When you or someone you love is sick, whether from the flu or bronchitis or any number of illnesses, the most pressing thought is towards recovering as fast and as fully as possible.

In the battle against the bug, antibiotics have often been the sword with which to vanquish the microscopic beasties. Even those people that hold out against using medication and let their own immune systems attempt to triumph often succumb to the perceived “instant cure” that antibiotics seem to offer. What they don’t realize is that many of those who fall sick, take antibiotics, and then promptly recover, would have recovered even had they not taken antibiotics and just waited a few more days. We tend to self-diagnose, often incorrectly, and seek the cure before confirming the cause of the illness. Bronchitis, for example, can be caused by both bacteria and viruses.

Unfortunately, the abuse and misuse of antibiotics, which include over-prescription and failure to complete antibiotic treatment, have led to a rise in superbugs, bacteria that are resistant to all currently available antibiotic treatments. Recently, reports have been issued from European hospitals stating that there has been a frightening rise in superbugs in hospitals, leading to untreatable infections.

The biggest problem with antibiotics has been and still is their over-prescription. They are often prescribed for illnesses that are entirely viral based, such as the flu and colds, making the antibiotics nothing more than placebos against these infections.

Many people don’t understand that antibiotics do not work against viruses. As the name implies, antibiotics work against bacteria, not viruses. Like most living things, bacteria also evolve and as antibiotics kill off the susceptible colonies, resistant colonies expand to fill the space left behind. The more antibiotics are used, the faster the spread of more resistant colonies.

But why do doctors, who surely are aware of the consequences of this scenario, over-prescribe antibiotics? Part of the answer lies in the pressure exerted by the patient on the doctor. A physician is often overloaded with sick patients, especially in the winter when infection rates rise significantly. Patients often demand antibiotics, having experienced rapid recovery under bacterial infections and believing the same will occur with the current infection. Doctors will often prescribe what the patients want rather than what they need, in order to placate the patient and not have to spend too much time on each patient.

The speed of bacterial evolution caused by over-prescription of antibiotics is currently outstripping the speed with which new antibiotics are developed, which will lead to a catastrophic epidemic of untreatable superbugs. More sensible prescription and more appropriate use of antibiotics is essential if we are to keep up and stay healthy.

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Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

The Cox Flexion Distraction Technique (also referred to as the Cox® Technic) was developed by Dr. James M. Cox as a gentle, non-force adjustment procedure to help the spine heal naturally. It is based on principles of both chiropractic and osteopathy, a combination that often provides fast relief from low back and leg pain, without the need for surgery.

The goal of Flexion Distraction is to decompress the vertebrae by applying gentle stretching or traction to the lower spine. The Cox Flexion Distraction technique is performed on a special table (designed by Dr. Cox), which has moving parts to effectively separate the different parts of the spine. The Cox Table has movable sections to separately support the head and legs, allowing the patient to flex in many directions and thus extend the spine. The combination of this special adjustment table and very gentle pressure utilizes flexion-distraction and decompression to increase the disc height between vertebrae, decompressing the spinal column and restoring the spinal joints to their proper alignment and range of motion. The chiropractor can adjust the different sections of the table to neutralize the effects of gravity and then apply gentle pressure to the affected areas as they move through a more normal range of motion. Movements are repetitive and usually slow, without any quick thrusts or undue pressure.

The technique has been found to:

• reduce intradisc pressure
• widen the spinal canal
• improve range of motion in spinal joints and in arms, legs, and shoulders
• improve posture
• reduce pressure on spinal nerves
• increase circulation
• improve nerve communication

The Cox Flexion Distraction Technique is utilized by an estimated 56% of chiropractors, and has been successfully used to treat pain in the lower back, legs, neck, and arms. It can also reduce the pain of herniated, slipped, or ruptured discs, sciatica, and other conditions. Because of its gentle, non-force nature, is often used with patients who are recovering from spinal surgery or who are in rehabilitation. Not only is the process pain-free, many patients report that they find the procedure pleasant, and relaxing. The technique has become recognized as an effective methodology for relieving pain, often without the need for spinal surgery.

Resources:

• http://www.coxtechnic.com/
• http://www.espritwellness.com/en/flexion-distraction.html
• http://www.locateadoc.com/articles/how-the-cox-flexion-distraction-works-in-chiropractic-therapy-1901.html

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Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

These days, there are a wide variety of mattress options to choose from. In addition to the familiar innerspring mattresses, you now can opt for memory foam, latex foam, air, futons and waterbeds. One type of mattress is not inherently better than any other, and all can provide the proper support your body needs. The key is in carefully reviewing the available options, testing each kind out, and determining the right mattress type and style for your preferences and your body.

