or misalignment of the bones in the spine.
When a subluxation occurs, our Elkhorn chiropractor can correct the misaligned bone and allow it to return to its proper position. This procedure is appropriately called an adjustment, and the adjustment enables the body to heal. The chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust applied to a vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement or both. Adjustments are often accompanied by an audible release of gas that sounds like a "crack." The sound sometimes shocks people a little bit the first couple times they get adjusted, but the sensation is usually relieving. Occasionally, minor discomfort is experienced, especially if the surrounding muscles are in spasm or the patient tenses up during the chiropractic procedure. There are times when the audible "cracking" does not occur. This is often due to either significant muscle tightness or that the patient may be having a hard time relaxing during their adjustments. However, the chiropractic adjustment is still important. The leak is fixed. The wiring is fixed. Information is flowing again. To keep the wiring fixed, several adjustments over a course of time may be necessary, in addition to massage, physical therapy, stretching exercises, or strengthening exercises. In the chiropractic world, keeping the problem fixed and preventing its reoccurrence is just as important as the initial remedy. There are actually five components that contribute to the vertebral subluxation complex (VSC).
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Effects of chiropractic care - Elkhorn, WI Chiropractor. Helping families with back pain, headaches, allergies, migraines, gastrointestinal issues, asthma, ADD/ADHD, autism, joint pain and more... Wellness requires you to be a proactive agent for your body. You need to treat it well and not wait until you hurt before you decide to take care of it. As we've said before health is not merely the absence of disease any more than wealth is an absence of poverty. Let's remember health is not simply "feeling fine," for we know that problems may progress for years without causing any symptoms whatsoever. As you know by now, heart disease for example, often develops unnoticed for many years before it strikes: in fact, the first symptom of heart disease that many people experience is a heart attack or death. Now let us be clear that we are not under the illusion that everyone who creates a wellness lifestyle will be immune from pain, sickness, and disease. There are many people who do everything right and still get sick and die. Some will argue that there are many people who do everything wrong and live long, seemingly healthy lives. However, since we have no way to predict who is who, we have to do our very best to reduce our risk and promote our health. Over the years in private practice, we have seen how neglecting their health has drained people of thousands of dollars, sometimes to the point of bankruptcy. We have seen people who have saved up and waited their entire lives to take a dream trip or to send their kids to college, whose savings and dreams were siphoned away to pay for health care expenses. We have seen people with work injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or neck/back pain who have been unable to work, unable to drive, and even unable to sleep without pain. We have seen family members whose entire lives become dominated by the necessity to care for another family member who is sick or in pain. The effects of long-term illness or disability on a family can be devastating; in many cases, it happens to families who are already over-stressed, under-loved, and emotionally maxed out. On the other hand, We have seen people who have been unemployed due to their pain or health condition choose to adopt new healthy habits: within a short period of time they are back at work making money, taking care of themselves and their families again, and are able to put away savings for their retirement. We have heard every excuse you can imagine as to why people believe they can't afford the time or money to invest in their health. But the truth is that you must invest in your health today, or disease may bankrupt you in every way later. If you don't have the time and money to improve your health while you feel good, what makes you think you will have the time and money to improve your health once you have lost it? As Anthony Robbins once said, "you can make time for wellness now or you can make time for sickness later." The choice is yours. With regards to your wellness, the three main ideas that we really want to drive home . . .
Wellness care trusts that the body would KNOW what to do if NOTHING were interfering with it. Standard medical care, on the other hand, seeks to treat a symptom by adding something from the outside - a medication, a surgery or procedure. Inside Out vs. Outside In If a patient has high blood pressure, a standard medical approach would be to choose a drug that lowers blood pressure, and ask the patient to take the drug. This may serve to lower the blood pressure, but ignores the underlying cause that is making the blood pressure high, and runs the risk of side effects complicating the person's recovery. Whether it's a nutritional issue, faulty control by the nerve system or a manifestation of stress, the medication could decrease the blood pressure, leaving the problem causing the symptom of high blood pressure unaddressed. The Wellness Approach Wellness is a state of optimal conditions for normal function… and then some. The wellness approach is to look for underlying causes of any disturbance or disruption (which may or may not be causing symptoms at the time) and make whatever interventions and lifestyle adjustments would optimize the conditions for normal function. That environment encourages natural healing, and minimizes the need for invasive treatment, which should be administered ONLY when absolutely necessary. When the body is working properly, it tends to heal effectively, no matter what the condition. When the body heals well and maintains itself well, then there is another level of health that goes beyond "asymptomatic" or "pain-free" which reveals an open-ended opportunity for vitality, vibrant health, and an enhanced experience of life.This is true for mental and emotional health as well as physical health. While some people may suffer psychological disorders, creating an atmosphere of mental and emotional wellness will address all but the most serious problems. Contact us today if you want to experience "wholism" - Move Well, Eat Well, Think Well, Stay Well Adjusted! As successful as chiropractic has become, there are a lot of myths circulating among the general public. Times have definitely changed for the better, but the fact is that many people still do not understand what chiropractors do. Let's talk about a few of the more common myths about chiropractic.
