Specialties
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| Acupuncture | Massage |
| Chiropractic | Pregnancy and Pediatrics |
| Exercises and Rehabilitation | Sports Injuries |
Other Areas of Expertise
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Acupuncture originated in China more than 2000 years ago. The acupuncture technique that has been most studied involves penetrating the skin with sterile, thin, solid, metallic needles that are manipulated by the hands or by electrical stimulation. In recent years, scientific inquiry has begun to shed more light on acupuncture’s possible mechanisms and potential benefits, especially in treating low back pain, headaches, arthritis, allergies, smoking cessation, and weight loss.
Arthritis used to be
thought of as
something that
automatically
happens when you
age, but a growing
number of young
people are being
diagnosed with
arthritis. Likewise,
many senior citizens
are not content to
let arthritis limit
their active
lifestyle and they
want solutions for
their pain. With
chiropractic
adjustments and
acupuncture, we can
help increase joint
mobility and lower
the amount of pain
and swelling. We are
also unique because
we offer specialized
adjustments for the
hands, wrists,
shoulders, hips,
knees, and ankles –
not all
chiropractors are
familiar with these
procedures. At West
U Wellness, we carry
nothing but the
highest quality
vitamins and herbal
analgesics on the
market. These are
products that can
only be purchased by
doctors and have
shown tremendous
benefit in those
suffering from
arthritis.
Read patient testimonials of arthritis treatment by clicking here.
Asthma
Asthma happens when a person breathes in normally, but they have problems exhaling. We have found that people with lung problems typically have muscle spasms and subluxations
right between the
shoulder blades.
That is where the
nerves are found
that innervate
(supply the nerve
signal) to the
lungs. If there’s a
pinch on those
nerves, it stands to
reason that the
lungs will not
receive the full
nerve signal. If
that happens, then
the lungs cannot
operate at 100%
capacity. Many
chiropractors report
treating children
for asthma and
having that child
test normal on
subsequent tests for
the lungs. It should
be noted that the
best results are
seen in children who
start chiropractic
treatment before 10
years of age.
Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder
ADD/ADHD is one of the most common diagnoses amongst our school children. Thousands of prescriptions each day are written for drugs such as Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, and Stratera, but did you know that kids who take such drugs experience shorter stature, are not allowed in the military, and report insomnia? We have found that many times kids with ADD/ADHD have undetected food allergies and nutritional imbalances. Many of them also have severe subluxations (nerve, joint, and muscle tension causing misalignment) in the upper cervical spine. We have had many pediatric patients experience greater focus and higher grades after receiving regular chiropractic care to correct these subluxations. And, there are no adverse side effects from these adjustments!
What if you
couldn’t pick up
a cup because
your hands hurt
too much?
Millions of
people suffer
from carpal
tunnel syndrome
and other hand
problems. When
the wrist area
or “carpal
tunnel” becomes
inflamed, it can
cause burning
pain, numbness,
or weakness in
the hands and
fingers. We’ve
found that
pinched nerves
in the wrist,
elbow, shoulder,
and even neck
can mimic carpal
tunnel syndrome.
By removing the
pinching, hand
problems can be
eliminated. We
have also added
“Cold Laser
Therapy” to our
treatments which
help 70% of
those who have
tried it. As one
of our patients
remarked, “After
having the cold
laser therapy 5
times, I now
wake up with
much less
swelling and
stiffness in
both hands!”
Children can be rambunctious, willful, inquisitive, and that’s why we love them at West U Wellness! Chiropractic can help such conditions as colic, unexplained crying, poor appetite, breathing problems, and reflux. It can also assist in childhood problems such as ADD/ADHD, asthma, allergies, ear infections, diarrhea, and constipation.
At West U Wellness we are trained to look for subluxations on the pediatric spine that may develop into more serious problems down the road. If your child is experiencing any of the above problems, let us take a look and evaluate their spine. Also have your child checked when they first start crawling, walking, falling down, or having “growing pains”. By doing so, you are paving the way for a healthy adult.
