When one thinks about chiropractic care, they may think about loud pops and sore backs. There may be some truth to that, but back pain and adjustments are small components of chiropractic care. There are so many more benefits of visiting a chiropractor. You don’t even have to be in any immediate pain to take a visit! Chiropractic is an excellent preventative care method. In fact, making your first visit before you’re in pain can save you from experiencing it in the first place.

Before The Pain

The spine is possibly the most vulnerable part of the body. It bears the brunt of a lot our bad habits. Chiropractors spend a lot of time correcting those bad habits and relieving the pain that many experience in their backs. Chiropractors encourage their patients to seek chiropractic treatment before their bad habits turn into damage to the spine.
Similar to learning proper weightlifting techniques before starting a new gym routine, visiting a chiropractor can prevent injury from happening. When it comes to your body, it’s very important to be proactive instead of reactive.

Long-Term Wellness

While many people experience almost immediate relief after a chiropractic visit, receiving regular care is more of a lifestyle change. Chiropractors aim to help you live your best pain-free life. This means making long-term changes that result in the healthiest you.
There is an interesting domino effect that happens when you start to seek chiropractic care. Once you start physically feeling better, you want to be more physically active and independent. Then, you want to maintain your new and improved physical fitness by living a more active lifestyle. Finally, when you feel better physically, you feel better mentally. This beautiful cycle continues and you end up living the best version of your life.

More Than Backs

Many chiropractic patients have found relief from things such as migraines, ear infections, allergies, and more. Because the goal of chiropractic care is wellness and living a pain-free life, many will find relief in areas beyond their backs. There have been many cases of patients that have found that their chronic migraines have subsided after frequent treatment from their chiropractor. Others have found that they are sleeping more soundly. The trickle-down effect of chiropractic can be found in many areas of the body.
If you are currently in pain, or you’re just curious about the care we provide at Tuck Clinic, reach out! We are here to help you live you’re best pain-free life.

The practice of chiropractic care focuses on the spine and nervous system, which control and coordinate your musculoskeletal system and how your body moves and functions. When these systems are out of alignment, they can cause pain, tension, and limited mobility. While we are able to treat anyone with pain, there are certain groups of individuals that suffer from chronic illnesses that can especially benefit from our therapies and adjustments. Chronic illnesses that wreak havoc on the musculoskeletal and nervous system, such as fibromyalgia, can be managed with chiropractic care.

Defining Fibromyalgia

The National Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Association defines fibromyalgia as “a chronic pain disorder that causes widespread pain and tenderness to touch that may occur body-wide or migrate over the body.” Other symptoms from fibromyalgia include fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive difficulties, and stiffness. It can also express itself in mental conditions and other systemic issues like irritable bowel syndrome.
This illness has existed for centuries but researchers still find it difficult to categorize fibromyalgia and attribute a cause to the disease. Because it is difficult to pinpoint the cause and it expresses itself differently for every person, it’s also difficult to pinpoint the proper medication or treatment for individuals. Often times, people suffering from fibromyalgia have lifelong journey of seeking out a solution for their pain.

How Chiropractic Care Can Help

Because of the complexity of the disorder, fibromyalgia often requires a myriad of treatments to help sufferers find relief. Popular approaches include the combination of patient education on daily habits to help overcome issues, aerobic exercise, cognitive behavioral therapy, medication, and of course, chiropractic. All of these methods can work together in a multidisciplinary approach to tackle the various symptoms and sources of pain to improve the patient’s overall quality of life. While there will never be complete relief from this disorder, we can still make a difference.
Because chiropractors work so closely with the systems that cause pain in fibromyalgia patients, we can use our treatments to reduce pain and strengthen muscles. Using diagnostic techniques, a chiropractor can zone in on where localized pain is coming from even when individuals are experiencing full body pain and tenderness. In 1997, a research study tracked the effectiveness of chiropractic management of fibromyalgia patients. The study consisted of a 4 week regimen of spinal manipulation, soft tissue therapy, and passive stretching. By using the Oswestry Pain Disability Index, Neck Disability Index, and range of motion observations, the study deduced that patients experienced improvement in the cervical and lumbar ranges of motion and reported pain levels. Since this pilot study, research has only strengthened the evidence that chiropractic care can help fibromyalgia patients manage their pain.

