Most people when you mention a Chiropractor think back pain or neck pain. Ah, but according to Dr. Sim, the self-proclaimed "lifetime wellness doctor", the back pain treatments requested by many patients could be caused and be causing other issues. While back pain treatments and cures are common, the good Doctor takes the approach of analysis first, then explains what a chiropractor can do, discusses education in general then covers treating the person and not the condition. The remedies & relief including exercises of the back pain is only part of the program. What are not part of the program are drugs and medications. While drugs and medications have their place, Chiropractors don't prescribe drugs; Medical Doctors do. Chiropractic is based on the idea that by removing imbalances, both structural and postural this will allow bodies to heal itself. To this end Dr. Sim incorporates massage therapy as part of his Chiropractic program.

Interestingly, insurance and court cases show that chiropractic is the safest form of heath care available to the public today. Gone are the days of someone walking on your back and if it cracks, well it must be fixed. From personal experience my dealing with a chiropractor goes back to those days of the walk on the back treatments. Believe me, nothing was fixed and my visits were few.

Typical situations that can be analyzed and treated by a Chiropractor include: allergies, disc problems, headaches, whiplash, joint dysfunction, neck/back pain, pinched nerves, fibromyalgia, insomnia and carpel tunnel syndrome. On a personal note having had my right wrist operated on for carpel tunnel 1 year ago, the results were terrible at best. Where on the left wrist I have had Chiropractor attention and the results were much better, faster and far less-obtrusive.

Mattresses For Back Pain

As millions know all too well, if you have lower back pain the mattress you sleep on can either cause back pain or relieve back pain. Ultimately personal preference will dictate what mattress is best for you. And most everyone seems to have a preference: a hard mattress, a soft mattress, coils, springs, the list goes on. It is an important decision to make for sure.

The type of pillow you use is another important part of the potential back pain equation. If the height of the pillow is too tall when sleeping sideways or on your back well that can cause muscle strain on the back of your neck and shoulders. The situation may also cause narrowing of the air pipe meaning perhaps obstructed breathing and sometimes snoring which can cause many problems health and otherwise. A pillow that is too low, the neck muscles can be affected.

Pillows For Different Sleeping Positions

Basically there are 3 possible sleeping positions: on your stomach, on your back, or on either side. When sleeping on your stomach the best pillow would be one nearly flat or to use no pillow at all. If no pillow is used, then place the pillow instead under your stomach to keep your spine in its natural position. When sleeping on your back the ideal size would be lower than in the sideways position with 1 or 2 pillows under the knees for the most gentle position for the back. And when sleeping on either side the pillow should fit so the spine is flat and straight. Some people will place a small pillow under their waist for more support.

Chiropractor Schools

At last count there were 18 Chiropractic Schools, Colleges & Universities in the USA; all of them of the Private School variety. Chiropractic education requires at least 4 years of professional study and includes a 4 year undergraduate/college prerequisite in most states. An internship of 1 year at a college clinic is also required for those training to become a licensed chiropractor. The course study requirements assure the competency level of new chiropractors and the public benefits from the stringent curriculum.

This article was prepared on behalf of Dr. John Sim at Lynnwood Family Chiropractor (http://www.lynnwoodfamilychiro.com). The Lynnwood office is available for appointments 6 days a week and is located at 16303 Highway 99, Suite 1B, Lynnwood, WA 98037. The office can be reached at 425-743-9460. Visit our website or call us for a consultation.