Being rear-ended is not the only way one can suffer whiplash. A fall that “whips” the head and neck will have a similar result, and often takes a similarly extended recovery time.
Though the cause is different, my treatment plan is the same: rest, anti-inflammatories such as ice and topical arnica, gentle chiropractic adjustments with the Activator instrument, and active care as soon as possible (stretches and exercises) to assist healing.
Persistent headaches that are unrelieved by clearing the cervicals, the cranial rhythms,, and occipital tension can have a hidden and often unsuspected etiology.
The key, discoverable by a highly trained, Advanced Proficiency Rated Activator Chiropractor like myself, may lie in the position of the posterior arch of C2.
When the arch is abnormally stressed superiorly, it often causes a headache.
This is quickly and comfortably corrected with the Activator instrument, applying the correct contact on the C2 posterior arch, and vectoring the instrument to make the adjustment.
Patients often tell me they feel that one of their hips feels “higher” than the other. 99% of the time, they are correct!
A common underlying cause of this is distortion in the pelvis.
The “pelvic girdle,” or pelvic composite, consists of several movable joints—-the sacroiliac, lumbosacral, hip, and pubic symphysis joints. Distortion of the pelvis can involve one, two, or several being misaligned or aberrant positionally in articulation with their neighbor(s).
After careful assessment of the pelvis, I make precise, directional adjustments with the Activator instrument to correct the distortion and bring relief of discomfort or a “hitched up” hip.
Remember when you were a kid and some other kid you knew had knees that “bent in,” or “bumped” each other?
Sometimes this was somewhat insensitively referred to as “knock knees.”
This condition, professionally called “genu valgum,” can be due to a rotation of the femoral head in the ball-and-socket hip joint, or to pronation of the foot, both of which result in an abnormal “Q angle” relating to the knee.
Foot pronation, or the falling inward of the medial side at the plantar arch, is the most easily correctable. Appropriate orthotics, often over-the-counter if properly fit, will help.
Orthotics should be consistently worn; going barefoot should be avoided.
As an Advanced Proficiency Rated Activator Chiropractor, I precisely evaluate and adjust the bones of the pelvis, hip, knee, foot, and entire involved lower extremities for this condition.
As summer approaches, patients begin to come in with sequelae of warm weather activities, one of which is water skiing.
Having fun water skiing without appropriate preparation of one’s musculature, especially the muscles of the low back, can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Simple strengthening exercises that prepare the muscles for summer activities can prevent a lot of unnecessary discomfort.