We Will Work With Your Primary and Specialty Care Providers

We believe in the power of multidisciplinary collaboration, especially for individuals suffering from complex disorders such as fibromyalgia. Evidence has shown that when medical professionals across areas of expertise are able to communicate and collaborate care around a patient’s complex needs, the outcomes are even more effective. If you’ve sought care from a rheumatologist, orthopedist, physical therapist, or don’t even know where to start. We can help. We will gladly work with your care providers to find the best solution for your needs. Let’s get started today.

As a fitness instructor, car accident survivor, and sufferer of spinal stenosis, Yvonne Heath was no stranger to chiropractic care when she came into Tuck Chiropractic Clinic for help three months ago. She had even seen multiple doctors at the clinic over the past few years. This time, she was visiting Dr. Earsing for the first time in seek of relief from upper back and low back pain. Little did she know that asking for help for her knee out of sheer curiosity would lead to a life-changing treatment plan.
Three years ago, Yvonne had torn her meniscus and needed to get surgery to repair the damage. Despite a successful operation by a very talented surgeon, she hasn’t been able to walk properly since. The result of the surgery was limited flexibility and extreme tightness in the joint, surrounding muscles, and tendons – causing limited range of motion. At the time of her first visit, she was unable to straighten her leg.
For three years, Yvonne was kept from doing what she loves the most: hiking, going to the gym, yoga; even walking up stairs proved to be a challenge. Despite six long weeks of physical therapy, she wasn’t seeing progress in her recovery. Her surgeon eventually told her not to waste her money on therapy, that she would simply have to live with it for the rest of her life.
Because of the imbalance of her ability to walk, she began experiencing problems in other parts of her body. The resulting middle and lower back pain led her to Tuck Chiropractic Clinic. It was then that she asked about the possibility of a treatment for her knee.
“For some reason I didn’t really think they would be able to help me but I decided to ask anyway,” says Yvonne. “It’s like a miracle. My knee is never going to be perfect, but it’s so much better than I ever thought it would be.”
With the combination of multiple therapies, hands-on treatment, soft tissue therapy, and a lot of persistence from Dr. John and Yvonne, she has been able to return to a fairly normal gait and an active lifestyle. The muscles and tendons around the injury area had been shortened and distorted the muscles and tendons. With electrical stimulation therapy and ultrasound therapy, the muscles can begin to relax and allow for more movement during the manual adjustments and myofascial therapy techniques.
“Dr. John worked so hard on my knee,” says Yvonne. “So hard that I joke that he’s probably getting his daily work out just by adjusting and stretching me!”
For the first time in three years, Yvonne has returned to the gym – something she had enjoyed as a fitness trainer for her entire life. She can enjoy her workouts with more range of motion. She walks up and down stairs with ease. And she’s finally been able to begin hiking again. After being active for so long and taking three years off, it’s been incredibly rewarding to return back to the level of active lifestyle that she loves without having to take pain medication daily.
While joint and extremity adjustments aren’t the most common problems patients come into our clinics for, we are always eager and happy to help them regain their mobility. Because the body works so closely together, pain in certain areas often begets pain in other areas.
“You just end up grinding your joints down because your body is not aligned,” says Yvonne. “I would recommend that anyone over 40 start going to the chiropractor as a preventative measure. It’s important to start going early so that you don’t end up having to get surgery like I did.”
Yvonne goes on to add that she especially suggests visiting Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Bedford if they are in the area. After seeing many chiropractors over time and three at our clinic, it’s clear that our continuity in quality care is a priority.
If you’re experiencing limited mobility and back pain due to overstrained joints or muscles, we can help. Our friendly staff are waiting to answer any questions and schedule your first appointment.

Nobody likes waking up before the sun and going home from work when it’s already dark. In the wintertime, it’s something you can’t escape. This often takes a toll on many people, causing an extreme version of the “winter blues” known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression. This season-related depression is most prominent in the fall to winter seasons and can express itself in varying degrees. That being said, it’s still possible to feel these effects in the springtime or even summer. Being aware of the symptoms and causes is the first step to being able to manage it.

