As a Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (CCEP), Dr. Kirk L. Wehrspan is a trained expert in performing specific adjustments to the bones and joints of the foot, knee, and hip. Many people are familiar with chiropractic care as it relates to the spine, however, the idea of having the joints of your foot, knee, and hip adjusted is a whole new concept to many. With standard chiropractic practices a chiropractor will improve a patient’s back condition by administering gentle, specific adjustments to misaligned vertebra. Similarly, Dr. Wehrspan provides his lower extremity pain patients with adjustments to the misaligned foot, knee, and hip bones thus providing the patient with relief. Because Dr. Wehrspan is actually improving the alignment of the bones in the lower extremity, he is truly getting to the root cause of the problem.
Foot Treatment
Millions of people suffer unnecessarily every day with debilitating foot pain. In fact it is common for people to accept foot pain as a normal part of life. Foot pain sufferers many times feel as though that’s the way their feet are and they just need to learn to live with the pain.
You might ask yourself, what do I need to do to resolve my foot complaint? Is it surgery? Is it injections? Is it medications? The answer to all of those questions is often no. Surgery, injections and medications will generally not fix the problem. In fact, with surgery especially there are numerous risks that you will need to consider. So then what is the solution to actually correct the underlying cause of your foot condition and pain?
Most foot pain is related to abnormalities in the alignment of the 26 foot bones and the best solution will be one that directly address and corrects the foot bone misalignments. Often the best treatment to improve the alignment of the foot bones is by using specific joint manipulation procedures administered by a trained expert. Dr. Kirk L. Wehrspan is a trained specialist in addressing common foot ailments through safe non-surgical methods. Please visit our dedicated page on foot treatment at www.sorefeetrelief.com!
Common Foot Conditions often helped include:
Planter Fasciitis - Heel Pain and Spurs - Achilles Tendonitis - Ankle Sprains - Ankle Pain - Arch Pain –Metatarsalgia - Ball of Foot Pain – Bunions - Tailor's Bunions – Hammertoe - Morton's Neuroma - Flat Feet - Over Pronation - High Arches – Supination - Sever's Disease - Shin Splints
Knee Treatment
Although incredibly complex and sturdy, the knee is prone to injury. The knee is a complex joint that relies heavily on ligaments and muscles for stability. When pain is perceived as coming from the knee, all the anatomical components need to be examined, and in addition to the knee joint, the low back, pelvis, hip, ankle and foot need to be examined due to the direct influence they have on the knee, and vice versa.
Our approach to assessing and treating the knee includes the evaluation of the other joints and muscles relating to the knee. This is for several reasons. Pain can often be referred from other structures in the low back, pelvis and hip into the knee. If other joints in the lower limbs are not working correctly they can put increased stress on the knee joint, resulting in injury over time. Therefore to resolve the knee pain, we may also treat other areas, to maximize long-term improvement.
Arthritis most often causes problems with the knee joint, but can affect other structures like muscles, tendons and ligaments. Osteoarthritis, the most common form of arthritis in the knee, is caused by the gradual degradation of the cartilage in the joint. Rheumatoid arthritis causes the joint to become inflamed and can often cause destruction of the surrounding cartilage. A deformity often leads to arthritis in the knee, but more often, obesity or excess weight, or repetitive stress injuries from sports are the culprits. Symptoms include pain, swelling, stiffness or locking joints.
Chondromalacia patella, a softening of the knee cap cartilage, occurs most often in runners, skiers, cyclists and soccer players. This condition is most commonly associated with underlying foot and arch problems that have not been properly addressed leading to abnormal knee cap function.
Iliotibial Band Syndrome is inflammation of a tendon and its subsequent rubbing over the outer knee bone is most often caused by stress of long-term overuse, such as sports training. Symptoms include aches or burning sensations at the side of the knee, sometimes the pain can radiate up the side of the thigh.
Osgood-Schlatter Disease is a condition is caused by repetitive stress or tension on the upper tibia. The patellar tendon and surrounding soft tissues at the point where the tendon attaches to the tibia can become inflamed. Pre-adolescent boys involved in sports that include frequent running or jumping are particularly prone to this.
