SOHMA Integrative Medicine

We offer the best of Eastern & Western medicine without using drugs or surgery

Chiropractic

What Does It Mean To Find The Best Chiropractic Care?

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Over the years, chiropractic care has become a widely accepted practice. So much so that many insurance companies often cover chiropractic care. Chiropractic care is a holistic approach to healthcare focusing on managing pain and preventing disorders of the musculoskeletal system, primarily concentrating on the spine.

When searching for chiropractic care, you should always look for the best provider to meet your unique needs and provide effective and secure treatment. Remember that chiropractic care should be a partnership between you and the chiropractor. Finding the right one for you can make a huge difference.

Remember that the “best chiropractic care” can differ from person to person; however, we’ll attempt to help you find the right one. Today we’ll explore a few key factors to consider when finding the best chiropractic care.

Chiropractor Qualifications

Chiropractors need to complete the required education and training. Making sure a chiropractor has the required licenses and certifications ensures expertise and competence. It indicates a chiropractor’s knowledge and assures patients of the chiropractor’s skills. A chiropractor with additional training can give further insight into a patient’s condition.

Getting an adjustment by an unqualified chiropractor can be incredibly dangerous. It can increase the likelihood of injury, worsening symptoms, or other complications. We highly recommend never to have any spinal manipulation done by someone unfit. 

Feedback and Reputation

Positive first-hand experience from friends and family can be beneficial. Referrals from trusted sources such as friends and family can help separate good chiropractors from the best. Occasionally asking your primary healthcare provider or other healthcare professionals can point you in the right direction. People working in the medical field often pay more attention to minor details, increasing the weight and importance of their opinions. Awards can help decide on great chiropractors as well. For example, SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach won back-to-back Best of Long Beach awards for 2022 and 2023.

Another great way to find the best chiropractor is to search online reviews and testimonials. Reviews are a great way to gauge the overall experiences of their patients. Typically if a patient isn’t satisfied with the chiropractor, they’ll make it known online. Keep in mind that some dishonest chiropractors may have false reviews. Since no one is perfect, it’s necessary to always read through the review instead of solely relying on the overall rating.

Communication

Feel free to be direct with a chiropractor if you can speak with chiropractors and ask them about their practice and treatments. Evaluate how well the chiropractor communicates with you. The best chiropractor will be able to listen attentively to your concerns. They should be able to explain the treatment and suggest or even recommend other treatment options if chiropractic is not enough or the wrong treatment for your personal issue. A great chiropractor will also involve a patient in the decision-making.

If you notice a chiropractor is trying to push you for long-term treatment while not justifying why properly, it should be seen as a red flag. This signifies that they only try to get your money and don’t care about your well-being.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

How To Choose A Chiropractor

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Chiropractic care can treat many conditions of the musculoskeletal system. Treatment involves manually adjusting the spine and joints to help alleviate pain. A chiropractor slowly moves your joint into their natural position with short, sharp thrusting movements. If you’ve been dealing with persistent pain in your neck and back and nothing you’ve tried, it’s time to visit a chiropractor.

But how do you choose a chiropractor?

When selecting any healthcare professional, it should be done with care. After all, it is your health and wellness, and you want to make sure you get the best chiropractor. Join me as we review a few suggestions when choosing a chiropractor.

Communication is Important

Being able to communicate well is crucial in any healthcare setting. Most people want to feel comfortable with a chiropractor, and communication can help. If possible, try to schedule an appointment to interview the chiropractor. Asking questions shouldn’t put them off. In fact, they should be excited to inform about all the benefits of chiropractic care. Not only will you learn how chiropractic care can help your condition and manage your pain, but based on their mannerisms, you can see if they’re friendly and considerate. If you had an overall positive experience simply asking them questions, it’s a good sign that they may be a good choice.

Perhaps Chiropractic Care Isn’t What You Need

Although we’re trying to find a chiropractor, it’s possible that it’s not what you need for your particular case. A good chiropractor can tell you if you genuinely need an adjustment or would be better off with cupping, deep tissue massage, acupuncture, or a combination of different modalities and therapies. Although spinal adjustments are essential to chemotherapy, you can benefit from another therapy during your treatment. A good chiropractor can explain why and how combining multiple therapies will help your recovery. But be careful if they can’t explain why you need more therapies satisfactory enough. It can actually be a warning sign.

Recommendations

The experience of others can be invaluable to finding an amazing chiropractor. Your first choice should be other professionals in the health industry. If you can’t seem to manage the pain, ask them if they have a recommendation for a chiropractor. Some doctors may even suggest trying chiropractic care themselves. Friends and family are also excellent resources for finding great chiropractors. While their treatment may differ from yours, they can inform you about how friendly and knowledgeable the staff is and how well-kept the center is. The most abundant source of information about chiropractors is online. Visiting their website and social media pages and reading reviews can give you the point of view of many people dealing with many conditions. At SOHMA, we’re proud to have won back-to-back Best of Long Beach Reader’s Choice awards for 2022 and 2023.

