Chiropractic Lingo: Wellness Care

"Wellness care" is a phrase that's used frequently in the chiropractic community today, but many people don't understand exactly what it means. This the first in a series on Chiropractic Lingo to empower you to understand exactly what your chiropractor is talking about and why. 

Wellness care is a simple concept. Think about it in terms of this metaphor:

If you were to injure your knee, you would probably go through a long-term program of rehab exercises in order to restore functionality to your knee. This rehab would be a response to an injury with the specific goal of healing your knee. 

However, if you exercise regularly, you are moving your body in order to maintain health and optimize your functioning in everyday life. You've made exercise a part of your lifestyle and it's a preventative measure you employ to invest in your long-term health.

Many people think of chiropractic care for when they have pain or injuries. They categorize it in the same group as the knee rehab described above. However, wellness care is akin to regular exercise.

Wellness care is regular chiropractic care (as infrequently as once every two months or as frequently as once every week, depending on your situation) that you receive when you don't have any specific pain but are seeking to prevent problems in the future.  

It's that simple! Include chiropractic care in your self-care habits and reap benefits for your joints, ligaments, nervous system, and overall health.

 

10 Ways to Make Your Chiropractor Happy

1. Get Your Babies and Kids Adjusted
In babies, chiropractic can help with colic and breastfeeding issues (studies on that here). Kids with ADHD, respiratory function issues, bed-wetting, and ear infections are all prime candidates for chiropractic care as well. Chiropractic is a safe, non-invasive option for treating health problems that decrease kids' quality of life. 

2. Stop Cracking Your Own Neck 
It's amazing how often people subconsciously crack their own necks around me, a chiropractor! It would be like squeezing zits in front of a dermatologist :) Conventional medical literature supports the fact that cracking your own neck regularly is very bad for your joints:

"Constant neck cracking can lead to perpetual instability. When an individual develops perpetual instability then the joint tends to grow a bridge bone between our two vertebrae, thus leading to a condition called ‘osteoarthritis’. Osteoarthritis is a serious and irreversible condition." (Quoted from this article.) 

3. Remember That Chiropractic Is For So Much More Than Back Pain
I became interested in a career in chiropractic because I saw first-hand how it helped me recover from an ankle injury. Chiropractors don't just adjust backs - they also work with hips, wrists, ankles, knees, shoulders, and even jaws. This means than issues like sciatica, carpal tunnel, sports injuries, and TMJ can be aided by chiropractic treatment.

4. Stretch Daily
Daily stretching, even for just a few minutes, helps with joint and ligament mobility, which are both very important to chiropractors. If you're unsure of where to to start, try these simple, easy yoga stretches from Health.com.

5. Don't Sleep On Your Stomach
According to BetterSleep.org, "...sleep professionals don’t recommend sleeping on your stomach as it causes strain on your lower back and possible neck pain." Enough said.

6. Take Regular Spine Breaks 
Practice Bruegger's Spine Breaks during your daily routine to alleviate the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle on your posture and spine. Here's an informative video on how to perform these breaks.

7. Tell Us What You're Looking For
If you're struggling with specific issues or looking for a particular style or type of care, just ask! The more information you can give me, the better.

8. Ask Us In Person About What You Read Online 
There are many negative perspectives on chiropractic published online and we would love to have a conversation about these perspectives with you. Give us a chance to talk to you in person about why we do what we do so you can make an informed decision about chiropractic for yourself.

9. Understand the Truth About Your Chiropractor's Education
Chiropractors attend school for six and half years to obtain their licenses. They study the same curriculum as medical doctors (excluding pharmaceuticals). They learn physical therapy techniques, male and female exam protocol, how to draw blood, and concussion protocol. They take rigorous national board exams (five parts total) and attend yearly recertification seminars. They are also certified for emergency procedures. Becoming a chiropractor is not easy!

10. Tell Your Friends About Us!
If you appreciate the care you've received from your chiropractor, the best thing you can do is tell your friends. Next time you hear a friend or family member complaining about chronic pain or health issues with themselves or their kids, tell them about us and spread the power of chiropractic.

Dr. Zach Chudy
Chiropractor in Oconomowoc and Waukesha, WI
OconomowocChiropractor.com