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Dr. Morrisroe Asks...

What's the difference between sick care and health care?

Sick care is largely about relieving or suppressing symptoms. Health care is about improving performance. While sick care is about how you feel, health care is about how you function. Sick care is what you do to treat an obvious problem, and health care is what you do to avoid the problem and advance your well-being.

Where do most Portland residents get their first vertebral subluxation?

Being born in a hospital is a common source of vertebral subluxation. Trauma from forceps delivery has been replaced with drugs, vacuum extraction, Cesarean section and births that are "scheduled" to fit the workweek routines of Ob-Gyns. That's why we recommend a chiropractic checkup for every Portland newborn.

What is a Pulled Muscle?

Our bodies contain more than 300 muscles that help us move and give us those “six-pack abs” we hear so much about! If you’re an athlete, or you exercise, and you take the necessary time to stretch those muscles before a work out or athletic event, you find they thank you for time well spent with flexibility and strength. If you fail to do the proper warm up, you risk suffering a pulled (torn or strained) muscle or even worse, a complete muscle tear.

What are the symptoms of a pulled muscle? Usually the area around the muscle will be sore, swollen and tender. You may have difficulty moving the affected area because of the pain and swelling. Sometimes an x-ray of the area may be needed to confirm that you have not broken any bones.

What should you do for a pulled muscle?

• Apply ice for no more than 20-minute intervals, four to eight times a day to reduce pressure and decrease blood flow to the affected muscle. This helps reduce swelling.
  
  
• Wrap the injured area in an elastic (ace) bandage for support, but be sure it is not too tight!
  
  
• Do not use the muscle while the pain is still present.
  
  
• Keep the affected area elevated, above your heart.

A muscle that has been damaged previously is likely to be damaged again if it has not healed properly. Many of our patients begin care in our practice because they were suffering from a pulled muscle. Chiropractic care can be effective in relieving pain and enhancing proper healing.

Please contact our practice if you have specific questions related to the care and treatment of a pulled muscle.