Pain Management

Chiropractic care offered by Dr. Richard Robinson includes pain management assistance, which helps our patients find relief for their pain, whether chronic pain or following a trauma or injury. There are a myriad of pain that can benefit from chiropractic treatment including: shoulder, neck pain, back pain, headaches or migraines and sciatica pain. Through adjustments and manipulations, massage, and acupuncture, our team here at Robinson Family Chiropractic helps patients find the relief they have been looking for.

 

At our chiropractic office, we believe in providing treatments that go beyond treating just one area of the body, but encouraging the body to learn how to heal itself. By offering adjustments of the spine for chronic pain management, our patients not only find their primary pain gone, but over time, other pains and areas of discomfort also start disappearing. They are able to get this alternative treatment, as opposed to taking prescribed medications.

 

We also offer additional methods of pain management, including applying hot and cold packs, and showing our patients how to perform gentle exercises at home that help them ease their pain.

Trigger Point Massage

At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we offer a unique pain treatment known as Trigger Point Therapy. A trigger point is a small patch of tightly contracted muscle, an isolated spasm affecting just a small patch of muscle. That small patch of knotted muscle cuts off its own blood supply, which irritates it even more — a vicious cycle called “metabolic crisis.”

 

The length of time it takes to release a trigger point depends on several factors, one of which is how long you have had the condition. Other factors include the number of trigger points you have, how effective your current treatment is and how consistently you can administer or receive treatment.

The most common method for chiropractors is to apply pressure to the TP using the finger or thumb. This is a very effective way of treating trigger points; it also gives Dr. Robinson immediate feedback to see how the muscle is responding. Dr. Robinson applies the pressure for a few seconds until the trigger point disappears and the muscles to relax. This is followed by massage and has proven to be the least invasive technique for treatment of chronic pain. 

Sports Massage

While chiropractic care focuses on joints and movement patterns, massage focuses on the soft tissues of the body like muscles and ligaments. Massage paired with regular chiropractic adjustments and manipulations have proven to be one of the most effective methods for relieving chronic pain in athletes.

 

Massage therapy offers a treatment approach which actually relieves musculoskeletal pain for many patients. At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we provide specific massage and muscular therapy that is tailored to meet the patient's unique pain condition or injury. Massage has been known to relieve muscle pain and spasms, increase a patient's range of motion, while also aiding in a patient's recovery. The benefits of massage therapy include:

• Increased blood circulation
• Reduction in swelling
• Relaxation of muscles

We offer a pre-event sports massage that involves a stimulating Swedish massage that targets the muscles you will use in your upcoming event. We also offer post-event, restorative and rehabilitative massages that are designed to help your body recover quicker. Call our office today for more information! 

Interferential Electro-Therapy

Most people will develop a muscle strain or spasm at some point in their lifetime. Before you reach for medication to treat sprains, strains and muscle spasms, consider the alternatives. Interferential electro-therapy can be an effective way to treat soft tissue injuries and sprains.

Dr. Richard Robinson and our team at Robinson Family Chiropractic are experienced at treating injuries with interferential electro-therapy and will be happy to answer your questions. Interferential electro-therapy works by applying a low frequency electrical signal to stimulate the muscle and reduce pain.

Interferential electro-therapy works in a few different ways. As it stimulates the muscle, it can reduce swelling and increase blood flow to the area. In addition, interferential electro-therapy can also stimulate the production and release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural pain relievers.

At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we offer a wide variety of chiropractic services including cryotherapy and electrical muscle stimulation. We are experienced in treating sports related injuries, conditions due to car accidents and job related injuries. We are happy to provide you with a free consultation.

Headaches

Many of us are familiar with the inhibiting nature of headaches and migraines.  This is especially true for those that suffer on a regular basis.  Fortunately, there are ways to address the underlying cause of your pain and find lasting relief.  At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we focus on correcting tension and misalignment in the upper back and neck, as these are the most common causes of chronic headaches and migraines.  Through chiropractic care, many patients have been able to find lasting and natural relief.

Traditional spinal adjustments and manipulations, stress relieving techniques, and other wellness therapies can all provide headache and migraine relief.  If you have been suffering from headache pain and you have not yet found a treatment that works for you, arrange an appointment at Robinson Family Chiropractic.  We look forward to working with all of our patients to determine the underlying cause of your headaches and migraines so that you can finally find relief.