If you have a specific health problem, particularly a problem with your back or spine, you should check with your physician or health care provider about the kind of mattress that might be best for you. That will help narrow your choices.

Many people assume waterbeds are better than other kinds of mattresses because of the lack of pressure points and the fact that a waterbed conforms to the shape of your body. It is also nice to be able to adjust the temperature of the bed based on the season. However, waterbeds are expensive, require heaters, they may leak, and they are not good at isolating movement. If you are sensitive to motion in bed, a waterbed is probably not the right choice for you. Some rented homes and apartments place restrictions on the use of waterbeds as well.

In terms of typical mattresses, the most important thing to consider is proper sleeping posture. When you are lying on your side, your waist should be supported by the mattress and your shoulders and hips should sink in. That way your spine is in the same position while lying down as it is when standing up. No matter what the mattress is made of, if it is too firm or too soft you may not achieve proper spinal alignment. One special note for heavier people is that a firmer mattress often provides better support. Another consideration is movement isolation. If you sleep with a partner, go with him or her to the mattress store to test out how much the mattress transfers movement across the bed.

In fact, testing a variety of mattresses is critical. Some experts suggest you need to test out 30 mattresses to get a proper idea of your needs! One good way to get exposure to lots of mattress types is to ask friends and family if they are happy with their bed. If so, test it out yourself in their home. That way you don’t have to go to 30 stores to try out all the available mattresses. Stay on the mattress for at least 15 minutes, 5 minutes on each side of your body.

As you are exploring your options, remember that mattresses are often significantly marked up and then discounted during sales. Ask the salesperson about a comfort guarantee, and get the details in writing. That way if you end up unhappy with the mattress, you can return it or exchange it for a better one.

Resources:

• http://www.consumersearch.com/mattress-reviews/how-to-buy-a-mattress
• http://www.whatsthebest-mattress.com/guide/mattress-construction.html

How to Get More Information

The best way to get answers to your questions is to ask us. You can give us a call during business hours or Email the Doctor.

How to Make an Appointment

To make an appointment, call the main office phone number at (312) 583-0061 or use the Request an Appointment button below to submit an online request.

Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

A burning sensation in the shoulders, numbness of the arms and hands, and tightness in the neck are common sensations among both recreational and competitive cyclists. They might be easy to ignore at first, but if they come back again and again they can seriously interfere with both enjoyment and training progress. Upper and lower back problems are another common consequence of regular cycling. Can a chiropractor help with these problems?

Absolutely. In addition, chiropractors can help prevent injuries and even enhance speed, strength, and efficiency for healthy cyclists. Athletes of all kinds can find help with rehabilitation, maintenance, prevention, and treatment in the hands of a well-trained chiropractor.

Chiropractors have a unique set of skills to offer cyclists, in addition to their general musculoskeletal expertise. Both specific and general skills are critical to successful treatment of cyclists because everything in cycling is interconnected: the nerves, the muscles, and the joints. In fact, if your physician or chiropractor doesn’t address all three of these issues at once, you are likely to continue to have the symptoms, pain, or injury without relief. In particular, a chiropractor that specializes in sports medicine is will probably have the most to offer you as a cyclist. He or she will also work with adjunct professionals such as sports trainers or physical therapists as needed to address your particular needs.

Solutions to problems cyclists experience will likely be multi-dimensional. That is, a combination of adjustments, deep tissue massage, exercises, and stretches will likely be required. For example, if a cyclist is suffering from lower back pain, it’s possible the chiropractor will determine that it is due to hip rotation. An adjustment of the sacroiliac joints will be quite helpful, but appropriate stretching and strengthening exercises will also be needed to address the weakness and tightness in the muscles that affect the hip joints. Strengthening exercises will contribute stability to the joint, while stretching will help to lengthen the muscles in the region thus preventing them from contracting when stressed.

In fact, it is absolutely essential that patients do their part to contribute to their recovery from cycling injuries or pain. The chiropractor can do adjustment after adjustment, but if you do not complete the required stretching and strengthening exercises at home, you may not see the relief you expect.

Finally, a chiropractor who specializes in sports medicine will likely be able to help you professionally fit your bicycle so that it causes the least strain on your body. Seat placement, bicycle size, handlebar height, and cycling posture all have a significant impact on both performance and stress on the body. Many chiropractors offer in-house bicycle analyses and adjustments to help you get the most out of cycling with the least stress on your joints.

