Category: Blogging

6 Ways For How To Find The Best Chiropractor

The American Chiropractic Association reports that the U.S. has more than 70,000 chiropractors. Every year, chiropractors treat at least 35 million Americans. People who have undergone chiropractic care confirm that it is one of the most effective forms of treatment.

If you’re looking for a chiropractor in Houston, you’ll be spoiled for choices. However, getting the best chiropractor in Houston can be daunting. Here are ways to ensure that you find the right chiropractor.

1. Check a Chiropractor’s Credentials

The last thing you’d want is to hire a novice for your healthcare needs. Chiropractic care, in particular, needs to be provided by a professional. It is crucial to confirm the legitimacy of a chiropractor before signing up for the services.

Check the licensure to know more about the career background of the chiropractor and performance. When you search ‘best chiropractor near me,’ you’ll have an endless list of online results. You can use the credentials to filter out the Houston chiropractors to remain with some of the best.

Websites such as Healthgrade.com are a great place to start. You’ll get the credentials of identified chiropractors. The sites offer details about a chiropractor’s

• Certification
• Training
• Cases of disciplinary action
• Malpractice history.

2. Experience

A chiropractor’s experience is something you can’t afford to ignore in your pursuit of the best chiropractor in Houston. Spine and musculoskeletal health issues are quite complex. You need to get a chiropractor with adequate experience dealing with your problem.

You can check the chiropractor’s website to know more about the years of experience. During vetting, ask the number of patients the chiropractor has seen and the conditions treated. If you’re looking for auto injury chiropractic care, the chiropractor should have years of experience treating patients with a similar condition.

It would also help to establish the cases of complications that the chiropractor has encountered. You might want to understand how complex the treatment is and how the doctor has been operating to minimize complications. Finding the right chiropractor with years of experience will give you peace of mind throughout the treatment.

3. Work With Referrals

Among your network of friends, you’ll likely have someone who has visited a chiropractor recently. Ask your family, friends, and colleagues the chiropractors in Houston that they can recommend. Inquire more about their services, and the experience one had with the chiropractor.

Your close networks will give you all the details you need to know from people with first-hand experience. It will be easier to have a list where you can narrow down based on other factors. You can also ask your healthcare provider if they have any chiropractors that they can recommend.

Ensure to research more on the credentials and experience of a practitioner. Book a meeting with the options you have singled out and interview them to know more about their skills and expertise. Don’t decide to work with a chiropractor based solely on the recommendations, as your needs might be somehow different.

4. Check the Services Offered

An ideal chiropractic clinic needs to have advanced equipment and tools for effective treatment. You can check a chiropractor’s website to establish the kind of services offered. However, a clinic visit would be the best way to know the available services and the type of equipment used.

If you’re seeking chiropractic services for common sports injuries, make the inquiries as necessary. Ask your chiropractor about chiropractic adjustment and other techniques such as muscle re-education. Inquire more about therapeutic exercises and additional services like dry needling or decompression.

Once you get the best chiropractor in Houston, you don’t have to worry about service delivery. The best chiropractor utilizes different techniques to ensure that you recover well. What’s more, you’ll be assured of quality customer service the minute you step into the clinic.

5. Inquire About Their Telehealth Skills

The advent of technology has made telehealth more popular among healthcare providers. You need to know if your chosen chiropractor has telehealth skills. With this technology, it is possible to diagnose and treat patients more flexibly.

Telehealth incorporates the use of smartphones, emails, and two-way videos to offer services to patients. You should ask your chiropractor if they have telehealth capabilities. The fewer trips to the clinic will be such a relief!

Note that telehealth doesn’t mean that you forfeit all your clinics. Chiropractic sessions are highly hands-on, and you can’t afford to miss your clinic when need be. However, you can have virtual visits, especially if you need to send symptoms to your practitioner or routine follow-ups and queries.

6. Check Patients Reviews

Did you know that 90% of customers read online reviews? If you want to know what people are saying about a particular chiropractic clinic, read reviews. You’ll likely find several reviews from past patients showing satisfaction or dissatisfaction with a chiropractor.

Reading what people say about a chiropractor gives you insights into things like an office environment, staff friendliness, and scheduling appointments. You can further know more about how patients trust the chiropractor based on the time spent during each session. Some reviews also go to describe how these professionals answer questions.

While reviews are a great place to start, if you don’t know how to choose the best chiropractor in Houston, consider further vetting. Some service providers fake reviews to get more followers. Vet each of the identified chiropractors even after seeing their positive reviews.

