Your first visit will begin by completing our brief initial paperwork. If you are unable to fill out your paperwork prior to your appointment, we ask that you show up 10 minutes early to your appointment to complete the paperwork in office. If filling out pages and pages of paperwork isn’t your favorite thing to do – you’re in luck! We have made our intake paperwork as brief as possible. At Vibrant Health Chiropractic, we know how valuable your time is and will work to keep things like paperwork short and sweet. We also ask that you bring along your insurance card and your I.D. with you to your first appointment. Next, Dr. Sarah will conduct a thorough consultation and exam with you to learn more about your health history and condition. Dr. Sarah will explain your exam findings and inform you if she will be able to help with your case. Dr. Sarah loves to educate her patients and strives to ensure that you fully understand what is going on within your body and that all of your questions are answered. She will then provide a customized care plan with her best possible recommendations to get you well quickly. Your insurance coverage and financing will be discussed before proceeding with treatment as well so you’ll be informed of all aspects of care. Please plan on about 45-60 minutes for your first visit.
At Vibrant Health Chiropractic, we strive to honor your time (we know it is precious) and will do our very best to have you in and out of our office in a timely manner. Please plan for about 15 minutes for office visits. During your subsequent visits, Dr. Sarah will always explain all the necessary details about your treatment so you will always know exactly where you are in the recovery process. Dr. Sarah firmly believes that one key to EMPOWERING her patients to be able to maintain optimal health is to give you the necessary tools to take care of your own health. We believe in proactive health. After your initial treatment, she will give you recommendations based on your specific condition that you can use to keep your results and sustain great long-term health.
Dr. Sarah has extensive experience in treating acute and chronic low back pain. She will work to reduce symptoms such as pain, numbness, or tingling by identifying and addressing the source of your discomfort for improved function and quality of life.
Low back pain is a very common complaint that may have several contributing factors including: repetitive motions, standing or sitting for long periods of time, car accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, sports injuries, sleeping on a too-soft or too-hard mattress, poor posture, poor ergonomics at work or school, and poor lifting techniques. All of these have the ability to shift your spine out of alignment, resulting in impingements on the nerves in the area as well as soft tissue inflammation. Having an evaluation is the best way to determine the underlying cause of your pain.
Many cases of low back pain develop when the spine is out of alignment, resulting in painful impingements on nerves and inflammation of the soft tissues in the area. Chiropractors are skilled in utilizing safe and effective techniques to realign the spine, which will relieve the impingement on the nerves and reduce the pain and inflammation in the soft tissues to improve your symptoms.
Yes, there are several steps you can take to avoid or reduce the stresses and strains of everyday life that may result in low back pain. Practicing proper posture is essential, especially when sitting or standing for long periods of time. You can also make sure to wear good, supportive footwear and avoid carrying uneven loads like heavy messenger bags or backpacks over only one shoulder, get plenty of exercise, invest in a supportive mattress, and maintain a healthy weight. And of course, see your chiropractor for an evaluation and adjustment before a minor issue becomes a major problem.
Neck pain most often occurs when the cervical spine – the portion of the spine that's located in your neck – is out of alignment, resulting in increased tension and inflammation of the muscles and other soft tissues in the area. Pain, stiffness, and decreased range of motion in the neck may occur as the result of sports injuries, auto accidents, slip-and-fall accidents, carrying heavy bags or other uneven loads, sleeping on a pillow or mattress that doesn't provide adequate support, and long periods of standing or sitting. Repetitive motions like bending, twisting and lifting can also cause neck pain to occur as well as regular wear and tear and degenerative diseases like arthritis. Neck pain is often accompanied by pain in the shoulders, arms, and upper back as dysfunction in one of these areas leads to dysfunction in the others. Neck pain is also very commonly accompanied by headaches and migraines.
Chiropractic care is focused on returning your spine to optimal alignment. Spinal misalignments often result in increased tension and inflammation of the soft tissues and musculature in the area surrounding the injured, misaligned vertebrae. Chiropractors are skilled at utilizing safe and effective adjusting methods to realign your spine. The chiropractic adjustment may also be used in conjunction with muscle work to help relieve deep inflammation in soft tissues and release painful trigger points in the musculature.
