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October 2022

Can Chiropractors Help Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Back Issues, Chiropractic Care, Pain, Pain Relief /

What is Sciatica or Sciatic Nerve Pain?

Sciatica is a type of nerve pain that originates in the lower back and travels down the legs. It can be caused by a herniated disk, an overgrowth of bone, or other medical conditions.  

There is some research which shows that a lumbar herniated disc causes upwards of 90% of sciatica cases.

Can Chiropractors Help Relieve Sciatica?

Recent studies indicate that chiropractic care has a sound track record for both alleviating symptoms and tackling the root cause of ailments, with one study indicating an impressive 72% success rate in treating sciatica. Comparable to physical therapy (PT) and occupational therapy (OT), chiropractic treatment utilizes manual techniques, stretching, and strength-building exercises as part of its regimen.

What Methods do Chiropractors Use to Treat Sciatica?

Chiropractors help relieve sciatic nerve pain by using several different manual techniques such as ice/cold therapies, ultrasound, electric muscle stimulation, spinal decompression,  and spinal adjustments. Chiropractors also use stretching and strength-building exercises to alleviate the symptoms of sciatica, and help reduce future flare ups. 

Spinal Adjustments Help Reduce Pain from Sciatica

Chiropractors use manual adjustments to restore spinal alignment and reduce inflammation. This helps to alleviate pressure on the sciatic nerve and provide relief from sciatica-related pain. Spinal adjustments can also reduce muscle tension and improve movement in the spine, which can further reduce pain from sciatica.

Chiropractors also endeavor to strengthen muscles that support the spine, which helps limit or lessen future episodes of sciatica. By strengthening these muscles through targeted exercises, chiropractors can help minimize the risk of recurring pain from sciatica.

Ice/Cold Therapies To Treat Pain from Sciatica

A chiropractor will use ice therapy in treating sciatica in order to accomplish the following:

  • Lessen pain 
  • Numb the affected area 
  • Reduce muscle spasms
  • Decrease inflammation
  • Prevent swelling

Spinal Decompression To Treat Pain from Sciatica

A less invasive sciatica treatment alternative is a gentle, non-surgical spinal decompression treatment using a spinal decompression machine such as the ABS spinal decompression DRX9000 pictured.  This spinal decompression treatment involves gently decompressing the involved spinal disks, thus relieving pressure on the sciatic nerve.

What are the results of Spinal Decompression Research to relieve pain?

Patients now have a non- surgical option to relieve the nonstop pain they have been experiencing from various ailments such as sciatica. This spinal decompression technology today appears to be a dream come true for those who suffer with compressed disks. Research indicates that 92% patients report overall improvement, and of these, 5% improved 25-50%; 17% improved 50-75%; 70% improved 75-100%. (Gose, Naguszewski & Naguszewski , The Journal of Neurological Research, Volume 20)

As more people are experiencing relief and full recovery using the technology available, this dream becomes a reality. If you have tried chiropractic manipulations, physical therapy, drugs, and do not want to assume the risks associated with back surgery, then spinal decompression is the next logical choice in treating sciatica.

Ultrasound Stimulation To Treat Sciatica

Chiropractors treating sciatica may opt to use ultrasound therapy in order to help their patients manage any discomfort or pain caused by this ailment. This treatment uses sound waves that penetrate deeply into the soft tissues of the affected area, aiming to improve circulation and reduce muscle spasms,as this has been known to alleviate pain. Ultimately, ultrasound therapy seeks to provide relief from sciatica-related discomfort and pain.

Electric Muscle Stimulation To Treat Sciatica

Electrical Muscle Stimulation is an exceptional way to help the body in the healing process if you are suffering from Sciatica. This is accomplished by sending a very small electrical current into the affected area of the sciatic nerve. The therapy utilizes this current in an effort to help reduce swelling and release trigger points that may have the muscle locked up. It does this by helping the body to release natural relievers of pain often referred to as endorphins.

This is a great therapy to treat Sciatica. It works well in relaxing the muscle and allowing it to return to its normal state rather quickly. Short therapy sessions are excellent at facilitating healing from acute and chronic pain associated with Sciatica. 

What Exercises Do Chiropractors Recommend For Sciatica?

Types of exercises that chiropractors may use to help reduce sciatic nerve pain include strengthening exercises, such as weightlifting, resistance training and core stabilization. These exercises can help to strengthen the muscles that support the spine and reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve. Additionally, stretching and range-of-motion exercises can be used to increase flexibility and help alleviate pain associated with sciatica. 