Resources:

• http://www.athleticamps.com/cycling/coaching/id0068/
• http://www.progressivechiropractic.com/cond_sports4.php

How to Get More Information

The best way to get answers to your questions is to ask us. You can give us a call during business hours or Email the Doctor.

How to Make an Appointment

To make an appointment, call the main office phone number at (312) 583-0061 or use the Request an Appointment button below to submit an online request.

Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

Once a chiropractic doctor has completed his or her studies successfully, there are a number of specialty programs available as post-graduate study. Since many chiropractors work with athletes and are involved in sports medicine, a number of these programs are related to the sports, athletics, and physical fitness industry. One of the most respected of these programs is the Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (CCSP) certificate.

The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians, a private non-profit organization, has as its mission, “To promote the highest standards of excellence and clinical competence for chiropractors specializing in sports medicine and physical fitness.” Certifications through this organization are designed to assess and objectively measure the professional knowledge and competence of chiropractic doctors, physicians, and practitioners involved in the specialty of chiropractic sports medicine.

The American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) as meeting NCAA Standards for the Accreditation of Certification Programs. The NCCA is the accrediting organization for the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA), and there are only 78 organizations that have received and maintained NCCA accreditation. Applicants for the CCSP certificate must complete a minimum of 100 hours of post-graduate chiropractic study and demonstrate an acceptable level of understanding and knowledge in all subject areas. Topics of study include upper and lower extremity conditions and diagnoses, concussion, diagnostic imaging, female athletic considerations, diabetic athletes, exercise physiology, medial legal aspects, coaching, biomechanics, strength training, sports nutrition, sports psychology, emergency procedures, taping and bracing, extremity adjusting, case studies, and more, depending on the University or college offering the CCSP program.

Once the classwork is completed doctors must take and pass a comprehensive written examination. If practitioners wish to study beyond the CCSP certificate, there is the DACBSP certification, which stands for Diplomate American Chiropractic Board of Sports Physicians. This program requires an additional minimum of 200 class hours of study. Doctors have a timeframe of 3 years within which they must complete the program requirements, which include a written examination, a practical examination, a practical experience requirement and a written requirement project.

Both the CCSP and DACBSP have continuing education requirements in order to maintain certification, and all candidates and certificate holders must maintain current CPR certification.

Resources:

• http://www.acbsp.com/index.htm
• http://www.acbsp.com/pdf/CCSP%20Candidate%20Handbook2009.pdf
• http://www.palmer.edu/CCSP/

How to Get More Information

The best way to get answers to your questions is to ask us. You can give us a call during business hours or Email the Doctor.

How to Make an Appointment

To make an appointment, call the main office phone number at (312) 583-0061 or use the Request an Appointment button below to submit an online request.

Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenic acid), is used in the conversion of food into energy and in the maintenance of healthy skin, hair and eyes, nervous function and digestive health.Provitamin B5 (Panthenol) is commonly used in a number of health-related products, as it is converted into vitamin B5 by the body’s normal metabolic processes.

Panthenol is used as a humectant (attracts and retains water), a moisturizer and emollient, and is widely used in cosmetics as well as in skin and hair care products. It creates a skin barrier, reducing the amount of water lost through the skin. It also improves skin texture, making it softer and more elastic, so is useful in treating dry, rough, scaly skin problems.

The mitochondria in the body’s cells use a combinaiton of B5 and coenzyme A to produce energy. The presence of vitamin B5 in the cells increases the production of ATP, the molecule that transports the energy that powers the body’s systems. Without adequate amounts of this vitamin, you may become tired, weak and listless.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, lab and animal studies have shown that wounds heal more quickly, especially after surgery, with the use of vitamin B5, particularly when combined with vitamin C.

Vitamin B5 helps the body to utilize other vitamins as well, such as vitamin B2. It also allows the body to best utilize the cholesterol in the food you eat, reducing your level of “bad” LDL cholesterol and raising your “good” HDL cholesterol levels. Studies have also shown that vitamin B5 may help reduce dangerous triglycerides in the blood, which can lead to heart disease.

Vitamin B5 is found in the greatest abundance in organ meats, cauliflower, broccoli, yogurt, mushrooms, sunflower seeds, turnip greens and corn. However, in food sources it is a relatively unstable vitamin, and cooking, freezing or processing foods tends to destroy it. Processed grains, canned vegetables and frozen foods have shown a 21-70% loss in vitamin B5.