The Best Chiropractor in Houston Can Address Most of Your Spine Issues

If you have been struggling with spine and musculoskeletal problems, look for the best chiropractor. Chiropractors offer alternative treatments, helping you to avoid unnecessary medications now and then. However, most people find it challenging to get the best chiropractor considering the many practitioners available.… Read the rest

6 Questions Everyone Should Ask Their Chiropractor

If you’ve never seen a chiropractor before, you probably have a lot of questions.

There are many misconceptions about chiropractic care, so it’s important to have a firm understanding of what chiropractic care actually is before you start your treatment.

The best way to get that understanding is to ask your chiropractor. No one will know more about chiropractic care than they will, and they would be glad to answer any and all questions.

Communication will be critical during your first appointment with them.

Not only will you have questions for them, but they’ll have questions for you.

Your chiropractor will need information about your symptoms and what’s troubling you so they can be sure to deliver the desired results.

By asking the right questions, you and your chiropractor will be able to work well together to achieve the same goals.

If you’re ready to visit your chiropractor for the first time, here are six questions you should ask your chiropractor during your appointment.

1. Will I Be Treated During My First Visit?

It’s not uncommon for some practices to wait until the second visit to treat a new patient.

This often isn’t because of any medical issues, but it allows the doctor to see more patients in a single day.

There are some circumstances when a patient should not be treated with joint manipulation/adjustments right away, and these are things like a recent accident or cardiovascular issues.

However, even when you’ve been in a recent accident or have cardiovascular issues, your chiropractor can still treat you right away, even if it means not using any manipulations or adjustments.

Your chiropractor will perform a detailed examination to identify the cause of your pain and determine a treatment plan that would be best for you.

If your pain can be fixed with an adjustment or manipulation, the doctor will proceed with treatment on the first visit to get you better as soon as possible.

Many patients leave their first appointment feeling immediate relief from their symptoms.

2. How Long Will My Treatments Last?

The first thing many people ask is how long their treatment will take to fix their back pain.

Chiropractic care is a hands-on process, so patients are encouraged to come in for multiple sessions, sometimes on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

Your chiropractor will perform an exam and they may take x rays and go over your medical history to help them decide how many treatments you will need to fix your pain.

Not all injuries will show up on x rays, so it’s okay if your chiropractor doesn’t take x rays during your first visit.

Your chiropractor will also suggest things you can do at home to help supplement the treatments you receive at the office.

At-home treatments, lifestyle changes, exercises, and nutrition information will all help you progress in your treatments, and will help you make sure your symptoms don’t return.

3. Do You Teach Prevention?

From a business standpoint, your chiropractor wants you to have to come in for as many treatments as possible.

From a moral and professional standpoint, your chiropractor should teach you how to keep your symptoms from flaring up so you don’t have to keep returning to his office.

That’s why it’s important to make sure you ask your chiropractor about prevention.

It’s often surprising how easy it is to prevent your pain from returning even without the use of drugs or surgery.

The suggestions your chiropractor gives you will prolong the benefits of the care you’ve received and helps you prevent re-injuring yourself in the future.

Your chiropractor should give you amazing treatments and service while you’re in the office, but she should also teach you how to prevent pain and re-injury from occurring.

4. How Long Will This Appointment Be?

You want to be sure your chiropractor takes enough time to diagnose and treat your condition properly.

That’s why it’s important to find out how long your appointments will be.

A 10-15 minute appointment, especially if it’s your first, probably isn’t going to accomplish much.

You’ll want to take your time to develop a healthy doctor-patient relationship.

If your appointments don’t last long enough, there’s no way to develop that relationship.

Before you even get started with your treatment, it takes longer than a few minutes to connect with a person, listen to them, and address their questions and concerns.

Once all of that is out of the way you can start with the medical portion of the appointment.

You may be asking how do chiropractors know if your spine is out of alignment?

Some chiropractors will use certain machines on you to aid with your treatment. This is fine, as long as it’s supplementing your treatment, and it’s not your entire appointment.

An initial chiropractic appointment may last between 40-60 minutes if it’s done right.

Follow up appointments should last at least 15-20 minutes, and most, if not all, of that time, will be spent face-to-face with the chiropractor.

5. What Exactly Is An Adjustment?

Your chiropractic treatment will be made up of manual procedures where your chiropractor will use their hands to manipulate your joints, spinal cord, and soft tissues of your body.

This will restore or enhance the healthy functioning of your joints and spine.

Chiropractors can also reduce inflammation and physical pain throughout your body, not just in your back.

A chiropractic adjustment is a careful, highly controlled procedure with little to no side effects, that will allow your body to operate at an optimum level.

6. Do You Offer Free Consultations?

Most chiropractic offices will offer a free consultation to first-time patients, and it is important to do so.

It’s unrealistic for a chiropractor to expect a patient to choose them over all their other options without a chance to visit their office and see if the staff and doctors are a good fit for them.

