Doctors of Chiropractic are expertly trained professionals at finding and correcting subluxations [link “subluxation” to subluxation definition] which cause stress and irritation to your nervous system. Oftentimes, this stress and irritation is the root cause of symptoms and dysfunction. This is why people with a variety of health conditions see restored health and improved function with chiropractic care. It is important to remember, however, that chiropractors do not claim to treat conditions. Please enjoy reading about some of the conditions we commonly see in our office.
Asthma is a chronic condition in which a person's airways are increasingly inflamed. The lining of the airways becomes swollen and the muscles tighten, making it difficult for a person to breathe. The muscles of the airways are under the involuntary control of your nervous system. This allows us to breathe without having to consciously think of it. Chiropractors specialize in removing stress and irritation to your nervous system by correcting subluxations [link to “subluxation]. Many patients have noticed that once a vertebral subluxation is removed and nerve function is improved, they experience a reduction of symptoms.
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental condition, similar to Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism and learning disabilities. Doctors of Chiropractic specialize in removing nervous system interference and improve neurological function. Many reviews of literature have shown improvements in symptoms experienced by individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions using chiropractic care. Chiropractic care can be a healthy and medication-free alternative to “traditional” ADHD care.
Carpal Tunnel is irritation of the Median Nerve - a nerve in in your hand which innervates your thumb, pointer and middle fingers. Classically, a person will experience symptoms such as tingling or numbness in those areas of their hand. Needless to say, these symptoms can be very annoying and debilitating. Doctors of Chiropractic are experts at detecting subluxations [link to “subluxation”], bone misalignments affecting nerve function. Many patients find that removing subluxations and restoring proper functioning helps alleviate carpal tunnel symptoms.
Fertility is a delicate balance of hormone levels and cooperation between organ systems. Fertility concerns can be incredibly frustrating and emotionally draining for couples who are trying to conceive. The events that must occur to create and support a new life are amazing: an ovum (egg) must mature and be released, Must journey through the female's fallopian tubes and hopefully encounter a viable sperm before lodging itself into nutritious uterine lining. And, that's just the beginning.
All of these stages are under the control of the nervous system. From the female's point-of-view, branches of nerves that originate in her low back and pelvic area supply her ovaries and uterus. As pregnancy continues, her nervous system controls the changes in her body and hormone release as the fetus grows. For the male, similar nerves in his lower back region supply the testes, which create and develop healthy sperm.
Doctors of chiropractic evaluate spinal and nervous system health. By correcting subluxations [link to “subluxation”], chiropractors remove interference to the nervous system. Many patients have noticed that a properly functioning nervous system as a result of chiropractic care allows their body to more easily support pregnancy.
Experiencing dizziness and vertigo can be very disorienting and confusing. Vertigo is a condition where the part of your ear which helps your body know your position in space isn't working properly. It makes sense, therefore, that you would feel dizzy when that part of your ear isn't functioning the way it should. Many other conditions can have dizziness as a symptom, but making sure your nervous system is functioning correctly could help alleviate your dizziness.
Hypertension occurs when the force of blood flowing through your blood vessels is abnormally strong. Chronic hypertension can lead to serious health complications including: heart attacks and heart failure, blood vessel damage, strokes and kidney disease. In the United States, 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure, or about 70 million people. This health problem costs the US $46 billion each year in health care services, medications and missed work.
Your nervous system is responsible for monitoring and altering your blood pressure. The nerves in your body control the constriction of small muscles in your blood vessels, as well as orchestrate the strength and rate of your heartbeat. For example, when you start to exercise, your body will recognize the increased oxygen demand and compensate by changing your heart rate. Doctors of Chiropractic help to ensure your nervous system is functioning optimally. Some chiropractic patients have noticed a normalization of their blood pressure while under chiropractic care.
Allergies are the symptoms we experience when our bodies have an increased immune response to an irritant. Your body will naturally direct immune cells and proteins to combat harmful pathogens that come into contact with the body. Sometimes a hyperactive response occurs to otherwise harmless substances like pet dander or pollen. Your nervous system orchestrates these immune responses, and some patients have found that reducing stress on their nervous system by seeing a chiropractor helps their allergy symptoms.
Depression is the top cause of disability worldwide. The World Health Organization reports that over 350 million people suffer from this condition. Symptoms of depression include feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities a person once enjoyed for a prolonged period of time. Someone suffering from depression may also experience changes in appetite, trouble sleeping, fatigue and difficulty concentrating.
Researchers have noticed that people dealing with depression have altered nervous system and brain function. Most notably, depressive patients commonly have an overactive amygdala (which controls emotional responses) and underactive prefrontal cortex (which controls executive function). Doctors of chiropractic are trained to detect disturbances in the nervous system and restore proper nervous system functioning. Many chiropractic patients have noticed changes in depression symptoms with chiropractic care.