No Rush. It Takes Time

You must do your due diligence when looking for a new healthcare professional. It’s ok to look into many different chiropractors. You don’t need to feel obligated to be treated by the first chiropractor you visit. It’s normal for people to see many other chiropractors before choosing the best suited for their condition.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

5 Myths About Chiropractic Care

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Chiropractic care has become a widely accepted practice over the years. Many myths and misconceptions have deterred people from participating in chiropractic care during that time. Many people have reported on the health benefits of chiropractic care and how it’s a great alternative to drugs and surgeries for managing pain and aiding recovery.

Today we’ll review five of these myths and clear up some misunderstandings about chiropractic care.

Myth # 1: Chiropractic Care is Only for Back Pain 

Chiropractors are most commonly known for dealing with back pain. While they can help you manage your back pain, there are many reasons to see a chiropractor. Chiropractic care is used to treat many common ailments, such as:

  • Neck Pain
  • Back Pain
  • Knee pain
  • Leg Pain
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Breathing Issues
  • Joint Pain
  • Insomnia

With a wide variety of ailments, chiropractic can help with, be sure to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA Integrative Medicine at Long Beach, CA, to see if chiropractic can help treat your specific issue.

Myth # 2: You’ll Need Chiropractic Care for Life

A common misconception is once you’ve begun chiropractic care, you’ll have to rely on adjustments for the rest of your life. They are concerned their body can unlearn how to preserve the correct alignment a chiropractor sets. They fear that without consistent visits, their symptoms may return. There is some truth in that spinal problems may need a program with frequent stops, but as you progress through your regimen, the visits will be more sparse.

This myth may have begun to circulate simply because many patients continue to use chiropractic care after their original program is done. This can be because they want to work on other body parts or to maintain a healthy posture. The human body can become misaligned at any time during our day-to-day life, and many patients who previously used chiropractic care may return for some maintenance.

Myth #3: You Need a Referral for Chiropractic Care

Although communicating with your primary care provider about your physical well-being is always a good idea, you don’t need a referral to receive chiropractic care. You can walk right into SOHMA and ask about receiving chiropractic care.

Depending on your condition, your primary care provider may consider prescribing pharmaceuticals to help manage your pain until you either show signs of getting better or decline. This can sometimes lead to the need for surgery. It’s best practice to have multiple opinions from a variety of professionals. A chiropractor can assess your symptoms using similar techniques as most medical practitioners and begin an adjustment program to help manage pain.

Myth #4: Chiropractic Care Hurts

Chiropractic care is designed to manage or eliminate pain, not cause it. During adjustments, there should be little to no pain. A patient may often anticipate pain and be startled by the sudden movements. Although some patients have reported minor discomfort after chiropractic adjustments, most leave feeling much better than when they arrived. At worst, most patients may feel sore for a couple of days afterward, but this is normal. A licensed professional shouldn’t cause you any pain when adjusting your back. 

Myth #5: Chiropractic Care can be Dangerous

The worst misconception is that chiropractic care is dangerous to patients. The main danger comes from unlicensed chiropractors performing adjustments. This is why it’s essential you only work with licensed chiropractors. Chiropractic care provides a safe way to manage pain. There is no data surrounding injuries caused by chiropractic adjustments.

Though it’s not without risk, while sporadic, some patients have experienced a stroke after manipulation. Vertebral dissection is when the inner lining of the vertebral artery tears, which can lead to a blood clot causing a stroke. However, vertebral dissection can result from car accidents, contact sports, roller coasters, and mechanical stress. If you notice slurred speech, difficulty walking, sensory loss on one side of your body, or trouble swallowing, call 911 immediately, as every minute counts.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

What Does the Laser Do at the Chiropractor?

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Laser Therapy and Chiropractic are complimentary treatments.

It’s well understood that chiropractic care can alleviate pain and aid in the natural healing process. Laser therapy is a new way to help relieve chronic and acute pain. What happens when these two therapies are combined?

Join me as we explore how combining these two therapies can result in a more focused recovery.

How Does Laser Therapy Aid in Healing?

Many people are skeptical when introduced to laser therapy. After all, how can shining a light on my skin help manage pain?

Cold laser therapy, also known as low-level laser therapy, effectively treats chronic and acute pains and is incredibly useful in conjunction with chiropractic care. Erchonia’s FX 635 laser has a 72% success rate in clinical trials. The device was approved by the FDA in 2018 to be used in managing pain and has proven to be a safer, more effective treatment option than surgery or pharmaceuticals.

With around 80% of adults suffering from lower back pain at some point in their life, many seek help managing their pain. Unfortunately, about 60% of them will be prescribed opioids to reduce pain symptoms. The opioids mask the pain and typically don’t lead to the body’s healing. Opioids can be dangerous and addictive if taken for extended periods.