Symptoms of Seasonal Affective Disorder

While the symptoms and extent of SAD vary from person to person, there are some common ways to identify if you are suffering from it:
Low levels of energy is one of the most common symptoms. Because we get a lot of vitamins and energy from daylight, the lack of it often deprives us both mentally and physically.
Oversleeping is a result of low levels of energy. Often times, because of the extended dark hours, people find themselves lounging around and sleeping longer hours. Oversleeping often reduces levels of energy even more.
Cravings and overeating is another way that seasonal affective disorder expresses itself. “Eating your feelings” is a common result of feeling hopeless or depressed. People often experience weight gain during the winter months and no, it’s not just because of holiday desserts.

Causes of Seasonal Affective Disorder

There are a multitude of reasons you could develop seasonal affective disorder. Recognizing how each of these elements of the season could make them easier to cope with.
Reduced sunlight is one of the biggest factors that cause seasonal affective disorder. In the wintertime, because of the reduced hours of sunlight, we often get little to no Vitamin D. Amongst other aspects of your overall health, Vitamin D has a major impact on your mood. Without it, people find themselves depressed and lethargic.
Lower levels of activity is another result of reduced daylight. Most people don’t find the time to get outside and get active. Lower levels of activity can cause weight gain and allow tension and stress to build up.
Increased stress and emotions around the holidays is another common occurrence that cause the winter blues. Whether it’s the stress of having to spend more money on gifts or the numerous social occasions, the business of the season can take its toll. The holidays are also a time when people miss loved ones that they have lost, furthering the stress and sense of sadness.

How to Manage Your Seasonal Depression

While you can often feel hopeless when you’re affected by seasonal depression, there are ways to work to reduce and manage your symptoms and mood. Knowing what the causes and symptoms are is the first step. Try taking these measures to reduce your risk of severe winter blues.
Keeping a routine is the best way to stay on track. Though you may be tempted to sleep longer hours or go home instead of the gym after work, keeping consistency in your life can help reduce the effects of the change of the seasons.
Staying active should remain a prominent part of your routine. Because you’re spending less time outdoors doesn’t mean you should spend less time being active. Working out and keeping up with activities you enjoy is a way to release the endorphins and serotonin you may be missing out on in the winter months.
Self care is an important way to reduce stress and maintain a positive outlook. Whether you seek out relaxation therapies like massages, yoga, and meditation or more medically based therapies, there are ways to reduce stress and stay focused on the positive. Seeing a counselor or seeking out light therapies that counter act the effects of the lack of sunlight are great techniques to manage your mood.
Chiropractic is much more than a way to find relief from physical pain. The release of tension throughout the body and restore balance to the nervous and hormonal system – a great release of stress!
Find out more about how chiropractic care can help relieve your stress and improve your mood any time of the year, explore our stress relief section and reach out to a doctor near you!

For most families, one of the focal points of back-to-school time is picking out the perfect backpack. While the kids focus on the aesthetics – the colors, amount of zippers, and extras that come with it – it’s your responsibility as a parent to focus on the function. The average McGraw-Hill standard textbook weighs 3-4 lbs. across age groups of students. Combine 4 to 7 of those textbooks with other supplies like notebooks, pencils, and a calculator and your child’s backpack is suddenly a heavy load to bear. If you have a student-athlete, you can expect additional weight added by a duffel bag of sports equipment and practice clothes.
A cross-sectional study of Italian students in 2016 showed that out of 5,318 students, 60% of those students experienced back pain related to the load and extended time of use of their backpack. In particular, adolescent girls seemed to struggle the most with chronic back pain due to the need to tote a heavy load throughout the day. Due to the excessive strain placed on the shoulders and lower back to carry these loads, some students can even experience spinal compression throughout their schooling if not properly supported and treated. While parent’s don’t have control over what textbooks teachers assign their students, there are a few things they can do to help their children avoid the pains of carrying a heavy backpack load.