Adjustments and Manipulations

Chiropractors employ many different techniques for spinal manipulations. An adjustment is a procedure in which the chiropractor will realign vertebrae that have moved out of place. When vertebrae are unaligned, the flow of nerves and systems in your body from the brain are not functioning properly, causing pain.

Along with pain relief, adjustments have a direct effect on our nervous systems. Stresses on the spine, known as sublaxation, create an interference to our nervous. Restoring the spine to it's proper health aids in the flow of information to the rest of the body from the nervous system. 

When it comes to side effects, the most common reaction to a chiropractic adjustment is aching and soreness in the spinal joints and muscles. Side effects typically subside after about 24 hours. Side effects are not common with all patients and overall, adjustments are an excellent way to keep the body functioning appropriately. When your body is in alignment, it is able to respond and perform as it was designed to.

Cryotherapy

At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we are dedicated to relieving pain and restoring patients to optimal health through the use of holistic methods without relying on drugs or invasive procedures. One such way that our practice treats pain and ailments is with cryotherapy.

Pain and muscle spasms are common responses to soft tissue injuries, and if you’re suffering, cryotherapy can provide pain relief and sooth irritation in the injured tendon, ligament or muscle. This simple and inexpensive technique treats pain with the application of ice, cold towels, ice massages and compressed to reduce the temperature of affected tissues. Surface cooling of the irritated area constricts your blood vessels, numbs the tissue and makes it difficult for muscles to hold contraction, so cryotherapy can effectively reduce nerve transmission and relax muscle spasms for temporary relief.

Cryotherapy can also reduce swelling or inflammation after an injury. If applied after trauma, the injury and resultant pain can be reduced and largely prevented. For maximum effectiveness, cold compresses should be applied frequently for short periods of time.
If you have recently suffered an injury or are experiencing acute pain, it is important to receive care as soon as possible. Drugs are not the only way to treat pain. You can stop by our office for beneficial and holistic treatment, as well as continue cryotherapy at home.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Robinson in Algonquin and Rolling Meadows, IL by calling 847-458-8444 and 847-963-4894 respectively. For more information, visit www.handsdoc.com.

Acupuncture

Dr. Robinson is able to provide drug-free, non-invasive treatment for many types of pain and inflammation through the use of acupuncture. Acupuncture is used as an alternative treatment for pain management. With the safety of pain relievers being questioned, many Americans are turning to acupuncture to treat a laundry list of conditions.

Some of those conditions include:

• Addiction
• Stress
• Headaches
• Lower back pain
• Fibromyalgia
• Dental pain

Dr. Robinson operates under the guidelines of Traditional Chinese Medicine and according to TCM, energy flows through the body through a network of “pathways”, similar to a highway system. Stress, irritability/anger or any intense emotion acts as a traffic jam, interrupting the flow of energy in the body. Stagnation is the term used in TCM to describe the condition and can cause tension in the muscles in addition to pain or headaches.

Stagnation can be addressed through stimulating specific acupuncture points chosen based on the body condition. Acupuncture works to alleviate pain by releasing endorphins – the natural pain reliever. Acupuncture also improves circulation which helps the detoxification process. The calming nature of acupuncture slows the heart rate, relaxes the muscles and lowers blood pressure, all of which are symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.

Ergonomics

Many Americans spend at least 40 hours a week sitting in an office in front of a computer. Many of these workers will start to experience certain chronic conditions like neck or back pains, carpal tunnel syndrome, numbness in the limbs, etc. because of poor posture in the workplace. If you suffer from any of these chronic conditions, visit us at Robinson Family Chiropractic to learn more about your treatment options.

Many people who are hunched over or slouching in their chairs experience neck pains from staring at the monitor all day, and feel numbness in the low-back from sitting. Other common ailments are headaches, weakness in the legs, and wrist and/or elbow pain. There are a few things you can do to prevent these pains from occurring so frequently, or even stop them altogether. Here are some tips to improving your posture at work:

• Take a break: take mini-breaks throughout the day to stretch out your arms and legs
• Set yourself up for success: create a desk space that works for your posture, not against it. Your body and legs should create a 90 to 110 degree angle and your feet should be able to touch the floor
• Keep your head up: try keeping your head forward and your neck in alignment when you are working. The top of your monitor should be level with your eyes as well.