Here are three very useful stretching exercises that you can use to help alleviate sciatica related pain:

Lying Knee-to-Chest Stretch for Sciatic Nerve Pain

  • Lie on your back with your legs extended. Try not to arch your back.
  • Slowly bring one knee toward your chest and grasp it with both of your hands (either behind or on top of the knee).
  • Gently pull on the knee until you feel a mild stretch in your lower spine and hip.
  • Hold 5 to 30 seconds. Lower slowly.
  • Do two to four repetitions

Glute Bridge Exercise for Sciatic Nerve pain

Strengthening your glutes can help reduce pressure on the sciatic nerve and improve overall muscle tone to decrease future sciatica flare ups. 

  • Lie on your back on the floor with your knees bent and feet shoulder-width apart. Your arms should be relaxed at your sides. 
  • Push through your heels to raise your hips until you create a straight line from your shoulders to your knees, and hold this position for a few seconds 
  • Now, slowly lower them back down to the floor. 
  • Repeat as necessary for best results

Standing Hamstring Stretch for Sciatic Nerve pain

  • Stand straight up and put one foot on a higher surface, like a chair or stair step
  • Straighten the leg on the chair while pointing your toes up in the air 
  • Lean forward slowly while keeping your back straight
  • Hold for 15 to 30 seconds while breathing regularly
  • Alternate legs and do the same for both for three repetitions per leg

Does Acupuncture help relieve Sciatica pain?

The results from recent research found in the national library of medicine,  “indicate that acupuncture is clinically effective, reduces pain intensity, and increases pain threshold in patients with sciatica compared with medication.”

As such, Chiropractors licensed in acupuncture, such as DR. Eric LeBeouf, licensed and practicing for over 20 years, is adept at relieving sciatica pain through acupuncture.

Other Benefits of Chiropractic Care for Sciatic Nerve Pain

Research has shown that regular visits to a chiropractor can lead to improved mobility, better posture, and less fatigue throughout the day—all of which can help relieve symptoms associated with sciatic nerve pain.  Through manual adjustments and targeted exercises, chiropractors work to alleviate pressure on the sciatic nerve while also strengthening other muscles in order to prevent future episodes of sciatica from occurring. Furthermore, because chiropractic care focuses on holistic wellness rather than symptom management alone, it helps people achieve optimal health without relying solely on medications or surgery.

If you’re suffering from chronic sciatic nerve pain and would like relief without taking medication or undergoing surgery, consider visiting our doctors at Anewchiro chiropractic  for sciatica pain relief today.

Can Chiropractors Help Relieve Sciatic Nerve Pain? Read More »

What Specialty Treatments do Chiropractors Use?

Back Issues, Chiropractic Care, Chiropractor Technology, Pain Relief, Spinal Decompression /

Spinal Decompression To Treat Pain

You don’t have to live in debilitating pain. Whether you have lower back pain, a pinched nerve, sciatica, neck pain, or a variety of symptoms related to damaged or degenerative discs, as well as syndromes of the lumbar and cervical spine, DTS “Decompression Traction System” therapy may be for you.

DTS “Decompression Traction System” Therapy is an Alternative to Surgery

This gentle, non-surgical therapy can provide lower back pain relief, sciatica pain relief, and is a state-of-the-art therapy for neck pain relief, bulging or degenerative disc disease, and lumbar pain. Our state of the art spinal decompression treatment incorporates a spinal decompression machine, the ABS spinal decompression DRX9000 ( pictured).

The gentle distractive forces of the ABS spinal decompression DRX9000 create a decompression of the spine with unloading due to distraction and proper positioning, to improve blood flow and nutrient exchange to the injured area. You’ll experience several cycles of stretching and relaxation, which graduate to a peak over a period of several minutes.

Therapy sessions typically last less than 20 minutes, 3 times a week for 1 month, transitioning from passive to active treatments as you respond, with most patients feeling pain relief with as few as 6-10 treatments. Most patients are released from treatment after 8 weeks.

A complete program targeting the function of the stabilization muscles is a vital part of DTS Therapy. Exercise and adjunctive therapies such as heat, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, and cold therapy can assist in rehabilitation of these structures. Our goal is to not only help heal the disc, but to also enhance muscular control and support of the back and neck.

