Why Treating the Cause Rather Than the Symptom Matters

Want to up your health and wellness game this year?

Tired of fad diets and viral workout trends that don’t help with mobility or flexibility?

If you want to go back to basics and get your health journey back on track, consider incorporating chiropractic care into your routine.

If you pluck a dandelion flower from your garden, the weed seems to be gone for a few weeks, only to return again. However, if you dig up the dandelion’s root, it does not come back. It is the same for issues caused by an underlying structural problem. If you want lasting relief, you need to treat the root cause. Why try to patch something when you can fix it?

If you’re tired of treating the same symptoms, give something new a try. Sit down with a professional at Pivotal Chiropractic and tell them about your conditions. After an examination, you may learn that a real solution is not as far as you might think and chiropractic care could be what you’ve been looking for.

Read more on our website!

Get Started with Chiropractic Care in Ann Arbor Today

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options for chiropractic care in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362.

What’s the Difference Between Structural Chiropractic Care and Conventional Chiropractic Care?

Most chiropractors you’ll find on your typical Google search are conventional chiropractors. They focus on reducing pain, inflammation, muscle spasms and increasing range of motion in joints.

They manage these health concerns with the use of general manipulations of the neck and spine. This is what most chiropractors offer in the way of care, and we believe that most of them do a great job.

As a Specific Structural Corrective Chiropractor, Dr. Gessert is dedicated to diagnosing and correcting the underlying cause of your condition. Through a comprehensive examination consisting of four tests, problem areas called Segmental Displacements are found and connected as the cause of your secondary conditions.

Through this examination process Dr. Gessert creates an individualized plan to correct these displacements of the spine which cause a myriad of secondary conditions (symptoms).  It is very common to find the cause of neck pain, back pain, sciatica, numbness and tingling and even headaches as a structural problem in the spine.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care

1. Improved Function: When your car is out of alignment, performance will suffer.  The vehicle will not handle properly and thus it will not perform optimally.  Our body is the same way. When our structure is displaced (out of balance), our body will not function at its optimal level.   When our body is not functioning optimally, we may experience one or more secondary conditions or symptoms like headaches, neck pain, back pain, sciatica, or pain in the extremities.
2. Improved Mobility and Flexibility: Consistent chiropractic adjustments can enhance joint mobility and flexibility. By addressing restrictions in the spine and other joints, you’ll experience an increased range of motion, allowing for better flexibility and improved overall mobility.

Read more on our website!

Get Started with Chiropractic Care in Ann Arbor Today

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options for chiropractic care in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362.

What Ergonomic Upgrades Can I Make to My Workspace?

Do you suffer from chronic neck pain due to poor posture?

Do you feel like your office space could be more comfortable?

Does your workspace quite literally leave you in a slump? Spending eight or more hours a day with your shoulders hunched at your desk can lead to severe back and neck pain later in life. Thankfully, we have all kinds of modern technology to combat this!

Check out these upgrades to add to your office to ensure a pain-free work day:

Standing Desk

Excessive sedentary time often leads to a spike in blood sugar levels, elevated risk of heart disease and chronic back pain.

Studies show that those who utilize standing desks have lower feelings of stress and fatigue and improved mood and energy levels.

Chair with Lumbar Support

Ergonomic office chairs are designed to follow the natural curvature of your spine which offers lumbar support. This will improve your posture and save you from excruciating back and neck pain.

Footrests

Ergonomic footrests are beneficial for improving blood flow and circulation in the legs during long periods of time sitting. Footrests help in maintaining a neutral stance while seated, or can aid in pelvic positional unloading which helps distribute weight in a more manageable way and reduces fatigue.

Read more about office ergonomics and neck pain relief on our website! 

Pivotal Chiropractic Specializes in Neck Pain Relief!

Even with all these ergonomic tools, sitting at a desk for long periods of time can still ultimately lead to back and neck pain. When it comes down to it, nothing is going to be as effective at treating back pain as a tried-and-true chiropractor.

At Pivotal Chiropractic, we make it our mission to provide you with the best treatment possible so you can feel better. Contact us here to schedule your free consultation.

What Are Common Ergonomic Injuries?

Do you ever get that pins and needles feeling in your hands?

Do you deal with reoccurring episodes of neck pain?

If you’re a seasoned office veteran experiencing these symptoms, you could be suffering from the consequences of poor ergonomics. Many of us think that office work is among one of the easiest jobs on your body but long hours of awkward posture can be detrimental to your health. Taking the proper precautions can help you avoid many of these injuries but it’s important to be educated so you can take the right corrective actions.

What injuries are caused by poor workplace ergonomics?

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is caused by pressure or irritation on the median nerve. This leads to numbness, tingling and pain in the hands, wrists, and forearm areas.

Tendinitis

Tendinitis occurs when the tissue connecting muscle to bone becomes inflamed. Tendinitis can be caused by repetitive strain through poor posture, injury or even aging as tendons lose elasticity over time. Some symptoms of tendinitis are: Stiff joints, cracking and popping sounds as you move, swelling, skin discoloration and pain at the site of the tendon.

Chronic tendinitis left untreated can turn into constant dull pain, torn tendons, and loss of movement. It is best to seek treatment as early as possible for the best outcome.

Trigger Finger

Trigger finger can often result from repetitive stress on the hands and fingers through actions such as typing, playing an instrument, or using power tools. Those who suffer from trigger finger have a difficult time bending and straightening their fingers. Symptoms include a clicking sensation when moving your fingers, fingers feeling locked up and pain and tenderness at the base of the finger. 