If you feel that your work environment isn’t good for your posture, try taking some steps to improve your work lifestyle. During your consultation with Dr. Richard Robinson, make sure to ask what steps you can take to improve your posture throughout your everyday life.

Nutritional Assistance

When it comes to dieting, many Americans struggle with keeping a consistent, healthy diet. Many rely on yo-yo dieting and other extreme measures while attempting to lose weight. The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition projects that by 2030, half of all adults (115 million adults) in the United States will be obese. At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we offer nutritional counseling for patients that struggle with weight loss. Our nutritional assistance programs are designed to help teach you the skills necessary to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Our main goal is to get you to a comfortable, healthy weight, but also to keep it off and maintain healthy habits throughout your life. If you’re considering dieting or starting a workout regimen but haven’t taken the leap yet, schedule a consultation at Robinson Family Chiropractic to get started. Dr. Richard Robinson will work with you to create a weight loss plan that includes a healthy, balanced diet and proper exercise. Incorporating permanent healthy choices into your lifestyle is the best way to lose and maintain weight and reduce risks such as diabetes and high-blood pressure. Weight loss management plans like these are very effective, but should be carefully supervised by a doctor. In some cases, patients can lose as much as a pound a day without feeling hungry or weak.

Call our Rolling Meadows or Algonquin, IL offices at 847-963-4894 and 847-458-8444 respectively to schedule an appointment at Robinson Family Chiropractic. Please also visit our website www.handsdoc.com.

Sports Stretching

You’ve probably been told many times by former coaches and gym teachers to stretch before you exercise, but do you know why? At Robinson Family Chiropractic, our team constantly promotes stretching before exercise because stretching improves flexibility, decreases the risk of injury to muscles and stretching keeps your body limber by releasing muscle tension and tightness.

Not all types of stretching are equal, so the type of stretches as well as the timing makes a difference in flexibility and exercise. If your current stretching routine doesn't appear to improve overall flexibility, then you may want to consider making some changes. Before you begin stretching, you must make sure to do it safely. Here are a few tips:

• Focus on major muscle groups: calves, thighs, hips, lower back, neck and shoulders
• Hold your stretch: try holding each stretch for about 30 seconds at a time. In problem areas, you may need to hold for about 60 seconds
• Feel the burn: expect to feel the tension while you’re stretching, not pain. If you begin to hurt, you’ve pushed too far
• Be sport specific: make sure to stretch for the sport you’re participating in
• Move around: gentle movement while you’re stretching can help you become more flexible

Electric Muscle Stimulation

If you are dealing with acute or chronic pain, electric muscle stimulation is often not the first treatment option presented to you, but it is effective. More common than that, people ignore their injury or try to prevent the pain with medication. At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we offer EMS treatment and have great success healing patient’s neck, back and joint pain.

EMS treatment mimics the body’s nervous system by sending low frequency electrical pulses to the affected area. This will cause he muscles to contract and increase the blood circulation to the area. By utilizing and encouraging the body’s natural healing mechanisms, Dr. Richard Robinson is able to drastically reduce patient’s dependence on medications and unnecessary surgeries to resolve painful symptoms.

EMS therapy is a great tool for patients with the following conditions:

• Carpal tunnel
• Muscle Atrophy
• Muscle Spasms
• Sciatica
• Sports Injuries
• Tennis Elbow
• Ulcers

EMS is a great tool for chiropractors. If you are suffering from any of the above conditions, call  You can set up an appointment with Dr. Richard Robinson by calling 847-963-4894 for the Rolling Meadows office or 847-458-8444 for the Algonquin office. Please also visit our website www.handsdoc.com for more information about our practice.

Therapeutic Exercise

Cardiovascular and strengthening exercise combined with chiropractic care is extremely important in the management of pain. We promote healthy living and our belief is that therapeutic exercise is an important aspect of patient health. Dr. Richard Robinson has established an environment that promotes patient health through exercise and healthy diet here at Robinson Family Chiropractic in Rolling Meadows and Algonquin, IL.

