SOHMA Integrative Medicine

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

Chiropractic

3 Differences Between a Health Center and Chiropractic Centers

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When looking to relieve pain, especially lower back pain, many people find themselves choosing between visiting a dedicated chiropractic clinic or a health center. Though understanding the key differences between these two options is crucial for making an informed decision on your health. While both provide valuable services, they differ significantly in their approach to care.

In today’s article, we’re going to go over three of the biggest differences between the health centers and chiropractors, as well as why these key differences are important.

Scope of Practice

Chiropractors generally only practice chiropractic care, whereas wellness centers offer a broad range of services. These include chiropractic care, and also offer therapies such as massage therapy, acupuncture, cupping therapy, Myer’s cocktail IV therapy, and more. The objective of a health center is to support your physical, mental, and emotional health through a combination of preventative and therapeutic modalities. This comprehensive approach provides visitors with personalized care specialized to their individual needs.

On the other hand, chiropractors primarily focus on musculoskeletal health. Chiropractic care can be useful on its own, and for some people this will suffice. Although it is limited when compared to combining chiropractic care with one of its many complementary therapies found at health centers.

Care Methods

Wellness centers oftentimes use a variety of treatment methods, combining multiple therapies to promote your overall well-being. While chiropractic adjustments for spinal health may be included in your wellness plan, other therapies such as deep tissue massage therapy can be used to relieve both muscle tension and stress while acupuncture can be used to restore balance to your mind and body. By offering various treatment options, wellness centers can create customized wellness plans tailored to each individual. This method allows for adjustment of the plan based on any improvements seen. If improvement is steady, the plan is fine, though if progress slows down or halts altogether, the plan may be adjusted or changed to suit your new needs.

Alternatively, chiropractic care on its own is used to realign the spine and relieve pressure on the nerves. They may also recommend some exercises and lifestyle changes to support musculoskeletal health. However, chiropractic care alone may not resolve the root cause. Chiropractors focus mainly on the spinal alignment to reduce pain and tension. Meanwhile, at a health center, you may be recommended cupping therapy to remove stagnation and improve blood flow in conjunction with chiropractic to reduce pain, inflammation and improve mobility.

Holistic Care

A wellness center is more likely to take a holistic approach to your health. They typically treat the body as an interconnected system. This integrative approach provides a comprehensive wellness plan tailored to each person’s unique needs. They emphasise preventative care along with lifestyle changes to improve your overall well-being. The multidisciplinary approach of wellness centers is their key advantage when compared to chiropractic alone. For example, a visitor receives chiropractic adjustments for a herniated disk, yet still feels off. At a wellness center, it may be discovered that they may also benefit from non-surgical spinal decompression therapy and physical therapy to resolve the issue.

By understanding the differences between wellness centers and chiropractics, you can make an informed decision on the best approach for your personal health needs. At wellness centers you’ll receive a comprehensive integrative approach to your overall well-being, where you can achieve your health goals through various therapies that fit your needs.

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 to better health.

5 Benefits of Monthly Chiropractic Alignments

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Chiropractic adjustments aim to correct misalignments of the spine and musculoskeletal system. It is primarily done to improve function, reduce pain, and enhance your overall mobility. Chiropractors make manual adjustments to restore the proper alignment of joints and alleviate some pressure that may be on nerves and other soft tissue.

In recent years, chiropractic care has gained popularity not only for pain relief but it’s also being used to enhance your overall well-being. There are many benefits of having monthly chiropractic alignment. In today’s article, we are going to go over five different benefits of monthly chiropractic adjustment.

Benefit #1: Stress Reducer

When your spinal alignment is compromised, it can lead to additional pressure being placed on nerves within the spine. This can disrupt how the nervous system communicates with the rest of the body. The result is added muscle tension and discomfort, the body responds to this with a heightened stress response. When left ignored, stress can lead to a number of health problems. This is why it’s called the silent killer. These conditions may include:

  • High Blood Pressure
  • Heart Disease
  • Obesity
  • Diabetes
  • Increase Risk of Stroke

Stress is a mental state that many people need to manage daily. With chiropractic alignments every month, you can help manage your stress by reducing tension on the nerves and muscles. You don’t need to have a physically demanding job to add stress to your body, in fact, many office workers don’t realize they put 20% to 40% more pressure on their lower backs when sitting compared to standing.

Benefit #2: Neck and Back Pain Management 

If you feel pain in your neck and back, you’re not alone. Nearly 80% of adults will experience neck or back pain at some point in their lives. This is typically due to poor posture, injuries, heavy lifting, muscle strain, or degenerative conditions such as herniated disks or arthritis. While there are many exercises and stretches that can be done to help alleviate some of the pain, monthly chiropractic adjustments can help relieve some of the pain for you. Visiting a chiropractor monthly can help with your body’s overall well-being while preventing future discomfort.