Finding the Right Backpack

Finding a backpack that fits both form and function for your child is no easy task, but it isn’t impossible. If you’re trying to find the right fit for your back-to-schooler, there are a few key elements to look for:
– Wide, padded straps provide extra support and relieves strain on the shoulders.
– Multiple compartments to prevent weight from being centralized to one area.
– Adjustable straps so that the weight does not sit more than 4 inches below the waist.
– An additional support strap across the waist or chest can also help lighten the load.
*Bonus Tip* Make sure your child wears their backpack with both straps to balance the weight! Try to avoid messenger bags that can put a strain on a single shoulder.

Working with the School

The recommended weight for a student’s backpack is between 10 and 20 percent of their total body weight. Unfortunately, it is hard for schools to oversee the issuance of books and supplies based on this guideline, because growing kids in a single age group tend to fall in a wide range of shapes and sizes! That doesn’t mean your child has to suffer the consequences of being smaller with a heavier load.
Talk to your administrators and teachers about the possibility of acquiring two sets of books for your students – one that can stay at home and one that can stay in the classroom or locker. This will alleviate the need for the child to tote around the heavy books all day as well as to and from school. You might also be able to access some textbooks with an online version, further eliminating the need for your child to carry their books all the way home.

Chiropractic Care for Children & Teens

If you find that your student is still struggling with back pain as a result of a heavy backpack, lack of back support in desks, or any other challenge that going back to school presents, we’re here to help. We can provide a gentle spinal manipulation that can realign your child’s back and help them find relief. It’s also a great measure to improve the immune system – an extra line of defense against all those fresh germs!

It’s a common misconception that chiropractic care is too pricey to consider when finding relief from acute or chronic pain. At Tuck Chiropractic, we believe the value of your visit will far outweigh the cost of continuing to find relief with the wrong resources. Whether you’re putting money into routine doctors visits, medication, or other means, you could be throwing money down the drain by seeking out a way to cover the pain rather than resolve it.

Weighing the Costs of Your Care

Imagine that you’re suffering from persistent lower back pain over the course of a few weeks. You decide to visit your general practitioner to see what could be causing the problem and maybe get some medication to cover the pain, but as soon as you run out, you’ll likely have to go back for more or take your examination a step further to X-rays or an MRI. Over time, regardless of your insurance policy, that could add up and you still may not find relief. The money it would take you to visit your doctor, pay for a prescription, or get imaging done is significantly more than you would be spending if you had to visit Tuck Clinic for 6 adjustments. Without insurance, these adjustments cost a mere $50. A general visit to even an express doctor’s office would be upwards of $100 with no guaranteed solution!
Then there’s the cost of missing work due to your pain. If you’re paid hourly, missing precious hours of income will cost you even more. We recently sat down with a patient that has now been visiting our clinics for 5 years. After putting it off and making excuses, including that it’s too much money, she finally realized she was throwing away the money spent on her college education and missing out on vital paychecks because she was in too much pain to go to work or school.
A study conducted at Oakland University discovered that patients who did seek out chiropactic care experienced significantly lower healthcare costs. To be exact, patients saved about $1,000 over a two-year period. Not only is chiropractic care a cost-effective way to find relief for your pain, but when used as a preventative measure to avoid further injuries and sustain a healthy lifestyle, the reward outweighs the cost even more.

Tuck Clinic Accepts A Variety of Carriers

Because we believe in giving our patients the best care possible, we build affordable treatment plans that are catered to your unique needs and will not ask you to spend money on extra treatments or x-rays that you don’t need. We currently partner with most major insurance carriers including Anthem, Aetna, Cigna, Coventry, United Healthcare, and Medicare. Soon, we will also be accepting Optum policies.
Tuck Clinic realizes that every policy varies so we’ve used over 20 years of experience in accepting insurance to optimize our insurance process to work best for our patients, our office, and your insurance carriers. If you’re a new patient and are unsure of what your care plan may cost you, we provide a complimentary benefits check to find out exactly what your personal policy covers. Upon request, we can let our patients know with 95% certainty what they will have to pay for each adjustment or therapy session before they even set their first appointment in less than 24 hours with just their insurance policy number and date of birth.
We do this because we don’t want our patients to have any surprises when it comes to paying for a happier, healthier life. Just as we try to explain our treatments and care plans clearly, we want to be as direct as possible when it comes to their insurance coverage, deductibles, or co-pays. We do our best to keep our treatments affordable regardless of your plan so even if you have a high deductible, your out of pocket cost will still be more affordable than your regular doctors visit.
“Our goal is not to send patients bills,” says Dr. Jennifer Rathman of Blacksburg. “That’s why we do our best to provide their expected costs ahead of time, down to the penny if possible.”
It’s understandable to be uncertain about trying out a new method of care with the ever changing healthcare environment. That’s why we do our best to stabilize these costs, stay ahead of the curve of changes in the field, and constantly update our knowledge-base of coverages. If we find a discrepancy in billing with an insurance policy, we do our best to immediately educate all of our clinics on the changes so that we can always keep our patients up to date and on track.
“It’s important to us that we have the correct information available,” says Rathman. “With so many clinics and the fact that we file claims daily, we find out those results pretty quickly and can disseminate the information to everyone.”
If you’d like to know if your healthcare plan will cover your chiropractic care, feel free to fill out our New Patient form or call your closest clinic location to find out. We look forward to helping you!

