Chiropractic Corrective Care in Oakland, CA
Recover from Pain & Injury without Surgery or Medications

Chiropractor in Oakland, CA: Chiropractic care helps restore the body’s natural structure after lifestyle, injury or other elements have misaligned it. The spine is like the major highway of the nervous system and any blockades can be detrimental to health. Having a misaligned spine can not only cause discomfort or pain but can also cause problems with other areas of the body. These problems occur when there are interruptions in the normal communication of information between the brain and the body. Chiropractic care can correct that.

What is corrective chiropractic care?

Corrective chiropractic care is a completely different approach to reaching and maintaining the goal of optimal health. As a true corrective care chiropractor, Dr. Tim Heath DC will evaluate the central nervous system and the function of the spine. His evaluation goes beyond trauma and pathology and looks to body function. Since the nervous system controls every cell in the body, it must work optimally for an individual to lead a healthy life. Dr. Tim is an expert in Functional Neurology and Postural Neurology. What that means for you are enhanced and lasting outcomes.

Corrective vs. relief care

There are two basic forms of chiropractic care: relief care and corrective care. While relief care focuses on pain control, corrective care will work on the underlying structural abnormalities that are causing the pain in order to provide a more permanent change.

The first mission is to get our patients out of pain. This is the relief care portion of chiropractic. Most chiropractors regard the elimination of symptoms as the easiest part of a person’s care. If all that the chiropractor does is reduce the pain and stop there, the chances of the condition recurring are much greater. At Optimized Wellness Center, after getting you out of pain, Dr. Heath DC will continue to provide treatments (on a less frequent basis) in order to prevent the injury from happening again.

Our state-of-the-art facility is highly unique in that we combine the latest treatments in chiropractic care and other non-invasive treatment modalities into a single, blended treatment program that allows us to provide superior corrective care and convenience to our patients.

Chiropractic and sports injury rehabilitation

Although many people think that chiropractic is solely limited to the spine, our clinic helps prevent injuries of the neck, back, shoulders, knees and ankles. When the spine is perfectly aligned, this can alleviate tension in the body, decrease inflammation and allow the nervous system to function optimally.

We can help athletes by relieving their pain and helping them heal faster after an injury. Many athletes try to mask pain with medication, but this can lead to further risk and damage to the body. At Optimized Wellness Center, Dr. Heath DC will perform a full evaluation and construct a customized treatment plan to get athletes feeling their best and back to doing what they love.

Common conditions treated with chiropractic care at our facility

Chiropractic care is most often used to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints including back pain, neck pain and joint pain. Our patients experience relief from many chronic conditions:

Learn More About The Following Terms

Inter-vertebral discs are positioned between the vertebrae in the spine. The outside of a disc is made from cartilage, and in the center is a jelly like solution. These discs serve many purposes, including allowing movement of the spine, creating space between the vertebrae, and acting as shock absorbers. The gelatinous middle allows the disc to compress and expand based on impact and movement. Trauma to the spine can cause the discs to herniated, bulge, become displaced (slipped disc), or even rupture. Trauma or direct injury to the area is not the only cause, however. As we get older, the discs can begin to weaken and dehydrate. These conditions may put pressure on the nerves around the spine and cause pain.

If you suffer from one of these injuries you should see a chiropractor. Surgery can be risky, expensive, requires considerable recovery time and often fail. In many cases, you can experience relief from these conditions through chiropractic care. By properly aligning the spine, pressure on nerves may be relieved and on the discs themselves. This may reduce and hopefully eliminate your pain and discomfort and allow you to live a normal lifestyle.

Whiplash is a common injury for people involved in car collisions. When a car is struck from behind or collides with another object, it causes the neck to snap back and forth violently. This causes the muscles and ligaments to overextend, leading to strains and/or tears. This is referred to as soft tissue damage and can cause stiffness and soreness. Whiplash can also cause structural damage such as misaligned vertebrae, herniated, bulging or ruptured discs, or nerve damage due to the over-extension from the violent movement.

Chiropractic care may help with both types of injuries. Adjustments and alignments may  be performed specifically for those who have been in car accidents and suffered from whiplash. The pressure on the discs and nerves may be released when the spine is returned to its proper alignment. Chiropractic soft tissue release may also be used to help relieve the pain and discomfort from soft tissue injuries. If you have been in a car  accident, schedule an appointment with us immediately and you may not have to rely on pain medications and surgery.

Arthritis is a condition that is caused by the wearing down of the cartilage between joints. Some of the major joints that are affected are the knees, hips, back, neck, and hands/wrist. Arthritis can be painful and can cause the affected areas to not function properly. Arthritis in one area can cause arthritis or other problems in a different joint. For instance, if you have arthritis in your left knee, you may compensate for this by putting more pressure on your right side, leading to right hip or foot problems. Painkillers may cause temporary relief from pain and discomfort, but it is not a long-term solution; moreover, it can cause damage to your liver. Chiropractic care may alleviate pain by releasing pressure on the nervous system with proper alignment. It may also restore proper joint movement, helping to ensure that you use proper motion so that you do not cause injury to other parts of your body. We are not concerned strictly with the affected area, but rather the body as a whole. We aim to restore and maintain proper movement and functionality to increase your overall well being.

