Dreaming our Problems Away!

Have you ever had someone say "Hey! I have an idea!" only to find out their idea is something you've thought about, and done, for a long time?

In a blog this week in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, Steffan Griffin and several of his colleagues explain what we have always done. It is an especially useful way of making a point.

In a previous blog here, we discussed PEACE & LOVE for acute management of soft tissue injuries. But what then!? Where do we go from there?

Griffin and colleagues describe the process we use very well using the new acronym: DREAM

Diagnosis: We must take a history, which means listen to you. We ask key questions. Learn your medical past and the history of this current complaint. We perform an exam including neurological and orthopedic tests along with a thorough functional evaluation determining the "why" as well as the "what."

Risk factors and Rehabilitation: We balance the risk factors and abilities of each patient. While a 73-year-old woman with hip pain and her 23-year-old world class athlete grandchild with hip pain certainly will not have the exam same treatment. They both will be given rehabilitative movement therapy appropriate for their risk factors.

Education: This is a huge element of care at Athletic & Family Chiropractic as well as Wellness Sport & Spine. We help our patients understand their diagnosis, how and why they got it and what we can do together to bring it to resolution.

Analgesia and Accessories: Our manual techniques and procedures we teach our patients are aimed at improving mobility and decreasing pain so that the patient will have more success with their prescribed movement therapy. Accessories would include kinesio tape, stretch ropes and resistance bands as well as nutritional advice.

Maintain physical activity and fitness: This is the goal of movement therapy and exercise prescription. It is also the key behind ergonomic instruction. A wise philosopher once said, "If you don't use it...you lose it!" We aim to help you move and function better and better, achieving more, not less, every year.

Our dream is to help more people reach fitness and life goals. To live without pain and dysfunction. To grow old gracefully. If we can help you, please, give us a call.