Sweet summertime – a time for beautiful sunsets across new horizons. It’s the perfect opportunity to discover a new beach town or hop on a plane to the Grand Canyon. While you’re relaxing on vacation, it’s important to make sure you come back feeling in better shape than when you left. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. Sitting for long hours in a car or on a plane can take a toll on your body. But there are a few ways you can make sure that your summer travels don’t leave you with pain.

Protect Your Neck

Sitting idly in a vehicle can encourage bad posture and put a strain on your neck and shoulders. Especially when on a long flight or car ride, it’s important to protect your neck. Prolonged strain on your neck could cause you to lose sleep and make you quite uncomfortable during your vacation. We can’t have that now, can we? There are a few key ways to keep your neck happy and healthy.
When in the car, it’s easy to hunch forward. Make sure you sit back in your seat and take advantage of your head rest. Your headrest should be placed so that it supports the entire back of your head and neck. Also, when you’re driving, be sure to keep your hands at 4 and 6 to keep your arms and shoulders from straining. If you’re relaxing as a passenger in a car or on a plane, try to always use a neck pillow to support you if you plan to nap. Letting your neck hang or even laying up against the door can damage your neck.

Protect Your Back

It’s easy to twist and turn your body when you’re locked into sitting for long periods of time. While you think you’re getting comfortable, you’re really just putting a strain on your back! We often see patients before and after long trips because of the toll it takes on the back. That being said, if you are mindful during your trip and protect your back properly, you can avoid pain.
Once again, the best advice we can give you is to sit up straight! It’s easy to slouch or want to change positions during your ride. Sitting up straight with your feet flat on the ground is the best way to protect your back. Car seats don’t always have the best lumbar support, so bringing a lumbar pillow to relieve the pressure on your lower back is a helpful technique as well.
Finally, it’s important to stop frequently to stretch. We get it, you want to get to the beach as fast as you can. But is it really worth it for your back to be in pain by the time you get there? When possible, take frequent pit stops. Get up and move your legs to get the blood flowing and even do some stretches. Your back will thank you later.

Beware of Weekend Warrior Syndrome

It’s easy to get carried away with trying to cram as much activities as you can on vacation or even during a long weekend. If your job typically requires very little activity, you might put your body into shock by bursts of activities on the weekend or on your vacation. This is known as weekend warrior syndrome and is one of the most common sources of sudden acute back pain. Remember that it’s important to pace yourself. Maybe if you’re a little out of shape, you should skip risking your back only to wipe out after 30 seconds on a wakeboard. You can have plenty of fun relaxing and taking in the sights, and you won’t have to go back to work in pain!
If you do find yourself having difficulties getting through long trips, we’re here to help! Our doctors can provide spinal adjustments to your neck and back to get you back to feeling good and looking forward to your next adventure!

There are few instances in life that bring about as many changes as pregnancy. Expecting mothers will experience extreme changes to their bodies and emotions. While developing a baby is extremely beautiful and exciting, your body goes through many, sometimes painful, changes. In this post, we will show you how and why chiropractic care can be a source of relief for the uncomfortable changes that many expecting mothers endure.

