Chiropractic – Baltimore City, MD
You may have heard of chiropractic adjustments, but do you know what they are? An adjustment is a manual therapy that is often performed by a chiropractor to manipulate or move vertebrae that are out of the normal alignment. The partial dislocation of the vertebrae is known as subluxation. Frequently, this condition presents itself as persistent pain or stiffness and the inability to move freely. If you believe you could benefit from Baltimore City, Maryland chiropractic care, consider scheduling a consultation with the professionals at Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab & Chiropractic today to learn more about chiropractic care generally and adjustments specifically.
Who Needs Chiropractic Care?
Patients frequently seek Baltimore City, MD chiropractic care for migraines, neck pain and back pain. When joints are out of alignment, they can cause abnormal pressure on the nerves or the muscles, tendons and ligaments that try to pull the joint back into alignment. A subluxation can occur due to injury, stress on the joints, poor posture or many other reasons. Chiropractic care is safe for most people, including pregnant women.
Is There Anyone Who Should Not Have an Adjustment?
There may be some for whom chiropractic care is not suitable. According to the Mayo Clinic, patients with the following conditions are not generally advised to have chiropractic adjustments:
- Cancer of the spine
- Severe osteoporosis
- Numbness or tingling in the extremities
- History of strokes or increased stroke risk
- Bone abnormalities
Your doctor must be made aware of any preexisting health conditions and will ask about those in the initial intake and assessment.
How Do I Get Started?
Once you have scheduled a consultation with our office, your first appointment will involve a health history and a physical assessment. The practitioner may ask you to move your head, neck, arms or legs and may ask you to bend over while he or she inspects your spine. This gives the doctor more information on your current range of motion and where your challenges may originate. Other tests may include reflex tests and muscle strength comparisons, along with x-rays. Once the chiropractor has all the information, they will then decide on a course of Baltimore City, MD chiropractic treatment. This may involve multiple adjustments over several appointments.
What Happens In an Adjustment?
Typically, patients are placed on an adjustment table face down to start. The doctor will apply manual pressure to the joint with a short, strong push. You may notice a popping sound due to the release of gas between the joints. While the therapy itself is frequently applied to the spinal joints, it is not limited only to the back and neck. The course of Baltimore City, MD chiropractic care treatment may involve pelvic, hip, shoulder or other joint manipulation, based on the doctor’s findings and a host of other beneficial therapies designed to work in your unique situation.
Chiropractic Treatment for Sciatica
Are you a sciatica sufferer? Do you find yourself unwilling to take painkillers, but feel that you need to do something to relieve you of your discomfort? Are you looking for an alternative solution to standard medical treatment? If so, a sciatica chiropractic in Baltimore City, MD may be able to help you. To learn more, call Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab.
How Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab Helps Patients With Sciatica
In the U.S., at least three million people have been diagnosed with sciatica. The painful medical condition includes chronic nerve pain that usually starts in the lumbar portion of the spin and extends down through the leg. Some days can be more painful than others, and it is not uncommon for a person to be unable to sit or stand. If you have sciatica, or you know someone who does, and you are interested in knowing more about what a chiropractic in Baltimore City, MD can do for you, call Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab.
The Sciatic Nerve
The sciatic nerve is not actually one nerve, but rather is a bundle of five nerves that exit in the lower part of the spine. As the longest nerve in the body, the group forms the sciatic nerve around the top of the buttocks area, and then travels down through each leg. This nerve provides sensation to the legs, while offers strength and support. It is also responsible for connecting leg muscles to the spinal cord. When damaged, the sciatic nerve may lead to weakness, chronic tingling, numbness, and chronic pain.
Sciatica is A Complex Set of Symptoms
Contrary to what many people think, sciatica is not actually considered to be a single medical diagnosis. Rather, although a condition, it comprises of many different symptoms, including:
Slipped disc
Herniated disc
Spinal stenosis
Old injuries
Age
Piriformis syndrome
Spondylolisthesis
Certain birth injuries
As a person ages, will increase their chances of developing sciatica. However, as a chiropractic in Baltimore City, MD might explain to you, herniated discos, certain injuries, and bone spurs are the most common reasons for the condition to develop. Obesity is another contributor, as is diabetes. Finally, it is possible for occupations that involve long hours sitting to cause sciatica. While many sciatica patients are over 40 years of age, it is possible for younger adults, adolescents, or children to suffer from the condition. Regardless of the age, chiropractic in Baltimore City, MD care may be able to help.
Research that Supports Chiropractic Care for Sciatica
In 2006, a groundbreaking study published in the renowned Spine medical journal suggested regular chiropractic treatment can reduce sciatica-related pain. A 2010 follow up study concluded that at least 60% of the participants who were unable to find relief through previous medical therapies, found relief in chiropractic in Baltimore City, MD. For many of these individuals, the relief was similar or the same as patients who opted for surgery.
Are You Interested in Knowing More About Sciatic Treatment with a Chiropractor?
If you have sciatica and are ready to try something different, consider chiropractic care in Baltimore City, MD care. At Mid Atlantic Spinal Rehab, we can assess your symptoms and create a custom treatment plan that involves chiropractic treatment, advice, and more.