Physical therapist assists patient with arm exercises.

Extremity Care in Washington, Iowa

Chiropractic Care for Arms, Legs, and Other Joints

When most people think of chiropractic care, they often think of the spine. While spinal care is an important part of what we do, chiropractic care may also involve evaluation and treatment of certain problems affecting the arms and legs.

If you are dealing with joint pain, stiffness, reduced motion, or discomfort in an arm or leg, Dr. Dan Tweeton would be glad to help determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for your situation. This includes examining areas such as the:

- Shoulders
- Elbows
- Wrists
- Hands
- Hips
- Knees
- Ankles
- Feet

What Is Extremity Care?

Extremity care refers to chiropractic evaluation and treatment of joints outside of the spine.

This may include joints of the upper extremity, such as the shoulder, elbow, wrist, or hand, as well as joints of the lower extremity, such as the hip, knee, ankle, or foot.

Just like the joints of the spine, the joints of the arms and legs can become stiff, irritated, restricted, or painful. When appropriate, chiropractic care may help improve motion, reduce joint stress, and support better function.

Common Reasons Patients Seek Extremity Care

Patients may seek chiropractic evaluation for extremity problems related to:

- Everyday wear and tear
- Work-related strain
- Sports or exercise-related stress
- Repetitive use
- Lifting, bending, or carrying
- Falls or minor injuries
- Posture and movement patterns
- Joint stiffness or reduced range of motion

Not every arm or leg problem is a chiropractic case, but a chiropractic evaluation can help determine whether joint motion, muscle tension, or movement mechanics may be contributing to your symptoms

Addressing your joint concerns

Shoulder, Arm, and Wrist Concerns

Problems in the upper extremity can interfere with work, lifting, reaching, writing, typing, gripping, or daily household activities.

Shoulder, elbow, wrist, and hand concerns may sometimes be related to joint restriction, repetitive strain, muscle tightness, or altered movement patterns. In some cases, the neck and upper back may also contribute to symptoms in the arm or hand.

Dr. Dan will evaluate the area of concern and, when appropriate, may also examine related areas to better understand what may be contributing to the problem.

Hip, Knee, Ankle, and Foot Concerns

Problems in the lower extremity can affect walking, standing, stairs, exercise, balance, and daily movement.

Hip, knee, ankle, and foot concerns may sometimes be related to joint stiffness, altered mechanics, previous injuries, repetitive strain, or changes in how a person walks or moves.

When appropriate, chiropractic extremity care may be used to help improve motion and function in these areas.

Address your joint pain

How Chiropractic Care May Help

Depending on your condition, chiropractic extremity care may involve:

- A consultation about your symptoms and health history
- An examination of the affected area
- Evaluation of related joints and movement patterns
- Gentle joint mobilization or adjustment when appropriate
- Soft tissue or muscle work when appropriate
- Home advice or movement recommendations
- Referral for additional care if needed

The goal is to improve motion, reduce irritation, and help the affected area function better.

When Another Type of Care May Be Needed

Some extremity problems require medical evaluation, imaging, orthopedic care, physical therapy, or another type of treatment.

If your condition does not appear to be appropriate for chiropractic care, Dr. Dan will let you know and recommend that you seek the appropriate care.

Chiropractic care is not a replacement for emergency medical care. If you have severe pain, major trauma, obvious deformity, sudden swelling, loss of strength, signs of infection, or other serious symptoms, seek medical attention promptly.

What to Expect at Your First Visit

Your first visit will typically include new patient paperwork, a consultation, an examination, a report of findings, and appropriate treatment depending on your condition and examination findings.

Dr. Dan will talk with you about your symptoms, evaluate the area of concern, explain what he finds, and discuss whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for you.

The first visit usually takes about 30 minutes, although this may vary depending on your condition.

New Patients Welcome

Dr. Dan Tweeton is currently accepting new patients.

You do not need a referral to schedule an appointment at our office. If you have never been to a chiropractor before, we would be glad to walk you through the process and help make your first experience comfortable and easy to understand.

Schedule an Appointment

If you are dealing with shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, ankle, foot, or other extremity-related discomfort, we would be glad to help determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate for your situation.

The best way to schedule an appointment is to call our office.

Call Tweeton Family Chiropractic at:

319-653-2351