Along with getting to know the staff and the doctors, you need your free consultation to give you a chance to speak with the patients that are coming in and out so you can see how they feel about the practice.

The chiropractors at RIDER CHIROPRACTIC provide a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if they can help you and answer any questions you have regarding your condition or treatment plan.

You won’t be pressured into receiving care if you aren’t completely satisfied.

The consultation is a great time to get to know the staff at the RIDER CHIROPRACTIC and see if their services will benefit you and your health needs.

If after the consultation you decide that you don’t want to proceed with an exam or future benefits, you may simply leave, no strings attached.

However, if you do decide that you would like to proceed with RIDER CHIROPRACTIC, they will immediately provide you with the details of how to proceed and welcome you to the family.

You might also get your first adjustment that day.… Read the rest

HOW DO CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENTS WORK: UNDERSTANDING WHAT A CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT DOES AND WHY.

Chiropractic is a common approach to health care that has been around for more than 100 years, and has been shown to be effective for a wide range of health complaints.

There are many types of chiropractors and chiropractic specialties, but the one commonality among all of them is the primary use of the chiropractic adjustment or spinal manipulation in patient treatment and care.

What is a chiropractic adjustment?

A chiropractic adjustment is a spinal manipulation or joint manipulation administered by a chiropractor (spinal specialist) to realign or restore proper joint motion in the body, most commonly in the spine.

Classically done by hand, although sometimes also with a small instrument called an activator, a high velocity low amplitude controlled force or thrust is applied to the misaligned or stuck vertebra to improve spinal motion, joint alignment, and to decrease nerve irritation and associated pain.

Techniques of joint manipulation have evolved over time to include not only adjustments in the neck, back, or spine of the patient, but to also include misaligned extremity joints as well.

What is a Spinal Misalignment and what causes it?

A spinal misalignment is a condition in which one or more vertebrae are out of place. This may be the result of an injury, chronic tension, or other issue.

Spinal misalignment can be caused by a number of factors, including: injury such as from a car accident or fall; muscle contractions from chronic tension that pull your joints out of alignment; poor posture (either while awake or while sleeping); and repetitive motions.

When the spine is misaligned or stuck, this can create inflammation and irritate spinal nerves, causing pain and other problems. Chiropractic adjustments or spinal manipulation are a chiropractic treatment used to correct spinal misalignments.

How do chiropractic adjustments work?

A chiropractic adjustment works by a chiropractor applying a high velocity, low amplitude thrust to a stuck or misaligned spinal joint or vertebra, sometimes referred to as a vertebral subluxation.

This restores spinal motion and function to the restricted joint, decreasing localized inflammation and nerve irritation, decreasing pain and associated local muscle spasm.

The adjustment or spinal manipulation is often accompanied by a popping sound, termed a joint cavitation, which is caused by a pressure change in the joint capsule and the release of nitrogen gas.

This release of joint pressure with the adjustment will often also be accompanied by an immediate feeling of pain relief and an immediate improvement in the spinal movement and overall mobility in the area of the adjustment.

There are a number of different approaches or techniques of adjustments. Some of the most common chiropractic adjustment techniques are Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson, Activator and Chiropractic Biophysics.

In our Toronto chiropractic clinic Transform Chiropractic, we utilize all of these techniques, depending on the specific needs of the patient.

Almost all adjustments have the goal to correct spinal and vertebral misalignment and to restore movement. Because each individual patient is unique, each chiropractor adjustment will be customized to the particular patient.

Chiropractic manipulation has been demonstrated to decrease pain, decrease inflammation, restore joint biomechanics, and to decrease localized muscle spasm. When combined with other chiropractic treatments, it has also been shown to improve overall global spinal movement and improve posture.

How do chiropractors know where to adjust?

Chiropractors use a variety of techniques to determine where to adjust a patient’s spine. This includes, but is not limited to, taking a patient’s medical history, discussing their symptoms, and examining the patient.

They may also use diagnostic tests such as palpation, posture analysis, range of motion, leg length measurement and analysis, gait, and advanced imaging tests like x-rays and MRIs to help them better understand the condition of the spine and identify any areas that may need adjusting.

A chiropractor will use palpation to test for any stiff or misaligned trouble spots. By applying gentle pressure along the spine, the chiropractor can look for restricted or misaligned vertebra.

This information is used to create a treatment plan that will help to restore normal motion and realign the spine to decrease pain and improve the patient’s health over time.

How does a chiropractor perform a chiropractic adjustment?

Originally done exclusively by hand, although sometimes more recently with a small instrument called an activator, a chiropractic adjustment is classically a high velocity low amplitude controlled force or thrust to a misaligned or stuck vertebra (often termed a vertebral subluxation).