Myth #1 - Chiropractors are not real doctors. A chiropractic college grants a D.C. or Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. Chiropractors are licensed as health care providers in every U.S. state and dozens of countries around the world. While the competition for acceptance in chiropractic school is not as fierce as medical school, the chiropractic and medical school curricula are extremely rigorous and virtually identical. In fact, chiropractors have more hours of classroom education than their medical counterparts. As part of their education, chiropractic students also complete a residency working with real patients in a clinical setting, supervised by licensed doctors of chiropractic. Once chiropractic students graduate, they have to pass four sets of national board exams as well as state board exams in the states where they want to practice. Just like medical doctors, chiropractors are professionals that are subject to the same type of testing procedures, licensing and monitoring by state and national peer-reviewed boards. Federal and state programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Workers' Compensations programs cover chiropractic care, and all federal agencies accept sick-leave certificates signed by doctors of chiropractic. Chiropractors are also commissioned as officers in the military. The biggest difference between chiropractors and medical doctors lies not in their level of education, but in their preferred method of caring for people. Medical doctors are trained in the use of medicines (chemicals that affect your internal biochemistry) and surgery. Consequently, if you have a chemical problem, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or an infection, medical doctors can be very helpful. However, if your problem is that your spine is mis-aligned or you have soft tissue damage causing pain, there is no chemical in existence that can fix it. You need a physical solution to correct a physical problem. That is where chiropractic really shines. Chiropractors provide physical solutions -- adjustments, exercises, stretches, muscle therapy -- to help the body heal from conditions that are physical in origin, such as back pain, muscle spasms, headaches, and poor posture. Another distinction is the fact that it is completely appropriate to receive chiropractic care even if you do not have symptoms. Unlike standard medical doctors, whom you visit when you have a symptom to be treated, chiropractors offer adjustments to improve spinal alignment and overall well-being before symptoms develop. Myth #2 - Medical doctors don't like chiropractors. The American Medical Association's opposition to chiropractic was at its strongest in the 1940s under the leadership of Morris Fishbein. Fishbein called chiropractors "rabid dogs" and referred to them as "playful and cute, but killers" He tried to portray chiropractors as members of an unscientific cult who cared about nothing but taking their patients' money. Up to the late 1970s and early 1980s, the medical establishment purposely conspired to try to destroy the profession of chiropractic. In fact, a landmark lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Illinois in the 1980s found that the American Medical Association was guilty of conspiracy and was ordered to pay restitution to the chiropractic profession. In the 20 years since, the opinion of most medical doctors has changed: several major studies have shown the superiority of chiropractic in helping people with a host of conditions, and medical doctors developed a better understanding as to what chiropractors actually do. Many people have returned to their medical doctors and told them about the great results they experienced at their chiropractors office. Hospitals across the country now have chiropractors on staff, and many chiropractic offices have medical doctors on staff. Chiropractors and medical doctors are now much more comfortable working together in cases where medical care is necessary as an adjunct to chiropractic care. Myth #3 - Once you start going to a chiropractor, you have to keep going for the rest of your life. This statement comes up frequently when the topic of chiropractic is discussed. It is only partially true. You only have to continue going to the chiropractor as long as you wish to maintain the health of your neuromusculoskeletal system. Going to a chiropractor is much like going to the dentist, exercising at a gym, or eating a healthy diet: As long as you keep it up, you continue to enjoy the benefits. Many years ago, dentists convinced everyone that the best time to go to the dentist is before your teeth hurt, that routine dental care will help your teeth remain healthy for a long time. The same is true of chiropractic care for your spine. It is important to remember that, just like your teeth, your spine experiences normal wear and tear as you walk, drive, sit, lift, sleep, and bend. Routine chiropractic care can help you feel better, move with more freedom, and stay healthier throughout your lifetime. Although you can enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care even if you receive care for a short time, the real benefits come into play when you make chiropractic care a part of your wellness lifestyle. Call your local Elkhorn Wellness Chiropractor today Computer screens, poor posture, back pain and headaches.