Many studies have shown that regular exercise is extremely important in managing in acute and chronic pain. Proper exercise strengthens the lower back and will improve overall health. Aerobic exercises are the best type of exercise you can do in combination with chiropractic care. Aerobic exercise promotes proper digestion, keeps muscles in proper tone and promotes better circulation.

On our website, we have provided an extensive list of what types of exercises and stretches you can participate in to boost your health. The value of exercise prescription cannot be ignored in cases such as motor vehicle accidents, personal injury cases, and work-related injuries. Our goal is to get you to back to your best self, and therapeutic exercises are one of the best options to make that happen. Dr. Robinson works with his patients to ensure they are advised on which is the right combination of exercises and stretches as certain conditions require specific movements to prevent injury. 

Come in to Robinson Family Chiropractic and talk to us today on how we can incorporate proper exercises and techniques into your wellness journey!

Chiropractic Massage

Chiropractic massage is a great solution for those suffering from chronic illness, allergies, migraines or any ongoing pain. Chiropractic massage combines scientific and holistic medicine by improving the patient’s nervous system function through specific manipulations and deep tissue massage. At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we offer various chiropractic massage options in order to treat individuals in the Rolling Meadows and Algonquin, IL area who suffer from chronic conditions.

The benefits of chiropractic massage are mental as well as physical, providing both the body and mind with relief from pressure, pain and discomfort. With chiropractic massage, we are able to remove toxins that can build up in the muscles in the body. Our highly trained massage therapists focus on the support muscles of the torso and back, working to stretch and loosen muscles while enhancing circulation, which helps the body eliminate toxins.

Chiropractic massage is a therapeutic technique that helps the muscles in the back, neck and torso relax and release any tension that might be affecting the area. Tightness in these areas often causes back aches, cramps, neck pain, headaches and migraines. By reducing pressure on the spine, relaxing the muscles and improving blood flow, we are able to help patients increase immune system function, reduce stress and regain emotional stability. We offer the following chiropractic massage options:

• Deep tissue massage
• Relaxation massage
• Swedish massage
• Sports massage
• Pregnancy massage
• Youth massage

Massage therapy can be an integral part of our patients treatment plans as well as a great way for preventive maintenance on your body and mind. Ask us more about what we have to offer!

Workplace Injuries

Workplace injuries are quite common in the United States. It doesn’t matter if you sit at a desk or are working on your feet all day, there are number of cautions you need to take when it comes to workplace safety. At Robinson Family Chiropractic, Dr. Richard Robinson and the rest of our team believe that patient education is crucial when it comes to recovering from and even preventing workplace injuries.

 

For patients working in an office environment, there are many factors that contribute to your back issues. These factors include force (exerting too much stress on your back), repetition (repeating certain movements lead to muscle fatigue), posture (slouching leads to muscle fatigue and injury) and stress (pressure at work can increase stress and lead to muscle tension). One study showed that workers with lower back pain found the workplace pain challenges were associated with activity interference, negative self-perceptions, interpersonal challenges and inflexibility of work.

 

There are some steps that can be taken to prevent back pain. By including a daily physical activity into your lifestyle, you can maintain your health and minimize stress on your back. Another way to prevent back pain is to pay attention to your posture. Good posture involves training your body to stand, walk, sit and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments during movement or weight-bearing activities. Patients who are already suffering from work-related injuries should seek treatment through a chiropractor.

 

For more information about workplace injuries, please visit our websitewww.handsdoc.com. You can set up an appointment with Dr. Richard Robinson by calling 847-963-4894 for the Rolling Meadows office or 847-458-8444 for the Algonquin office. 

Sports Injuries

When it comes to recovering from a sports-related injury, the goal of the athlete isn’t just to relieve the pain temporarily. We are constantly working with athletes to reach this common goal through various chiropractic procedures that not only heal pain, but help prevent any further injury from occurring.

 

It doesn’t matter if the patient is a professional athlete or just someone who likes to exercise, we have the tools necessary to fix any number of sports-related injuries. Many studies have shown that chiropractic care is able treat an injured athlete more effectively that a medical doctor. Unlike a medical doctor, chiropractors are trained to see the human body as one entity rather than seeing one injury at a time. This allows chiropractors to have a better understanding of the body as a whole, leading to less recurring injuries in the future.

