Do Chiropractors Really Crack Your Neck?

Neck Cracking

Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: This question, or something similar, is one of the most common questions that I get as a doctor of chiropractic (DC). Unfortunately, most people have no idea what a chiropractic adjustment is like, what is happening to the body, or what is causing the noise (or not causing the noise).

Especially recently, people are watching online videos with the emphasis on the “popping” noise. People tend to think that every adjustment will sound like a board breaking.

Some people are even convinced that I could actually break their neck like they see in the movies.

Some of the techniques that chiropractors use, such as activator or spinal decompression, do not even cause a noise to be made.

An overview of what a chiropractic adjustment is can be found here. What is a Chiropractic Adjustment? (beecherchiropractic.com)

The use of the terms “popping or cracking” is only used to describe the sound that may or may not occur after an adjustment. If you do not want to hear the noise, just ask your chiropractor to use a technique that does not cause the cavitation.

Also, make sure that any spinal adjustment that you receive is from a trained doctor of chiropractic and not another healthcare provider that has not received the proper training. Some providers, such as MD’s and PT’s, think that since it looks easy to perform a spinal adjustment, they can also adjust their own patients. Unfortunately for the patient, they soon find out that the provider cannot in fact perform a chiropractic adjustment correctly.

The risks from receiving a neck adjustment from a chiropractor are minimal, as reflected by chiropractic malpractice rates. And no…we do not crack your neck.

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below! 

What is Sciatica?

Person holding their back in pain

Houston Chiropractor Comments: One of the most painful conditions that we treat in our Houston, TX office is sciatica. Sciatica is a condition resulting from the irritation of the sciatic nerve. This is the largest nerve in the human body. It travels from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and eventually down each leg.

When people do an internet search on sciatica, they think that any pain from the back radiating into the leg is sciatica. Luckily, this is not true. Most of the time, after a proper exam, we find that their leg pain is actually a referred pain from a lumbar or sacroiliac joint, or it is an irritated TFL caused by an improper gait.

Sciatica is typically caused by either a herniated disc in the lumbar spine, a bone spur, or irritation of the piriformis muscle. The pain can be a deep achy pain, but typically is a sharp burning pain. The pain is usually on one side only. If the pain crosses two separate joints, such as the hip and the knee, it is almost always a nerve pain, such as sciatica. I typically see patients with the pain primarily being on the outside of their calf muscle.

There are certain risk factors for sciatica. The first is age. As we get older, we have an increase in disc degeneration and spur formation. It becomes easier for the sciatic nerve to become irritated. Being overweight also increases the stress on the spine. Diabetes can increase the risk of nerve damage. Finally, an occupation that results in prolonged sitting or driving as well as twisting or carrying heavy loads can cause an increased incidence of sciatica.

Most people make a full recovery from sciatica without the need for treatment. If the sciatica causes a loss of bowel or bladder control, please seek immediate medical attention. If the sciatica causes any leg weakness or numbness, please give us, or your local chiropractor, a call. Chiropractic care gets excellent results with sciatica and we can show you the correct stretches and exercises to help prevent a reoccurrence.

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below! 

If You Go To A Chiropractor, Do You Need To Go There Forever?

A patient at a chiropractic consultation

Clear Lake City Chiropractor Comments: One of the biggest myths about chiropractic is that if you go once, you must go the rest of your life. This is not true.

Like other doctors, it sometimes takes a couple visits to figure out what treatment will work best for each individual patient. Like seeing a physical therapist, some conditions require multiple visits over a couple weeks or months. After the problem is fixed, most chiropractic doctors give the patient exercises and stretches to maintain the correction. This is comparable to a dentist telling you to brush and floss after they repair a cavity.

Now just like dentist and other doctors, some people like, or need, to come in for periodic maintenance. This is the same if you go to your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and check-up or if you go to your family doctor for an annual physical.

Some patients, because of their physical jobs or previous injuries, need regular maintenance care. This keeps them performing at their maximum potential without pain or discomfort.

While some patients choose to come in for periodic care to tune-up their bodies and live a life with less pain, nobody must go to their chiropractic doctor forever.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston,     TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!

Being An Adult Is Hard Work

Houston Chiropractor Comments: I was recently talking to a young patient of mine about how he was doing. He told me “Being an adult is hard work.” 

I asked him what he meant by saying that. He told me that he had started a new job with good benefits, he had moved into his own apartment, and was paying his own bills. The hard part was realizing how much everything cost in money and in time. He had never realized how much groceries cost, the expense of electricity and the internet. The hours that he worked at the plant did not allow much time for hanging out with his buddies or just relaxing.