Though a vitamin B5 deficiency is rare, people with a poor diet or who have digestive problems are sometimes deficient.Supplementation has been shown to help in the treatment or prevention of a range of conditions, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, adrenal insufficiency, burning foot syndrome and cataracts. Vitamin B5 supports the adrenal glands and can help to moderate stress hormones.

The recommended daily intake of vitamin B5 has been set at 5 mg for adults, and 5 to 7 mg for pregnant or breastfeeding women.

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Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

Skiing is one of the most exhilarating sports for almost any age. Unfortunately, the excitement and fun is all too often marred by accidents that can range from the inconvenient to the deadly. Although one can exercise good judgment, be in excellent shape and be an expert skier, there is no way to avoid the significant risk of accidents on the slope due to careless skiers, unforeseen obstacles and equipment failure.

It is in those brief moments of chaos where head protection becomes the deciding factor between getting back up and being evacuated by the ski patrol. A good helmet protects not only against the blunt force trauma of high-speed head-to-ground contact but also the puncturing wounds from head-to-tree collisions.

When choosing a ski helmet, make sure the size and fit are perfect for your head. Determine your helmet size by measuring your head’s circumference (a measuring tape works quite nicely). When trying out helmets, make sure it fits properly by rolling the helmet off of your head. If the skin of your face moves then the helmet fits properly. Also make sure the helmet is not too tight, as any pressure points while fitting the helmet will cause significant pain on the slopes. Even the chinstrap should be relaxed and comfortable, enough to hold the helmet on but not to cause any pressure.

It is also important that the back of the helmet not touch the back of the neck even when the head is fully titled back as this may cause injuries during a crash.

If you plan to order online then be aware that helmets are designed for varying head shapes as well as sizes. You may need to order a variety of styles and return the ones that don’t fit well. Have a friend check the shape of your head to determine if you have an oval, round or “roval” head.

Your ski goggles should also fit the helmet perfectly. While wearing the helmet, you should be able to fit the goggles properly without any exposed space on your forehead and a minimum amount of exposed space on the sides. The goggles should not overlap the helmet on any side. Make sure the helmet has a clip in the back to hold the goggle strap otherwise you may find it slipping off at the worst possible moment.

Helmets not only provide vital protection during collisions but also provide protection from the cold and adverse weather conditions. You can find helmets that provide ear protection and other comfort features, such as vents for warmer weather skiing

Lastly, for an extra bit of fun and some long-term memories, helmets allow you to attach cameras so that you can record your ski runs. What better way to enjoy your runs than show them off on video!

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Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

Your spine, or backbone, is the primary physical support for your body. The spine is composed of 33 separate vertebrae, which are flexible and permit standing, bending over, and twisting. The bony vertebrae encase and protect the spinal cord, which is connected directly to the brainstem. A healthy spine is flexible and strong, and it contributes to strong muscles and bones. However, injury, strain or disease can cause problems with the spine such as pain, inflammation and restricted movement.

The spine develops from infancy into adulthood, gradually adapting itself from a C-shape, which is suitable for crawling, to an S-shape, which is the natural shape for two-legged walking. The natural curves in the spine serve to cushion impact from movement, absorb shock, preserve balance, and allow range of motion.

The three main curves in the spine are known as the cervical curve (the neck region), the thoracic curve (the upper back) and the lumbar curve (the lower back). There are 7 cervical vertebrae, 12 thoracic vertebrae, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 4 coccygeal. The sacral and coccygeal are the lowest vertebrae in the spine, below the lumbar area. Good muscle tone is important to help maintain proper posture and spinal alignment. It is also important for us to put effort into maintaining proper posture by training our bodies to walk, stand, lie, and sit such that the lowest possible amount of strain is placed on our spine, muscles, and ligaments.

Twenty-four of the vertebrae in your spine are moveable. They are cushioned by intervertebral discs which act like coiled springs. They are fluid filled and, as we age, become more brittle, causing us to get shorter. Osteoporosis, a common condition related to aging, as well as injury and strain, can cause spinal discs to herniate or bulge. This condition can cause significant back pain.

Damage to the spinal cord can cause numbness and loss of motor function. Injury to the cervical area can cause tetraplegia (also known as quadriplegia), while injury to the thoracic or lumbar area may result in paraplegia, or loss of the use of the legs and trunk.

