Chiropractic Sports Medicine
Chiropractic Sports Medicine @ Pioneer Sports & Pain Center
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders and pain of the musculo-skeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on function.
Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal (nerve, muscle, joint) complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints and soft tissues of
the arms or legs, and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic - often referred to as Chiropractors or Chiropractic physicians practice conservative, hands-on approach to health
care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well
as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as "spinal manipulation," also called "chiropractic adjustment." The purpose of manipulation is
to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become restricted in their movement as a result of a tissue injury. Tissue injury can be caused by a
single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy objects, auto accidents or slips/falls. Injury can also occur through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward
position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time or doing repetitive movements such as in the case of an assembly line worker in a factory or an endurance athlete. In either
case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and
tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal. Although many people have been conditioned to believe that Doctors of
Chiropractic treat just the Spine, Many chiropractors treat extremities such as shoulder, wrist, elbow, knee and ankle/foot. Sports Chiropractors generally do more with extremites and
incorporate physical rehabilitation and manual therapy as part of the treatment approach.
Dr. Burtenshaw is the local Sports Chiropractor in Kuna, McCall, ID.
Chiropractic adjustments rarely cause discomfort and in most cases offer instant relief of pain and restriction. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness following treatment
(as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours.
In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical
treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.
Doctors of chiropractic may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is
appropriate or when it is not appropriate. Chiropractors will readily refer patients to the appropriate health care provider when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient's
condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other members of the health care team.
Dr. Burtenshaw has worked with Medical physicians and physical/occupational therapists over his 6 year practice career here in the Boise valley. As a patient you deserve to be presented
with all the options. That being said you must take your health into your own hands and do your own research, as you may not be led to the right treatment for your condition by referral
alone. Integrated approaches are becoming and should be the future of health care. No one has all the answers for every patient that walks through the door. Providers
must be humble enough and open minded enough to respect the value in other treatment options when their "standard approach" isn't working.
We provide gentle and effective chiropractic treatment. There are always those that have a fear of their back or neck "popping" or "cracking". If this fits you, don't let that
stop you from getting care that could greatly improve your quality of life. We offer Instrument-assisted adjusting techniques using the Arthrostim adjusting
device for those who have fear of their joints "cracking." We are here to ease your anxiety and give you straight forward, understandable answers to your questions and
solutions to your problems. If you have avoided Chiropractic manipulation because of a fear of your joints "popping" please give us a chance to treat you. Chiropractic adjusting
is likely just one of many techniques we will use to treat your condition. Taking an "integrated" approach always produces a superior result than using any one technique alone.
Once I see a Chiropractor do I have to go for the rest of my life?
When we accept a new patient our goal is to resolve or fix your problem. If we can't solve your problem or get good results in a reasonable amount of time we will make other
recommendations or referrals to get you where you need to be. The younger you are the better the chance of that happening. When we reach our 40's and 50's and beyond it
becomes more about management. You just don't expect and old car to perform like a new one, that's common sense. During an acute injury, treatment will be more frequent (usually
4-6 weeks). Once an injury has been resolved or as good as we can get it (maximum medical improvement) we then see you on an as needed basis. That being said, through my clinical
experience I have come to see the value in preventative treatment over time. There is no magic number and it is different for everyone based on many things including, age, gender,
genetics, lifestyle, weight, physical activity, workplace, stress and diet to name a few. If I am asked to give a general treatment recommendation that would fit most people I say that
a "quarterly" check up is very reasonable and effective at maintaining good range of motion, flexibility and strength. If you can keep these 3 as good as possible over time you can
avoid much pain suffering as you age secondary to arthritic and degenerative pain. Some may see me twice/year for preventative care while others may see me bi-monthly. This is a
two way street where the doctor and the patient make a joint decision on what the treatment frequency will be to best fit your lifestyle and needs. Our goal is to not over treat you or
under treat you. Essentially we want you to use us as much and as little as you need to, to maintain the best "function" you can. Function is a far greater measure of your
condition than the presence or absence of pain. Pain is just the result of dysfunction. I will say however that if you ever go in for treatment and are recommended very long term
treatment plans ( 30,40,50 visits) from the initial visit I would strongly recommend a second opinion. There is no magic number or recipe, that's why they call it "practice" At
the end of the day I always say to my patients, "If you're not comfortable, I'm not comfortable." What I mean is your best interest is my first priority. Patients
can feel that and see that in their doctor right away and that's the heart and soul of my practice. There is only one thing I can guarantee you and that is I will give you 100% effort
to fix your problem. The rest is up to your body.....