He told me that he realized that it was cheaper to cook at home and prepare his food in advance for the week. Watching baseball at home instead of going to the game saved even more.

The best thing that he told me was that he realized that he needed to take care of his body better if he was going to eventually be able to support a family. He said that the stretches that he used to only do when he was hurting, he was now doing daily. He was eating healthier at home than when he was eating fast food all the time. He was exercising regularly so that he could do his job without being sore. He was even having a somewhat regular sleep schedule. He even committed to a regular maintenance schedule for his spinal adjustments.

Being an adult can be hard work, but do not make it harder by making bad decisions about your health. You only have one body, so take care of it so that it can last.

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston,     TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below! 

Best Type Of Doctor For Neck Pain

Man in pain holding his neck

Houston Chiropractor Comments: When I am out of the office, people will ask me what the best type of doctor is for neck pain. They think that I will say that it is always a doctor of chiropractic (DC), but they are surprised with my answer.

The best type of doctor for neck pain depends on the type of neck pain.

For a simple achy pain, such as after driving several hours or spending too much time on the computer, the best type of doctor is … none. This sort of pain will typically resolve on its own. If need, you can put ice or heat (Ice Vs Heat for Injuries – Beecher Chiropractic – YouTube) on it for 20 minutes or do your neck stretches (Neck Stretches – Beecher Chiropractic – Ward Beecher DC – YouTube).

If you are having severe neck pain caused by muscle spasms that do not allow you to move your neck at all, then you should see a medical doctor. This sort of problem needs to be co-managed with medication so that the muscles can be relaxed enough so that the neck can be adjusted by a doctor of chiropractic. Luckily, most medical doctors are now willing to work with us for the benefit of their patients. Several have become patients after seeing the benefit of our care. With the appropriate muscle relaxers and anti-inflammatory medication, the muscle will relax enough for the chiropractor to fix the cause of the problem.

For most neck pain, a chiropractor is the best doctor to get quick relief. Neck, along with low back pain, are the two most common conditions that doctors of chiropractic treat.  As a result, most chiropractors treat several hundred patients a year with neck pain with excellent results. You can get relief without the harmful side-effects of drugs and you can actually fix the cause of the problem with spinal adjustments and therapy.

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!

How To Choose The Best School Backpack

Backpack

Bay Area Chiropractor Comments: Every year millions of children walk around with heavy school back packs filled with books and supplies. While this is a good way to carry their school materials, by using their back and shoulder muscles, the tendency is to place too much strain on their neck and back due to overloading the back pack. The back will compensate for any load applied to it for an extended period of time. A heavy weight carried in backpacks can:

  • Distort the natural curves in the middle and lower backs, causing muscle strain and irritation to the spine joints and the rib cage
  • Lead to rounding of the shoulders
  • Cause a person to lean forward, reducing balance and making it easier to fall

This problem can be made worse by carrying the pack on just one shoulder. Doing this causes the body to adapt by causing the body to lean to the other side placing additional stress on the mid and lower back as well as their associated muscles. This can lead to the children having headaches, shoulder, neck, and back pain as well as pain down the arms and legs.

There is not a consensus among doctors on the correct amount of weight that a child can carry or the perfect back pack design, but parents should use common sense in choosing the best back pack for your child.

Look for backpack design features that help reduce the chance of back pain:

  • Lightweight material (canvas as opposed to leather)
  • Two padded, wide (2-inches), adjustable shoulder straps on the backpack
  • Padded back
  • Individualized compartments
  • Hip strap, waist belt, or frame to redistribute the weight of the backpack from the shoulders and back to the pelvis
  • Wheels so that the backpack can be pulled rather than carried
  • Consider using a separate bag for the child’s laptop or other heavier electronic items

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!

Chiropractic Treatment of Pickleball Injuries

Houston Chiropractor Comments: Pickleball is a popular sport, unfortunately it also is causing an increase in injuries. Of the 22 million players of the sport, almost a third of them are seniors. Seniors also account for 86% of the emergency room visits. Over the last six months, we have seen a couple patients a month that have been injured while playing the sport.

Since it began in the 1960’s, it was seen as way for people to get exercise while playing a sport similar to tennis. According to CBS, it is now on track to cause almost $500 million in injuries in 2023.