Yes, there are several things you can do to avoid developing painful symptoms in your neck and the surrounding tissues. Some important steps to prevent neck pain include being active, supporting your neck when sitting or lying down, using proper ergonomics when positioning your computer screen or keyboard, performing gentle stretching and investing in a good mattress and pillow. And of course, see your chiropractor for an evaluation and adjustment before a minor issue becomes a major problem.
Sciatica is a painful condition caused by compression of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve is very long; It extends all the way from your low back down the back of each leg to your toes. The most common cause of compression of the sciatic nerve is disc herniation. Disc herniation most commonly occurs when abnormal forces put pressure on the spongy discs between each vertebrea causing one or more of them to bulge out from their normal shape. This disc herniation or bulge may become so large that it presses against the nerves that leave the spine in the area. Compression of these nerves may cause symptoms commonly associated with sciatica such as pain, numbness, tingling, burning, or even a feeling of a ‘shock’ or ‘lightning bolt’ down the leg. Other causes of compression on these nerves include inflammation of soft tissues in the lumbar area, muscular tension in the buttock area, tumors, trauma and some types of spinal diseases.
Sciatica can cause shooting pain that some describe as a ‘shock’ or ‘lightning bolt’, dull aching, numbness, tingling or burning sensations that can run from the low back all the way down the back of the leg to the toes. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and may be worse with certain positions or movements.
Chiropractic adjustments are an effective way to relieve impingements on the sciatic nerve and to improve circulation to the surrounding tissues that will help to keep the spinal discs healthy. By gently realigning the lumbar vertebrae through chiropractic care, the spinal discs are able to resume their normal positions. In their normal position, the discs no longer press on the nerves in the area leading to a reduction or elimination of symptoms like pain, numbness, or tingling. Additional therapies and therapeutic exercises are often utilized in conjunction with the chiropractic adjustment to facilitate the healing of the spinal discs for a quicker recovery and decreased likelihood of reinjury in the future.
Sciatica often occurs due to sitting or standing for long periods of time, as the result of repetitive motions like bending, twisting or lifting, sleeping on an unsupportive mattress, carrying uneven loads that result in unequal distribution of weight, and improper lifting techniques. Practicing good posture, taking breaks when standing or sitting for long periods of time, wearing supportive shoes, investing in a good mattress, maintaining a healthy weight, staying physically active, and utilizing proper lifting techniques can help prevent sciatica. And of course, see your chiropractor for an evaluation and adjustment before a minor issue becomes a major problem.
Scoliosis is a condition in which there is an inappropriate curvature of the spine which can range from very mild to severe. Moderate to severe cases typically require bracing, ideally during the growing years, to help limit the progress of the disorder. Mild cases may not produce any symptoms and typically do not require treatment beyond regular monitoring to ensure the condition doesn't progress. However, mild scoliosis may require treatment if symptoms like pain, numbness and achiness occur. Pre-teens and teens are the most at-risk for developing scoliosis. During this stage of life, the spine is undergoing a rapid period of growth and should be regularly monitored for the signs of scoliosis so it may be identified early.
The underlying causes of most cases of scoliosis are unknown, but some types can occur as a result of trauma, neuromuscular diseases, birth defects, osteoporosis, back surgery or tumors. Scoliosis most often develops during adolescence when the spine is undergoing a rapid period of growth. Abnormal spinal curvature can also occur in older age as a result of bone loss through osteoporosis.
Chiropractors are highly trained in caring for people with spinal conditions like scoliosis. Gentle spinal adjustments for patients with scoliosis are customized based on the patient’s individual needs, symptoms, and degree of curvature. Dr. Sarah will often use the chiropractic adjustment in conjunction with work on the soft tissues and musculature in the area for patients with scoliosis. The combination of the chiropractic adjustment and soft tissue work may help reduce the nerve impingements, increased tension, and inflammation that may occur when the spine is dysfunctional due to abnormal curvature. In addition, a chiropractor can help patients with scoliosis learn about important habits that can help relieve pain, including practicing proper posture at work and school, using proper ergonomics to relieve stress on the back, using proper lifting techniques, employing therapeutic exercises and stretching, and other lifestyle changes.
