What Actually Happens During A Chiropractic Adjustment?
Houston Chiropractor Comments: Chiropractic is still a mystery to a lot of people. In my Houston, Texas office I have patients that have obtained complete relief of their pain ask me “What actually happened to my body?”
Chiropractic adjustments (or spinal manipulation) restore proper movement to restricted joints using controlled, rapid force. This technique releases muscle tension, relieves nerve irritation, and stimulates the central nervous system to reduce pain.
The underlying mechanisms include:
- Restoring Joint Mobility: Joints can become “stuck” due to posture, injury, or repetitive strain, leading to inflammation. Adjustments stretch the surrounding muscles and tissues to lubricate and mobilize the joint.
- Releasing Gas (Cavitation): The “popping” sound often heard during an adjustment is caused by a rapid pressure change inside the joint capsule, which releases tiny bubbles of nitrogen gas.
- Nervous System Reset: Stretching the joint stimulates nerve receptors that communicate with the brain, helping to relax surrounding muscles, release endorphins (natural pain relievers), and relieve pressure on irritated nerves.
Chiropractic care is not a mystery, it is just a matter of improving the joints, muscles and nerves so that the body can experience the pleasure of health.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
If I See A Chiropractor Do I Have To Keep Going Forever?
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: I am always surprised when I talk to people in public and they find out that I am a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) and they say that they want to try chiropractic care, but they heard that once they start care they have to get adjusted forever. In my Clear Lake City, TX practice, this has not been the case for the 36 years that we have been open.
No, you do not have to keep going forever. Your treatment duration depends entirely on your personal goals and the specific condition being treated. Many patients undergo a short series of treatments to heal an acute injury and stop, while others choose periodic, voluntary wellness care.
Understanding the phases of care helps break down the myth of the “forever” commitment:
- Acute Phase: This involves the initial treatment (sometimes 2 to 3 times a week) to relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
- Corrective Phase: Once pain subsides, visit frequency drops as the focus shifts to restoring mobility, correcting posture, and building strength.
- Maintenance (Wellness) Phase: This is entirely optional. Like getting a routine dental cleaning or a massage, some people choose to return once every few weeks to prevent old issues from returning and manage daily wear-and-tear.
You have complete control over your healthcare decisions and can pause or stop treatment at any time. Some patients continue with maintenance care since they find out that they need less medication and can perform all of their daily activities without pain or discomfort.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
5 Things That You Did Not Know About Chiropractic
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: When talking to my patients in my Clear Lake, Texas office about Chiropractic, I realize that most patients only know that we can help their condition. Women getting treated for headaches did not know that we could treat their husbands’ low back pain. Patients being treated for an auto accident did not know that we could help their daughters’ soccer injury.
While many associate chiropractic care solely with back and neck pain, the field is deeply rooted in overall nervous system health and preventative care. The discipline offers a wide variety of surprising benefits and practices that go far beyond basic joint adjustments.
More Than Just the Spine
Chiropractors do not only treat back pain. They are trained to evaluate and treat extremity issues, including joint pain in the shoulders, elbows, hips, and ankles. They also frequently address temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, sciatica, and carpal tunnel syndrome.
The “Cracking” Sound is Just Gas
The popping or cracking noise (known as cavitation) often heard during an adjustment is not bones grinding or rubbing. It is simply gas (nitrogen and carbon dioxide) being released from the joint capsule as the pressure inside the joint changes. Furthermore, chiropractors use dozens of methods, some of which are entirely silent and rely on gentle, low-force movements.
Elite Athletes Use It for Performance
Chiropractic care is a major component of sports medicine and athletic performance. In fact, all 32 NFL teams and the majority of professional sports teams employ chiropractors. Athletes such as Tom Brady, Michael Phelps, and Tiger Woods utilize these treatments to improve body mechanics, speed up recovery, and prevent injuries.
Extensive Clinical Education
Doctors of Chiropractic (DCs) undergo rigorous doctoral-level training similar to medical doctors (MDs). The program typically requires over 4,200 hours of combined classroom, laboratory, and clinical experience. Their extensive curriculum heavily features anatomy, neurology, biomechanics, diagnostic imaging, and nutritional counseling.