It doesn’t take a giant leap of faith to connect computer screens and back pain. When you spend endless hours sitting and looking at a screen with small print it is no wonder that you start to develop poor posture and back pain over time. Here are some simple strategies to make yourself feel better. First, make sure your ergonomics are correct at work and at home. Two of the biggest mistakes I have seen are screen height and proximity of your mouse to your body. There are many websites dedicated to teaching you proper ergonomics. Many companies also have an employee onsite who is trained to evaluate work stations. Failing to use a docking station with your laptop at home is also tough on your spine. Secondly, give a check to your posture and see what can be done to improve. Many times people have poor posture not because they are unwilling to sit up straight but because it becomes uncomfortable after a short time. If this describes you, it is important to deal with the cause. When your spine does not move properly on a segmental level it does not allow you to maintain good posture for an extended period of time. This can result in pain between the shoulder blades, headaches, and general fatigue while trying to sit up straight. Finding a chiropractor who can help you will make a big difference over the long term and will cause you to feel better quickly. When your spine is trapped in an endless cycle of poor posture, it tends to mold that way and the poor posture becomes even more set in. The sooner you can reverse this trend the better. Chiropractic will help you to feel better. At The Wellness Pointe we are more than happy to help! Call your Elkhorn Chiropractor today! Do you feel like you are easily tired for a few months already? Just by exerting effort, your body feels exhausted easily. Are you feeling any joint pain or injury? Is your tiredness related with sleeping problems? Do you feel moody at work? All of these symptoms point to a health condition called chronic fatigue syndrome. There are more and more people suffering from CFS and this is a growing concern in the medical field. In the U.S. alone, there are 1-4 million Americans who suffer from CFS and this is negatively affecting the daily lives of Americans.
Chronic fatigue syndrome is a group of symptoms that describe a psychological disorder or a disease. Often, the tiredness of the person is unexplained. There is study in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry distinguishing five categories of CFS symptoms. This includes six months of unexplained tiredness, sleeping problems, moodiness, problem with concentration and focus and joint pain. CFS is complex because it can also mimic the symptoms of other health conditions like thyroid problems, depression and anemia. The best way to know if you are suffering from CFS is to visit a doctor or a chiropractor and get the proper diagnosis. How can a person get chronic fatigue syndrome? While there is no exact cause for CFS, a possible factor is infection. People who are recovering from an infection in the body can show post-infective exhaustion. Another is immune dysfunction where the immune system is weakened by cancer treatments like chemotherapy. Physical response to emotional stress can exhibit symptoms of CFS too. People who have suffered emotionally stressful periods in their lives are prone to CFS because they cannot move on. People who suffer from neurally mediated hypotension can experience symptoms of CFS. NMH is a disorder in the automatic nervous system, which makes the person easily tired. People who are sensitive to food and those who have allergies are susceptible to CFS as well. Having CFS will really change your life. The once energetic you have turned into a tired and moody person. This change in you will greatly affect your performance at work and how your body functions every day. You will find it hard to do daily activities and your demeanor will change as well. If you feel that you have changed a lot in the past 6 months, go to chiropractor and get diagnosed. Chiropractors are experts in treating nervous system conditions. Spinal manipulations may be necessary to make sure that there is no blockage in the spine and that the nerves are traveling properly. When the spine is aligned, the body conserves its energy and it lessens the load that the joints carry. These are also less pressure on the spinal joints, neck and back. Chiropractic spinal adjustments can also boost the immune system, which can relieve you of the symptoms of CFS. Fighting fatigue is possible with the help of a chiropractor. Chiropractic treatments are aimed to achieve overall health and wellness in the body. Not only will you feel revitalized and re-energized, your happy disposition will return too. Give your Elkhorn Chiropractor a call today and let us help you feel more energized!