Click here for more information about Pregnancy and Pediatrics.
More and more patients, insurance companies, and doctors are accepting chiropractic as a viable alternative to medication and surgery. By applying a specific force to an affected joint, chiropractic adjustments (or manipulations) help to free up any joint restrictions, inflammation, or bulging discs. If a joint is not moving correctly, then the bones, muscles, and nerves surrounding that area can subluxate or move out of position. When this happens, the nerve to that area will either fire too quickly and send a sharp pain signal, or fire too slowly and a patient may feel a dull pain. Either way, it causes the nearby muscles to spasm which results in the joint being “locked up”.
We specialize in multiple chiropractic techniques to help with joint restrictions for patients of every age and body type. We focus on what has caused this joint to “lock up” so that we can not only return normal motion to the area, but prevent it from coming back again. Because we are not just dealing with the symptoms, but actually conquering the root of the problem, it may entail multiple visits and several types of treatments and exercises for us to achieve our goal. Oftentimes these adjustments are painless and patients are able to avoid being dependent on medication or surgery.
Although we
concentrate on
the spine
because it
protects the
vital nerves of
the central
nervous system,
chiropractic
manipulation is
safe for all
joints
throughout the
body.
Have you ever heard of a bulging disc or slipped disc? The technical term is a disc herniation, and chiropractic and acupuncture can help heal mild to moderate forms of disc herniations. Think of an ice cream sandwich. If the top and bottom of the sandwich were compressed, it would cause the ice cream to squeeze out a little bit. The greater the pressure on both ends, the more the ice cream seeps out. The same can be said of your vertebrae and the discs. The discs are like little sponges that function as shock absorbers and cushions. But if the discs are injured, it can “squeeze” out, pressing on a nerve, and causing a lot of problems. Chiropractic adjustments help to move the vertebrae apart ever so slightly, thereby taking pressure off the inflamed disc and nerve. Exercises and therapies further help speed this process along.
It is
heartbreaking
for parents to
watch their
children suffer
from ear
infections. It
is even more
anguishing to
put in ear tubes
and having the
surgery not
work. For many
years
chiropractors
have found that
upper cervical
adjustments can
help not only
relieve the pain
and pressure of
ear infections,
but also help in
stimulating the
immune system to
fight off the
infection
without
medication. In
fact, the first
chiropractic
patient was a
man who had an
ear problem – he
was deaf and
regained his
hearing after a
chiropractic
adjustment!
Fibromyalgia is a poorly understood disorder characterized by fatigue and gnawing, burning, constant pain in the muscles, tendons, and joints. Other symptoms include insomnia, irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, depression, and/or anxiety. Although there is no cure for fibromyalgia, we have several patients who have found that our holistic approaches to their health help decrease the pain of fibromyalgia. We do this by freeing the body of subluxation (interference with the nervous system) so that the body’s self-healing mechanisms can take over. We also use a nutritional approach to make sure that the patient’s body is getting the proper ratio of vitamins and minerals for their specific body type and condition.
Have you ever experienced the throbbing, pulsing, pounding, sometimes debilitating pain of a headache or a migraine? We have successfully treated many types of headaches! This could be due to forward head posture (see Neck Pain below) or neck misalignments caused by previous injuries and/or stress. Other causes include energy imbalance or sensitivites to food ingredients such as tyramine. We take the time to question and thoroughly examine each patient to find out why they have headaches and what types of treatment will best help them. We have also found that there are certain vitamins migraine sufferers seem to be deficient in, and we make sure they are getting the proper nutrients (see our
Newsletter on Headaches).
If you suffer
from headaches,
wait no more –
call West U
Wellness to take
care of it
today.
Read patient testimonials of headache treatment by clicking here.
Kinesio® Taping
Kinesio® Taping Method is a great therapeutic tool that can help while you are recovering from a sports injury and get you back in the game quicker. Kinesio® Tex Tape provides support for muscles and tendons, helps to prevent over-contraction of muscles, and also helps to reduce inflammation and swelling. For more information about Kinesio® Taping, click here.
