Dr. Mixon and M.A., Katie
If you’ve ever been to a chiropractor for an episode of intense back pain, you know that it can take several days to a few weeks to get serious symptoms under control. This is considered the acute phase.
During these visits, the chiropractor is “adjusting” the spine, so that spinal misalignments are gently moved back into the proper position. In our practice, patients also receive trigger point massage therapy which helps to relieve tight muscles and stimulate blood flood. This comforting therapy also provides much needed pain relief.
In addition, our exercise physiologist tailors a customized exercise rehab program for each patient. These stretching and light exercise programs improve range of motion, strength and mobility. Combining these integrated therapies help patient heal fasters and move onto to the next phase of treatment… Chiropractic Maintenance Care.
So, if you can’t seem to find time to make it in for your chiropractic maintenance appointment, we’ll give you 5 good reasons why you should.
Lisa, our exercise physiologist
1) Small flare ups are easier to treat — Problems and misalignments can be caught earlier and usually require less treatment if you schedules regular follow up appointments.
2) Regular chiropractic treatment reduces pain and decreases the need for medication — The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reported that integrated health care, which includes chiropractic treatment, resulted in a 51.8% decrease in medication costs.
Beside cost savings, reducing the use of prescription drugs can also benefit your health. Prescription drugs aren’t without risks. Every year side effects and interactions injure thousands of patients.
3) Can help you avoid surgery — In many cases chiropractic treatment can help patients avoid surgery. Although surgery may sound like a quick fix for back pain, the reality is often more complicated.
Failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS) affects up to 40 percent of patients who undergo traditional open back surgery. This means that 4 out of 10 people who have had back surgery may still experience back and leg pain and limited mobility after recovery. As you can imagine, reoccurrence of back pain after surgery, can leave a patient feeling anxious and depressed and even more dependent upon pain meds.
In a recent article aimed toward patients suffering from low back pain, The Journal of the American Medical Association suggested that surgery is not usually needed and should only be tried if other therapies fail. The article suggested that chiropractic treatment is a viable option for low back pain*.
4) Improved long term outcome — A 2011 study published by the Journal of Occupational and Environment medicine, tracked 894 injured workers for a year. These workers, who suffered from low back pain, received four different types of care; no treatment, traditional medical management, physical therapy and chiropractic maintenance care. They were then re-evaluated for re-injury during this time period. The group who received regular chiropractic maintenance had the lowest rate of re-injury!
5) Better quality of life — Many of our patients report they feel “happier” when they receive regular treatment. It’s easy to see why when you tally up a few of the benefits of long term chiropractic treatment: more flexibility and range of motion, stronger immune function, better sleep and improved hormone balance.
Whether you’re a first time chiropractic patient, or you’re due for a “tune-up”, give us a call today to take advantage of all the benefits chiropractic care can offer. Our medically directed integrated clinic is centrally located in the Dallas Metroplex. We offer all the benefits of alternative care including chiropractic, therapeutic massage, exercise rehab and nutrition, along with the services of a nurse practitioner.
If you’ve like to learn more about Dr. Mixon and our Garland chiropractic clinic visit us here. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (972) 840-2520 send a message via our contact page.
*Goodman D, Burke A, Livingston E. Low Back Pain. JAMA. 2013; 309(16):1738.