 

Without doubt, competing athletes or even the weekend warrior who wants to be at their very best should consider regular chiropractic care for the competitive edge. Not only will it help the body function at an improved level, chiropractic care is good for overall health. Through chiropractic manipulations, Dr. Robinson can increase blood flow for quicker post-performance relief, decrease stress and improve the immune system.

Mental Wellness & Stress

There are a number of unpleasant or challenging aspects of life that can cause stress. In most cases, stress causes negative health effects such as high blood pressure, damage to muscle tissues, damaged immune system and many other negative effects if left untreated. Not many people realize that there are non-substance methods to reducing stress. One of the best options available to patients is chiropractic care. We treat stress with a number of chiropractic techniques to revive patients and relieve them of the negative effects stress causes.

 

Dr. Richard Robinson of Robinson Family Chiropractic is able to provide a drug-free, non-invasive treatment for many types of pain and inflammation caused by stress. When the body is under stress, the brain signals the adrenal glands to produce hormones, including cortisol and epinephrine. These hormones trigger the body's "flight or fight" response. The chiropractic adjustments completed by Dr. Robinson should be enough to convince the brain to turn off the “fight or flight” response that is triggered by stress.

 

Chiropractors work primarily with the spine, home of the nerve impulses that travel from the brain to the rest of the body. Through chiropractic adjustments, Dr. Robinson is able to release muscle tension and help the body return to a more balanced, relaxed state. Adjustments also reduce spinal nerve irritation, and improve blood circulation. A healthy and balanced spine is one key to effectively managing stress. Though Dr. Robinson cannot make a job less stressful or improve patient’s home life, he can provide patient’s with how they handle stress and help the body cope with stress.

Car Accident injuries

After a car accident, there is a lot of work that needs to be done. However, one of the first things people need to think about is themselves. Auto accident injuries are often late-appearing; pain gets worse and worse as time passes. The best thing to do immediately after a car accident is to work with a chiropractor to beat the pain. At our Rolling Meadows and Algonquin, IL offices, we treat patients suffering from injuries sustained in a car accident with gentle care and special attention.

 

The first thing you should do after a car accident is get an examination by chiropractic professional as soon as possible. Symptoms from a car accident and whiplash can include anything from radiating pain into the shoulder, elbow pain, wrist pain or hand pain, lower back pain, headaches, jaw pain and more. While whiplash is the most commonly treated injury, many suffer from strained or torn muscles from trauma. Dr. Robinson will help his patients heal the part of their body that is causing the pain, but they will also work to improve the balance of the body’s nervous system, which helps the entire body. Treatments for accidents include adjustments and manipulations, physical therapy and therapeutic massage.

 

Through adjustments and manipulations, patients can heal and prevent further damage.  Even minor accidents can stress the body and result in a number of injuries, including whiplash. Although auto accidents can be stressful, victims should never overlook their health and wellbeing. Early care is vital when patients intend to fully heal and recover from an injury. Even small accidents can cause legitimate damage to the supporting muscles and ligaments in the body. Chiropractic care is a step in the right direction when it comes to restoring the body to a healthy state.

Custom Orthotics

Foot orthotics are devices that are used to correct any biomechanical abnormalities in the foot and ankle. Orthotics perform functions that make standing, walking, running and other sports-related activities more comfortable and efficient by correcting the angles at which the foot strikes the walking or running surface. At Robinson Family Chiropractic, we offer custom orthotics as a conservative approach to solving many foot conditions that lead to pain in the knees, ankles, hip, back and neck.

Custom-fit orthotics are used to help realign the bones within the foot and ankle. Realigning these bones will take pressure off other parts of the body such as the back, neck, shoulders and hips. Orthotics also help with distributing weight properly and take further pressure off of toes, bunions and other parts of the foot. We offer orthotics to our patients that are suffering from discomfort relating to walking or imbalances in the body that are known to cause related pain.

Custom fit orthotics are much more effective than the over-the-counter options made available at various drug and grocery stores. Pre-packaged, non-prescription shoe inserts are not made for individuals; they are mass-created and do not offer the type of support most individuals need. Custom-made orthotics are specially-made devices that are designed to support that specific patient’s needs. While over-the-counter shoe inserts may be a less-expensive option, custom-fit options are the best choice for those suffering from any number of pain or discomfort.