This spinal manipulation thrust is designed to improve spinal motion, joint alignment, and to decrease nerve irritation, inflammation and associated pain.

The chiropractor applies a quick, short force to the joint, which will then release the muscle tension and allow the joint to go back into its proper place. The chiropractor is able to do this by understanding how each of your muscles attach to certain bones and joints.

Chiropractors are able to adjust the spine without producing a sound and still provide significant therapeutic benefits. The audible pop that is sometimes heard during an adjustment (termed a joint cavitation) is not necessary for the chiropractic manipulation to be effective.

Many people report feeling better after just one adjustment, regardless of whether or not there was an audible pop.

There are numerous chiropractic adjusting approaches or techniques, although most will have a similar outcome or goal. To restore movement in stuck spinal joints (or in some cases extremity joints), restore proper alignment, allowing the spine and nervous system to function better, resulting in less pain and improved health for the chiropractic patient.

Do chiropractors actually adjust anything?

Yes, chiropractors do adjust spinal joints (and in some cases extremity joints in other areas of the body). The term “adjust” is defined as “to alter or move something slightly in order to achieve the desired result”.

Chiropractic adjustments have been demonstrated on both x-ray and fluoroscopy (a medical procedure that shows real-time movement in the body) to achieve specific movement in restricted spinal joints with a thrust to the misaligned vertebra, as per the definition of “adjust”.

How do I keep my chiropractic adjustment in place?

After you begin chiropractic care and starting receiving chiropractic adjustments, your body at first may not be used to it’s new aligned posture and movement patterns. Some of your postural habits and muscle adaptation has likely been present for years, and it will take time to form new postural and movement habits.

During this early stage of chiropractic treatment, while your body is in a transitional stage, your spinal muscles and nervous system are not used to this new posture, and may start to slowly pull and return the misalignment vertebrae back into their old position.

To help your chiropractic adjustment to stay in place and “hold” better, we recommend patients walk after every chiropractic adjustment for five to ten minutes, in order to reinforce some of the new movement patterns.

At our chiropractic clinic in Toronto, we also provide specific stabilization exercises to patients, to help strengthen their spine, which will help to keep their adjustments in place for longer. Addressing chronic postural problems is critical for this. If poor posture is left unaddressed, this will pull the adjustments out of place faster.

As per the Chiropractic Biophysics technique, we also provide specific corrective postural exercises and stretches, along with spinal traction devices (Denneroll spinal orthotic), customized to the x-ray results of the patient.

These take home exercises and traction devices help to change the patient’s soft tissues (muscles, tendons, ligaments) over time, allowing for the structural changes from the chiropractic adjustments to stay in place for longer, and for the patient to achieve better and more long lasting symptomatic improvements.

How do chiropractors adjust themselves?

Chiropractors are not able to adjust themselves. In order to have their spine properly assessed and adjusted, they would need a proper chiropractic examination (posture analysis, leg length/gait analysis, palpation, range of motion, special imaging) and another chiropractor to perform the chiropractic adjustment.

Who can benefit from a chiropractic adjustment?

Chiropractic adjustments have been shown in multiple research studies to be beneficial for patients experiencing a number of conditions: lower back pain, neck pain, sciatica, arthritis, disc herniations, chronic pain, bad posture and headaches.

Chiropractic treatment can benefit a wide number of patients as the adjustment has been shown to decrease pain, increase movement and flexibility, decrease inflammation, minimize joint and muscle injuries and improve posture.

Is spinal manipulation and chiropractic care an effective form of treatment for back pain, neck pain and joint pain?

Spinal manipulation and chiropractic care are considered effective forms of treatment for low back pain, neck pain, joint pain and overall musculoskeletal pain. Chiropractors use spinal manipulation or a specific adjusting technique to restore proper spinal alignment to relieve pressure on a given nerve or soft tissue, help to restore normal movement, provide pain relief and improve overall function.

If you have any questions, or we can help in any other way, please feel free to contact us.… Read the rest

Health Benefits of Chiropractic

Chiropractic is more than just a solution for back pain, it’s key to a healthy lifestyle.

Join the millions of Americans who have not only found relief from back pain, but also a pathway to wellness with chiropractic’s natural, drug-free approach to healthcare.

Your spinal column, made up of 24 independent vertebrae, is what allows your body to move, twist, and bend through every motion of your busy day. It also encases and helps protect the delicate central nervous system that controls and coordinates every muscle, tissue and organ of the body. This is why we believe the first step to an active lifestyle is a properly functioning spine.

When two or more vertebrae aren’t functioning together properly, it is what many chiropractors refer to as a subluxation or a misalignment. These subluxations are actually joint dysfunctions that can cause you to experience pain, discomfort, decreased mobility, or many other symptoms and conditions. Joint dysfunctions often go unnoticed and can cause miscommunication between your brain and body.