According to a 2021 medical study, 60% of pickleball injuries are sprains, strains, and fractures. Twenty percent of the injuries are contusions and abrasions, and 10% are lacerations or dislocations. 

What I have noticed with my patients is that half of them had played competitive sports when they were younger. Their mind is telling them that they can run, jump, and swing like they could when they were younger, but their body cannot perform at that level. The other half of my patients have never been very active, but they want to play the sport as a social activity. They have a hard time getting their bodies to adapt to the repetitive motions that the game requires.

The best advice that I have is to begin playing the game slowly. Start by just playing one game a day and do not play on consecutive days. This helps to minimize the sprain strain injuries. Get comfortable walking for 20 minutes. This will help your cardiovascular fitness so that you can move about the court. Work on your balance. It is common to fall after bending and twisting rapidly in a game. You can do this by walking on uneven surfaces or spending some time on a balance board. Begin to play more after 2 or 3 weeks when your body has begun to get use to the new activity. Finally, remember that is just a game. You do not have to win every point. Take time just to enjoy the comradery. 

If you do get injured, then we can help you recover from your sprain strain injuries. We can also adjust your spine to help you perform at your maximum potential. We are here to help you enjoy all of your activities of life.

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston,     TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!

School Sports Physicals

Clear Lake City Chiropractor Comments: As we get closer to the fall school activities starting, we wish to remind Intermediate and High School students and parents that we perform the required Preparticipation Physical Evaluation at our office. The charge for this examination is only $20. Please call the office at 281-286-1300 to schedule.

Here are the links for the (2) forms that are needed. Please fill out the medical history form before arriving. 

Thanks,

Ward Beecher DC

Causes Of Tailbone Pain and How To Minimize It

Nasa Area Chiropractor Comments: One of the more painful conditions that we see and treat in our office is tailbone pain. This can be either from the sacrum or coccyx. Usually, the cause is from direct trauma. We have seen it from people slipping and falling backwards around a pool, striking an underwater rock while tubing, or landing wrong while doing cheer or gymnastics.

Initially we need to make sure through a proper examination and x-rays (if needed) that there is not a fracture. If the bone is not fractured, but instead it is out of alignment, we can help reduce the pain through spinal adjustments and using physical therapy modalities.

Sometimes the bone is not out of alignment, but instead it is just bruised. A bone bruise can cause pain for several weeks. The best thing that the patient can do is to avoid putting pressure on the bone. This is accomplished by using a donut pillow or a cushion with a sacral slot. This will allow the bone to heal while not aggravating the problem.

If the tailbone pain was not caused by trauma, we need to look at other causes. It can be caused by repeated strain on the coccyx from prolonged driving or cycling. Other causes are pilonidal cysts, anal fissure, or shingles. 

The key thing is to make the correct diagnosis first. This way we are able to determine if you can be helped via chiropractic or if you need to be referred to a medical doctor.

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston,     TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!

Easing Back Pain With Pool Exercises

Houston Chiropractor Comments: As the summer heat rises, people find ways to spend more time in the pool. In addition to being relaxing and a great way to unwind, it also offers ways to help ease your back pain.

The easiest exercise to perform in the pool is walking. You can walk across the pool or you can walk in place. The water will help to support your weight and give you a little extra balance. Once you are comfortable with walking for 10 minutes, you can add some lunges or even begin to jog.

Once you are comfortable going forward, you can work additional muscles by going side-ways and by going backwards.

Another exercise is to either use a kickboard or to hold on to the side of the pool and kick. While doing this, try to keep your back straight and to engage your core muscles. Try to work up to being able to do this for 60 seconds and then rest.

In the shallow area of the pool, try and do some deep knee bends or squats. You can also use the stairs of the pool or place a chair in the water. Try to keep your back straight and squat down like you would be sitting in a chair. Try to not lean forward while doing this. The goal is 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

You can also work your stomach and core muscles. Stand with your back against the side of the pool with your arms spread wide out of the water. Begin by slowly raising your leg one at a time as high as you can with your leg straight. When that gets easier, you can slowly raise both legs while trying to keep your core engaged by trying to pull your belly button towards your spine. The goal is 3 sets of 10 repetitions. 

Finally, you can do modified push-ups by either using the side of the pool or the stairs / ladder. Concentrate on keeping your back straight while touching your chest on the pool and then fully extending your arms. The goal is 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

These are the basic motions. Once these are easy, try adding different movements. Almost all motion is good, just add new motions gradually.

Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston,     TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!