The nervous system, consisting of the brain, spinal cord and all the nerves of the body, controls and regulates the entire body. Many childhood health problems are merely the result of nervous system interference, usually along the spine. Our gentle adjusting techniques help reduce these disturbances so your child’s body can resume working as it was designed. Better health is the natural result when the brain and body have clear communication pathways.
Ear infections. Biomechanical restrictions in the upper spine can compromise the nervous system and immune system, making your child’s ears a breeding ground for viral infection. Bedwetting. Nervous system compromise in the lower back can block nerve messages responsible for bladder control. Many children regain their confidence and self-esteem with chiropractic care.
Scoliosis. Instead of crude bracing or the all too common “wait and watch” approach, chiropractic care has helped countless children with this common disfigurement. Wellness. An obvious symptom isn’t required! Enjoy the peace of mind of having your infant or child checked to uncover structural or neurological problems before they become serious. Many of the hard-to-correct problems we see in adults are long-standing problems that began, and remained undetected in childhood. If you have questions, use the email link below. Or give us a call and arrange a telephone consultation. We’re happy to discuss any concern without cost or obligation. Yours in Health, Chad Schleiger, D.C.
Parents bring their children in for a host of reasons including earaches, ear infections, back and neck pain, digestive disorders, tension headaches, upper respiratory infections, infantile colic, asthma, enuresis (bed wetting), constipation, allergies, autism, ADHD and general overall wellness. Chiropractic care for children is becoming increasingly common as evidence supporting the safety and effectiveness of pediatric care grows. In fact, chiropractors will see more than 68 million pediatric visits this year alone.
Why Chiropractic? Chiropractors aim to identify and eliminate stress on nerves caused by misalignments in the spine known as subluxations. Subluxations are the result of physical, chemical and emotional stresses on the body and though they are often painless, they can result in serious health disorders. Physical stress may begin in the womb if the baby is positioned poorly or may be caused by a traumatic birth experience. The twisting and torsion to a baby’s skull, spine and pelvis during birth, for example, can lead to a condition known as Blocked Atlantal Nerve Syndrome, a common cause of upper respiratory infections, ear infections and tonsillitis. In addition, the inevitable tumbles and falls of early childhood while learning to walk, play sports, and ride a bike increase the risk of injury to the spine. While the initial pain of these accidents usually resolves in time, if dysfunction in the spine is left uncorrected it can continue to affect nervous system function and cause major problems as the child grows into adulthood. Additionally, emotional stressors, such as anxiety and depression, and chemical stressors, such as processed foods and other toxins, are indirect causes of subluxations. These stressors cause irritation to joints and other soft tissues, causing dysfunction in the spine and negatively affecting the function of the nervous system. Is Chiropractic Safe For Children? One of the most common concerns we hear from parents is regarding the safety of having their children getting adjusted. Chiropractic is not only one of the safest and most effective forms of pediatric health care, it’s also extremely gentle. As an Elkhorn Pediatric Chiropractor, the adjusting technique we use on an adult is not the same as the technique used on a child or infant. Children’s spines are extremely mobile compared to an adult’s, so only slight, non-thrusting pressure is needed to make an adjustment. The journal Explore recently published a revealing study investigating both the health benefits and risk of side effects in children who were treated by a pediatric chiropractor. Of the 812 pediatric cases reviewed, 717 reported improvement or resolution of their primary complaint following chiropractic care while only 9 reported aggravations related to treatment. These were described as “soreness” or “fussiness”. In addition, 74 of the cases reported improvement in areas unrelated to their primary complaints such as quality of sleep, mood, immune function, and range of motion. Will Chiropractic Care Work For My Children? It’s important to understand that the purpose of chiropractic care is not simply treating sickness or disease; the goal is to help the body function at its optimum level naturally by identifying and removing subluxations that interfere with the body’s nervous system. When the nervous system is allowed to operate without interference, the immune system functions more efficiently, the body has improved resistance to infection and disease, and your child’s body functions better overall. At The Wellness Pointe of Elkhorn, WI, we believe in taking a proactive approach to health by maintaining an optimal nervous system with chiropractic care instead of waiting for illness or disease to happen. Through regular gentle, non-thrusting chiropractic adjustments in combination with counseling on proper nutrition, exercise and postural habits, we can help your children reach their optimum health potential. To make an appointment today, call us at 262.215.2292 or email us at TWPChiro@gmail.com. Sources: Alcantara J, Ohm J, Kunz D. The safety and effectiveness of pediatric chiropractic. Explore (NY). 2009 Sep-Oct;5(5):290-5. Gutman G. Blocked Atlantal Nerve Syndrome in Infants and Small Children. ICA Review, 1990; July:37-42. Read more about us at www.thewellnesspointechiro.com or LIKE US on FaceBook. God Bless, Chad Schleiger, D.C. These are the five most dangerous words. People will often think or say this to themselves or others when they are feeling pain. But, when should you call the doctor?