Tendon Injuries in the knee can be caused by anything from tendonitis to a ruptured or torn tendon. Overuse can cause the tendon to stretch like a rubber band, later becoming inflamed.
Chiropractic treatment should be highly considered if your knee pain is limiting your day-to-day or sporting activities or you have been given painkillers or taken anti-inflammatories and been told to rest with no long-term improvement, and if you have been told you have arthritis and there is nothing that can be done. Specific chiropractic manipulation techniques to areas of restricted movement in the knee and surrounding joints can increase movement, improve the function, and reduce pain. When appropriate, Dr. Wehrspan may introduce exercises to improve strength, endurance and stability, and to prevent new injuries. Contact our office today to find out how we can help with your specific knee injury.
Common Knee Conditions often helped are:
Arthritis – Chondromalcia Patella – Popping in the knee – Tendonitis – Sprain/Strains – Bursitis – ITB Syndrome
Hip Treatment
Our hips serve innumerable functions for our body; they keep us upright, allow us to bear weight, walk smoothly, run, jump, kick, and play. Since the hips are engaged in nearly every way we move, pain in this area can have debilitating consequences for patients. Although hip pain is frequently the result of osteoarthritis or injury, it can also be a sign of other health conditions. Dr. Wehrspan can help you identify the source of your hip pain and develop a tailored treatment plan for your symptoms.
Hip pain can derive from the structures within the hip joint or from the structures and ligaments surrounding the joint. Within the joint itself, there is limited space for the femoral head to move in the socket of the acetabulum. If an injury or illness triggers inflammation, this space can become easily filled with fluid or blood, causing pain. Inflammation of the sac outside of the hip, the bursitis, can also be the source of pain. Bursitis is often the result of minor trauma or overuse.
Among older adults, osteoarthritis is the most common cause of hip pain. It involves a cycle of progressive cartilage loss and joint degeneration. Although this degenerative disease has no real “cure”, there are ways to slow its progression and prevent symptoms from worsening.
Heavy wear and tear on the cartilage surrounding the hip joint can cause arthritis and inflammation. Routine daily activities that place stress on the hip can also cause inflammation of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the hip. This type of pain can develop gradually overtime.
Often what patients describe as “hip pain” may actually derive from a different part of the body. Some patients that experience pain in the lower back and hips may actually be suffering from dysfunction of the sacroiliac joints, or the joints that connect the sacrum to the iliac bones.
One of the more common types of referred pain is sciatica, or inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve. This can result from conditions like disc herniation, spinal degeneration, narrowing of the spine due to osteoarthritis, or Piriformis syndrome. Irritation of the nerve root can cause pain the in low-back, buttocks, hips, as well as radiating leg pain.
Multiple studies have found that chiropractic adjustments are effective in relieving sciatica, a common cause of pain in the hip and lower back. In a study comparing the efficacy of chiropractic to surgery for sciatica, 60% of chiropractic patients with severe sciatica had substantially improved symptoms that enabled them to avoid surgery.Cases studies have also suggested that chiropractic can relieve pain associated with sacroiliac joint dysfunction and Piriformis syndrome, which both frequently result in hip pain. Some patients with hip osteoarthritis (HOA) have also benefited from chiropractic care. In one study, 83% of HOA patients improved within nine visits to a chiropractor. Treatment included axial manipulation of the hip, stretching, and full kinetic chain treatment (manipulative therapy to the spine, knee, ankle, or foot when appropriate).
After performing a careful physical examination and evaluating your history, Dr. Wehrspan will work to determine the source of your hip pain. He will create a personalized treatment plan that could include chiropractic adjustments, exercise therapy, posture advice, stretching, massage, coordination with other health practitioners, and more. Treatments will aim to reduce inflammation, relax any existing muscle spasms, strengthen weakened muscles, and improve the mobility of the joint.
Natural treatments of hip pain can allow patients to avoid the costs and risks of surgery and drugs. Contact our office to learn more about non-invasive relief of hip pain.
Common Hip Conditions often helped are:
Bursitis – Osteoarthritis – Tendonitis – Piriformis Syndrome – Hip Flexor Injury