Chiropractic Care in Fayetteville AR

Many people have questions about chiropractic in Fayetteville AR This article is here to help explain some of the science behind our profession.

Chiropractic is a system of health care that rests on two principles:

1. The structure and condition of the body influences how the body functions and its ability to heal itself
2. The mind-body relationship is instrumental in maintaining health and in the healing processes.

Since 1895, when Daniel David Palmer discovered that adjusting displaced vertebrae could help restore hearing, chiropractic has worked with the nerves to help with pain management, healing from accidents and injuries, and general wellness.

With a holistic (“whole person”) approach to health and more than a century of study and development, chiropractic is in tune with today’s ideas about health care. In 2007, more than 18 million American adults and 2 million children visited chiropractors.

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Chiropractic Care in Fayetteville AR

Chiropractic care is designed to help improve your health and alleviate discomfort. On your first visit, you can expect a consultation, complete case history, spinal examination, neurological and orthopedic examination, full spine x -rays and some therapy recommendations. Your first visit will usually take at least an hour.

On your next visit, Dr. Myshka will give you a complete report of your examination findings and x-rays findings. Please allow 30-45 minutes for the second visit. Dr. Myshka will personally answer any questions you have. He will give you a game plan or recommended schedule for your specific case.

On subsequent visits, you will always receive your therapies and spinal adjustments, and you will be able to discuss your case. These visits are approximately fifteen minutes. X-rays will be taken to help the doctor analyze your case and develop a treatment plan.

Questions about preferred provider groups, HMO’s, PPO’s and other insurance plans will be addressed by our experienced and friendly staff. Family Chiropractic Center accepts ARKids, Medicaid, Medicare, HSA, Qualchoice, and more; our goal is to make excellent medical care accessible. Doctors of Chiropractic use only natural methods of health care and do not prescribe any medication, give injections, or perform surgery. Dr. Myshka at Family Chiropractic Center works closely with many medical doctors including Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Orthopedic Surgeons, and probably your family doctor. We will refer you to a medical specialist if your condition falls outside the realm of chiropractic.

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YOUR SPINE

The spine is a complicated structure of bone and muscle and tissue that supports the weight of the body. It also holds and protects the spinal cord, the centerpiece of the nervous system which carries messages from the brain to the rest of the body through a complex pathway of nerves. It should be no surprise that the health of the spine should affect the health of the body.

The spine is like a stack of small bones, the vertebrae. These bones have holes in them, and when they’re stacked together to form the spine, they have an opening for the spinal cord just as beads have an opening for a string.

Between the vertebrae are discs of cartilage that cushion and protect the spinal cord and allow the spine to move. Ligaments and tendons attach the muscles to the spinal column. It’s a wonderful system.

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SPINE HEALTH

Taking care of your back involves three things:

1. Suit your environment to your spine. That is, choose a firm mattress, a supportive chair, and comfortable shoes.
2. Use your back sensibly. Sleep on your back or your side. If you have to stand for a long time, try to use a footstool for one foot to keep your back in a natural position. When you lift things, keep your back straight and bend at the hips and knees.
3. Maintain general good health habits. Studies have shown that smoking contributes to disc degeneration and that obesity puts a strain on your back. Regular exercise and healthy food with sufficient calcium and vitamin D are good for your back.

Visit the Family Chiropractic Center to receive specific plans for your health care and spine care needs.

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WHIPLASH

Whiplash usually refers to injuries involving damage to bones and soft tissues like discs and ligaments. Symptoms include neck pain, dizziness, headaches, and sometimes changes in mood or behavior.

In an auto accident, when the forward motion of the car is stopped by a collision, the body of a passenger may be thrown forward and back so quickly that the back and neck move in an extended S curve, like the cracking of a whip. This is where we get the term “whiplash.” Though we see this most often in cases of auto accidents, this type of injury can take place in other situations as well. Following an auto accident, chiropractic care should be the first response.

Whiplash and other personal injuries caused by car accidents, sports injuries, and work or household accidents respond well to chiropractic treatment. The Journal of Orthopaedic Medicine found that chiropractic was “the only proven effective treatment” of whiplash. In another study, 74% of patients who experienced chronic pain after whiplash injuries benefited from chiropractic care.

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TECHNIQUES

While different practitioners have different approaches, Dr. Myshka uses specific spinal adjustments with physiological therapeutics, exercise therapy, and nutritional counseling. Some patients may also benefit from intersegmental traction, cryotherapy (ice), or electric muscle stimulation. Dr. Myshka will perform a thorough examination, take a complete medical history, and discuss your specific treatment needs.

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EXERCISES

Strengthening and stretching exercises should be a part of your lifestyle on a permanent basis. Dr. Myshka will work out a home exercise program for you that meets your particular needs.

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RESOURCES

• Gonstead Clinical Studies Society
• Gonstead Seminar of Chiropractic