6 Surprising Ways Chiropractic Can Help Your Health

Most people associate a trip to the chiropractor with helping relieve back pain or headaches. But chiropractic care is much more than that! At Foster Chiropractic we practice a holistic approach, and our attention to overall health and wellness, coupled with chiropractic care, can help with many different things that affect your health. Here are just a few.

ADHD. As kids head back to school, many who suffer from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder find it hard to concentrate. Many times parents resort to medication to help their kids focus. Chiropractic care can also help. Aligning the spine helps foster effective nerve flow, restoring balance the mind and body.

Bedwetting. Chiropractic alignments can help with the nerves that control the organs of the urinary system, helping prevent bedwetting in children. A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics found that in a study of 171 children, one quarter of them showed a 50 percent decrease in incidence of bedwetting when under chiropractic care.

TMJ. People who suffer from TMJ have jaw pain that affects their daily life and can lead to grinding teeth and even arthritis. A chiropractor can help align the jaw to alleviate pain, as well as helping give options for daily living that will help decrease symptoms. Many of our patients get their jaws adjusted in the office prior to getting a mouth guard as well. It's important that dental devices reinforce correct jaw positioning. 

Ease the Pain of Childbirth. When women are pregnant, sometimes the weight gain can lead to instability and increased back pain. As medication options are limited, chiropractic care is often turned to, and the alignments can help improve the position of the back and decrease pain. Newborns with colic and gas are commonly treated in our office to provide baby relief, and give parents some sleep.

Digestive Issues. It’s pretty easy to see from the examples listed above that the spine and the nervous system play a part in all bodily systems. Therefore it makes sense that misalignment of the nerves can affect the digestive system. It can cause an increase in acid production that leads to heartburn and indigestion. Chiropractic care will help alleviate symptoms, and consultations with the chiropractor can also help provide healthier lifestyle choices for overall better health.

Boost Immunity. In addition to eating those blueberries and drinking green tea, a trip to the chiropractor can help fight off disease. Aligning the spinal and keeping the nerves in top working order frees up the immune system to fight off intruders.

The list goes on and on as you can see, chiropractic care helps people feel better in many different ways. We’re not here to focus totally on back pain. Dr.  Scott Foster is not only certified to treat extremities as well, but his holistic approach to wellness helps improve the well being of his patients in all facets of their life. Make a consultation today to see how we can help you feel better and stay active. Get adjusted to feeling great!

CoULD IT ALL BE IN MY JAW?

At the best of times, our bodies work like well-oiled machines. We don’t even have to think about the movements our joints make to get us through daily life, from knees bending as we walk to our jaws opening and shutting when we chew and talk. But for people who suffer from TMJ, the simple act of chewing or even talking can cause pain in the jaw, ear aches or headaches, or neck pain.

TMJ is the common acronym people use when referring to temporomandibular joint disorders. You might also see it referred to as TMD. This is when the temporomandibular joint, the connecting point between the jaw and the skull, becomes painful or swollen. The exact cause of TMJ can often be hard to determine, as there are many factors that can contribute to this pain. Some causes include:

·      Grinding or clenching teeth, which puts pressure on the joint

·      An injury to the jaw

·      Arthritis in the joint

·      Stress, causing teeth to clench

When it comes to treating TMJ, there are many options. Over-the-counter pain medications or the use of moist hot or cold packs can help relieve symptoms. Chiropractic treatment is also an option for people suffering from TMJ. At Foster Chiropractic, we take a holistic approach to healing, a method that is helpful with TMJ.

The first step in chiropractic treatment of TMJ is to help get the jaw working properly. If the cartilage in the joint is worn down from excessive grinding, the joint can become misaligned. Chiropractic care can relieve the tension on this area. It might even be that poor posture or spinal misalignment is contributing to TMJ, and getting everything back in line will help relieve the pain.

In addition to the work at the office, we will suggest patients do jaw exercises at home to help strengthen the joint and reduce stress. We’ll also work with you to modify certain habits that might be leading to TMJ pain. Things like clenching teeth, biting nails and excessive chewing can all contribute to TMJ. Understanding what causes the pain, being aware of your habits and alleviating the stress that might lead to those habits can all help reduce the occurrence of TMJ.

Working together with your dentist or physician, we can create a treatment plan that works for you. “When my dentist recognized my teeth grinding was leading to TMJ that caused me to have migraines, he referred me to Dr. Foster,” said one of our patients, K. Smith. “I would have never guessed the TMJ that caused my migraines could have been fixed by my chiropractor, but thanks to the teamwork between my dentist and Dr. Foster, I am not pain free in my jaw and have no more migraines.”

If you are suffering from pain or swelling from TMJ, call Foster Chiropractic for a consultation.