Most people know colic as a screaming, inconsolable infant. This can be very frustrating for parents, and it is a big stress on a family. A variety of factors can contribute to a baby's colicky nature. It is important that a colicky baby is getting the right nutrition and having their nervous system checked by a chiropractor. Chiropractors change their technique for infants; the amount of pressure used to adjust a newborn is less than what would be uncomfortable to push on your closed eyelid! Chiropractic care has been shown to be a gentle, non-invasive and cost-effective way to help your baby with their colic symptoms.
Diabetes describes the condition in which your blood sugar levels are too high. Diabetes can be either an acquired (I) or autoimmune (Type 2) condition. Increased blood sugar levels can occur in the body from a variety of different factors. Your body may secrete improper amounts of different hormones controlling sugar levels. Your body can become resistant to absorbing the sugar in your blood leading to excessive sugar intake in your diet.
Your nervous system controls every function in your body, including the secretion of hormones into the bloodstream. Chiropractors work to remove interference in your nervous system by finding and correcting subluxations [link to “subluxation”].Many patients have noticed improved regulation of their blood sugar levels with chiropractic care. Ask your chiropractor for nutritional and lifestyle advice that could additionally help with diabetes symptoms.
Doctors of Chiropractic focus on a patient’s spine and nervous system, but they work on other joints of the body as well. Sometimes foot pain can be originating from a low back issue, or it may be arising from the foot itself. It is important for your doctor of chiropractic to differentiate between these two.
By realigning the bones in a patient’s foot, chiropractors help restore functionality to these joints and reduce pain symptoms. The doctors of Rowe Chiropractic Offices may also recommend custom orthotics designed to balance the arches of a patient’s foot. Fitting for these orthotics is performed in-office at a patient’s convenience. Find out more information about the foot orthotics we offer here [link].
The process of digesting your food is a complicated interplay of different factors. It’s a balance of stomach enzyme secretion and muscle movement. Your nervous system controls this digestion process – you don't have to consciously think about turning lunch into usable nutrients! When our digestive system isn’t functioning properly, we definitely know it! Many people experience the symptoms of digestive issues – upset stomach, GERD, constipation, excessive gas, bloating, diarrhea and more. Because your nervous system controls the digestion and movement of food, it's important to make sure that the nerves that control those areas have no interference.
A “pinched nerve” may also be known as nerve compression or radiculopathy. This happens when surrounding tissues and structures put pressure on a nerve root. This physical impingement does not allow the nerve to function properly. Common symptoms of this condition include tingling, numbness and weakness in the area supplied by the affected nerve.
When a vertebrae moves out of position in your back, it puts increased stress on the function of nerves in that area. This misalignment and resultant impairment of nerve function is called a subluxation, and Doctors of Chiropractic are highly trained in finding and correcting these issues. Getting adjusted by a Doctor of Chiropractic restores proper nerve function.
As many as 30% of women of child-bearing age experience some irregularity in their menstrual cycle. It is important for women to pay attention to their menstrual cycle, as it is an important indicator for overall health. Many factors like hormonal imbalances, emotional and physical stresses can have a large impact on a woman's cycle.
Every factor from timing to pain level and flow is under your unconscious control. Release of the ovum (egg) and uterine lining build-up and shedding are all part of a delicate hormonal balance, and the conductor of it all is your nervous system. Nerves that originate in your spinal cord innervate the organs that produce hormones and control the anatomy involved in making your menstrual cycle possible.
When you receive a chiropractic adjustment, you reduce nervous system interference that could contribute to menstrual irregularities. Chiropractic adjustments have been shown to be a non-invasive and effective way of helping restore nervous system balance with the potential to help with irregular menstrual symptoms.
Scoliosis is a sideways curvature of a person's spine. There are many different locations, shapes and degrees of scoliosis. While scoliosis can be present at any age, most cases are first noticed in childhood or adolescence.
Important factors affecting spinal condition and shape include the alignment of the bones (vertebrae) in your back and proper nervous system functioning that directs growth and development. When a vertebra becomes misaligned, it not only affects the biomechanics and structure of your spine, it can also impair nerve functioning in that area. Doctors of chiropractic specialize in finding these areas of misalignment and decreased function, called subluxations. Chiropractic care has helped many individuals in decreasing the angle of their scoliosis.
Torticollis occurs when muscles in your neck abnormally contract, causing your head position to become twisted and stuck to one side. This condition can happen at any age. Congenital (from birth) torticollis is commonly seen in newborns whose head/neck was in a strained position in the womb. Torticollis can also occur as an acute condition following trauma. Torticollis can be painful and severely limits motion of the neck and head.
Doctors of Chiropractic are experts at finding and correcting subluxations - misalignments of bones that affect the nervous system. Often, nervous system impairment caused by subluxations and physical malposition of bones can cause taut musculature. By reducing subluxations, patients with torticollis have noticed that their muscular spasm resolves.