Hip pain is a very common complaint especially among older men and women and those who engage in strenuous physical activity such as athletes. Causes of hip pain may include herniated discs and other spine conditions like sciatica that may cause pain to radiate into the hips, buttocks and legs, issues affecting the muscles, ligaments or tendons, including strains and sprains, joint-related damage due to diseases like arthritis or as a result of trauma or injury, and issues related to the knee that cause a change in gait pattern and weight bearing, resulting in added strain on the hip joints.
The spine acts as a protective tunnel for the nerves to travel from the brain to other areas of the body, including the hips and legs. When a disc becomes herniated or bulged, it can press on nerves as they travel out of the spine toward other areas of the body. This may result in irritation and inflammation as well as pain, numbness and weakness that radiate to the other areas of the body that the nerve contacts, including the hips.
A thorough exam will allow Dr. Sarah to identify the root cause of your hip pain. The ball-and-socket structure of the hip joint combined with the large amount of musculature in the area and the nerves that travel close to the joint (such as the sciatic nerve) make the hip joints highly complex and problems in the area may be due to a combination of factors. Chiropractic adjustments will help realign the spine, the hips, and the knees depending on the specific cause of your hip pain. The chiropractic adjustments for hip pain are often supplemented with deep muscle work and therapeutic stretches and exercises to reduce symptoms quickly and effectively.
Steps to take to prevent hip pain may include wearing supportive footwear, taking frequent breaks when standing for long periods of time, practicing proper posture and good ergonomics at work and school, proper use of stretching before and after physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and staying physically active. And of course, see your chiropractor for an evaluation and adjustment before a minor issue becomes a major problem.
Headaches are one of the most common medical complaints, and many factors can contribute to them, including stress, poor sleep habits, colds and flu, alcohol, loud sounds or bright lights, eye strain and food/drink ingredients. Many times, though, chronic headaches are the result of neck or back issues, including compressed nerves from herniated discs, soft tissue inflammation, and increased muscle tension. The spine and surrounding musculature connects the upper back, neck, and skull which means issues affecting the upper back and neck often have an impact on the head, resulting in chronic headaches that can be difficult to get rid of without professional care and intervention. Having a chiropractic evaluation is a good way to determine if neck or back problems could be causing your chronic headaches.
Steps to take to reduce the occurrence of headaches include drinking plenty of water, limiting screen time, monitoring caffeine intake, eating a healthy diet, practicing proper posture and good ergonomics at work and school, and taking part in stress relieving activities. Seeing your chiropractor for an evaluation and adjustment before a minor issue becomes a major issue may also be key to the prevention of headache pain.
There are several causes of knee and ankle pain, and at times, they directly affect each other.
Knees are especially prone to damage from continuous wear and tear. Knee injuries are also among the most common sports injuries, as during many sporting activities the muscles and ligaments that comprise and protect the knee joint endure constant strain. Knee pain can also be the result of misalignments in other parts of your body, such as your pelvis, back, hips, or ankles that result in a change in gait pattern and weight bearing.
Ankle pain may occur when your muscles, joints, or ligaments experience trauma. Flat feet, a condition where the arch of the inside of your foot isn’t supportive enough, can cause damaging stress to your ankles, as well. Flat feet contribute to ankle discomfort, especially when walking or standing for extended periods. Sometimes, ankle pain isn’t caused by your foot, but by the sciatic nerve located in your lower back. If your sciatic nerve is injured, you may feel pain in your ankles but not in your lower back based on the location of the nerve injury. Ankle pain can also be the result of misalignments in other parts of your body, such as your pelvis, back, hips, or knees that result in a change in gait pattern and weight bearing.
If your knee or ankle pain limits your ability to function in daily life, the solution may be effective treatment by gently adjusting your knee or ankle. Dr. Sarah performs a thorough exam prior to treatment to aid her in identifying the exact source of your knee or ankle pain. Chiropractic care may be used in conjunction with therapeutic stretches and exercises, as well as treatment targeting the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the area depending on the root cause of your knee or ankle pain.
Your ankles and knees may shift out of their natural alignment when injured. Dr. Sarah gently adjusts your knees and ankles to realign the joints and to prevent and treat existing pain. The chiropractic adjustments are often combined with therapeutic stretches and exercises, as well as treatment targeting the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in the area to help reduce swelling, relieve joint compression, and promote circulation in the affected areas.
