If 2020 taught us anything, it’s that there is no universal approach to the health care of individuals. What works for some may not work for one. One barrier to overcome regarding health achievement setbacks is understanding that patient referrals can play a key role in resolving long-term health issues.

Collaborative treatment plans are an increasingly vital aspect of whole-person health. What this means for patients is an increased focus on health solutions that do not stem from a “one size fits all” approach. Patients are becoming increasingly savvy toward looking at the whole spectrum of services available to them. Here are two long-term health concerns that you might not realize can be referred to your Chiropractor for help.

TMD (temporomandibular dysfunction)

John Hopkins Medicine defines TMD as:

“Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are disorders of the jaw muscles, temporomandibular joints, and the nerves associated with chronic facial pain. Any problem that prevents the complex system of muscles, bones, and joints from working together in harmony may result in temporomandibular disorder.”

Pains associated with these joints and jaw muscles are often referred to as “TMJ pain” (temporomandibular joints). One 2014 study from the US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health speaks toward positive health outcomes for one woman who suffered from TMD. In the case study, the woman was referred to both a Dentist and a Chiropractor for treatment with positive results after just three weeks!

Chronic Pain Related to Social Factors

One potentially surprising Chiropractic referral possibility that makes a lot of sense considering different types of pain is through the field of Psychology. In a 2019 article on the American Chiropractic Association website titled “Psychological, Social Factors in Chronic Pain: The Impact on Chiropractic Patients,” one doctor states:

“Recognizing the influence of psychological and social factors does not challenge those who treat pain from a physical perspective, such as doctors of chiropractic. On the contrary, recognizing the role of psychological factors in how patients respond to their pain may provide insights for DCs [Doctors of Chiropractic] in tailoring their approaches, and at times, may help explain why some patients appear to be relatively resistant to treatment.”

The author goes on to explain:

“There is a high probability that any person with a chronic pain syndrome has a concomitant psychological disorder, most notably depression and/or anxiety. The relationship between chronic pain and depression/anxiety is well established. The causal arrow between pain and these disorders can point in either direction and over time may form a positive feedback loop between these two elements.”

There are many ways patients can seek out integrated health solutions for long-term health issues. While only two are presented here, it’s clear that many health care professionals are working hard to identify how their treatment plans can be integrated with Chiropractic to best serve their patients. Schedule an appointment with us today in order to talk to your Chiropractor about collaborative treatment plans for any long-term health concerns you may have.

Expectant mothers are often prone to health concerns due to the tremendous changes their bodies are undergoing. As their bodies prepare to bring a new life into the world, pregnant women experience profound transitions in hormone levels, neurotransmitter balance, and biomechanics. Added to these challenges is the stress that often accompanies the preparation for a new baby’s arrival.

It is no wonder that many women have issues with pain and discomfort during pregnancy. Additionally, it is not uncommon for new mothers to encounter dystocia, the medical term for a difficult birth. Fortunately, chiropractic medicine offers several methods of easing pregnancy and labor. Among these is the Webster Technique.

History of the Webster Technique

Dr. Larry Webster was a pediatric chiropractor who pioneered many chiropractic treatments for children. As a natural extension of his interest in pediatric chiropractic, Dr. Webster developed a diversified approach to helping women with their pregnancies and deliveries. He went on to found the International Pediatric Chiropractic Association (ICPA) as well as serve as the clinical director of Life Chiropractic College.

What is the Webster Technique?

Chiropractors use the Webster Technique to relieve an expectant mother’s discomfort during pregnancy and hopefully make her labor and delivery progress more smoothly. Due to the weight of the developing baby as well as hormonal changes, many women develop sacral and pelvic subluxations. These subluxations are small misalignments in the bones that make up the pelvic girdle as well as the bones of the lower spine.

Such misalignments can be painful and also interfere with the conduction of nerve signals through these areas. Of course, the lower spine and pelvis are integral to labor and delivery, so it is important that nerve signals travel freely in these regions. The Webster Technique uses a series of specialized adjustments to correct subluxations, allowing for proper muscle movement and improvement in pain levels.

Limitations

To date, no clinical studies have been performed that show the Webster Technique is beneficial for correcting improper fetal position. In other words, we cannot say that the technique will help with breech presentations or other fetal presentation problems as this has not yet been definitively proven.