When most people think about chiropractic care, they immediately think about the neck and lower back. But the human body does not move as a collection of isolated parts. The shoulders, hips, knees, ankles, elbows, wrists, and feet all play an important role in how we move, exercise, work, and perform everyday activities.
For more than 20 years as a chiropractor, I have worked with patients ranging from competitive athletes and bodybuilders to golfers, pickleball players, active adults, and people simply trying to stay mobile and independent. One thing I have consistently seen is that problems involving the extremities can influence movement throughout the entire body.
What Is an Extremity Adjustment?
When a joint, including the spine, becomes stiff, restricted, irritated, or is not moving through its normal range of motion, the body will often compensate somewhere else. A restricted ankle, for example, may change the way someone walks, squats, or runs. Limited shoulder mobility may cause compensation through the upper back or neck. Hip or knee restrictions can also influence how forces travel through the pelvis and lower back. The goal is to improve joint mobility and help restore more normal movement patterns as part of an overall treatment and rehabilitation plan.
More Than Just Sports Injuries
Extremity work is valuable for athletes, but it is not limited to sports injuries. At Romney Chiropractic, we commonly evaluate patients dealing with extremity-related conditions. Golfers place tremendous rotational demands on the hips, shoulders, wrists, and spine. Pickleball players repeatedly load the knees, ankles, shoulders, and elbows. Weightlifters and bodybuilders depend on proper joint mechanics for pressing, pulling, squatting, and hinging movements. Even everyday activities, especially repeated ones, like sitting at a computer, gardening, or walking can contribute to joint restriction and muscular compensation.
The Kinetic Chain Matters
My background as both a sports chiropractor and physique/bodybuilding coach has heavily influenced the way I look at movement.
When someone has a knee complaint, I also consider the hip, ankle, foot, pelvis, muscular balance, mobility, and the activity that may be contributing to the problem. The same concept applies to the shoulder. Shoulder function can be influenced by the scapula, thoracic spine, rotator cuff, posture, muscular balance, and exercise technique.
This is known as the kinetic chain. Every joint influences another. When one area is not moving efficiently, another may be forced to do more work. That is why treatment should be individualized rather than simply focusing on where a person feels discomfort.
Adjusting Is Only One Piece of the Puzzle
Extremity adjustment is not intended to replace rehabilitation, strengthening, mobility work, or medical evaluation when needed. Depending on the individual, treatment may include chiropractic adjustments, soft-tissue therapy, stretching, corrective exercise, strengthening, mobility work, and modifications to training or daily activities.
The objective is not simply to help someone feel better for a day. The bigger goal is to help that person move better, function better, and become more resilient.
After more than two decades in practice, I still believe one of the most important things we can do for our patients is look beyond the painful area and evaluate how the entire body is functioning. Because chiropractic care is about much more than the spine.
Train Smart. Move Better. Live Stronger.
After Dr. Miles Romney graduated from Palmer College of Chiropractic, he returned home to Sahuarita and established Romney Chiropractic. He enjoys the privilege of witnessing patients of all ages get results, seeing them feeling better and returning to their daily active lives. Call us today at (520) 625-5776 to schedule your appointment.
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