5 Minute Self-Test
We understand that it’s difficult for you to know if chiropractic treatment is best for your pain relief, especially when new to chiropractic. So we designed this simple 5-minute Chiropractic Self-Test to help you decide if it’s time to give us a call.
Question #1 Are you suffering from any of the following symptoms?
These are the most common complaints we treat daily. If you can relate to one or more of these symptoms, there is a good chance you have a chiropractic condition that we can help you with. Of course a thorough evaluation will determine the exact cause of your symptoms, and dictate the course of treatment.
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Arm or shoulder pain
- Leg or foot pain
- Hand or wrist pain
- Hip pain
- Joint pain
- Jaw pain
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Stiffness
- Muscle twitching
- Burning sensation
- Cramping
- Difficulty sleeping
- cold hand, cold feet
- poor coordination
Question #2 Do you have poor profile posture?
Be careful not to judge your health by symptoms alone. Subluxations and degeneration often start long before pain begins. Similar to cancer or heart disease that builds over time, early detection is a key element to complete recovery. Just as it is important to have your teeth checked regularly, it is wise to have your spine checked regularly too. In addition to visits to a doctor of chiropractic for a thorough evaluation, you can keep an eye on your spinal health with posture checks at home. A self-assessment is best done with a friend. Walk naturally around relaxed, preferably when unexpected, and have your friend take a look at your neck posture and back posture and compare it to the images below. If alone, take a look in a long mirror at your profile. Which profile posture are you?
Good Posture: With ideal alignment, you can draw a straight imaginary line from your earlobe, through the tip of your shoulder, the middle of your chest, slightly behind or right at the hip joint, and down through the back half of your knee joint.
Forward Head: Forward Head posture imbalance is when the cervical (neck) portion of the spine is out of alignment, and has lost it’s natural 40 degree curve. This commonly causes neck pain, headaches, sinus congestion, numbness or tingling down the arms, and reduced ability to turn the head from side to side.
Hunchback Posture: The curve of the thoracic (middle) spine is inflated. The muscles of the upper to mid-back become weakened, while the muscles of the chest tighten.
Duck Posture: This is when there is too much curve in the lumbar (lower) spine. The pelvis tilts back, looking somewhat like Donald Duck. Lower back pain usually develops.
Sway Back: Opposite of the Duck Posture, there is no curve in the lumbar (lower) spine. The pelvis tilts forward, making your butt look flat, shorter and thick around the stomach. Your ribcage may press forward creating imbalance and poor coordination. Lower back pain usually develops.
Question #3 Do you have bad frontal posture?
The level of the head, shoulders and hips are important in determining spinal issues. These are level when the spine is in its proper position. But if one side is higher, a spinal curve exists and may be putting pressure on the joints, discs and nerves. When left uncorrected, degeneration occurs. Take a look at your posture while facing a mirror. Compare your positioning to this chart. Write down your score for the frontal posture of your head, shoulders and hips. If your score is 25 or less, you likely have a spinal condition that would benefit from chiropractic treatment.
Question #4 Are your leg lengths uneven?
Uneven leg lengths can indicate a improperly curved spine, or a common condition called Leg Length Discrepancy, where the bone of the tibia or femur is measurable shorter in one leg that often causes alignment issues andassociated back pain, leg pain, knee pain and foot pain. There are several ways to self-detect uneven leg lengths:
•Lay flat on your back. Bend your legs at the knee. Ask a friend or use a handheld mirror to see if your legs are even at the heels. •Do you pant leg lengths look uneven? •Do your shoes have uneven signs of wear?
Did you answered YES to any of these self-test questions?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, you are likely suffering from a condition most effectively treated by a chiropractic doctor who finds and treats the CAUSE of your symptoms — for a permanent, natural solution. Make an appointment for a complementary no-obligation consultation with Dr. Langford to see how chiropractic can correct your problem today.