Changes

When a body adapts to accommodate the development of a baby, it’s often an uncomfortable process for the mother. Not surprisingly, as their bodies changes, many expecting mothers feel various degrees of back and neck pain.
Pain associated with pregnancy varies from mother to mother. The discomfort is due to drastic body shape changes, leaving expecting mothers more prone to joint pain caused by altered positioning of the vertebra. Some mothers find the pain is mostly in their lower back, while others experience neck and leg pain. No matter where the pain is felt, it can almost always be associated with the changes occurring in the spine due to added weight, hormone changes, or changing balance.
Thankfully, many mothers-to-be have found relief with chiropractic care. Chiropractors know spines and can offer relief without invasive prescriptions that are dangerous to mother and child.

Why Chiropractic

There are many benefits to seeking chiropractic care while pregnant. Most importantly, a chiropractor can assure that your spine is properly aligned and able to support the development of a baby.
There are many misconceptions about the safety of the mother and child when using chiropractic care during pregnancy. However, chiropractors are trained to work with women who are pregnant and are fully capable of treating them safely. Often times, mothers have found relief and even an easier birth after consulting with a chiropractor.
For expectant mothers who wish to avoid taking pain-relieving drugs, chiropractic care is a safe, natural alternative. Chiropractic treatment can significantly reduce pain and discomfort during pregnancy by realigning the body and relieving pressure that causes lower back pain.
If you or someone you know is considering seeking out chiropractic care during pregnancy, rest assured that you will be in good hands. At Tuck Chiropractic Clinic, we are committed to providing high-quality treatment for you and your growing family.
Interested in more information? Read more about our services for expecting mothers.

In Bedford County, it’s easy to know just about everybody. Growing up in a small town with a tight-knit community such as Bedford often inspires unexpected roots to sprout. At least this was the case for Tuck’s Bedford Clinic, Dr. Matthew Foster, who completed his preceptorship and began practicing as a licensed chiropractor at Tuck Chiropractic Clinic in Bedford in the Fall of 2017.

When Career and Community Come Full Circle

As a Sophomore football player at Jefferson Forest High School, Dr. Foster sustained injuries in the weight room. Most young, spry athletes are always eager to get back on the field after an injury and Dr. Foster was no different. Unfortunately, he had trouble finding true relief. After going through specialty stretches, physical therapy, and pain medication, the pain was merely masked rather than relieved. Finally, he paid a visit to a well known, now-retired Chiropractor in Bedford for an adjustment. After seeing the miracle-like effect a simple adjustment can have on a healing body, Matthew discovered his future career.
“The chiropractic profession, where you can heal people with your hands, is almost biblical,” says Dr. Foster. “My uncle Paul Foster is a physician’s assistant and was a big role model for me growing up. I remember him always talking about how many people come through the office for pain medications.”
Knowing the toll that the “medical loop” takes on your body in search of pain relief, Dr. Foster set out on his mission to heal people with his hands. He attended Liberty University for his undergraduate degree and continued his chiropractic education at the renowned Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida. When it came time to complete his preceptorship and find a job, his hometown in Southwest Virginia came calling to him.
“I actually had the opportunity to move out to Hawaii to practice, but I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to come back home and work in the community I grew up in,” says Dr. Foster. “It’s an awesome feeling that money can’t buy when you help the hometown that helped raise you to be who you are.”

Refined Treatments for Special Cases

As a new graduate, Dr. Foster has had the opportunity to explore some of the alternative methods to administering chiropractic care beyond spinal manipulation. He is certified to administer dry needling, activator methods, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, and Epley’s Technique for vertigo.
How do these techniques vary from the classic chiropractic adjustment? Essentially, they are just more direct ways to get to the root of the pain while remaining in the natural remedy arena. Dry needling, similar to acupuncture, operates on pressure points in the body that can cause pain. Dr. Foster can also perform the activator method and soft tissue mobilization with special instruments that focus on a specific area of the body that is experiencing pain.
“It’s so rewarding to hear people say that they feel better and the gratitude and satisfaction that you get from healing pain is immeasurable,” says Dr. Foster. “My only goal is to help people with acute pain or injury find relief, educate them well enough to help them take care of themselves, and hopefully they’ll choose elective care to help their lifestyle. I didn’t choose the profession for the money, I just want to help people that want to help themselves by implementing our mission statement of, ‘To make a positive impact on every life we touch.'”