There are several common spinal disorders. Lordosis, also known as sway back, occurs when there is abnormal forward curvature of the lumbar spine. Those who have abnormal curvature of the thoracic curve have kyphosis, or hunchback. Scoliosis occurs when there is a mild side-to-side curvature in the spine. Slight curves of less than 20 degrees do not usually present health or medical problems. Moderate curves usually need treatment because they can significantly limit physical activity.

Resources:

http://www.mayfieldclinic.com/PE-AnatSpine.htm

www.spine-health.com

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The best way to get answers to your questions is to ask us. You can give us a call during business hours or Email the Doctor.

How to Make an Appointment

To make an appointment, call the main office phone number at (312) 583-0061 or use the Request an Appointment button below to submit an online request.

Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

Some people think chiropractors only treat back pain, but actually they are specialists in the entire musculoskeletal system. They do focus primarily on the spine and surrounding tissues, but the spine is intimately related to good functioning of the whole body. Chiropractors may treat back pain and spasms, sports injuries, headaches, and pregnancy pain. They are trained in a variety of non-invasive techniques and believe in the most natural healing possible.

How do you know if a chiropractor is right for you? Here are some conditions for which chiropractic treatment has been shown to be particularly effective.

1. Joint pain. Pain in the back and other joints is one of the most common health complaints and causes the greatest number of missed work days for health reasons. Chiropractors specialize in treating back pain and have a wide variety of techniques to treat pain anywhere from the feet and ankles up to the neck.
2. Headaches. In particular, migraine headaches can often be effectively treated by a chiropractor. While the exact origin of migraines remains a mystery, spinal manipulation has been shown to improve symptoms as much as a common prescription drug known as amitriptyline.
3. Athletic injuries. Laser therapy is a common treatment for plantar fasciitis, a typical running injury, and it is commonly administered by a chiropractor. A soft tissue therapy known as the Active Release Technique is a popular treatment offered by chiropractors that can treat long-standing injuries to muscles, ligaments, tendons, nerves and fascia.
4. Pregnancy. A somewhat sudden addition of around 30 pounds to the average woman adds stress to the body, from the back to the ankles, knees and feet. It also results in greater spinal curvature in the lower back and changes to the pelvis. Spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy and therapeutic exercises have been shown to be effective in reducing pain during pregnancy, particularly lower back and groin pain.
5. Whiplash. Whiplash is a common injury sustained after a motor vehicle accident. It results in pain in several areas of the body, as well as headaches and vision problems. Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be effective in treating whiplash through the use of spinal adjustments, soft tissue therapy, and specific exercises for the affected areas.

Other things to consider when choosing the type of care you need for your injury is that chiropractors use drug-free approaches without surgery. They are a good option for many kinds of pain and won’t steer you towards drugs or operations, which should be last-resort treatments because of the risks involved. At the same time, chiropractors are not “anti-traditional medicine” and often collaborate with allopathic doctors as well as other health professionals such as acupuncturists and massage therapists in order to design the most effective treatment plan for their patients.

Resources

• http://www.bcliving.ca/self/how-know-if-you-need-chiropractor
• http://today.com/articles/200606/migraines-and-the-chiropractors-touch

How to Get More Information

The best way to get answers to your questions is to ask us. You can give us a call during business hours or Email the Doctor.

How to Make an Appointment

To make an appointment, call the main office phone number at (312) 583-0061 or use the Request an Appointment button below to submit an online request.

Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

Incidental exercise is the physical activity we get throughout the day when we move around. You don’t have to go to a gym, change your clothes or complete a routine. Incidental exercise can make a real difference in your calories burned, especially if done consistently, and a pedometer is an excellent device for measuring it.

Of course, a pedometer also measures intentional exercise, such as regular walks or runs you may take during the week. However, you can actually rack up a lot of exercise incidentally. The important thing to realize is that most of the time, you have a choice to move around or not. There are probably some hours you must spend seated at a desk, but there are many hours during the day that you might choose to sit instead of doing something active. You will have to make the effort, and if you do, you’ll notice the difference.

Pedometers don’t cost much and you’ll hardly notice it’s there, but studies have shown that simply wearing a pedometer increases our motivation to get up and move around significantly. Keeping a log of your daily steps is a wonderful way to monitor your progress and get even more motivated.

