7 Places You Didnt Know a Chiropractor Could Adjust

Chiropractic care has long been shown to help with spine adjustment to relieve pain. Chiropractors are trained to adjust more than just the common spine areas. At Vida Integrated Health, we treat musculoskeletal issues in other body parts, such as wrists and ankles. Here are some lesser-known parts a chiropractor can adjust:

1. Feet and Ankles

Your feet are made up of numerous joints and bones. The joints are malleable, so they can easily shift out of place when there’s a lot of pressure on your feet. We’ll ease the discomfort through joint manipulation. This involves stretching the feet to release muscle tension and move the joint back in place. You may find standing, walking, or running more comfortable after our chiropractors adjust your feet.

The ankle facilitates the upward and downward movement of the foot. This makes it as susceptible to injury as the foot, especially among physically active people. Our chiropractors can relieve ankle pain and discomfort by properly pulling on the foot and applying some pressure on the ankle. The application of pressure and pulling align the ankle. Over time, you may notice an increased range of motion and reduced risk of injury.

2. Shoulders

Chiropractors can adjust shoulders to help deal with simple discomfort and alleviate pain caused by conditions like frozen shoulder, shoulder tendonitis, and rotator cuff injuries. Adjusting the shoulders can also improve alignment in the neck and upper back.

Our chiropractors will assess the extent of your shoulder problems before recommending an ideal treatment. We offer treatments like manual adjustment to improve joint function and myofascial release to treat myofascial pain syndrome. With the latter, our team will locate tight or stiff points on your shoulders and massage and stretch them to release tension.

3. Knees

Chiropractors can help manage conditions like patellofemoral syndrome, osteoarthritis, and meniscus injuries using proper knee adjustments. Our treatment plan for knee pain depends on the cause of the pain. Knee pain can result from a primary cause like osteoarthritis or a compensatory cause. Your cause may be compensatory if knee pain or discomfort results from an issue in other body parts.

If we identify a primary cause, our chiropractors will create a treatment plan focused on the knee. With a compensatory cause, we’ll assess other body parts, like your spine, hips, and neck, to identify misalignments or tightness. Our chiropractors may recommend first adjusting these areas before moving to the knees.

Chiropractic traction and manual manipulation are common chiropractic treatments for knee pain. Traction involves stretching the knee to relieve pain and inflammation and increase mobility. Manual manipulation is a hands-on approach that involves aligning the spine. This is a suitable option if there’s a compensatory cause for your knee discomfort.

4. Jaw

Chiropractors can adjust the jaw to relieve pain and discomfort caused by conditions such as temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). A professional may also recommend adjusting the jaw to improve its functioning and release tension in surrounding muscles.

At Vida Integrated Health, we use techniques like soft tissue therapy and manual adjustments to realign the jaw. Our chiropractors may also recommend some jaw exercises like chewing gum to do at home for faster results. They may also focus on your shoulders, cervical spine, and upper back, which can affect jaw function. Aligning these areas can increase jaw mobility and reduce tension.

5. Wrist

A chiropractor can help manage wrist conditions like carpal tunnel syndrome and repetitive strain injuries through regular adjustments. Our chiropractors will assess the cause of your wrist pain first to help determine the most suitable treatment technique. Wrist adjustments are gentle because the bones and joints in this area don’t need a lot of force to correct. We’ll focus on alleviating discomfort first and then strengthen the wrist to reduce the risk of future injuries.

6. Sinuses

Sinus adjustments may be recommended for people with sinusitis. Our chiropractors may choose chiropractic manipulation if they discover misalignments in your sinus region. This may involve adjusting the area behind your ears and the vertebrae in your neck. Correcting misalignments in these areas can relieve the pressure on your sinuses and facilitate better drainage.

7. Ribs

Ribs can become misaligned because of extreme exercises, excessive vomiting, poor posture, and pregnancy. Whatever the cause, rib misalignment can cause difficulty breathing, pain, and, in severe cases, numbness in the surrounding ribs.

Our chiropractors can restore normalcy in your life by aligning the affected ribs. Rib alignment typically starts with stretching or massaging the affected area to make the ribs more pliable. Then, gentle but firm pressure is applied to the ribs to move them back to the right position.

Find a Reliable Chiropractor at Vida Integrated Health

Vida Integrated Health offers some of the best chiropractic care in Seattle, Bellevue, Everett, Kirkland, and Ravenna. We have board-certified chiropractors qualified to help manage musculoskeletal conditions and injuries. Our team will create an individualized treatment plan for you after assessing your symptoms and identifying the cause of your pain and discomfort. Contact us to access a certified chiropractor for whichever body adjustment you need.