Blog
February 21, 2012Rehabilitation Therapy Options, Part I
Lexington, KY is known as a great sports area. Not only is it home to the Kentucky Wildcats and Lexington Legends, there are several other high-level college athletics programs nearby, as well. And for many years, neighboring Georgetown served as training camp for the Cincinnati Bengals of the NFL. What do all sports teams have in common?
Well, for one, they all have players who suffer injuries from time to time. And while all of us may not be on sports teams, either through exercise or accidents, we all endure injuries at some point in our lives. Without a training room and staff at our disposal, what can we do to recover quickly and safely?
Elswick Chiropractic has several therapeutic solutions to offer. Muscle stim (electrical muscle stimulation) harnesses the natural power of endorphins to relieve pain and inflammation, thus speeding the healing and recovery process for strains and sprains. Also, the therapy works well very often for those suffering chronic, debilitating pains. The process involves the topical delivery of low-level electrical impulses to the affected region of the body and is experienced as pleasant by many patients. It’s a fantastic alternative to bombarding the body with pain medication.
Be sure and check out our blog again this Thursday to find out more about our other rehab therapy services.
Who Needs a Chiropractor?
If you ask this question to different people, you’ll surely get a variety of answers. For those who have experienced chiropractic adjustments in the past, they understand the benefits not only to areas of primary concern but to overall health, as well. But for those who have never had a chiropractic adjustment, the concept of seeking out the help of a chiropractor may elicit emotions ranging from confusion to fear.
This is only natural. Some people associate chiropractic benefits with those who have suffered trauma in auto accidents or other dramatic falls. While this is certainly true, it by no means conveys the full range of benefits chiropractic may offer. Certainly, those who have suffered obvious injuries, like athletes or accident victims, are obvious candidates for pain relief and better nervous system function through adjustments.
But that’s not all. Anyone who sits, stands, sleeps, lifts, or moves (are you getting the picture here that we’re talking about everyone?) will endure a certain amount of wear and tear over time just through executing daily activities. Whether you occupy your day sitting at a desk, working and lifting outdoors, or even carrying children, your body is being impacted by those repetitive actions. Chances are, after a while, your body could use some chiropractic adjustment to ensure optimal function, even if you aren’t experiencing any pain. Everyone benefits from chiropractic because everyone is healthier and happier when the body is working at its peak maximum level.
Role of X-Ray in Chiropractic
Our Valentine to You
Happy Valentine’s Day to all of our patients in beautiful Lexington, KY (and the surrounding area)! Remember, flowers are much easier on the spine than added weight caused by too much candy. If you are lucky enough to receive chocolates, please consider stretching out the gift and enjoying them over a period of time, as opposed to overindulging all at once. It will extend the joy of the holiday—plus your whole body will thank you.
Role of X-Ray in Chiropractic
In the process of diagnosing a chiropractic patient, it is very useful to obtain and assess an x-ray image. A hard x-ray penetrates the body and allows the doctor to view images from inside the body, a very handy and non-invasive tool commonly used in chiropractic and other medical professions. Patients like them, too, because the process is quick and painless.
Once the x-ray has been taken, we first look for evidence of disease. If disease can be ruled out, we then examine the shape and placement of each bone and check it against what would be considered optimal or normal. Very often, the source of pain can be pinpointed and a proper treatment plan can be pursued. In cases where further tests are required, we can order a fast and efficient MRI or CAT scan from a preferred diagnostic center here in town. This expedites the healing process, which is good news for everyone involved.
Chiropractic Adjustments
For experienced patients, a chiropractic adjustment isn’t mysterious or scary at all. Quite the contrary, they look forward to them because they know how much better they feel afterwards. For someone new to chiropractic, however, it’s not unusual for there to be some trepidation about what exactly a chiropractic adjustment is and what it feels like.
A chiropractic adjustment is necessarily precise in both the type of force utilized and the direction it takes in an effort to restore proper alignment. With bones back in their natural positions, many different benefits can follow, such as improved functionality within the nervous system, and, therefore, improved overall health and functionality throughout the body.
Adjustments are safe, as well. Scientific studies reveal over and over again how much safer patients are using chiropractic methods of healing as opposed to prescription medications. That said, a chiropractor is a highly trained and skilled practitioner, meaning that it is not recommended (or even possible) to attempt adjustments on yourself. The studying and experience that goes into becoming a chiropractor allows the patient to reap the rewards of being in the hands of a true professional with the knowledge base to facilitate the body’s self-healing process.
So fear not! Open up the door to a healthier path.
Maintenance Care Through Chiropractic
Daily life takes its toll. Whether or not you have sustained a sudden injury or trauma, your body is being subjected to a certain amount of strain just through the normal trials of everyday living. Chiropractic maintenance care is one way of addressing the damage caused by minor tweaks or repetitive movements experienced by all of us one way or another.
Think about it this way. Through the science of nutrition, we have become more sensitive about the things we eat and drink, as well as how those things combine with one another to keep us healthy. Even though we can’t always see the internal effects of good healthy food on our bodies, we do know we feel better when we’re eating right.
Maintenance chiropractic is the same way. People tend to feel better because their bodies have been adjusted for optimal comfort and productivity. A regular chiropractic exam can help prevent as yet unseen problems from ballooning into painful, hampering ailments. And that’s the best way to stay healthy, feel energized, and shorten recovery times—by participating in routine checkups and preventative maintenance.