Trigger point syndrome is area of hyperirritable spots in the muscle fibers. Usually, these points are associated with hard to soft nodules in the muscle fibers or taut/tight muscle bands.  These points in the muscle are due to muscular confusion that is inhibiting the relaxation of the muscles.

Typically, pain (dull ache) is felt where the trigger point is located, but it can also create a referral pain pattern.  A common area we see with trigger points are in the shoulder region, due to side sleeping postures.  These confused muscles refer pain down the front, back, and side of the arm to the elbow and sometimes to the hand.  Many times these symptoms can be confused with neurological pain and it takes a good practitioner to be able to tell the difference.

If you or a family member would like to get your muscles evaluated so you can be pain free, give us a call today.

Reducing Symptoms-correcting the cause…

A popular response to neck pain is taking drugs to cover up the problem (aspirin, Tylenol, or pain pills) or treating its symptoms (muscle relaxers, massage, hot packs).

But neck pain isn’t caused by a lack of aspirin or drugs!

The chiropractic approach to neck pain is to locate its underlying cause.  This begins with a complete case history and thorough examination.  Special attention is given to the structure and function of the spine, and its affect on the nervous system.

 Is the proper spinal curve present?

Is the proper spinal curve present? Are the nerve openings between each pair of spinal bones free and clear? Is the head balanced? Are the shoulders level? These and other considerations are used to create a plane of specific chiropractic adjustments to help improve the motion and position of spinal vertebrae.

With improved structure and function, neck pain often diminishes or totally disappears—without addictive drugs or harmful side effects!

One Study, published in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that patients who received chiropractic care reported significant improvement in their neck function and a reduction in their neck pain whereas those taking pain-killers did not.

If you or a family member is having neck pain gives us a call today to get evaluated.

Rotator cuff impingement syndrome is a pinching of the supraspinatus tendon or the subacromial bursa. This condition can be caused by poor biomechanics of the shoulder girdle, bone spurs, or a congenital defect of the acromion (shoulder bone). 

Symptoms: Most patients are pain free until they lift their arm above 90 degrees.  Lifting the arm to this height causes pinching of the tendon/bursa to occur. Patients will have a sharp stabbing (knife like) pain in the shoulder joint. 

Remember: This condition can get progressively worse (i.e. rotator cuff tear or frozen shoulder) if you don’t get it fixed.

What is Scoliosis?

Scoliosis is a sideways curving of the spine that often gets started in childhood, when the bones of the spine are still growing. In many cases, the exact cause of scoliosis is “idiopathic” or unknown.

Scoliosis is more often seen in females and it is thought to be the result of a hereditary problem or an adaptation to some type of trauma, such as the birth process, or an injury, such as falling off a bicycle.  It usually starts with problems in the lower back.  The symptoms associated with scoliosis are often dismissed as “growing pains,” delaying appropriate care.

Because spinal bones continue to grow well into the early 20’s, if left uncorrected, scoliosis often worsens.  Regular chiropractic examinations can reveal small problems before they become serious.

What are the treatment options?

Unfortunately, the most common treatment approach has been to wait and see how it gets, resorting to unsightly braces, or eventually surgery, if it progresses too far.

The chiropractic approach is to use specific spinal adjustments, often combined with corrective exercises.  If detected early enough, chiropractic doctors have had excellent success with scoliosis cases.

Early detection and chiropractic correction is important for optimum results.  If you know any one who may have this condition have them call the office today to get a full detailed evaluation.

Frozen shoulder syndrome (AKA Adhesive capsulitis) is a very common condition, and it usually occurs post injury or after healing has already begun.  Slowly, over time “fibrosing” or “scaring” will start to occur, and as time goes on, the shoulder itself may not have any pain from the initial injury, but will have noticeable decrease in range of motion of the arm/shoulder.  Most patients will not be able to raise their arm above their head.  This is due to the fibrosing of the inferior joint capsule restricting or “freezing” the normal motion of the capsule and joint.  If left untreated this condition can progressively get worse causing myofascial trigger points of the shoulder girdle, hypertonicity and compensatory shortening of the shoulder muscles, and possibly cause a rotator cuff impingement syndrome.

Remember: With this condition the longer you wait the worse it gets.  SO DON’T WAIT.  Give us a call today if you or a family member needs help thawing out their shoulders. 

Inversion ankle sprains are by far the most common injury to the ankle.  This injury usually occurs when the foot lands improperly causing the ankle to turn inward twisting and stretching  and sometimes even breaking the supporting structures i.e. ligaments, tendons, and bone.  This injury can also occur due to weak muscles of lower leg and ankle. 

The best treatment until you see your doctor is R.I.C.E, Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. 

Remember: Always see your doctor after an ankle sprain.  Your doctor will be able to determine what grade or degree of injury has taken place.  The doctor will also be able to tell you what the outcomes and expectations should be so this condition will not become a chronic issue.

Cervical Facet Syndrome: Is a condition that occurs when the area of the neck called the facet joint becomes irritated and inflamed.  There are numerous reasons why the facets can become inflamed.  Most often this condition is created by postural habits, such as being on the computer too long.  The good news is that Chiropractic is extremely helpful with this condition.

Symptoms: decrease in cervical range of motion, muscular guarding with myalgia (muscle pain), dull achy pain (see chart), and even headaches.

Chiropractic care: safer and more effective than surgery

Many of the pain-sensing nerves of the spine are in the facet joints, the two interlocking “fingers” at the back of each spinal bone. The normally smooth surfaces, on which these joints glide, can become rough, irritated, and inflamed.  Another cause of low back pain can be a bulging disc putting pressure on the spinal cord or a nearby nerve root.  The result is often numbness, tingling, or pain down the leg.

Chiropractic treatment vs. surgical treatment

The chiropractic approach is to help restore a more normal motion and position of affected spinal bones with specific chiropractic adjustments.  The simplicity and success of this approach has been documented in numerous research projects and has helped many patients avoid risky surgery.

The surgical approach often involves removing the facet joints, and exposing the spinal cord.  Another surgical intervention is cutting away the bulging disc tissue permanently altering its ability to separate and cushion the adjacent bones.  This rarely addresses the underlying structural cause(s) of the problem.

Sciatica is a set of symptoms, including pain that may be caused by general compression or irritation of one of five nerve roots that give rise to the sciatic nerve or by compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve itself.

Typically pain is felt in the lower back, buttock, and/or various parts of the leg and foot. In addition there may be numbness, muscular weakness, pins and needles or tingling that may make it difficult to move or control the leg. Usually symptoms are only felt on one side of the body, but in rare occasions both legs and feet can be affected (usually a herniated disc).

If you have these symptoms and would like to have us evaluate your spine, give us a call today.