Joint Dysfunctions in the spine may eventually lead to symptoms in other parts or joints of the body as well. These symptoms are your body’s only way of letting you know something is wrong. Unfortunately, the absence of pain is not an indication of health. By the time pain and symptoms appear the problem may have been present for months, even years. The great news is that you can help prevent these types of symptoms and conditions with routine chiropractic care.

Benefits of routine chiropractic care may include any of the following:

Our licensed chiropractors promote ongoing wellness by improving spinal and joint function often resulting in a healthier, more active lifestyle. With regular adjustments, chiropractic offers a host of preventative health benefits, and is vital for keeping your body balanced, flexible and functioning at its best. Everyone, from growing children to active seniors, can benefit from regular chiropractic care. With our convenient locations, extended hours, no appointments policy and affordable wellness plans, choosing chiropractic care for the health of you and your family has never been easier.… Read the rest

10 Unexpected Benefits of Chiropractic Care

Have you ever visited a chiropractor because you had pain in your neck or back? Many of us have. But that’s not all chiropractic care is good for. In fact, you can reap a whole host of health benefits when you pay regular visits to your chiropractor.

Chiropractic care improves your quality of life

Chiropractic care isn’t just about your spine. It involves the nervous system and every part of your body. The overall goal of chiropractic care is to improve musculoskeletal health, which impacts your daily function and quality of life.

When a chiropractor improves your body’s biomechanical dysfunctions, you start to experience a host of unexpected benefits, and we’ve outlined a few of them for you.

Improved immune function

A healthy immune system keeps viral and bacterial infections at bay. Your nervous system regulates cell functions, but even the slightest misalignment can interrupt the process, and this has a ripple effect on your immune system’s ability to fight off viruses.

Chiropractic care restores function to your nerves to ensure your cells are operating the way they ought to.

More energy

When your body is sore, joints and muscles tense up, resulting in inflammation. This tension and pain gets in the way of your well-being. But with chiropractic care, joint and muscles discomfort is reduced, and you experience a vitality boost.

Better asthma control

Do you find yourself reaching for your rescue inhaler more often than you’d like? People with asthma have reported a reduction in their symptoms after visiting the chiropractor. Spinal misalignments are known to disrupt the nerve impulses that are important for lung function, and realigning your vertebrae allows the nerves to function correctly.

Lowered blood pressure

Studies show that a chiropractic adjustment targets the nerves in your upper neck, which may be just as effective as taking blood pressure medication.

Improved digestion

The nerves running through your spine control your stomach functions. If the vertebrae are misaligned, your nerves may signal for more acid. This leads to acid reflux, gas, and heartburn. With chiropractic care, the nerves in your thoracic spine are affected, which may ease stomach issues.

Easier breathing

Even the lungs rely on nerve function to work the way they’re supposed to. When there is a misalignment in your cervical and thoracic spinal regions, it can result in lung problems. Chiropractic correction of these issues can help reduce lung inflammation and help you breathe easier.

Better balance

As we get older, balance can become a problem. While activities like tai-chi and regular exercise can help keep the core and legs strong, chiropractic care can also help improve your balance.

Healthier pregnancies

It’s been reported that chiropractic care may assist in healthier pregnancies and easier deliveries. Your body goes through momentous changes during pregnancy which impact the nervous system. Weight increases in the body’s core and ligaments in the pelvis loosen, placing increased pressure on your spine. Regular chiropractic sessions can ensure both a healthier mother and baby.

Splendid sleep

Pain and tension from a misaligned spine can result in sleepless nights. Chiropractic care can ease the pain and tension, aid relaxation and, ensure you enjoy a far more peaceful slumber.

Improved range of motion

Regular chiropractic care provides an improved range of motion, helping you to move easier and get through your daily activities with less effort.

If you want to improve your health through the many benefits of regular chiropractic care, the experts at Rider Chiropractic are here to help. Book your session today by calling our office in North Carolina, or clicking the button to schedule your appointment online.… Read the rest

6 Benefits of Chiropractic Care on Wellness

If you’re dealing with chronic pain, chiropractic care can help. It focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and their impact on your general health and wellness. It’s also gained much more acceptance over the past 20 years as an effective form of healthcare. Chiropractic services are now widely in use, treating everything from back pain to stress to sports injuries.

With regular adjustments from your chiropractor, you can help keep your body balanced and healthy. Everyone, from children to seniors, can benefit from chiropractic wellness care.

How Chiropractic Wellness Care Works

Chiropractors use hands-on spinal manipulation, trigger-point therapy, electronic stimulation, and other treatments to bring the vertebrae in your neck and into proper alignment. By clearing blockage in nerve cells, restoring mobility to joints, and easing pain and muscle tension, chiropractic treatment allows your body to heal itself without surgery or medication.