Read more on our website!

Visit Dr. Gessert for Relief from Neck Pain Due to Ergonomic Injuries

If Dr. Gessert does not believe that chiropractic is the best method to cure your neck pain or ergonomic injury, he will refer you to someone in his extensive field of specialists.

Why should you seek chiropractic care for ergonomic injuries? We believe that we can give you the best advice and treatment to get you back on track to a fulfilling career and pain-free life!

Contact us here to learn more.

How many times a day do we flex our spine?

We are living in a world where our body is in a constant state of flexion.  We sit at a desk flexing our hips and lumbar spine while at the same time flexing our neck as we work on our computer.  We sit in our car driving to and from work with our hips and low back in a flexed position.  We look down at our phone, tablet or laptop with our neck in a forward flexed position.  

It’s no wonder our normal everyday life is wearing out our spines!  Patients that are “career sitters” have just as much disc and spinal damage as those that have done manual labor their whole life.  

Researchers published a study in the European Spine Journal that looked at 208 non-symptomatic volunteers during their daily living over a 24 hour period. They wore sensor strips on their lumbar spine to measure sagittal (forward and backward) spinal movements. Researchers found that the volunteers reached full spinal flexion on average 50 times per day and reached full spinal extension 0 times per day. 

Prevention of a Bulging Disc is Key!

If it’s impossible for you to avoid some of the flexing movements that can lead to a bulging disc, there are some key ways to prevent the injury even while at your desk job.

• Exercise regularly. Strengthening the trunk muscles helps stabilize and support your spine.
• Keep good posture. Remind yourself to keep your back straight and in a neutral position, especially when sitting at your desk for long periods. Take breaks to avoid sitting for hours on end, and remember the old adage: lift heavy objects with your legs, not with your back!

Read more on our website!

Get Relief from Bulging Disc Pain by Seeing Your Chiropractor in Ann Arbor

If you’re experiencing a bulging disc, you know the pain can disrupt your day and keep you from doing the things you love.

If you’re having arm or leg pain, numbness or tingling, or even noticing weakness in your arms or legs, Pivotal Chiropractic can help. Remember: you could have a herniated or bulging disc without showing symptoms! Regular adjustments at the chiropractor can help avoid these issues before they even begin.
To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362.

What is a Bulging Disc?

When we think of spraining ligaments or joints, we usually think of the ankle or wrist.  In reality, most neck and back pain is actually a sprain injury to the posterior wall of one or more spinal discs. This causes weakness in the disc’s annular fibers, causing it to bulge or herniate.  

Most often, people feel this pain as stiffness or achiness and dismiss it as muscular. However, most of the time the pain you feel in these cases isn’t due to muscle soreness.

Did you know…

• Over 80% of neck and back pain demonstrates characteristics of disc bulges
• 50% of healthy young adults have at least one level of disc degeneration/ bulging.
• 9 out of 10 work related back injuries involve flexion or a combination of flexion and rotation – the most vulnerable positions for a disc.
• In the lumbar spine, the intervertebral disc mechanism is responsible for the production of symptoms in as many at 95% of patients.

The disc is the source of pain in up to 90% of overall neck and back pain conditions.  This can be mild – causing general tightness and achiness – to severe – unrelenting pain that radiates down the arms and legs, numbness and tingling, or even muscle atrophy or weakness. 

Luckily, most disc bulges and herniations can be resolved with the right treatment plan, which includes specific spinal corrections and disc-reducing exercises.  

Read more on our website!

Get Relief from Bulging Disc Pain by Seeing Your Chiropractor in Ann Arbor

If you’re experiencing a bulging disc, you know the pain can disrupt your day and keep you from doing the things you love. 

If you’re having arm or leg pain, numbness or tingling, or even noticing weakness in your arms or legs, Pivotal Chiropractic can help. Remember: you could have a herniated or bulging disc without showing symptoms! Regular adjustments at the chiropractor can help avoid these issues before they even begin.

To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362.

Why Treating the Cause Rather Than the Symptom Matters

If you pluck a dandelion flower from your garden, the weed seems to be gone for a few weeks, only to return again. However, if you dig up the dandelion’s root, it does not come back. It is the same for issues caused by an underlying structural problem. If you want lasting relief, you need to treat the root cause. Why try to patch something when you can fix it?

If you’re tired of treating the same symptoms, give something new a try. Sit down with a professional at Pivotal Chiropractic and tell them about your conditions. After an examination, you may learn that a real solution is not as far as you might think and chiropractic care could be what you’ve been looking for.

What’s the Difference Between Structural Chiropractic Care and Conventional Chiropractic Care?

Most Chiropractors you’ll find on your typical Google search are conventional chiropractors. They focus on reducing pain, inflammation, muscle spasms and increasing range of motion in joints.

They manage these health concerns with the use of general manipulations of the neck and spine. This is what most chiropractors offer in the way of care, and we believe that most of them do a great job at it.

As a Specific Structural Corrective Chiropractor, Dr. Gessert is dedicated to diagnosing and correcting the underlying cause of your condition.

Learn more on our website!

Come to Pivotal Chiropractic in Ann Arbor for a Chiropractor Who Puts You First!

We understand that healthcare choices are critical decisions and that you have many different options for a chiropractor in Ann Arbor and the surrounding communities. If you have back pain, neck pain, or tingling or numbness in your hands and feet, it’s time to see a chiropractor. To schedule a complimentary consultation, where a conversation is never a commitment, contact us at 734-221-0362.