Care Extends to All Ages
Chiropractic care is highly adaptable and safe for individuals at every stage of life. We gently treat infants and children to help with musculoskeletal issues from birth, while adults and seniors use the care to improve balance, increase range of motion, and reduce age-related joint degeneration.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy Benefits
Houston Chiropractor Comments: One of the highlights of practicing chiropractic in Houston, Texas has been helping hundreds of pregnant women during their pregnancy. Sometimes it is helping reduce their pain and discomfort so that they can remain active, sometimes it is helping with severe back pain or sciatica and sometimes it is helping to turn a breech baby to prevent the need of a C-section.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy supports the body’s natural biomechanical changes, offering relief from common aches, promoting optimal fetal positioning, and preparing the pelvis for a smoother labor and delivery.
Specific benefits and techniques include:
- Pain & Discomfort Relief: Alleviates musculoskeletal strain such as lower back, neck, and pelvic girdle pain caused by a shifting center of gravity and weight gain.
- Pelvic Balance: Adjustments help keep the pelvis and hips properly aligned, which provides more room for the baby to grow and turn naturally, reducing the risk of breech positioning.
- Shorter Labor Times: Proper alignment can lead to faster, more efficient deliveries by reducing intrauterine constraint. Studies show that first-time mothers who receive care may experience up to 25% shorter labor times.
- The Webster Technique: A specialized chiropractic analysis and adjustment often used during pregnancy to balance the pelvis, release tight ligaments, and reduce stress on the uterus.
- Nausea & Posture Support: Many patients report reduced pregnancy nausea and better overall posture, which aids in better sleep and easier postpartum recovery.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Chiropractic Treatment of Swimming Injuries
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: As we approach the end of school, thoughts now turn to summer activities. One of the most popular activities here in the Clear Lake area of Houston, Texas is swimming. People swim at the beach, in the lakes and most commonly in pools.
Chiropractic care treats swimming injuries through targeted adjustments, soft tissue therapies, and rehabilitation exercises. It is highly effective for overuse conditions like “swimmer’s shoulder,” lower back strain, and knee pain by restoring joint alignment, correcting muscle imbalances, and improving your overall swim mechanics.
How Chiropractors Treat Common Swim Injuries
- Swimmer’s Shoulder: Repetitive overhead strokes often cause rotator cuff impingement. Chiropractors use adjustments, soft tissue therapies, and targeted strengthening to stabilize the shoulder and correct faulty muscle activation.
- Lower Back Pain: Caused by excessive lumbar extension and poor core engagement (especially in butterfly and breaststroke). Chiropractic spine adjustments and core stability exercises restore proper spinal alignment.
- Neck Strain: Repeatedly turning the head to breathe strains the cervical spine. Gentle manipulations ease tension, realign the neck, and promote postural training.
- Knee Pain: Common in breaststrokers due to the unique, repetitive “frog kick” mechanics. Joint mobilizations and neuromuscular training alleviate tension in the hip and knee joints.
Key Treatment Modalities Used
- Spinal and Extremity Adjustments: Optimizes joint function and reduces physical stress on the body.
- Soft Tissue Mobilization: Utilizes techniques like TFT, IASTM, and cupping to break down scar tissue and relieve muscle adhesions.
- Therapeutic Exercises: Tailored stretches and strength training rebuild mobility and prevent the injury from returning.
Benefits for Swimmers
Visiting a chiropractor who specializes in chiropractic orthopedics helps you heal faster, maintain vital shoulder and spine mobility, and avoid the common pitfall of “working through the pain”. Addressing biomechanical inefficiencies can also naturally boost your propulsion and stroke efficiency.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Benefits of Chiropractic After an Auto Accident
Houston Chiropractor Comments: As a Chiropractic Orthopedist practicing in the Houston, Texas area for the last 36 years, we have had the opportunity to help hundreds of patients that were injured in car and truck accidents. Often, we were the first doctors to treat them. With years of experience and additional training in Chiropractic Orthopedics, we are able to get them well quicker, without the need of unnecessary treatment and able to document the injuries so that they are properly compensated for their complaints.
Chiropractic care after an auto accident provides crucial non-invasive treatment to reduce inflammation, restore mobility, and prevent chronic long-term pain.
Key Physical Benefits
- Reduces Inflammation: Spinal adjustments realign the vertebrae, which decreases the body’s production of inflammatory cytokines and minimizes localized swelling.
- Alleviates Pain: Chiropractic manipulation releases pain-reducing hormones like endorphins, offering relief without the need for addictive prescription opioids.