6 Ways Your Health Can Improve 

Headaches? Depression? Pain? Regular chiropractic wellness care can improve your life in many ways.

1. Less pain. 

Many people suffer from chronic back or neck pain. Pain relievers can provide temporary relief, but they do nothing to fix the problem. Chiropractic adjustments address the origin of the pain.

2. Better posture. 

If you’re doing desk work, you’re likely sitting down for longer periods than our bodies were designed for. Sitting in front of a computer for hours often leads to slumping and bad posture, which in turn puts a lot of extra pressure on our neck, shoulders, and hips. Regular chiropractic care can put your spine back into alignment.

3. Fewer headaches. 

Roughly nine out of 10 Americans suffer from headaches. Since most headaches are linked to muscle tension in the neck, spinal manipulation and other chiropractic techniques can often effectively reduce headache pain.

4. Enhanced immune system. 

To fight off infections and disease, our immune system relies on messages being sent correctly through our nerves. When vertebrae go out of alignment, they can pinch a nerve, potentially blocking these messages. Regular chiropractic wellness care can relieve the pressure on the nerve and allow the immune system to work at peak efficiency.

5. Reduced dependence on medication. 

Because chiropractic care can relieve many types of pain without surgery, it can significantly reduce a person’s reliance on drugs. In fact, an estimated 96% of people with chronic back pain can be treated non-surgically.

6. Better mood. 

Traditionally, mood swings or depression have been treated with medication. However, that route can be expensive and may still carry a social stigma. Chiropractic adjustments improve the nervous system, which can repair the chemical imbalance that often leads to mood swings. By clearing obstacles in our nerves, chiropractic care can also help us think more clearly.

Improved Alignment, Improved Health

If you have any questions about chiropractic wellness care or would like to make an appointment, please contact us today!… Read the rest

7 Tips for Choosing a Chiropractor

Are you having back pain? Do you feel muscles tense up when you move them a certain way? Does it ever feel like something is just “off?” Visiting a chiropractor may be a good option, especially if you want to avoid medications or surgery. But giving someone the power to twist your spine around is a big decision. You may have let a friend crack your back at some point, but you need to put more thought into it than that when seeking professional treatment. So how do you pick the right chiropractor?

1. Seek Advice from Friends and Family.

Ask friends or family who have had chiropractic care done and ask about their experience. Even better, ask your primary care doctor for a list of practitioners. Remember that there are a lot of chiropractors out there, and this is not a decision to be made lightly, so don’t feel like you have to go with the first chiropractor you look into. You should have a list of multiple names to consider.

2. Protect Your Wallet.

As you go through the list, one of the first things to check is if your insurance will cover the treatment. You don’t want to get too attached to a particular chiropractor only to find out later that you will have to pay out of pocket. Furthermore, there may be specific services that your insurer will not cover. Many clinics can alleviate the financial sting by offering discounts on these services. Also, check if the chiropractor offers free initial consultations, but keep in mind that these typically only include discussions, not physical evaluations.

3. Research, Research, Research!

If you have a prospective candidate, look at credentials and experience. You want to be sure they know what they’re doing. Healthgrades.com is an excellent resource to find information about their medical school, training hospital, certifications, and malpractice and disciplinary history. There are post-graduate programs for more specific chiropractic fields such as orthopedics, sports, and rehabilitation, so research to see if your candidate’s training is conducive to your situation. If they claim to perform the procedure you need, ask how many times they have done it.

Read patient reviews to see what ordinary people have to say about the service. If you see the same handful of complaints pop up repeatedly, move on.

4. Seek Gender-Specific Care.

As with all medical procedures, gender-specific problems may arise during chiropractic care. More chiropractors are learning how to treat men and women differently, so ask the chiropractor about their experience in dealing with your gender. Any problems will be easier to navigate when your doctor understands them firsthand.

5. Pay Attention to a Chiropractors Personality and Communication.

When you first meet a chiropractor, note their body language and tone of voice. Do you feel welcomed? Do they seem frustrated or annoyed answering your questions, or only give partial answers? Are they cutting you off mid-sentence and making judgments from your incomplete thoughts? Are they providing detailed explanations in a way you can understand, or do they stick to medical jargon? Real-time communication is going to be crucial during any chiropractic treatment – you should understand them and feel like they know you.

6. Make a Note if Your Chiropractor Doesn’t Have a Plan for Your Health.

Based on your symptoms, a skilled chiropractor will be able to put an organized plan together, including methods to use, goals to achieve, and a solid timeline for getting there. They should also be able to evaluate progress along the way and give clear updates. “I guess we could try this and see what happens” does not count as a plan.

