Most people regard chiropractic care as a mystery. A kind of medical "black box" that they just don't know much about. Let me take at least some of the mystery away, and give you an overview of what it is that chiropractors actually do, how they do it, and how they can help you here at our chiropractic clinic in San Diego CA.

Chiropractic Adjustments in San Diego CA

Chiropractors are known most commonly for their work with those who suffer chronic back and neck pain, and it is true that a great many chiropractic offices work on those very conditions quite often, but most chiropractors also work on a full range of different extremity joints of the body. Some chiropractors specialize in sports medicine and sports or occupational-related injuries, but of course, it is not strictly necessary to specialize. Having said all that, let's look at some of the different body parts a chiropractor might adjust, and what they might do in certain circumstances. We'll start at the bottom and work our way up:

Feet - The foot has a total of thirteen bones in it, and oftentimes, injury or displacement of one bone will cause radiating pain that will impact the neighboring bones. A chiropractor can adjust (either manually or with a small hand instrument) each of these bones to return them to proper alignment. In this case, the long axis distraction of the talus adjustment is probably the one most often performed, and this particular adjustment can be of some benefit to a person who has suffered a sprained ankle, for instance.

Knee - The knee joint can also be adjusted by either manual or mechanical means. One of the more common and popular adjustments here is the medial meniscus, which helps the meniscus to function better. There are also a number of fibular head adjustments which can ease lateral knee pains.

Hips - Adjustments to the hips and/or pelvis are quite common. The main hip adjustment is the long-axis distraction maneuver, which helps many arthritis sufferers.

Elbow - The radial head is the most often misaligned join in the elbow. Adjustments on the cranial head are extremely helpful with most common elbow injuries.

It should also be noted that upper extremity adjustments are far more common than lower extremity adjustments, as patients often have common injuries such as a frozen shoulder, various rotator cuff injuries, or conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome. Where the shoulder injuries are concerned, adjustments can include sterna clavicular ac joint adjustments and/or glenohumeral adjustments. Chiropractors also make use of a number of muscle techniques when dealing with shoulder injuries.

In the specific case of carpal tunnel syndrome, there are a total of eight carpal bones in the wrist, and all of these articulations can be adjusted. The middle bone in the wrist is called the lunate. This bone can sometimes "fall forward" in a motion that closes the carpal tunnel. Adjusting this bone can be of great benefit to someone suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome.

If you suffer from any type of extremity injury, you owe it to yourself to see how a Chiropractor can help you recover. Call Biophysics Chiropractic today to discuss any concerns you may have. We are happy to help!