Self Care: Importance of Chiropractic Care

There are many misconceptions when it comes to chiropractors and chiropractic care. I’ve heard all of them. “They’re not real doctors.” “They’re quacks.” “They do some voodoo witchcraft, hippy bullshit.” The only thing I can say to combat that is that we treat nearly 2000 patients per month between the two clinics! That’s a crazy amount of people. So I guess we are doing something right here.

PAIN vs. PREVENTION

There are several forms of chiropractic care. We can treat the ailment or we can treat preventatively. Currently my clinics are set up in two different ways – at one, we treat mostly pain. The patient comes in hurting, usually something a bit more serious i.e. sciatica, stiff/painful neck, numbness/tingling, loss of muscle strength, car accident injuries, etc. At the other clinic we treat patients with more of a wellness/preventative care model. These patients usually come in looking for a quick “tune up” and are treating preventatively to rid their body or pain and/or disease (dis-ease).

IMPORTANCE OF CHIROPRACTIC

The importance of chiropractic care in a nutshell is that we always want the brain to communicate to the body. The brain is the main control panel and the body is the machine. The nerves are what relay this message from the brain to the body and visa versa. If there is any blockage along these pathways (the spine via the spinal cord) there can be pain, muscle weakness, loss of sensation or loss of proper function. Chiropractors primarily treat musculoskeletal issues. Meaning that we deal with both the muscular system and the skeletal system. Often times what we see in the office is that the muscle has gone into a spasm or has become hyperactive and has caused the joint/bones which it attaches upon to become misaligned or the joints and bones have been misaligned due to a trauma or postural issue causing the muscle to go into spasm.

CAN CHILDREN AND ELDERLY GET ADJUSTED?

We treat all age ranges from pediatrics (my youngest patient was 3 months old) to geriatrics (oldest patient is currently 93). There are several different methods and treatments that we can do for different ages and situations. I’ve treated several pediatric patients for colic, digestive issue and hip immobility to name a few. Chiropractic care is safe for all age ranges. I see parents bringing in their children who are involved in sports. Maybe they had a tumble or sometimes they just want to make sure their child is postural aligned for performance reasons. We’ve had great results treating children and younger patients at our clinics.

EASTERN vs. WESTERN MEDICINE

This type of preventative care along with other holistic treatments such as acupuncture and massage to name a few are important enough that many hospitals are starting to bring in chiropractors and acupuncturists to help treat their patients. They have also see the benefits and the insurance companies are realizing the cost of paying out for several chiropractic visits is more affordable than a major back surgery or two. There have been recent epidemics such as the recently notable Fentanyl (an Opiod). The CDC reports that use of this Opiod drove drug overdose deaths to a record high last year. THIS IS SERIOUS STUFF! Everyone is looking for that quick fix, that magic pill. Perhaps that is one reason many people have not tried chiropractic treatment. Because you actually have to go in, maybe multiple times. And you have to do the exercises and stretches we prescribe to you to help you get better NATURALLY. I get it. It’s harder to do this than to swallow a pill. That decision is one for you to make.

Dr. Shah Soleimani was born and raised in the Midwest before moving to California in 2007. He earned his Doctorate of Chiropractic from Cleveland Chiropractic College. Prior to earning his Chiropractic degree, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Human Biology. Dr. Shah practices a diversified technique with specialties in Chiropractic Sports Medicine. He served as the American Chiropractic Association Sports Council Student National Liaison and finished his internship in Miami, FL where he worked with the Florida International University’s athletic program. Dr. Shah has also served on a Chiropractic Spinal Mission trip to El Salvador where he was able to treat patients in an underserved area. Dr. Shah has also been involved in many other Chiropractic conferences around the world including Brazil, Puerto Rico, El Salvador and Washington D.C.

Dr. Shah is also highly trained in Rehab and Functional Assessment. He is a Certified Kinesio Tape Practitioner (CKTP) and has also taken courses in Graston Soft Tissue Technique, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and Functional and Kinetic Treatment with Rehab (FAKTR).