Rooted in the Community

Of course, working at Tuck Chiropractic Clinic wasn’t the only reason Dr. Foster returned to Bedford County after college. It was his connection to the community that really called him back home and he demonstrates that as much as possible through his activities outside the clinic walls. As a member of the Bedford County Rotary Club, Bedford Chamber of Commerce, and soon to be Free Masons, Matthew spends this free time giving back in any way he can.

As active leaders in both the chiropractic and wider medical industries, we take pride in being first in line to educate patients, the public, and anyone who will listen about the importance of providing supportive, conservative care to patients in need. While we do our best to go above and beyond for all of our patients, that doesn’t always mean providing more care than we need. To us, conservative care means finding the right treatment for an individual’s specific needs and nothing more.

Choosing Wisely

This concept is closely aligned with the American Board of Internal Medicine‘s (ABIM) Choosing Wisely initiative. Their most well known initiative, Choosing Wisely was built to address “waste” in healthcare. While no moment spent with a patient is wasted, it is often found that patients may receive more care or treatment than they actually need. Their official mission is “to promote conversations between clinicians and patients by helping patients choose care that is:

• Supported by evidence
• Not duplicative of other tests or procedures already received
• Free from harm
• Truly necessary”

While it is your choice to choose what type of practitioner to seek, it’s our duty as leader in the chiropractic industry to discuss the fives ways you can be assured that you are “Choosing Wisely” when choosing your chiropractor based on the ABIM’s recommendations for chiropractic care:

1. Do not obtain spinal imaging for patients with acute low-back pain during the six (6) weeks after onset in the absence of red flags.

Chiropractors who closely follow best practices will look for red flags before recommending spinal imaging. Because imaging tests often incur additional cost of care, it is in the best interest of the patient to refrain from imaging unless there are extenuating circumstances that lead the doctor to believe it is absolutely necessary. Red flags can include history of cancer, a possible fracture, progressive neurologic symptoms and infection, as well as conditions that potentially preclude a dynamic thrust to the spine.
If your chiropractor requests x-rays when you are not experiencing chronic low-back pain or suspect a possible fracture, you may want to ask additional questions or seek another practitioner.

2. Do not perform repeat imaging to monitor patients’ progress.

Again, unnecessary imaging incurs unnecessary cost. Unless you are being seen for a severe, ongoing problem such as scoliosis, there is no need to leverage additional x-rays to track outcomes. At Tuck Clinic, we choose to track our outcomes by reviewing a combination of the custom care plan we provide to the patient as well as their perception of their treatments and the relief resulting from such treatments.

3. Avoid protracted use of passive or palliative physical therapeutic modalities for low-back pain disorders unless they support the goal(s) of an active treatment plan.

That sounds like a lot of chiropractor jargon, don’t you think? We’ll break this one down for you. Often times, chiropractors administer passive techniques such as heating and cooling, electrical stimulation, or ultrasound therapy to supplement chiropractic adjustments. These, alone, are not the solution to fixing the overall wellness of your body after an injury or even during maintenance visits. It is highly suggested that these treatments are paired with a therapeutic exercise program that empowers the patient to continue their wellness efforts outside of the office walls. After all, the ultimate goal is to get our patients feeling better and living better overall.

4. Do not provide long-term pain management without a psychosocial screening or assessment.

There are many common causes to long-term pain. Sometimes, it’s a severe injury that has been ignored for years. But sometimes, it could be the unexpected side effects of depression or anxiety. It is the duty of a chiropractor to do their due diligence to get to the root cause of pain, even if it includes a psychological issue.

5. Do not prescribe lumbar supports or braces for the long-term treatment or prevention of low-back pain.

As noted in our recent examination of low back pain and lumbar support devices, these are great tools for temporary support but should never be considered a long term fix for an issue. Providing passive support for the lower back with these devices have been shown to reduce strength in the back, leaving it even more vulnerable to pain and injury. If your doctor has prescribed one of these devices as a quick fix, you may want to seek an alternative opinion.