"Ball and Saucer"

Unlike the hip joint, which is the nice, tight fit of a ball-and-socket, the shoulder is more like a "ball-and-saucer"---the fit is more shallow. While this allows for a wider range of motion, it also makes the shoulder more vulnerable to misalignment or dislocation. As an ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I am trained to evaluate the multiple articulations of the shoulder complex, and to make precise corrections if needed.

Muscle "Splinting"

Our bodies automatically tighten muscles if we're injured or in pain. It's a built-in response; the body is trying to "fix" itself. I call this muscle "splinting." Correcting the underlying framework---your bones and joints---allows the muscles to begin to relax, and return to equilibrium. If the muscles need a little extra help, I may include some myofascial release.

Elders

ACTIVATOR Chiropractic method is particularly appropriate for elders. The gentle, specific, precise adjustments are made without discomfort to the patient. I enjoy working with elders, and my full-body balancing helps relieve joint fixations and misalignments, and helps keep elders mobile and active.

Bump on the Head

Ever bump your head on a car or cabinet door? Think it's just a minor irritation or embarrassment? It can actually upset your cranial rhythms, the subtle rhythmic movements of the bones in your head. Checking and balancing the cranial rhythms is something I include in every patient visit. If you bump your head, you should have your cranial rhythms checked.

What's That Crunch?

If you feel a "crunch" in your knee when you crouch or squat, you may have the start of a degenerative condition called chondromalacia patella. It's often caused by abnormal tracking of the patella, or kneecap. If this is happening, I adjust the kneecap and give the patient exercises to do at home to help keep the kneecap tracking normally.

The "Sit Bone"

The "Sit Bone," technically called the ischial tuberosity, is part of the pelvic structure; it's literally where you feel the pressure of your body weight when you sit. It can get stressed out of alignment if the pelvis becomes distorted, and be very uncomfortable. As an Advanced Proficiency Rated ACTIVATOR Chiropractor, I correct this when I balance the pelvis.

Ankle Sprain

Turning the foot inward (inversion) is the most common kind of ankle sprain. One result is a misalignment of the talus, a bone in the foot. Correcting this misalignment helps the sprain to heal faster, helps the pain, and helps your gait return to normal.

Ribs in a Twist

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Did you know that your whole rib cage can get twisted? I often see this when the patient has been sick with a cough, has fallen, or has lifted something in an imbalanced way. Think of it as a kind of torquing: ribs on one side get pushed upward, while ribs on the opposite side may be pushed downward. You can imagine how uncomfortable this can be. I have ACTIVATOR chiropractic adjustments for this that work beautifully!

Kinematic Chain

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Yes, "the thigh bone's connected to the knee bone, the knee bone's connected to the-----" etc. It's true: everything's connected, in what's biomechanically known as a "kinematic chain." So if you come in with hip pain, I'm going to also check your pelvis, knee, ankle, and foot. If you have knee pain, I will likewise check your lower extremity above and below your knee, as well as your pelvis. Unless the whole kinematic chain is corrected, you're not likely to get lasting relief.

Giving and Receiving

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  My chiropractors helped me so much, years ago when I suffered five whiplash injuries in auto accidents (none my fault). Later, my life path led me to become a Doctor of Chiropractic, and now it's my turn to give back, to help other people in pain. My ACTIVATOR Method is gentle, low-force, precise, and comfortable for people of all ages.

Torticollis

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Torticollis , aka "wry neck," is a painful pulling of the head to one side, often associated with severe spasm of neck muscles. Its cause is not well understood, and relief can be challenging, even with medication. Sometimes Botox injections are tried. There are no guarantees, but I try to help any patient who is suffering. I have had good results with torticollis with a patient who had been in agony with it for months. The treatment plan must be comprehensive, flexible, and carefully designed and monitored.

Cranial Balancing

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  The bones in the head have normal, very subtle, rhythmical motions, and these are not synchronized with either the heartbeat or the respiration. They are related to the circulation of the cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that bathes the brain and the spinal cord. Abnormalities in the rhythms can be associated with headaches, vertigo, or tinnitus. I balance patients' cranial rhythms as part of every overall, full-body balancing.

Crunching Joint Sounds

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Crunching sounds in the joints are called "crepitus." You may hear it when you turn your head, or in your knees when you squat. It may be a sign of degenerative changes in the joint tissues. I have an effective treatment plan for it, which includes carefully adjusting the affected joints to relieve abnormal stresses, plus nutritional and self-care advice. This is important, because left alone, it may lead to more degeneration in the affected joints.

5 Things to Know About Fender Benders

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com
1. The visual damage to your car is not necessarily an indicator of the impact on your body.
2. Feeling confused, "fuzzy," disoriented, and irritable often follow.
3. Symptoms may have delayed onset; you may "feel fine" for the first few days, or even longer.
4. The sooner you come in to see me and get your whole body checked & balanced, the better, and your chances for a speedy recovery are improved.
5. If you don't have Medpay on your auto policy, get it. If you have it, and you're in an accident, your own insurance will cover your care, so you or your doctor won't have to wait for the other party's insurance to pay. It's insurance that's really worthwhile.

Growth Spurts

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com  Teens and pre-teens, as parents know, undergo growth spurts. These "fast growth" periods put special kinds of stresses on the joints, posture, and overall functioning of the young person. Careful, complete full-body balancing is an essential part of preventive care during these times. As an Advanced Proficiency Rated ACTIVATOR chiropractor, I often treat teens & pre-teens.

A Secret to Managing Sciatica

www.DrElizabethQuinn.com   Sciatica, pain down the leg, is caused by nerve impingement. But it may not be what you think. Commonly, it may be assumed to be due to a herniated disc or other problem in the spine. However, it can be caused by irritation or tight muscles in the gluteal region---the part you sit on. Sitting too long on a hard surface can irritate the sciatic nerve, and chronically tight gluteal muscles can also be the problem. The solutions may be relatively simple. I can help.