If you have never been seen by a chiropractor before, there is never a better time than the present. There are many conditions that chiropractors can assess and treat from your head to your toes. However, there are some conditions that may require other expertise to diagnose and manage. Chiropractors are considered primary care providers, due to the training in various aspects of the body, and can identify certain concerns and help to refer to the proper professional when unable to manage. As for specifics, some people choose to see a chiropractor for various reasons, including:

1. Musculoskeletal Pain: Chiropractors often specialize in treating conditions related to the musculoskeletal system, such as back pain and sciatica, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, shoulder pain, and headaches.
2. Joint Issues: If you’re experiencing joint pain or stiffness, a chiropractor may be able to assess and treat these issues.
3. Posture Improvement: Individuals with poor posture may seek chiropractic care to address alignment issues and improve overall posture.
4. Injury Recovery: Chiropractors may assist in the recovery process after certain injuries, such as sports injuries or car accidents.
5. Preventive Care: Some people choose to see a chiropractor as a form of preventive care to maintain overall musculoskeletal health and function.

You are always welcome to call and ask if the concern you are having is something that can be managed by that specific provider because different providers may specialize in different things as well.

A sports chiropractor is more than just a chiropractor that is involved in sports. A sports chiropractor is trained to better diagnose and treat extremity injuries, help in the prevention of injuries, and especially focused on improved performance. To be certified as a sports chiropractor additional education and practical experience is included. Some of the requirements include: 130 hours of on field practical experience and 54 quarter credit hours or 34 semester credit hours. This curriculum includes additional training in emergency procedures, rehabilitation, sports nutrition, strength training and performance, taping and bracing, radiology, special populations in sports, extremity treatment, and soft tissue treatments. Sports chiropractors have special training in looking at a persons whole kinetic chain, whole body movements, to try and discover what can be the main cause of symptoms as well as knowing how to treat sport injuries and help patients return to play as soon and as healthy as possible. Dr. Haworth is the only certified sports chiropractor in South Lake Tahoe and the Tahoe basin.

An “adjustment” is a term used by chiropractors to explain what is done to the bones to help get the joints moving and help keep the bones properly aligned. These adjustments can cause some soreness, similar to a post exercise soreness, after the treatment for the next 24-48 hours. This soreness is usually more typical on a first visit or two, but should get less and less as treatment progresses. However, a lot of patients report feeling improvement right away with no pain or soreness. Other treatments like soft tissue work can also cause some soreness, but at any time if you believe it is too much, you are welcome to say something and you will be accommodated for.

Studies have been able to show what is happening inside when you hear that “popping” noise. Our body is composed of many different types of joints, where two bones come together. These joints make up a capsule that is filled with fluid. During a chiropractic adjustment, the joint is stretched apart and forms a bubble within that capsule. When that bubble can no longer expand, it makes a pop sound. This bubble popping is what is occasional heard with a chiropractic adjustment. This is not necessarily what makes for a good adjustment, but can be satisfying to hear something happen inside the body.

Chiropractic is considered conservative and low risk treatment and is typically much more non-invasive than traditional medicine. The common misconception with neck adjustments is the possibility of a stroke or broken neck. The studies have shown that chiropractic does not cause either of these concerns. Chiropractic is one of the safest options in healthcare, especially when considering alternatives such as Ibuprofen and Tylenol or any opioids.  Through a thorough examination, if there are other signs of serious injury or underlying concerns that are present, at that point you will be referred to another professional for further testing and evaluation. If you are still uncomfortable, there are ways to slowly work through treatment without neck adjustments. You can rest assured that you are in good hands. As an athlete and chiropractor in South Lake Tahoe, Dr. Haworth knows how to help you recover, prevent injuries and stay at your best.

A misconception is that all chiropractors try to get their patients to come back for the rest of their life. Every individual has different needs and goals and this will be discussed. We explain and discuss the treatment you want at this clinic, whether that be pain relief, prevention of or recurring injuries, or maintenance plans, this can be discussed. Sometimes as little as one treatment can relieve pain but most times it will take longer. Another option is trying to fix the problem causing the pain and prevent it from happening over and over again. This will likely take more time because we are trying to change the way you have adapted to move and decrease frequency and duration of pain. There are many determining factors that can change the duration of the outcome and that will be discussed on an individual basis. Keeping yourself healthy and moving is much easier than getting yourself healthy and moving. A maintenance plan is usually recommended, but not required. Just as seeing your dentist once or twice a year just to make sure things are doing well, it is a good proactive approach. The same is customary for seeing a chiropractor and making sure things are moving the way they should.

The simple answer is yes. Chiropractors get a four-year doctorate degree much like your primary care physician, but with different focuses in health and technique. Much like other medical professionals, there are specialties. Because the body has so many intricate parts and there is no way any particular person would know how to address all areas of the body, chiropractors are a specialist for the neuromusculoskeletal system. This would in general entail the muscles, joints, and parts of the nervous system. Chiropractic physicians are able to diagnose and treat numerous conditions and trained to identify and when to refer to other specialties due to conditions outside their scope of practice.

It depends and sometimes doing nothing about it will make it worse or make it keep coming back. Pain can have various causes, and whether it goes away on its own depends on the underlying reason for the pain. While the body has its mechanisms for healing, it’s essential not to dismiss or ignore persistent or severe pain. Seeking medical attention can help identify the underlying cause of the pain and guide appropriate treatment. We help identify those causes to get you better faster and for longer periods. The big one that is a concern is when people just attribute their pain to just getting older and take a passive outlook on their health. Although there are some factors there to consider, there are a lot of things you can do to make pain go away or be much less rather than just accepting that you will always hurt. By being proactive about your health, you are taking time now to address the concerns that will likely cause bigger problems down the road and be harder to get better from later.