Benefit #3: Improved Mood

Mood is something people rarely take into account when considering their wellness. Many consider mood as how they feel during any given day. However, it’s more than that. Your mood can directly affect your mental health. A negative mode can increase your anxiety and stress, which we’ve stated can be detrimental if left ignored. Your mental health has a direct link to your physical health. Meaning if your mood is poor, you may notice physical issues such as:

  • Lack of Energy
  • Headaches
  • Stomachaches
  • Insomnia
  • Digestive issues
  • Inflammation

As previously stated, monthly chiropractic adjustments can reduce stress and tension. This leaves your body in a more relaxed state, which can, in turn, help you sleep better, the better you sleep, the better your physical recovery is.

Benefit #4: Improved Joint Health

Regular monthly chiropractic alignments help to keep joints properly aligned. This may reduce unnecessary strain and wear of the joints over time. When the joints are misaligned, it can lead to stiffness and a reduced range of motion, and in severe long-term cases, it can cause long-term degeneration. Monthly chiropractic care helps to maintain joint health while promoting better blood circulation to your joints. This can help in recovery while reducing inflammation, which can contribute to a lack of mobility and pain.

Benefit #5: Long-Term Wellness

Even if there is no immediate need for chiropractic adjustment, monthly chiropractic care can help with long-term wellness and overall health. Rather than waiting for pain or discomfort to arise, regular visits to the chiropractor can help to identify and correct minor misalignments before they develop into serious issues. This, alongside exercises and stretches your chiropractor may recommend, serves as a proactive approach to your wellness. This preventative approach helps individuals stay active, flexible, and mobile from unnecessary pain.

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 to better health.

Top 5 Common Injuries Chiropractors Can Help With

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Chiropractic care has gained much popularity in recent years and has become one of America’s largest alternative medicine professions. This is because of chiropractic’s non invasive and drug-free approach to pain management.

While chiropractors may not be able to heal broken bones, today we’ll go over the top five most common injuries chiropractors can help you manage.

Whiplash

Whiplash is a neck injury typically caused by a sudden and violent movement in one direction then back again quickly. This type of injury is often seen in car vehicle accidents. It can take more than a day to feel the fullest extent of the injury and it’s not uncommon for people who suffered whiplash in an accident to only feel mildly uncomfortable the day of the accident. After a few days however, you may feel more pain, experience swelling and develop bruising. Some of the symptoms accompanying whiplash include:

  • Shooting Pain
  • Restricted Movement
  • Trouble Concentrating
  • Fatigue
  • Vertigo
  • Numbness in Arm or Hand
  • Irritability

One of the primary ways chiropractors help treat whiplash is through muscle stimulation and relaxation. This means the chiropractor will gently stretch the muscles dealing with excessive tension and repeated contraction of the muscles that are being restricted. Alternatively they can begin by identifying the neck joints that were misaligned due to the accident and manipulate them gently back into their rightful location.

Pinched Nerve

Although called “pinched” nerves, it’s usually caused by compression or pressure on the nerve. It usually happens as a result of repetitive motions or when the body holds the same position for extended periods of time, like sleeping with elbows bent or poor posture while working at the office.

A chiropractor may manually adjust the spine and joints that are being affected. This is to reduce the compression on the affected nerve. Following the adjustment it’s not uncommon for chiropractors to incorporate other methods to strengthen the impacted area. This can include physical therapy or massage therapy depending on the cause of the injury.

Muscle Sprains

Sprains occur when the strong, flexible fibers that hold the bones together either stretch too far or tear. This can result in the area around the joint to become painful and inflamed. You may find it difficult to put weight on the injury or move it normally. The muscles will also tighten or tense up on their own which can result in cramping or muscle spasms.

Chiropractic adjustments, and stretching are common ways in which a chiropractor can help to naturally treat sprains allowing you to reduce pain and recover faster. A joint manipulation on the affected joint can help to reduce tension in the muscle surrounding the sprain, this can help to reduce inflammation which in turn reduces pain.

Back Pain

One of the most common injuries a chiropractor manages is back pain. This is because there are many ways to injure your back such as sporting accidents, motor vehicle accidents, or simply by sitting in the office for extended periods of time. In fact, your back deals with about 40% more pressure when sitting upright compared to standing. It’s not uncommon to see people suffering from back pain, neck pain, stress on your arms and legs and massive pressure on your back.

A chiropractor can help reduce some of the tension and pressure through gentle adjustments. This can reduce pain and improve mobility, though for more extreme cases the chiropractor may  recommend spinal decompression therapy.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

You don’t need to wait for an accident to suffer an injury, much like back pain, carpal tunnel can affect anyone especially those who work in front of a computer for many hours in the day. The median nerve runs from your forearm through your wrist and into the palm of your hand. The median nerve and tendons pass through the carpal tunnel which is a narrow, rigid tube of ligament and bones at the base of the hand. When it becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist it can become affected and result in carpal tunnel syndrome.

Using hands-on techniques a chiropractor can manipulate and do manual adjustments to the wrists and fingers. This can in turn reduce compression of the meridian nerve, lessen the tension on the surrounding muscles. This can lower the amount of pain felt in the wrist and return some mobility.

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.

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.