Sprain and Strain Treatment in Omaha NE

Do you have a sprain or strain in Omaha NE? Have you ever thought about the complex structure throughout your body that allows you to move while still somehow managing to keep your joints and bones in position? As complex as this process is, it is controlled by three primary structures; muscles, ligaments, and your nervous system. While each one of these structures wouldn’t be able to function without the other, they each serve their own purpose.

Throughout this short article, Diamond Chiropractic Omaha South will provide you with some general information about this system and some of the potential injuries that can occur if it is not functioning properly.

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THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MUSCLES AND LIGAMENTS IN Omaha NE

While most people know how important proper muscle function is, few people have stopped to think about everything that they control. Whether you are walking to get the mail, talking to a friend, digesting a meal, or pumping blood throughout your body, muscles are the primary workhorse behind these actions. Without muscles, you wouldn’t be able to accomplish these things, and unfortunately wouldn’t be alive reading this article. With how important muscles are to people, it should be no surprise that they have a very complex design. Muscles are built in a way that allows them to transform energy into motion, grow with added stress, and heal if not damaged beyond self-repair. Needless to say, keeping your muscles healthy and functioning properly is essential to life, and your nervous system plays the most important role in this process.

In contrast to muscles which are all about motion, ligaments serve the primary purpose of maintaining stability and support. Ligaments are the pieces of the puzzle that are responsible for keeping bones in their proper position, including your spine. Without strong and healthy ligaments, it would be impossible to form joints, and the motion created by your muscles would serve no purpose. To create this stability, a ligament crosses a joint and attaches at each end. While one ligament may be enough to create support in smaller joints, often multiple ligaments work together in areas such as the knee or ankle. When functioning properly, with the correct signals from your nervous system, ligaments are built to withstand tremendous forces. In fact, many of the ligaments in your body are much stronger than bone.

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WHAT IS A SPRAIN OR STRAIN?

Everyone has probably heard of a strain or sprain and the two terms are usually grouped together. However, they each actually refer to a different type of injury, and occur by different mechanisms. Knowing the difference between the two and how to detect them plays a very important role in preventing these injuries from happening, and deciding which treatment avenue is best. While this article will provide you with some general information, the best way to determine which type of injury may have occurred is to consult with a trained healthcare professional. Our doctors at Diamond Chiropractic Omaha South can assist you with this process.

A strain is a term that is used to specifically describe an injury to a muscle or its attached tendon. Muscular strains occur when a muscle is worked beyond its limits. This can mean that the muscle was stretched too far or contracted too hard. Overworking a muscle that has not been properly trained can lead to this type of injury. If the muscle has not had time to properly grow and the nervous system has not had time to develop the correct muscle patterns, these structures are not able to handle excessive stress. People who are suffering from a muscular strain typically will notice swelling, cramping, and pain primarily during motion.

When you hear the word sprain, ligaments are the primary culprit. While all ligaments can stretch to some degree, ligamentous sprains occur when a ligament is stretched beyond its means. Typically, if the nervous system is not functioning properly resulting in improper control of a joint, the bones of a joint separate too far causing damage to the ligaments. The most common ligamentous sprains occur in the cervical and lumbar spine, knee, ankle, and wrist. These joints tend to be more susceptible because they allow more motion than other areas of the body. People who have developed a ligamentous sprain typically experience many of the symptoms of a muscular strain, but will primarily experience the pain over the damaged joint.

The most important thing to do if you believe you are suffering from a strain or sprain is to receive a proper evaluation by a trained health care professional. Our team at Diamond Chiropractic Omaha South will conduct a complete history and examination as well as x-rays if indicated to reach a proper diagnosis. Once a diagnosis is made, our clinic will provide and direct you to the proper treatment avenues. Only through correct diagnosis and care will the injury heal properly.

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Treatment at Diamond Chiropractic Omaha South

At Diamond Chiropractic Omaha South, our chiropractor will perform an examination, take x-rays, and evaluate your posture to determine the cause and location of your sprain/strain. After comparing the findings and confirming the diagnosis, our chiropractor will develop a treatment plan to help alleviate your symptoms, heal the pain, and provide you with recommendations to lower your risk for possible re-occurrences.

• Spinal Adjustments - Our doctor will realign the vertebrae in the affected area to increase your range of motion and alleviate the pain in the spinal nerves. Symptoms resulting from the pain, from other nerves in the affected area, may begin to decrease as well.
• Intersegmental Traction - Intersegmental traction involves the use of a special chiropractic table. This specific table includes rollers that will roll along the sides of the spinal column, allowing blood to flow through the tight muscles and ligaments. As this occurs, the muscles and ligaments loosen up and relax more; in addition, your spine will become more mobile. This type of treatment is effective in alleviating pain from sprains and strains.
• Acupuncture - Electro-therapy, or acupuncture, is effective with sprains and strains, and their symptoms. Patients will notice, after several treatments, the pain in the injured area(s) begins to decrease. In addition, they will start to see more mobility come back to their spine and other affected areas of the body.
• Lifestyle Advice - With any injury, whether to the back, neck, or extremities, the last thing you want to do is make the pain worse. The same idea applies to handling sprains and strains. Our advice is designed to help you perform everyday tasks and responsibilities safely. We focus on healing and relief from sprains and strains, not aggravating the pain further.

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Contact Our Omaha Chiropractor for Sprains & Strains

Unlike other healthcare professionals, our staff will evaluate your nervous system to ensure that it can properly control these tissues and joints. With proper healing, nervous system function, and instruction, the odds of injury are greatly reduced. To get started with chiropractic care for your sprain and/or strain, choose our Omaha, NE chiropractor today. Diamond Chiropractic Omaha South is currently accepting new patients of all ages. Call our office today. When it comes to sprains and strains, get relief NOW & FAST.