Regular home exercise and periodic visits to our office will help in maintaining your spinal health and reduce the probability of recurrence. Clinical results of this type of therapy have been effective in over 75% of the patients treated and most patients find long-term relief or effective management of their pain when they complete the entire program of treatments utilizing the DTS Spinal Decompression Therapy.

What are the results of Spinal Decompression Research to relieve pain?

Patients now have a non- surgical option to relieve the nonstop pain they have been experiencing from various ailments such as sciatica. This spinal decompression technology today appears to be a dream come true for those who suffer with compressed disks. Research indicates that 92% patients report overall improvement, and of these, 5% improved 25-50%; 17% improved 50-75%; 70% improved 75-100%. (Gose, Naguszewski & Naguszewski , The Journal of Neurological Research, Volume 20)

As more people are experiencing relief and full recovery using this type of technology, the dream of non-surgical back pain relief becomes a reality. If you have tried chiropractic manipulations, physical therapy, drugs, and do not want to assume the risks associated with back surgery, then spinal decompression is the next logical choice in treating sciatica.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese medicine used to alleviate pain and promote overall health. Acupuncture uses needles placed along invisible meridians that run throughout the body. Today, acupuncturists also use lasers, magnets and electric pulses in addition to needles. Each meridian point has a specific meaning and can unblock and repair meridians and channels with vital energy or chi. Through the stimulation of the meridians, an acupuncturist is able to restore balance and ergo health to the patient.

Acupuncture is used to treat a wide range of health problems, such as:

  • Persistent lower back pain
  • Chronic tension­-type headaches and migraines
  • Neck pain
  • Joint pain
  • Postoperative pain
  • Allergies
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Insomnia

The art of acupuncture has taken thousands of years to develop and test. Many patients compliment acupuncture with other therapies such as chiropractic care, massage, physical therapy and more. This Chinese therapy is all natural and allows the body to repair itself with help from stimulating specific acupoints. Acupuncture takes a holistic approach to understanding normal function and disease processes, and focuses as much on the prevention of illness as on the treatment.

Adjustments and Manipulation

Adjustments, or spinal manipulations, are the minor movement of vertebrae in the spine. The objective of this movement is to realign vertebrae that have moved out of place for a number of reasons ranging from normal daily activity to trauma.

When these vertebrae are out of place, it has an overall systemic effect from the muscular system to the central nervous system. Without proper alignment and flow of all nerves and systems in the body from the brain, it becomes impossible to function at our peak.

An adjustment is often a pressure from the chiropractor utilizing the hands or an instrument to move a vertebrae back into place. This happens with a quick movement and is often without discomfort. You may hear a noise that sounds like you’re cracking your knuckles referred to as joint cavitation. It is the release of gasses such as oxygen and nitrogen from the joint.

Overall, adjustments are an excellent way to keep the body functioning at its highest level. When the body is in alignment, the body is able to respond and perform as designed.

Ice Cold Therapy

A chiropractor will use ice therapy as a specialty treatment. Ice Cold therapy begins by applying an ice pack to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, and then placing a heat wrap in the same area. This ice cold therapy technique will help promote blood flow in the affected/injured area and decrease the amount of time needed to heal.This technique is good for lower back pain, arthritis, and pain associated with muscle strains. Switching back and forth between heat and ice is really effective for reducing back pain. The ice pack acts to reduce any swelling in the area and also to numb pain. The heat is then used to allow the muscles to relax while improving circulation in the muscle in order to promote faster healing.This treatment works great for lower back pain or injuries to the lower back. Ice Cold Therapy helps in the following ways:

  • Lessens pain 
  • Numbs the affected area 
  • Reduces muscle spasms
  • Decreases inflammation
  • Prevents/decreases swelling

Graston Technique

The Graston Technique is a soft-tissue manual therapy technique using stainless steel instruments to assist in mobilization of areas of the body which have incurred damage or scar tissue. This instrument based manual therapy approach is a specialized form of massage/scraping of the skin. The graston technique is designed to assist the Chiropractor in finding and breaking up areas that have scar tissue. 

In general, the desired results of applying the Graston Technique utilized to reduce pain and increase mobility of an affected area are two-fold- 

  1. Break down scar tissue and any fascia restrictions
  2. Promote faster and improved healing for the injured soft tissue

Research shows that there is a high success rate for patients experiencing chronic and acute pain from soft tissue injuries, including improving mobility and patient function while reducing pain by using the Graston Technique.

