Neck Pain and Chiropractic Care

Neck pain is something that millions of Americans live with. In most cases, neck pain is caused by whiplash but there are many other causes of this pain. Your neck, also called the cervical spine, begins at the base of your skull and contains seven small vertebrae. While your neck can move in nearly every direction, this flexibility makes your neck very susceptible to pain and injury.

 

Whiplash is an injury that occurs in a person's neck following a sudden acceleration-deceleration force that causes unrestrained, rapid forward and backward movement of the head and neck. This injury is commonly ignored or mistreated because patients do not always seek treatment following the event.  This condition can be very painful if left untreated. While most people involved in a car accident recover quickly without and chronic pain, some will experience symptoms for years after the injury.

 

While whiplash is one of the most common causes of neck pain, there are also other factors that can play into your pain:

• Old age – degenerative disorders like osteoarthritis, spinal stenosis and degenerative disc disease affect the spine as your grow older
• Daily life – having poor posture, being obese or having weak abdominal muscles can disrupt spinal balance causing neck pain
• Injury – when you make a sudden move involving your neck , your muscles react by tightening and contracting, causing muscle fatigue which can result in pain and stiffness

During your procedure, Dr. Richard Robinson will perform exams to locate the source of your pain. Once determined, Dr. Robinson will perform neck adjustments in order to improve the mobility of the spine and restore range of motion. Neck adjustments can also increase movement of the adjoining muscles, improving back function altogether. We look forward to assisting you with all of your wellness needs!

Chiropractic Care and Pregnancy

Chiropractic care during pregnancy is not only safe but incredibly beneficial. During pregnancy, women experience many changes in their body, including changes in pelvic alignment, changes in posture and an increased back curve that comes with a protruding abdomen. These changes can result in a misaligned spine or joints. It is important to maintain proper alignment during pregnancy so that the baby can have enough room to develop, as well as to keep the nervous system and the rest of your body functioning properly.

 

At Robinson Family Chiropractic, Dr. Robinson utilizes adjustment techniques that do not place pressure on the abdomen, making chiropractic care completely safe and possible for pregnant women. With regular chiropractic care and prenatal massage, our team can help you have a healthy pregnancy, while controlling the symptoms of nausea and relieving pain in your back, neck and joints. Adjustments can also help reduce time of labor and delivery and prevent the need for a cesarean section. By keeping the spine in alignment, there will be more room for the baby to turn and get into the proper position in preparation for delivery, which will decrease the chance of a breach birth or need for medical intervention.

 

If you are pregnant, call our Rolling Meadows or Algonquin office at 847-963-4894 and 847-458-8444 respectively to schedule an appointment. 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.

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.