10 Common Conditions that Chiropractors Treat

Amazingly, there are over 200 bones and around 200 joints in our body. It is known that issues with these may occur in anyone and at any age. In fact, women suffer the most with bone and joint related problems. The knee joint is most commonly affected followed by the hip joint.

Arthritis (joint inflammation) and injuries are common reasons for these kinds of disorders. In the following, you can learn more about the 10 most common problems.

Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Problems

These problems are categorized into three conditions including pain/discomfort in the jaw joints and muscles, displaced disc/jaw dislocation or condyle fracture, and inflammatory disease of the TMJ. In addition to the pain in your jaw and near the ear, there could be difficulty or pain/clicking sound on chewing food and opening/closing your mouth.

Chiropractic treatment is quite effective in relieving the pain associated with the TMJ as it helps relax your muscles, adjust your joints, and accurately reposition your jaw by using trigger point therapy. With these treatments, jaw joint motion can improve and symptoms such as ear pain, jaw locking, neck pain, and headache can be relieved.

Neck Pain

Neck pain ranges from mild discomfort to severe chronic pain that could be disabling. At Oasis, we concentrate on treating the underlying cause of neck pain and headaches. We are very effective in identifying and treating this kind of pain through adjustments, physical therapy, and exercise. This can affect the nerves, ligaments and blood flow to the head and shoulder region. Re-alignment of the vertebrae in the neck and shoulder region helps restore proper functioning of the vertebra, thus removing muscle spasm.

Shoulder Pain

Shoulder problems are of four major categories that include arthritis, fracture, instability, and tendon tear/inflammation. Injuries to the shoulder caused by trauma or overuse of the muscle, ligaments, and tendon also result in pain and tenderness. At Oasis, we are well-versed at diagnosis and treatment of shoulder conditions through physical therapy, exercise rehabilitation, and manipulation.

Tennis Elbow

This is a condition characterized by painful elbow caused by overuse, for instance, while playing tennis or other racquet sports. Overuse injury or repetitive motion activity causes inflammation of the forearm muscles and tendons. This leads to pain and tenderness on the outer side of the elbow, muscle weakness, and inability to perform even simple tasks. At Oasis, we will help patients have a quick return to full activity through mechanical correction, physical therapy, and specific adjustments.

Scoliosis

A spinal deformity in which a sideways curvature develops in the spine, and commonly occurs in girls during the growth spurt before puberty between the ages 8 and 18. This condition can predispose to premature arthritis, back pain, and respiratory problems. At Oasis, our goal is to detect and treat scoliosis with corrective spinal manipulation, structural strengthening exercises, and physical therapy. Chiropractic care improves function and provides back pain relief but cannot correct the twisted curvature of the spine.

Fibromyalgia

This is a condition characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain and other symptoms such as fatigue, and problems with sleep, mood, and memory. Women, mostly between 25-50 years of age are more likely to develop fibromyalgia. In such conditions, all 18 trigger points become painful and tender. Chiropractic treatment aims at improving circulation and restoration of skeletal alignment as well as functions of the nervous system. The combinations of chiropractic treatment, massage therapy, medications, and acupuncture help in severe cases.

Low Back Pain

Nearly 80% of Americans experience low back pain at some point in their life. Low back pain, in most cases, is associated with spondylosis, a term that refers to degeneration of the spine caused by normal wear and tear that happens in the joints and discs of the spine as people age. Other causes of low back pain include sprains and strains, herniated discs, sciatica, spinal stenosis, traumatic injury, and spondylolisthesis. At Oasis, we will provide immediate treatment for low back pain through physical therapy exercises and manipulation.

Disc Pain

Discs act as shock absorbers of the spine and are made up of soft, fibrous tissue with a jelly-like center. Disc problems may vary from a mild bulge or tear of the disc to a severe rupture and commonly affect the lower back. Often, pain occurs suddenly and may increase with prolonged sitting. We have extensive experience handling patients with disc problems through the use of physiotherapeutic modalities, exercise, and light spinal manipulation.

Hip Bursitis

The condition is caused by an inflammation of the fluid-filled sac (bursae) that lies below the hip muscle. The main symptom is a pain at the point of the hip that extends to the outside of the thigh area. This condition responds well to chiropractic care.

Plantar Fasciitis

This condition involves the inflammation or irritation of the thin tissue present at the bottom of the foot. The symptoms include pain in the heels while walking associated with swelling and numbness. Most commonly, a bone spur may cause irritation and muscle tightness resulting in this condition. At Oasis, we can relieve this pain through soft tissue therapy, custom orthotics, and restoration of proper biomechanics.