Often times an acute injury will improve on it’s own with rest and ice. These are the first steps for someone to take on their own. Listen to your body and don’t push or aggravate a condition. Don’t just block the pain with painkillers or anti-inflammatories and then work when you shouldn’t. This will often make a condition worse. If a condition is improving then continue to give it a little more time to heal. The body is designed to heal itself. However, if a condition does not seem to be getting better after a few days then it may be time to call the chiropractor. Neck, back pain and headaches can certainly be debilitating. When this pain is accompanied by pain, numbness or tingling into the arm or leg you need to know that the condition is more severe. Also, the further down the leg, for instance past the knee, then it is much worse and you should consider calling the chiropractor right away. If your pain is accompanied by muscle weakness, this changes everything. This usually indicates nerve damage and you should call right away. Remember, listen to your body. Try to rest and use ice, initially for 15 to 20 minutes every hour. If not getting better after a few days or the condition seems to be more severe then earlier attention by a professional will usually lead to an earlier recovery. Give your local Elkhorn Chiropractor a call today so we can assist you in correcting the cause. Chiropractic... and NO MORE Migraines and Headaches! Headaches are one of the most common complaints that we see at our Elkhorn office. Headaches come after neck and back pain. Although there are many causes of headaches we have found that many different types of headaches originate from mechanical problems in the neck. Some headaches such as migraine and cluster headaches are related to vascular problems. These often include nausea and/or vomiting and can be quite disabling and require rest in a dark, quiet place sometimes for a half or a whole day. Other headaches can be categorized as "tension" headaches. These usually result from tightness in the muscles in the neck and upper back caused from stress, work, lack of sleep, sinusitis, trauma such as whiplash, and others. Pain can be felt in the upper neck or the back of the head as well as in the frontal, sinus region, top or sides of the head. It can vary from a throbbing pain to an ache to just a constant pain.
So "how does chiropractic work?" To answer this, let's first discuss what we do when the headache patient comes in. First, the history is very important! Here, we'll ask "how/when did the headaches start. This may glean the actual cause of headaches such as a car accident or injury of some sort. Next, we'll ask about activities that increase or create the headache, which gives us ideas of how we might help manage the headache patient. For example, when certain activities precipitate the onset of a headache, we will modify the workstation and/or give specific exercises on a regular schedule to keep the neck tension under control. When information gathered about what decreases or helps the neck pain and headaches we will offer adjustments, icing and natural ways to fight inflammation without drugs. What most people don't realize is that mechanical dysfunction of the vertebrae of the neck will cause increased muscle tension as well as irritate the delicate nerves that control blood flow into the head. Improving the movement or alignment of the bones in the neck can relieve the pressure and irritation that results in headaches. How do we get misalignments or dysfunction in the joints of the neck? This can be due to trauma such as falls or car accidents. Repetitive stress such as hours of work on a computer, poor posture or stress can also take a toll over time. In many patients it is a combination of activities that took place often years before which has led to chronic and recurring headaches. The examination evaluates these issues as well as attempts to rule out other more serious causes, which can occur but are more rare. Nerve function by checking reflexes, sensation and muscle strength as well as correlating information like positions that decrease arm or leg pain will be included as any position that reduces pain in the arm or leg must be incorporated into an exercise. As you can see, if is very important do a thorough evaluation so headache patients can be properly managed. Treatment approaches include: 1. Adjustments; 2. Soft tissue therapy (trigger point stimulation, myofascial release); 3. Posture correction exercises and other exercises; 4. Education about job modifications; 5. Nutritional and natural ways to cut out inflammation. Call your local Elkhorn Chiropractor today! |
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