At SOHMA Integrated Medicine in Long Beach, CA, we offer cold laser therapy, which among other benefits, can help with pain management. Laser therapy uses specific wavelengths that can stimulate the body’s natural healing process. When the skin is exposed to light particles, it triggers the cell to produce a natural chemical called adenosine triphosphate, which is needed to fuel the body’s cellular processes. The increased production of adenosine triphosphate may improve the body’s blood circulation in the affected area, promoting our natural healing abilities. The cells exposed to the lasers return to their normal processes after the therapy and remain unharmed.

Why do Laser Therapy and Chiropractic Care Work Well Together?

Chiropractic care often emphasizes the physical manipulation of the spine and joints to relieve pain. However, it’s also used to increase the range of motion, improve posture and minimize migraine and neck-related headaches. There are many other benefits of seeing a chiropractor though many patients seek chiropractic care to avoid risky pharmaceutical or expensive surgeries. 

Laser therapy’s benefits include reducing swelling, decreasing stiffness and pain, and returning to the normal function of joints. Laser therapy is also used to accelerate cellular reproduction leading to faster healing. Increase vasodilation to increase blood flow to the affected area and promote healing. Laser therapy can achieve these results safely.

When combining chiropractic and cold laser therapy, results are improved. Beneficial outcomes include pain relief and accelerated healing. Every person is different, and results vary depending on the severity of the injury or condition and the patient’s physical fitness, composition, and age. 

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

3 Risks of Chiropractic Care

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Chiropractors are licensed practicioners.

Generally speaking there are very few risks associated with chiropractic adjustments when performed by licensed and trained professionals. Chiropractic care has an excellent safety record. Many of the risks with adjustments are temporary and minor. Though there are a few risks that involve the patient’s health prior to the adjustment.

This is what we are going to go over today. Join me as we go through 3 risks of chiropractic care, how to minimize those risks or how to avoid them all together.  

Temporary Discomfort in Treated Area

When you go to the chiropractor, they are manipulating your spine, and joints. It’s common for some patients to experience discomfort in the treated area. Typically this manifests as achiness and soreness in the muscles and tendons around the joints being manipulated. The soreness usually only lasts a few hours post-treatment. In some patients the discomfort can last 24 to 48

 hours, but only on rare occasions.

One of the best ways you can reduce the amount of time you feel sore is by applying moisture and heat to your sore muscles. This will let your joints and muscles relax, another fantastic way to help ease soreness is through a warm Epsom salt bath.

Can Cause Low Back Injury

Although chiropractors are there to help treat back pain, there is a risk that there can be lower back pain injury. Usually this occurs when patients have underlying medical conditions that either the patient is unaware of, or doesn’t disclose those underlying conditions to the chiropractor. For those with those conditions, it’s important for you to discuss chiropractic care with both your chiropractor and primary care provider. These conditions include:

  • Severe osteoporosis
  • Multiple myeloma
  • Bone tumors
  • Osteomyelitis
  • Broken or fractured bones
  • Severe arthritis

Bleeding disorders, or structural instability issues can also be cause for concern so be sure to properly communicate any conditions you have.

Chiropractors want to improve your condition so you can get back to enjoying your day. As a patient, being upfront with existing conditions, health issues or challenges you have can greatly diminish any risks involved. You may think they are “small” or “no big deal” however we recommend letting your chiropractor know about any and all pre existing conditions you may have.

Risk of Stroke

This is possibly the rarest risk involving neck manipulation, but it is a possibility. Once again it is a rare risk, some high-velocity neck manipulation may result in a vertebral artery dissection, which can lead to a stroke.

A vertebral artery dissection is when the inner lining of the vertebral artery tears. This artery is located towards the back of our neck and is one of the 4 major arteries that supply the brain with blood. Once torn blood can enter the arterial wall and for blood clots. If a piece of the blood clot were to break off or the expanding artery wall can narrow to the point of restricting blood flow which can result in a stroke. Vertebral dissection can be caused by multiple reasons, not just chiropractic adjustments. Other causes of vertebral dissection include:

  • Automobile accidents
  • Contact sports
  • Roller-coaster rides
  • Mechanical stress

Vertebral artery dissection can also happen spontaneously, though usually the patient has an underlying connective tissue disorder that affects the blood vessels.

Symptoms of vertebral artery dissection may occur days or weeks after the tear, these include:

  • Slurred speech
  • Vertigo or difficulty walking
  • Sensory loss of an arm or leg on one side of your body
  • Trouble swallowing

If you have these symptoms after any blunt force trauma, not just after a chiropractic neck adjustment call 911 immediately as every minute counts.

The risk of suffering a stroke after chiropractic care is incredibly slim. But we want to make sure you are well informed about the risks of chiropractic care even if the risk is small.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

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