Be wary of a chiropractor who cannot give you a timeline of when the treatment will end. Especially concerning is if they demand payment upfront for extended care, even more so if they do this before a physical evaluation. You will generally only need a few weeks of care – if your pain subsides, resist any offers to continue treatment, as there is no evidence this has any benefit. And if you’re not seeing improvements within a few weeks, you probably need a new approach to your treatment anyway.

7. Does Your Chosen Chiropractor Focus Too Heavily on Supplements?

It is common for chiropractic clinics to sell products like dietary supplements and CBD oil. But be careful that they are not overemphasizing these products. No chiropractor should ever make you feel obligated to purchase anything. If they do feel that supplements would be beneficial, they should provide you with the information needed to make your own decision. Aside from the financial manipulation of pressuring you into buying products you might not need, it’s probable that actual chiropractic care is falling by the wayside. Make sure that your chiropractor is a chiropractor first.

Other Red Flags:

• They want to adjust areas where there is no pain.
• They claim to have invented a new technique that nobody else offers. There’s a reason that chiropractic methods take years to develop; don’t let yourself be a guinea pig.
• They seem like they’re reading from a script rather than having a conversation with you. This may be a sign that they are not listening to your symptoms and always recommend the same treatment no matter what.
• They claim to be able to cure unrelated conditions like asthma, arthritis, or high blood pressure. It may turn out that you need more than chiropractic care. A good chiropractor will have references for physiatrists, rehabilitation specialists, osteopaths, and physical therapists. If they don’t, they may be overconfident in their abilities to solve problems outside their field, which may mean poor relationships with fellow practitioners.

How Can You Protect Yourself?

There are many ways to protect yourself. For example, ask during the initial consultation which methods they plan to use to get an idea of how prepared they are. If you have doubts about anything that was said, we recommend taking the time to do more research or seek a second opinion rather than making a hasty decision. You can also protect yourself by checking their website and social media pages to ensure that any supplemental items they sell don’t come at the expense of chiropractic care. And make sure that two-way communication is clear to save yourself unnecessary pain or confusion down the line.

Can We Help?

Here at Riderchiropractic.com we strive to provide the best chiropractic care possible. We will listen to your needs and work with you every step of the way to get you pain-free. Visit our website for details on the techniques we use.… Read the rest

Top 5 Reasons to Regularly Visit a Chiropractor

Millions of Americans benefit from chiropractic care, why not be one of them? Chiropractors top priority is taking a natural, drugless approach to work with patients to achieve their health goals to improve not only their physical but mental health. The basic principle upon which the entire profession is built is that the body has a unique ability to heal itself with the right guidance. It is the chiropractor’s job to help create an environment to promote health and wellness. Here are the top 5 benefits of regularly seeing a Chiropractor.

1. Improve posture

Regular chiropractic adjustments can help align tilting and curves in your spine and help improve your posture. Neck issues are becoming more and more common for our younger generation due to their constant position sitting in front of a computer screen or hunched over a phone. When you are seen regularly by a Chiropractor professional you can improve your posture and overall strength.

2. Relive Stress

Who would not love this, in today’s world we are surrounded by many stress factors on a daily basis. Some people may not know that about of stress you put yourself under when your nervous system is out of line and your entire muscular and skeletal systems are not in the proper position, chances are your entire body will feel out of line. Regularly seeing a Chiropractic professional you find you entire body feeling more balanced, experiencing less tension sending an immediate relaxation message to your brain, once achieved you will feel more mentally and physically prepared to tackle whatever stress factors you may experience.

3. Mood improvement

Balancing your body’s system is crucial in maintaining a healthy you from head to toe. If you are suffering from a chemical imbalance such as ADHD or depression, regular Chiropractic visits may help improve how a person feels. Studies have shown when you decrease the bad hormones like cortisol and increasing the good hormones, such as dopamine and norepinephrine this combined makes for a drastic difference in how your brain and body works.

4. Sleep Better

Millions of Americans suffer from lack of sleep, or chronic sleeping disorders that disrupt the body’s overall health. We need to sleep to maintain a balance, with regular Chiropractic adjustments your sleep will dramatically improve and will achieve a more balanced life.

5.Have more energy

With everything we need to accomplish every day, do not let lack of energy hinder your ability to complete daily tasks custom essay. Regular Chiropractic adjustments can dramatically improve your energy levels, which results in less fatigue and more time complete everyday tasks we are challenged with every day.

Why not take the first step to a healthier you? Please contact us today for a free consultation.… Read the rest

5 Benefits of Chiropractic Care Even If You’re Not in Pain

Chiropractic is a hands-on approach to medicine that focuses on spinal manipulation to improve health. Your spine is at the center of your musculoskeletal system, and if it’s misaligned, you can experience pain or discomfort in a variety of ways.

