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Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

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Addressing Chronic Pain

Using therapies that go beyond chiropractic manipulation and adjustment

Article by Kaylee Dusang

Photography by Shannon Raske

Originally published in Cypress Lifestyle

At Fairfield Chiropractic, Dr. Paul Willmon’s approach to chronic pain is to address functionality and mobility to determine the root cause, then work to restore movement through a variety of therapies.

What are the benefits of chiropractic treatment?

The first one is pain relief. In fact, some hospitals in the Northeast are beginning to use chiropractors in their emergency rooms to reduce the use of opioids, because manipulation often gives immediate and significant pain relief. 

When should someone see a chiropractor? 

Patients who do a lot of heavy and manual labor, tend to come in on a regular basis. I also treat recent injuries, including shoulder, knee, and ankle injuries. For chronic pain, if you feel like you are not living the life you want to live--because of your pain--then come in and let me evaluate your pain.  We can find out what is preventing your movements, causing the pain, and how we can address it to get you active again.

What therapies does Fairfield Chiropractic offer?

We offer a lot of active therapy beyond just chiropractic manipulation or adjustment. We also do fascia work which focuses on the muscles and the tissue around the area, and use a tool called Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM). We do cupping, kinesio taping (tissue compression), as well as stretching, strengthening, and stabilization exercises.

Can children or teens benefit from chiropractic care?

I see a lot of teenagers, especially athletes, with sports-related injuries. We also see teenagers for posture because they are lifting heavy backpacks in school every day. We not only work on treating them, but we also teach them how to properly carry the backpack to reduce the strain on their back. In younger kids, I will occasionally see them for colic, ear infections, and reflux. 

What are some prevention methods to avoid an injury?

Make sure you are drinking plenty of water. The minimum is 48 ounces for the sedentary person, and then increase your intake from there. I’ve seen some patients whose back problems decrease significantly just by increasing their water intake because those muscles get hydrated.

Additionally, being active helps avoid injury; our bodies are made to move. Start by taking a 15-minute walk after you eat a meal,  and pretty soon will be doing 30 minutes and adding in other activities.

How does chiropractic treatment help with stress?

Most people tend to hold their stress in their shoulders, back, or in a part of the body where they had a previous injury, causing that area to handle stress less well.  For example, stress can cause an increase in knee pain when someone is stressed because of an old injury in that knee.

Improved breathing or a few minutes of meditation can make a huge difference in dealing with stress. We’ll work those muscles and loosen them up, show you how to stretch and take that stress out of the neck or back, and then how to utilize different meditation or breathing techniques to help you dissipate that stress in your life.

Fairfield-Chiro.com

Dr. Paul Willmon | Fairfield Chiropractic

Specializing in sports injuries and treating chronic pain, Paul Willmon, DC has built his practice on quality care to help you regain your active lifestyle.  

  • Dr. Paul Willmon
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
  • Cupping
  • Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization

If you feel like you are not living the life you want to live--because of your pain--then come in and let me evaluate your pain.  We can find out what is preventing your movements, causing the pain, and how we can address it to get you active again.