Washington Park Chiropractic

By: Jenny Wetzel

Wake up on the wrong side of the bed this morning?
 
Having a case of the Mondays?
 

Feel like you have a gray cloud following you around everywhere you go?
 
With my psychology background, I decided to google “chiropractic and emotional well-being.”  Well, guess what??  Regular chiropractic care improved the emotional well-being of participants in several studies!!  We all know that seeing our lovely chiropractors’ faces makes our days much better, but now we have proof that the work they do may improve our moods.  Long story short, subluxations in your spine are not only related to physical health issues, but to psychological issues as well.
 
Moral of the story….schedule your next appointment soon!

By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC

Here at Washington Park Chiropractic we routinely see children for chiropractic care.  The children we see range anywhere from a few days old, up through their high school years.  Turns out, we are not alone in treating children with chiropractic; it was just a couple weeks ago when I was watching the five o’ clock news and they had a great story about the rise in chiropractic care among children.  Parents and fellow healthcare professionals are starting to see the same benefit commonly seen when treating adults with chiropractic is also seen in children.  In fact from my personal experience with treating children, they often respond better!  Parents are seeking chiropractic for their children for conditions ranging from Colic, to common musculoskeletal pain and injuries.  I’ll try and answer a few questions parents may ask about children and chiropractic.

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic was founded on the important relationship between the spine and the nervous system.  One of the most basic ideas in chiropractic is that dysfunction in the spine or other joints can lead to dysfunction with the nervous system and other major systems in the body.  When we relieve the dysfunction in the spinal joints and surrounding muscles, the nervous system can then function the way it was intended – The spine and nervous system are intricately related due to the fact the spinal cord descends through the spine. Read the rest of this entry →

Cushions for the spine.

By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC

The discs of the spine are made of a strong cartilage and a “jelly-like” substance inside and are located in between 24 bones of your spinal column.  Each disc is attached to the vertebrae above and below it.  Along with providing cushion from impact and gravity, the discs also space the vertebrae far enough apart from one another allowing for spinal roots (nerves) to leave the spinal cord/column and supply our body with all the nervous system information necessary for a healthy life.  Injury or degenerative processes to the discs can be very painful and traumatic to our body’s ability to function properly.  Problems to the disc include: thinning, wedging, bulging, protrusions, tearing or herniation…note: no “slipping”.     

Each disc has the natural ability to withstand the motions of life.  Healthy discs give you the flexibility of the spinal column and produce a pumping action that supplies proper disc nutrition and waste removal via blood flow.  However, trauma can lead to a chain reaction of negative consequence.  Spinal misalignments and joint restrictions can cause the disc tissue over time to adapt into a wedge-like shape.  While this is the earliest stage of disc damage, symptoms may or may not be present even though disc encroachment unto adjacent nerve tissue may be happening. 

Read the rest of this entry →

By: Dr. Jake Simpson

Spinal decay like other arthritic joints and conditions is a degenerative process that worsens with time. If neglected, this condition can become quite debilitating. Spinal decay starts with some type of uncorrected trauma to the spine. This trauma contrary to common belief does NOT have to be severe, it could just be simply learning to walk, stepping of a curb awkwardly, or even the birth process can cause trauma to the spine…the point is, it does not take a lot of force and pain to be noticed for our spines to be negatively affected.

The first “phase” of spinal decay is noticed by the loss of one or more of the proper spinal curvatures. With the loss of proper curvature the spine has less ability to turn, and bend than normal. Other areas of the spine and muscles of the spine often compensate, starting into motion a chain reaction of musculoskeletal health problems.

Read the rest of this entry →

By: Dr. Jake Simpson, DC

Purpose:

            The purpose of your adjustment(s) is to add mobility and energy back into your spine where it otherwise has been absent due to vertebral restriction and/or muscle tension and imbalances.  As spinal integrity improves, nerve tension is reduced, your body will begin to function better and performance is enhanced.     

Day One:

Day one, we take a comprehensive health history in effort to determine the cause of your pain and dysfunction. This often includes a case history, as well as orthopedic and neurological exams.  Based on the severity of your symptoms and/or mechanism is which you were injured X-Rays or possibly an MRI will be recommended and you will be referred out to get these tests.

After your examination and we have determined the cause of your problem, the treatment is performed.  The treatment often includes the chiropractic adjustment, soft-tissue treatments and possibly low-level laser therapy.  The key to your treatments will always be the chiropractic adjustment(s).  With malposition and loss of motion in one or more of your vertebrae a specific manual thrust is administered.  The direction, speed, depth and angle that we use are the result of experience, practice and thorough understanding of spinal mechanics.  Sometimes, the energy delivered during the thrust produces a “popping” sound.  This “pop” is simply shifting gas and fluids in and around the joint.  The sound is in no way an indicator of the quality of adjustment. 

Read the rest of this entry →

This article was written back when Emmit Smith was still dancin, but I thought it was fun

There is no denying it, America loves ABC television’s “Dancing With The Stars.”

The ABC smash dance show continues to deliver the goods. Anyone who has watched the show can see that these dancers are under a great amount of physical as well as emotional stress.

Show coordinators for “Dancing With The Stars” were in urgent need of a chiropractor. They did what other local network studios are doing more frequently, they researched and called a good chiropractor. The doctor they found left his West Los Angeles office in midafternoon and headed over to Beverly Hills where the show was about to be broadcast live. The chiropractor arrived just in time to assist the dancers in need, and shared in everyone’s positive attitude that the show must go on.

Read the rest of this entry →

More on Posture

We have been comfortably in our new office for nearly three months.  Thanks to everyone who came out to our Grand Opening Cocktail Party, it was really tremendous.  We have incredibly supportive patients, collegues, family and friends!  See below for announcements about our new hours and services:

OPEN 6 DAYS PER WEEK:

I am pleased to announce that we are now open 6 days per week for Chiropractic and Massage!  Dr. G will be treating patients during her regular schedule and our new addition, Dr. Jake will be treating on opposing days.

Monday 9-6  Dr. G

Tuesday 7-2  Dr. G  Tuesday 2-7 Dr. Jake

Wednesday 9-6  Dr. G

Thursday 11-7  Dr. Jake

Friday 9-6  Dr. G

Saturday 8-1  Dr. Jake

WASHINGTON PARK MASSAGE:

We are also now open for massage Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.  Our therapists are offering deep tissue, hot stone, prenatal, sports massage in addition to several add-on treatments.

WASHINGTON PARK COUNSELING:

Cinta Porter, LCSW has partnered with our office to offer her services including individual, family, group and couples counseling within our office.  Cinta is available 5 days per week, including Saturdays to meet your counseling needs.  She is exeptionally skilled in grief counseling and women’s needs.  Cinta enjoys creating short term, goal oriented treatment plans.

Call or email us today to schedule an appointment 303-744-7100 or drlisagoodman@yahoo.com