50+ Lifestyles

Knee pain? Wrists aching? Ask Your Chiropractor!

By Dr. Taylor Bryant, DC
Bryant Chiropractic

Did you know that Chiropractors often work with more than just the spine? Yes, we love to keep your back and neck in line and pain free, but there may be more going on elsewhere. Many Chiropractors are trained to adjust extremities as well! If you’ve got an ache in your knee or pain in your elbow, ask your Chiro! Tingling in your hand or fingers? Ask your Chiro! We love to help however we can, and if we need to get your wrist moving to help fix the problem, that’s just what we’ll do!

In many wrist or carpal tunnel issues, the vessels and/or nerves get irritated by something rubbing up against them. This can be caused by one of your wrist bones being stuck in the wrong position, causing there to be not enough space for those vessels and nerves to pass through comfortably. Over time, this can cause wrist pain and aching, or even numbness and tingling in the hand and fingers. Getting those wrist bones back to their ideal positions through adjustments, as well as modalities like therapeutic ultrasound or kinesiotaping can work wonders on these symptoms.

Another condition I see often at the office is plantar fasciitis. This condition is typically caused by overuse. If you are on your feet all day at work, doing the same motions over and over again, this may be something you face at some point during your career. As with the wrist, adjusting the bones in your ankle and foot, as well as some very helpful therapies, can take care of that foot pain once and for all. I have a pretty standard treatment protocol in my office that has seen a good amount of success, and of course am always ready to adapt based on patient needs.

While we are on the topic of feet – the way that you stand, walk, and run are incredibly important to spine health. If you put more weight on one foot than the other, it causes a chain of compensation up the body to the ankle, knee, hips, spine, all the way up to the neck and shoulders. Think about your body like it were a tree. Without strong roots and a strong foundation, the tree may not be well equipped to withstand strong gusts of wind.

One way that we can fix this, and give you a strong foundation, is with orthotics worn in the shoes. Certain companies are able to make custom orthotics specifically designed to your needs, that makes sure you are standing tall and straight. Orthotics can be a massive benefit to your spine as well as your joints, and can resolve many everyday aches and pains. I’ve gotten them for many of my patients, and I’ve seen a massive difference in their wellbeing.

All of these options are available to you, and all you need to do is ask!

Dr. Taylor Bryant, DC can be contacted at Bryant Chiropractic, 5216 Sheridan St., Davenport, Iowa. (563) 324-1514.

bryantchiropracticdavenport@gmail.com