- Restores Range of Motion: Adjustments break down scar tissue and mobilize stiff joints, allowing muscles and ligaments to heal with optimal flexibility.
- Reduces Scar Tissue: Targeted spinal and soft-tissue therapies break up internal scar tissue, preventing permanent stiffness in the neck and back.
- Prevents Chronic Conditions: Early intervention prevents minor micro-tears and misalignments from developing into debilitating, lifelong chronic pain.
Legal and Insurance Advantages
- Provides Medical Documentation: Chiropractors generate detailed medical records, injury diagnoses, and treatment plans essential for personal injury protection (PIP) and insurance claims.
- Detects Hidden Injuries: Diagnostic screenings identify soft-tissue injuries like whiplash that often do not show symptoms until days or weeks after the collision.
- Impairment Ratings: Ability to perform legally acceptable impairment ratings for any permanent injuries so that proper compensation may be obtained.
Common Auto Injuries Treated
- Whiplash: Hyper-extension of the neck muscles and ligaments.
- Spinal Misalignment: Vertebrae shifted out of place by the force of impact.
- Herniated Discs: Spinal discs that tear or bulge, compressing nearby nerves.
- Soft Tissue Damage: Strains, sprains, and micro-tears in muscles and tendons.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Chiropractic Secrets For Young Adults
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: Young adults are more interested in finding drug free ways of staying healthy. One of the best ways for them to experience the pleasure of health without drugs or surgery is with chiropractic care.
For young adults, chiropractic care acts as a proactive, drug-free tool to boost energy, improve posture, and enhance athletic performance by managing spinal health early. Key secrets include using adjustments for better sleep, relieving tension from sedentary lifestyles (like desk work), and enhancing nervous system function to support overall wellness.
Key Chiropractic “Secrets” for Young Adults
- Preventative Maintenance: Young adults don’t need to wait for pain to visit a chiropractor. Regular adjustments can prevent issues from developing and maintain proper posture, especially if you spend long hours sitting or on devices.
- Boosted Energy and Focus: Misalignments can drain energy. Proper spinal alignment enhances circulation, delivering more oxygen to muscles and organs, which helps reduce fatigue and increases focus.
- Enhanced Athletic Performance: Regular adjustments increase flexibility and range of motion, supporting faster recovery and reducing the risk of injuries for “weekend warriors” and athletes.
- Better Sleep Quality: Chiropractic care can help relieve pressure on nerves and muscles, enabling deeper, more restful sleep and aiding in recovery.
- Improved Mobility: Corrective care focuses on correcting spinal alignment to improve mobility, allowing the body to function at its best and reducing compensation patterns.
- It’s Not Just for Back Pain: Regular care can help manage stress by relieving tension in the body and supporting the nervous system, which is crucial for overall health.
- Self-Care Integration: Pairing regular visits with exercise (core-strengthening) and proper posture, particularly when working at a desk, is key for long-term health.
- “Ice, Not Heat”: For acute injuries to joints or muscles, using ice rather than heat is a common recommendation to reduce swelling and speed recovery.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
How Chiropractic Helps Reduce Pain During Pregnancy
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: Pregnancy is one of the most special times in a woman’s life. Unfortunately, sometimes the joy is lessened by back pain. In my Houston, Texas office, we see woman in various stages of pregnancy on a regular basis. Through the 36 years in practice, we have developed great relationships with several OBGYN’s and midwifes to aid them in helping these women have a pain free pregnancy.
Chiropractic care during pregnancy is generally safe and effective for alleviating musculoskeletal pain, reducing discomfort, and promoting pelvic balance, often leading to a more comfortable pregnancy and easier delivery. Specialized prenatal techniques such as the Webster technique avoid abdominal pressure.
Key Benefits of Prenatal Chiropractic Care:
- Pain Relief: Addresses discomfort in the lower back, hips, and pelvis caused by weight gain and postural changes.
- Optimal Fetal Positioning: Proper pelvic alignment helps reduce intrauterine constraint, allowing the baby to move into the best position for birth
- Improved Mobility & Sleep: Gentle adjustments help with movement and ease pregnancy-related aches, leading to better rest.
- Reduced Labor Time: A balanced pelvis can lead to shorter, smoother labor.
What to Expect and Safety:
- Techniques: Chiropractors may use specially designed tables to accommodate the growing belly and gentle, modified techniques.
