Pain Relief Chiropractic

Most people have rolled an ankle in their lifetime.  Usually, an ankle sprain heals without any consequence, but that isn’t always the case. According to the current research, a third or more of lateral ankle sprain patients may experience long-term problems like ankle instability that necessitates splinting or taping the ankle before engaging in sports or other weight-bearing physical activities. Can chiropractic care help reduce the risk of ankle instability and other chronic issues that can arise from a lateral ankle sprain?

In 2022, researchers conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of data from three studies that included 180 patients to assess the effectiveness of manual therapy and/or exercise in the management of lateral ankle sprains. The type of manual therapies used in the three studies included non-thrust mobilization, thrust manipulation, and myofascial release methods—all techniques utilized by chiropractors on a daily basis. The exercises focused on proprioception (balance oriented), stretching, and strengthening. 

The research team observed that the combination of manual therapy and exercise is more effective than exercise alone in improving ankle ranges of motion, lower limb function, and pain, leading them to conclude that the addition of manual therapy to lateral ankle sprain treatment will improve clinical outcomes. In addition to reducing the risk for ankle instability, lateral ankle sprain patients who receive manual therapy may also have a lower risk for reduced thickness of the plantar fascia, reduced cross section size (atrophy) of the peroneus brevis muscle, and altered activation patterns of select lower limb muscles, which may significantly reduce their risk for reinjury. This can be very important for rugby, tennis, football, volleyball, and basketball athletes as ankle-related issues affect roughly half of participants in these sports.

Chiropractic colleges educate students on the application of manual therapies to the upper and lower extremities. Additionally, many post-graduate programs offer continuing education courses on the same topic. The next time you, a family member, or friend suffers an ankle sprain, be sure to consider chiropractic care. 

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Dr

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

 (717) 697-1888

Member of Chiro-Trust.org 

Tags: Joint Pain

Each year, surgeons perform hundreds of thousands of total hip arthroplasties (hip replacements), and the most common reason is osteoarthritis of the hip. This condition isn’t caused by an underlying disease, rather it’s due to wear and tear of the hip joint from everyday activities over time. Not only can osteoarthritis of the hip be painful, but it can reduce the range of motion of the joint, making it difficult to move around. Most patients seek to avoid or delay surgery as much as possible, which drives many to seek chiropractic care. The question is: what can a doctor of chiropractic do to manage osteoarthritis of the hip?

Doctors of chiropractic receive training in the application of several manual therapies of varying force, depending on the condition, patient preferences, and the practitioner’s clinical expertise. In one study that included 60 hip osteoarthritis patients, researchers used a technique called long-axis distraction mobilization (LADM) at varying levels of force and found that high-force LADM yielded superior results with respect to range of motion of the hip joint, although low- and medium-force treatment led to similar improvements in pain. 

A follow-up study by the same researchers with another group of 60 hip osteoarthritis patients found that low-force LADM performed better with respect to reducing pain sensitivity in the hip as well as the low back and knees. On the other hand, high-force LADM brought greater improvements in overall function. A systematic review from 2022 that included ten studies found that the combination of LADM with thrust manipulation and mobilization with movement (two-to-three treatments a week for two-to-six weeks) can provide even larger improvements with respect to pain and range of motion.

When managing a patient with musculoskeletal pain, chiropractors will often use a combination of several approaches—a multimodal approach—to achieve the best possible outcomes with respect to pain and function. This includes manual therapies, specific exercises, physiotherapy modalities, nutritional recommendations, and more. In addition to treatments directed at the hip itself like those listed above, doctors of chiropractic will also assess the motion of the joints in the lower back, knees, and ankle as abnormal mechanics in these areas can put added stress on the hip and affect recovery. 

Pain Relief Chiropractic

4909 Louise Dr

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

 (717) 697-1888

Member of Chiro-Trust.org 

Tags: Joint Pain