What Specialty Treatments do Chiropractors Use? Read More »

Essential Core Exercises To Do At Home

Chiropractor Exercises, Pain Relief /

13 Chiropractic exercises you can practice at home

Partial Sit Up

Partial sit ups are recommended for people with back pain. The same muscle groups are worked out without putting stress on the lower back. You will start just like a regular sit up with your back on the floor, both feet on the floor, and your knees bent. Raise your head, neck, and shoulders off of the floor and hold that position for 5 seconds. This exercise will strengthen your core and is simple to do. Repeat as many times as you can, with a goal of increasing your reps each day.

Knee to Chest

You start this exercise the same way as the partial sit up. Begin the exercise by drawing one of your knees to your chest, using both hands (only one foot is now in the air). Hold to the count of 10, then slowly release it to the rest position. Do 4-5 repetitions, and then repeat with your other leg, then both legs at the same time. This exercise stretches your glutes and back.

Hip Roll

Start this exercise flat on your back with your arms extended out to the side. Bend your knees and lift your feet off of the ground. You will now rotate your hips to the side so that your legs become parallel with the floor. Rotate from side to side for 5-10 repetitions. This is another core exercise that strengthens your abdominal muscles.

Low Back Extension

Start by laying flat on your stomach with your hands to your side. Lift your head and upper body off of the ground by using the muscles in your lower back. Hold this position for 4-5 seconds and then lower yourself back down. Repeat 10-15 times.

Cat-Camel

Position yourself on all fours with hands directly beneath your shoulders and knees directly beneath your hips with your back straight. Use your abdominal muscles to push your back towards the ceiling, arching it like a cat. You should notice your head will point down towards the floor. Next, drop your back so that your lower back extends. Your head should raise when doing this. Make sure to keep your elbows straight the entire time, the only movement should be in your spine. Repeat this 12-15 times.

Back Extension

This exercise is best performed with a stability ball. Lay with your stomach on the stability ball with your hands behind your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles and use your lower back muscles by contracting your glutes to lift your shoulders and chest off the ball.

Superman

Lie face down with your arms extended above your head. Tighten your abdominal muscles and lift your arms and legs off the ground. It should look like you are in a Superman like flying position. Hold this for about 30 seconds and then release. You may be tempted to hold your breath when clenching your abdominal muscles. DON’T! Control your breathing while holding this position.

Single Leg Reverse Curl

Lie on your back with one knee flexed and foot flat on the floor and the other leg straight out slightly raised off the ground. Extend arms flat along the body and maintain neutral alignment in the cervical spine.

Lift the working knee and leg in an upward diagonal direction over the belly button. Pause, then slowly lower the leg to the starting position. Repeat with the other leg.

Double Leg Lifts

Using a stability ball, lay face down with your hands on the floor in front of the ball. Raise both legs off of the floor until your body is horizontal and hold the position for about 10 seconds. Lower your legs back down to the floor and repeat 5-10 times.

Spinal Rotations

While seated in a chair, reach one arm across your stomach and grasp the opposite side of the chair. Look over the shoulder while rotating the low- and mid-back. Hold for 15-30 seconds.

Stability Ball Push-Ups

Start with the ball under your stomach and your hands on the floor in front of you. Roll forward slowly until your shins are balancing on the stability ball. Now perform pushups as your normally would by bending at the elbow.

Side Lumbar Bridge

Lie on one side with your legs straight. Support the upper body by keeping the elbow directly beneath the shoulder. Being careful not to let the top hip rotate forward, engage the abdominals and use the torso to lift the hips. Hold this position for 10 to 15 seconds, maintaining a neutral neck and spine position.

Crunch w/Stability Ball

Lay down with your back on the stability ball and your hands behind your head or folded across your chest. Maintain a backwards-pelvic tilt and raise shoulder blades off the ball, return to the starting position, and repeat.

Should you experience pain while performing any of these stretches, it is important to stop immediately. A certain amount of soreness is expected if you are beginning a stretching regimen, or rehabilitating an injury. However, should the pain persist, you may want to seek medical attention. Pain is the body’s way of letting you know that something is wrong, so it is crucial to pay attention to your body and seek medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. Do not put your health at risk by ignoring the signals your body is sending you.

Essential Core Exercises To Do At Home Read More »

PROFESSIONAL CHIROPRACTIC CARE IN THE WOODLANDS AREA

Come to Anew Chiropractic near The Woodlands, TX! We’re the professional chiropractic practice that will leave you feeling refreshed, revived, rejuvenated- a new you, at Anew Chiro.

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