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Arm and Leg Pains:

History:
Chiropractors can help patient with more than just back or neck pain. Pro athletes utilize chiropractic for all kinds of other ailments and so can you. Things commonly seen in the office are tennis elbow, carpal tunnel or wrist pain, leg pain like sciatica, knee pain and sprains, ankle or foot pain like sprains or plantar fascitis respectively.

A doctor of chiropractic is a great choice when it comes to helping you recover from an injury that involves the biomechanics of joint movement, muscle balance, proper ergonomics and joint alignment.


Symptoms:
Pain will vary depending on the location of the injury. Sprains will hurt when the joint is stressed in a certain direction. Plantar fascitis will be tightness in your foot in the morning that will loosen up with movement.

Because I am an athlete and play multiple sports, I have had sprained knees, rotator cuff injuries, ankle sprain and plantar fascitis. I know a lot about these conditions first hand.


Treatment:
It really depends on the problem. Rehab exercises are always started off slow to facilitate movement quickly into the joints. Adjusting the affected area along with electric stim, heat or ice, stretches are a great start to helping you recover quickly. Braces, orthotics, and working with your medical doctors are also integral to helping you recover properly.



Research:
  • Chiropractic: The Journal of Chiropractic Research and Clinical Investigation by Lauro A and Mouch B in 1991, Athletes exhibited a 30% improvement in performance after 12 weeks of chiropractic treatment. They were tested on several aspects of athletic ability including kinesthetic perception, power, reaction time, agility and balance. Those who did not receive chiropractic treatment showed only a 1% increase in performance after 6 weeks of treatment, while those who received the chiropractic treatments showed an 18% increase in performance after 6 weeks.

  • Trainers surveyed in a study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics predominantly referred players to chiropractors for low back pain, neck injury, and headaches.

  • Upper Extremity Rehab in the Elderly by Kim Christensen, DC, DACRB, CCSP, CSCS There is now a wealth of data that supports the value of resistance exercise in the geriatric population. Improvements are seen in weight and body composition, decreased falls/improved balance, better psychological health, less frailty, and improved function. With exercise, the resting blood pressure lowers and there is a reduction in the risk of all-cause mortality.3 These benefits overwhelm the few detrimental concerns, and encourage us to recommend resistance exercise to older patients who need upper extremity rehab.

  • Chiropractic Management of a Professional Hockey Player with Recurrent Shoulder Instability J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2001 (Jul); 24 (6): 425–430. The patient had undergone strength training for rehabilitation after each of the previous two shoulder operations and had very strong rotator cuff and scapular musculature. Proprioceptive testing revealed a poor response in the left shoulder compared with the right shoulder. Two subjective outcome measures were used to determine the effectiveness of the treatment protocol in reducing the symptoms of recurrent shoulder instability. Much of the treatment focused on proprioceptive training, soft tissue mobilization, and improving joint function.

  • Rotator Cuff Impingement, J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2004 (Nov); 27 (9): 580-590. Outcomes included pain measurement; range of motion of the shoulder, and return to normal daily, work, and sporting activities. At the end of the treatment protocol the patient was symptom free with all outcome measures normal. The patient was followed up at 4 and 12 weeks and continued to be symptom free with full range of motion and complete return to normal daily and pre-treatment activities.

  • Check the athlete testimonial section to hear what the stars have to say about chiropractic care.