Joint dysfunction occurs when joints become stiff and full movement is restricted. It can be caused by an injury, poor posture, overuse/under-use of a joint, muscle imbalance, as well as other factors. Like arthritis, joint dysfunction can cause pain in the joint and the surrounding muscles, and can also cause problems in other parts of the body due to overcompensation. One common form of joint dysfunction is sacroiliac joint dysfunction, which occurs where the base of the spine meets the pelvis. It causes low back pain and prohibits movement. This condition is often misdiagnosed because the symptoms are similar to sciatica or a herniated disc. Your chiropractor can properly diagnose this condition and may provide relief. Using specific adjustments for the affected joint may return proper mobility and relieve pain. If you have joint pain, visit us and you may find relief for this very difficult problem.

Pain along the spinal column in your neck or back is usually caused by subluxations, or misalignments of your vertebrae. A small misalignment can cause pain by causing pressure on nerves. Left untreated, these subluxations can cause muscle spasms and increasing pain. Chiropractic adjustments may properly align your spine so that pressure on joints and nerves is released. It often is a direct treatment for the cause of the pain, not a temporary relief like pain relievers or massage. If you are experiencing back or neck pain visit us today.

Many people believe that headaches are caused by loud noise, being tired, or being stressed. While these are all factors that can lead to headaches, the direct cause is commonly tightness in the neck and shoulders. The tightness can cause misalignments in the vertebrae of your neck, resulting in pain. Studies show that 80% of all headaches originate from the neck. With a typical cervicogenic (neck origin) headache, a person may feel pain starting at the base of the skull which radiates into the temples, eyeballs, and forehead. Soft tissue release of the neck and shoulder muscles may release tension, and a chiropractic adjustment may realign the vertebrae in your neck. Chiropractic care may help eliminate the cause of your headaches rather than offering a temporary symptom relief.

Sciatica is a condition that results when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated. Bulging discs, spinal subluxations, and muscle spasms can all cause increased pressure on the sciatic nerve. When this happens it can cause pain, numbness, and weakness in the lower back and leg. To properly treat sciatica the cause of the condition needs to be diagnosed and properly treated. Your chiropractor may be able help you with this condition and is a very good option in many cases.

When a nerve is squeezed or compressed it is called a “pinched nerve”. This can be caused by spinal misalignments, bulging or herniated discs, or other factors. The increased pressure on the nerve causes inflammation, pain, and sometimes muscle spasms. The pressure on the nerve must be relieved in order to alleviate the pain. An examination may reveal the cause of the pain, and a well placed adjustment and other methods may relieve the pain by properly aligning the spine and addressing the cause of the sciatic pain.

This condition is most commonly associated with people who are constantly using a computer or other repetitive motions. Typing is a motion that, when performed repetitively and with poor posture, can cause carpal tunnel syndrome. Symptoms include pain, numbness, weakness, or a burning sensation. The nerves in the fingertips travel through the wrist, up the arm, and into the neck. The spine is the center of the nervous system, and the pain in your hands and wrists may be relieved by your chiropractor with concentrated spinal, joint adjustments and myofascial release as well as other methods used at Optimized Wellness Center.

We have discussed many conditions that can be relieved through chiropractic. The best way to treat these conditions is to prevent them before they even start. Regular chiropractic visits may help to prevent physical problems and injuries from occurring. Other potential benefits of regular chiropractic visits may increase flexibility and mobility, higher level of energy, improved posture, more effective immune system, better circulation, and an overall better feeling of well-being.

Fibromyalgia is a condition that we still do not know much about. There is no specific known cause, and it could be brought on by many different factors. The main symptom of fibromyalgia is chronic pain throughout the body, mainly located in joints. The pain may be achy, sharp, radiating, burning, or shooting and it may be mild or severe. Fibromyalgia has also been known to bring on other conditions like trouble sleeping, headaches, depression, and anxiety. While there is no known cure for fibromyalgia, chiropractic treatment may help to uncover what may be causing the pain and also provide relief for the pain. The cause of fibromyalgia could be physical, mental, or emotional, so a full examination will be performed. Adjustments, chiropractic soft tissue release and laser may be used to relieve pain from the affected areas. The added effects of chiropractic treatment such as increased energy levels, better circulation, and a stronger immune system may also help to fight the effects of fibromyalgia. If you are experiencing symptoms of fibromyalgia give us a call to schedule a consultation so we can establish a plan to start you on your hopeful road to recovery.

A consultation and examination will help to determine the root cause of a condition and develop a treatment plan unique to you and your lifestyle.

Call to see how chiropractic can change your life

Chiropractic care is a great, low-risk, conservative option that can help people with many issues. To take the first step to living a pain free life, give us a call and set up your appointment today!