One of the most common reasons patients visit a chiropractor is a pain. Back pain, neck pain, and headaches are some of the top conditions chiropractors address. But did you know that there are benefits to chiropractic care that go beyond pain relief?

Through chiropractic adjustments, your body is able to function efficiently. Maintaining health naturally can prevent health complications before they start, minimizing the need for drugs or surgical procedures to keep you feeling well long-term.

Jason Keller, DC, is our resident chiropractor at iMed Regeneration Center in Colorado Springs. He believes chiropractic adjustments improve overall bodily function and wellness — whether or not you’re seeking treatment for pain.

Call our office or book your first appointment online today to find out if chiropractic is a good option for you. In addition to pain management, chiropractic care can improve your:

Range of motion

Even if you’re not in pain, your joints, connective tissue, and ligaments change and deteriorate over time. Chiropractic care manipulates your body to maintain and even improve your range of motion.

Chiropractic improves joint mobility and may reduce your chances of suffering joint and cartilage deterioration later in life. Chiropractic treatment also addresses muscle strength, helping to loosen tight muscles and strengthen weaker muscles.

Nervous system function

Your spine contains bundles of nerves that connect your entire body to your brain. Your nervous system controls every bodily function, from digestion to immunity. Spinal misalignments can impede your nervous system and cause almost imperceptible changes in how your body works.

Chiropractic care enhances your nervous system function and boosts blood flow throughout your body. Removing interference improves your nervous system’s ability to carry nerve impulses to the brain, enhancing whole body performance.

Digestion

Your digestive system and nervous system are closely linked. Nerves in your spine control how your body digests food, while subluxations, or spinal misalignments, can interfere with digestion.

Conditions like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea, constipation, and even heartburn can be relieved with chiropractic care. Through chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Keller removes the blockages in the nerves that control digestion, and you can see improvements in the way you feel.

Quality of sleep

Misalignments in the spine — even those that don’t cause noticeable pain — might be interfering with your sleep. Regular chiropractic adjustments take the unhealthy strain and stress off of the nerves and bones in your spine, promoting relaxation.

In addition to adjustments, Dr. Keller can make recommendations about healthy sleeping positions. Getting a supportive pillow or mattress, as well as not sleeping on your stomach, can help your body feel better while you sleep.

Immune system

Your immune system is influenced by your nervous system and endocrine system. Because chiropractic care helps your body operate at its peak performance, it can strengthen your immune system and help you fight off germs.

You don’t have to be in pain to experience the benefits of chiropractic adjustment. While treatment varies for every individual, many patients see their overall wellness improve with chiropractic care. Contact us today to learn more.… Read the rest

6 Major Benefits Of Chiropractic Massage

Massage therapy has been around for centuries benefiting everyone who takes part in the relaxing ritual. Although there are many types of massages, the numerous benefits are dispersed throughout all of the different techniques. As the techniques have changed among cultures it has been discovered that there are many more benefits to chiropractic massages than originally thought. Below are eight major benefits that are connected with chiropractic massages.

• Ease Pain:

Due to the amount of relaxation that occurs during a massage, your body releases the tension that is causing some of the pain. When this tension is lowered the amount of pain is eased.

• Improve Performance:

Massage removes tension, breaks up adhesions and scar tissue, improves joint mobility and range of motion, as well as flushes lactic acid and other toxins out of muscle tissue. This improves balance and proprioception.

• Improve Recovery:

Massages directly influence the production of serotonin in the body, which is then needed for the production of melatonin. Melatonin helps regulate sleep and wake patterns to produce a better night’s rest which improves recovery.

• Headache Relief:

Like many of these other massage benefits, headaches can be alleviated once stress and sleep deprivation are taken care of. Headaches are mostly due to tension that comes from the amount of stress you are under as well as your lack of sleep. When massages take care of your stress and give you a better night’s rest, headaches caused by tension go away.

• Manage Anxiety and Depression:

Massages have always been known for making the recipient relaxed and to lower stress levels, because of these two things it would seem likely that massages would also help manage your anxiety and depression levels. Massages help boost the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine that are both involved with depression.

• Strengthen Your Immune System:

After seeing that massages both help improve sleep and alleviate stress it’s a simple formula to say that these two things added together will automatically strengthen your immune system.

• Lowering Blood Pressure:

We have all heard about how stress seems to directly correlate with high blood pressure. There is research that shows many patients that are relieved of their stress also see their blood pressure drop. Since massages and stress relief goes hand in hand, lowering your blood pressure can also be a big benefit of your chiropractic massage.… Read the rest