Once you’ve got that pedometer, here are some ways to increase incidental exercise in your life:

o After establishing a baseline, increase your number of steps by 10% each week. Aim for 10,000 steps per day. That meets most fitness guidelines for daily exercise.

o Is it really that far to the shops? Is there anything you can walk to that has something you need on a regular basis, so that you could leave the car behind once in a while (or more often)? That would save the environment, gasoline expenses and improves your health.

o If you must drive absolutely everywhere, park farther away from the shops so you have to walk a bit.

o I know the stairs are hard. But if you take them regularly, you’ll go a long way towards improving your fitness level, burning calories, and just feeling invigorated. And it gets easier with practice! Stairs are one of the higher intensity activities you can do.

o Get off the train or bus a couple of stops early and walk the rest of the way.

o Include a 10 -or 20-minute brisk walk every day at lunch. You’ll be amazed how a walk can help you de-stress and refresh your mind for the afternoon ahead.

o Take your dog for an extra walk each day. He’ll love you for it.

Incidental exercise will keep your metabolism up, which can boost your energy levels and help you sleep better, and of course, you’ll burn more calories. If you put enough effort into it that your heart and lungs have to work a little harder than usual, you’ll improve your fitness level, too.

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The best way to get answers to your questions is to ask us. You can give us a call during business hours or Email the Doctor.

How to Make an Appointment

To make an appointment, call the main office phone number at (312) 583-0061 or use the Request an Appointment button below to submit an online request.

Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.

The short answer to this question is, "It depends."

For example, the number of recommended adjustments may depend on why you sought chiropractic care in the first place. Were you concerned with pain, or recovery from an injury, or did you seek care to promote your overall health and wellness? The national average when dealing with pain and injury is 20 to 22 adjustments per patient, per injury. When the initial pain or injury has been relieved and treatment moves more into the area of general wellness care and health maintenance, the number of adjustments is almost always a partnership between the chiropractor and the patients. They work together to determine overall goals and set up an appropriate treatment schedule.

Many patients find relief in their first visit and see considerable progress within a week or two of regular visits, and regular adjustments can become less necessary as your body stabilizes. Of course, this varies from patient to patient, depending on the nature of the injury and the stage of treatment they are in. In the first or acute stage, when the patient has first consulted a chiropractor, the primary goal may be to relieve pain and increase mobility, so several adjustments a week may be required to accomplish this.

However, the scar tissue and postural imbalance that can build up around spinal injuries can take some time to heal completely, so there may be a reconstructive or healing phase of treatment. This stage seeks to improve the strength and flexibility of soft tissue surrounding the area of the original injury. During this phase there are commonly fewer adjustments – from once a week to once a month. At first the patient may find in nearly every visit that their spine has slipped back out of adjustment and requires correction. When the spine starts holding its adjustments, however, treatment can be reduced to a check-up every few months.

The number of recommended adjustments may also vary depending on the nature of the services provided by the individual chiropractor. Some treatment approaches seek to correct problems in a few sessions, while others take a more long-term approach, constantly evaluating the patient's progress and changing the treatment regimen accordingly to not just heal the immediate injury but develop a more healthy spine and lifestyle. Chiropractic care is to some extent an art form; there are many ways to adjust the spine, and many ways to determine whether the adjustment has been successful. This can depend on the chiropractor's personal style, where they were educated, their experience, and many other factors.

To some extent the determination of how many adjustments you will need depends on you, your personal goals, and how much you want to benefit from chiropractic care. Some patients seek only resolution of pain or discomfort from an injury, and are not as interested in long-term therapies to improve their spinal and general health. Others choose to pursue treatment because they recognize the importance of maintaining a healthy spine, to prevent future injuries and increase their quality of life.

Resources:

• http://www.ehow.com/video_4397485_how-many-chiropractic-visits-do.html
• http://www.demosschiropractic.com/chiropractic-fidelity.cfm
• http://www.oliverspecific.com/chiropractor/how-many-chiropractic-adjustments-do-i-need-part-2/
• http://www.back2harmony.com/faqs_treatment.html#howmany
• http://www.creatingwellnessdr.com/chiropractic-adjustments.php

How to Get More Information

The best way to get answers to your questions is to ask us. You can give us a call during business hours or Email the Doctor.

How to Make an Appointment

To make an appointment, call the main office phone number at (312) 583-0061 or use the Request an Appointment button below to submit an online request.

Learn More About Us

Chicago chiropractor, Dr. Matthew Nuesse founded Chicago Spine and Joint Care to bring pain relief to residents of downtown Chicago and Loop area workers. We take great pride in making every patient feel comfortable in our office and making you an informed part of your health care and future wellness.