Your body has the very important job of making decisions for you constantly, and most of the time these decisions are beyond your awareness. It's a good thing that many of these biological processes occur at an unconscious level – who would want to have to stop and think every time you needed to digest your food or pump your heart? One job your body has is to regulate the amount of different compounds in your blood, including cholesterol. This is a very complicated process, and it's coordinated by your nervous system. It's very important that there isn't any interference or irritation in the nerves controlling these important functions. Doctors of Chiropractic check for this irritation and correct it, thus helping normalize the levels of fats in your blood.
Ear infections, or Otitis Media (i.e. inflammation of the inner ear), are common but not normal in young children. Most parents recognize it as a fussy child with a fever, and they may show other signs like tugging at their ear or increased redness over the affected area. Commonly antibiotics are prescribed, even though many ear infection cases are viral.
Now here's another story: getting your child's nervous system checked by your chiropractor. The drainage of your child's ear tube is controlled by a small muscle that is innervated by important cranial nerves. When there is irritation or interference with the nerves controlling that muscle, drainage of the ear tube is less efficient. That creates a perfect environment for unwelcome bacteria or virus particles to “set up shop,” proliferate and become an infection. Bringing your child into a chiropractor helps to ensure that they have a healthy nervous system. This could prove a safe and effective way to combat this pesky problem.
Fibromyalgia is characterized by chronic, severe, widespread pain in a variety of “tender points” throughout the body. This pain can be accompanied by other symptoms as well – fatigue, loss of sleep, increased pain sensitivity and numbness or tingling. Diagnosis of fibromyalgia can be frustrating because there is currently no medical test that will show an abnormal result with the disorder. What is known is that fibromyalgia results from changes in communication between the brain and the body, which could lead to altered sensation.
Doctors of Chiropractic are experts of the spine and nervous system. They are the most highly trained individuals at finding misplaced bones that cause interference to your nervous system – called subluxations – and correcting those problems. Many patients suffering from fibromyalgia have noticed relief from their symptoms with chiropractic care.
Anxiety is an important emotional response to perceived danger. Anxiety and stress is appropriate in momentary “fight-or-flight” instances – these stress and anxiety responses were adaptive and motivated our ancestors to run from predators and aid in our survival. The issue with anxiety is when it becomes chronic, disproportionate and disrupts our social and personal life. Chronic stress and anxiety is harmful to our health and lowers our immune responses.
Our nervous system is in charge of orchestrating the anxiety responses in our bodies. The pathophysiology of anxiety is complex and involves a variety of factors. It is of utmost importance that our nervous system is functioning properly so that these anxiety responses can occur normally. Doctors of chiropractic improve body functioning by removing subluxations [link], which cause stress and interference to the nervous system.
Gelfuso, EA, Rosa, DS, Fachin, AL, Mortari, MR, Cunha, AO and Beleboni, RO. Anxiety: a systematic review of neurobiology, traditional pharmaceuticals and novel alternatives from medicinal plants. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets. 2014 Feb;13(1):150-65. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24040796.
Lucks C, Lucks L. Resolution of panic disorder and improved quality of life in a patient receiving Network Spinal Analysis and Somato Respiratory Integration care: A case report. Ann Vert Sublux Res. 2016 ;2016(3):Online access only p 111-117. ICLID: 24806.
Roth L, Zelman D, Clum L, Roth J. Upper cervical chiropractic care as a complementary strategy for depression and anxiety: A prospective case series analysis [case report] . J Upper Cervical Chiropr Res. 2013 Spring;2013(2):Online access only p 49-59. ICLID: 22917
Behrend TM, Olsen N. The impact of subluxation correction on mental health: reduction of anxiety in a female patient under chiropractic care [case report]. J Vert Sublux Res. 2004 ;SEP(20):Online access only 10 p.. ICLID: 19437
Headaches are a widespread health concern and have many presentations. Over 300 different types of headaches are known, with common types including: migraines, tension-type, trigeminal and injury-related. Tension-type headaches are the most prevalent and affect approximately 42% of the adult population worldwide. Headaches can range in sensation and intensity from dull and achy to throbbing and pounding to sharp and stabbing. Headaches have a huge impact on daily life, productivity and relationships.
Oftentimes headaches have a spinal, postural or muscular components that doctors of chiropractic are trained to identify and correct. By removing subluxations [link to “subluxation”], chiropractors help to reestablish proper communication between brain and body. Many chiropractic patientS have seen improvement of their headache symptoms with chiropractic care.
Bedwetting, or involuntary urination while sleeping, affects many children and adolescents. It is important to remember that nocturnal bedwetting is involuntary, which means your child cannot consciously control whether or not they release urine in their sleep. What does control this function are the nerves that innervate a smooth muscle valve that releases urine from the bladder. A nervous system free of vertebral subluxations [link to “subluxation”] can help to improve bedwetting symptoms and improve function. Getting your child checked by your chiropractor is a non-invasive and medication-free alternative for helping bedwetting symptoms.