- Frequency: Recommendations often include monthly visits in the first trimester, increasing to weekly or biweekly as the due date approaches.
- When to Avoid: Generally safe but should be avoided if there is unexplained vaginal bleeding, preeclampsia, or risk of premature labor.
When looking for a chiropractor to help you during your pregnancy, make sure that they have experience working on a variety of patient types. In our 36 years treating pregnant women we have been able to treat hundreds of women and allowed them to experience the pleasure of health instead of the pain of pregnancy.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Are You Too Young For Back Pain?
Houston Chiropractor Comments: In my 36 years as a doctor of chiropractic in Houston, Texas, I have noticed that my patients are developing back pain at younger ages. In the past, most of my younger patients developed back pain after sport injuries or accidents. More recently they have been getting back and neck pain just doing their daily activities.
People are not too young for back pain. While it becomes more common with age, back pain frequently affects people in their teens, 20s, 30s, and 40s due to lifestyle factors like prolonged sitting, poor posture, stress, and muscle strain. It is rarely too early to get evaluated if you experience chronic pain.
Common Reasons for Young Adult Back Pain
- Sedentary Lifestyle & Desk Jobs: Long hours sitting and weak core muscles can cause stiffness and strain.
- Poor Posture/Screen Time: Forward-head posture from phone/laptop use leads to strain.
- Overuse or Poor Form: Heavy lifting, improper exercise technique, or sudden, awkward movements.
- Smoking: Reduces blood flow to the spine and causes coughing that can trigger disk issues.
- Stress: Anxiety can cause muscle tension in the back.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While most pain is muscular, you should see a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) if your pain lasts longer than a month or six weeks. Seek prompt evaluation for “red flag” symptoms:
- Pain that persists or worsens over time.
- Pain radiating down the legs or arms.
- Significant pain waking you up in the night.
- Severe morning stiffness that lasts for 30–60 minutes.
- Back pain accompanied by numbness, tingling, or weakness.
Prevention Tips
- Stay Active: Strengthen your back and abdominal muscles.
- Fix Posture: Use an ergonomic setup at work.
- Move Regularly: Take breaks to stand and stretch if you work at a desk.
- Watch Your Weight: Reducing excess weight lowers stress on your spine.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
Signs That Your Body Is Out Of Alignment
Clear Lake Chiropractor Comments: As people become more aware of their bodies, they begin to take preventative measures to maintain the pleasure of health. A common question that I get in my Houston / Bay Area office is “What are some signs that my body is out of alignment?”
Common signs your body is out of alignment include chronic pain in the back, neck, or hips, frequent headaches, uneven shoulders or hips, and uneven wear on your shoes. Other indicators include constant fatigue, tingling/numbness in extremities, and a frequent need to crack your joints.
Physical and Sensory Indicators
- Uneven Posture: When looking in a mirror, one shoulder, hip, or ear sits higher than the other.
- Chronic Pain: Persistent aches in the neck, back, or shoulders that do not go away.
- Uneven Shoe Wear: The soles of your shoes wear down unevenly, indicating improper weight distribution.
- Limited Range of Motion: Difficulty turning your head or hips or feeling rigid, suggests poor alignment.
- Numbness or Tingling: Misaligned vertebrae can pinch nerves, causing tingling, numbness, or shooting pain in the arms or legs.
- Frequent Headaches: Misalignment often causes muscle tension at the base of the skull, leading to recurring headaches.
Behavioral and Lifestyle Clues
- Constant Need to Crack Joints: Feeling a constant urge to pop your back, neck, or hips to relieve pressure.
- Unusual Fatigue: Experiencing chronic fatigue or low energy because your body is working harder to stay upright.
- Uneven Sitting/Standing: Finding it difficult to stand straight or sitting with more weight on one hip.
Self-Check Tips
- Mirror Test: Stand in front of a mirror and check if your nose is in a direct line with your belly button, and if your hips and shoulders are level.
- Side Profile Check: Have someone check if your ear, shoulder, and hip line up vertically.
- Shoes Check: Check if the heel of one shoe is more worn down than the other.
Dr. Ward Beecher practices at Beecher Chiropractic Clinic at 1001 Pineloch, Ste 700 Houston, TX 77062. You can schedule an appointment at www.BeecherChiropractic.com or by calling (281) 286-1300. If you have any questions regarding this blog, please comment below!
