CHOOSE CHIROPRACTIC

Keep yourself and your loved ones healthy! At Ellsworth Chiropractic and Wellness Center, our friendly and experienced staff will make sure you always feel comfortable and well-informed.

One of the main causes of pain and disease in the human body can be traced to improper alignment of the vertebrae in your spinal column. This is called a subluxation. Through carefully applied pressure, massage, and manual manipulation of the vertebrae and joints, pressure and irritation on the nerves is relieved and joint mobility is restored, allowing your body to return to its natural state of balance, called homeostasis. Put another way, when the bones in your spine are allowed to go back to their proper positions, the nerve energy can resume its normal flow and your body's natural healing processes can function properly.

Chiropractic adjustments are performed to treat a wide variety of conditions, including (but not limited to):

Arthritis
Bursitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive strain disorders
Chronic muscle pain and stiffness
Headaches
Most musculoskeletal and sports-related injuries
Nerve disorders
Pain and stiffness in the back, chest, abdomen, neck, hips and shoulders, as well as extremities, such as arms, legs, and feet
Sciatica pain
Scoliosis
Tendonitis
Whiplash and other traumatic injuries
Pregnancy aches and pains

Adjustments can be performed while sitting, standing, or lying down. Some adjustments involve special instruments or tables.

Chiropractors take many factors including size, weight, and muscle structure into consideration when deciding on which adjustment to make. Sometimes, ice, electrical stimulation, ultrasound therapy or massage therapy are used prior to a spinal manipulation in order to relax the muscles.

Schedule your appointment today and see how our team of qualified professionals can get you feeling great.

YOUR FIRST VISIT

Be ready to provide your medical history, which will be essential for preparing a course of treatment for you. Medical records, such as diagnostic test results, or imaging results, such as X-rays and MRIs, also will provide important information about your condition.

Certain things in your health history are particularly vital to a chiropractor. This information could provide important clues that will allow your chiropractor to properly diagnose your problem. Such clues include whether you have or have had:

Bone disorders, such as osteoporosis
Circulatory problems (poor circulation could be a sign that you have a subluxation, for example)
Dizziness or blurred vision
Heart conditions such as hypertension or high blood pressure
Infections, especially those affecting your spine
Injuries, such as bone fractures, muscle sprains, or disc injuries
Joint disorders such as arthritis
Sleep apnea

Be prepared to answer such questions as:

Did the onset of your pain immediately follow an injury?
Is there anything you do that improves or worsens the pain?
When and how did your pain start?
Where is the pain centered?

The Physical Exam

Here's what to expect:

The first order of business is checking your vital signs.

Sometimes measurements will be taken to determine arm and leg length. Next, you will be asked to do a series of simple and easy activities or exercises. These exercises will provide information about your motor skills, balance, and gait, among others. These tests also help determine your range of motion, muscle tone and strength, and integrity of your nervous system. Any abnormalities could provide clues about a condition.

You may be asked to:

Bend forward, sideways, or backwards. Misaligned spinal vertebrae can sometimes be detected during this exercise.
Flex and extend your leg. This is a test for signs of sprain and helps determine the integrity of your joints.
Grip something such as a rubber ball. Your grip strength is vital for showing signs of muscular or nerve damage.
Lie down and raise one leg. This is often referred to as the "Thomas Test," in which the chiropractor gently pushes on your raised leg to check for hip joint mobility.
Stand and raise one leg. This test can sometimes show whether you have sciatica, a nerve disorder in your lower back. Another test may involve pushing on your raised leg to determine whether you have pain, inflammation, or imbalance in the joints between your spinal vertebrae.
Stand or sit. Posture can sometimes show whether you have misalignments in your spine.
Walk a straight line. This test measures your gait, and helps to determine if you have a normal walking pattern.
Walk in Place. Abnormalities in the way your pelvis and spine coordinate can be seen during this test.

Next, a short physical exam by the chiropractor will involve palpation, or use of the hands, to explore the alignment of your spine and other structures, as well as provide information on any stimuli that may cause pain. Depending on your condition, a series of diagnostic tests may follow. These tests may include MRIs, CT scans, X-rays, blood work, and other laboratory tests.

(We will refer you to the appropriate doctor.)

The chiropractor may also consult with you about making important lifestyle changes, such as exercise, nutrition, and smoking cessation to improve your chances of healing faster or preventing further injury.

CHOOSE CHIROPRACTIC

YOUR FIRST VISIT

Be ready to provide your medical history, which will be essential for preparing a course of treatment for you. Medical records, such as diagnostic test results, or imaging results, such as X-rays and MRIs, also will provide important information about your condition.

Certain things in your health history are particularly vital to a chiropractor. This information could provide important clues that will allow your chiropractor to properly diagnose your problem. Such clues include whether you have or have had:

Bone disorders, such as osteoporosis

Circulatory problems (poor circulation could be a sign that you have a subluxation, for example)

Dizziness or blurred vision

Heart conditions such as hypertension or high blood pressure

Infections, especially those affecting your spine

Injuries, such as bone fractures, muscle sprains, or disc injuries

Joint disorders such as arthritis

Sleep apnea

Be prepared to answer such questions as:

Did the onset of your pain immediately follow an injury?

Is there anything you do that improves or worsens the pain?

When and how did your pain start?

Where is the pain centered?

​

The Physical Exam

Here's what to expect:

The first order of business is checking your vital signs.

You may be asked to:

Bend forward, sideways, or backwards. Misaligned spinal vertebrae can sometimes be detected during this exercise.

Flex and extend your leg. This is a test for signs of sprain and helps determine the integrity of your joints.

Grip something such as a rubber ball. Your grip strength is vital for showing signs of muscular or nerve damage.

Lie down and raise one leg. This is often referred to as the "Thomas Test," in which the chiropractor gently pushes on your raised leg to check for hip joint mobility.

Stand and raise one leg. This test can sometimes show whether you have sciatica, a nerve disorder in your lower back. Another test may involve pushing on your raised leg to determine whether you have pain, inflammation, or imbalance in the joints between your spinal vertebrae.

Stand or sit. Posture can sometimes show whether you have misalignments in your spine.

Walk a straight line. This test measures your gait, and helps to determine if you have a normal walking pattern.

Walk in Place. Abnormalities in the way your pelvis and spine coordinate can be seen during this test.

(We will refer you to the appropriate doctor.)

The chiropractor may also consult with you about making important lifestyle changes, such as exercise, nutrition, and smoking cessation to improve your chances of healing faster or preventing further injury.