80% of all
Americans will
experience low
back pain
sometime in
their lives, and
$2 billion is
spent each year
on this
condition. In
fact, more
people miss work
due to back pain
than due to
illnesses such
as colds and
flu’s. The
standard medical
approach of
painkillers,
muscle relaxers,
and physical
therapy deals
only with the
symptoms and not
the cause of the
problem.
Chiropractors
use gentle
alignments,
physical therapy
modalities,
focused
exercises, and
specific muscle
work to restore
the natural
alignment of the
low back and
strengthen the
surrounding
support
structure.
Imagine that you
have a water
hose running
from your low
back all the way
down to your
toes. If you
pinch that water
hose at the top,
the water flow
will be
significantly
impaired down at
the bottom. This
is essentially
what happens
when the bones
shift in the low
back causing a
“pinched nerve”.
Only
chiropractic can
gently shift
those bones back
into position
without surgery.
In some patients
we have found
acupuncture to
be an excellent
adjunct to more
difficult cases.
Read patient testimonials of back pain treatment by clicking here.
We have two licensed and experienced massage therapists to provide top-quality therapy services such as Deep Tissue, Sports, Pregnancy, and Swedish massage that often times is covered by health insurance. With Deep Tissue massage, this uses strong and deep kneading compression of the muscles, coupled with trigger point therapy and myofascial release. It is excellent for stress and muscle tension relief. Sports Massage focuses more on a specific area of injury and the therapist would also use a lot of stretching and techniques to restore circulation to the muscle. Pregnancy Massage is safe for those who have just conceived all the way up to delivery and post-partum. We use special pillows and other equipment to make our mommies comfortable, especially when neck, back and hip pain can affect them during this incredible stage of life. Finally, Swedish massage incorporates low strokes along with finger pressure applied both following and across the grain of muscles and tendons to promote relaxation and help improve circulation. And massage therapy works wonderfully with other alternative medicine treatments like chiropractic and acupuncture.
Oftentimes people who work at computers or who keep their eyes focused on one spot for a long time (such as those who have long commutes to work) will develop neck pain. This is most often a result of FHP (forward head posture). In our necks there should be a normal cervical (neck) lordosis,
sometimes called
a “C” curve. We
develop this
curve when we
are crawling as
babies and start
lifting our head
off the floor.
If that curve
starts to
reverse and the
head moves
forward,
tremendous
tension and
strain can
happen on any of
the eight
cervical nerves.
Doctors of
chiropractic not
only check your
posture and
alignment, but
they also
examine the
strain on the
muscles and
nerves on the
neck to see how
severe it is and
what can be done
to correct it.
At our clinic,
we not only use
gentle cervical
manipulations to
correct the
alignment, but
we also use
techniques to
reduce the
tension on the
muscles and
nerves. Our
patients are
given exercises
to do at home,
at work, and/or
in the car to
help speed up
their recovery
time.
Read patient testimonials of neck pain treatment by clicking here.
Most Americans are not getting the minimum daily requirements their body needs. Moreover, they are not eating the proper ratio of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. This is resulting in more obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, irritable bowel syndrome, and fibromyalgia than ever before. At West U Wellness, we conduct in-depth, extensive nutritional counseling sessions for our patients who seek this type of advice. We work together to develop a plan for achieving your health goals. And as insurance companies recognize that prevention and education are the key to avoiding many of these health issues, they are more willing to pay for this type of service.
Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your baby is see a Doctor of Chiropractic. Chiropractic care provides so many things a pregnant body needs: a flexible and balanced spine, hips, and pelvis; internal organs without postural stress and freedom from nerve stress – all essential for a healthy pregnancy and delivery. If the body structure is causing the slightest nerve interference to these systems it could adversely affect the mother and the developing fetus.
Chiropractic care has demonstrated success with back pain, premature contractions, breech turning, headaches, and back labor in pregnant women. Chiropractic is very safe for both the pregnant mother and child. Dr. Long has her fellowship through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and is certified in adjustments for pregnant women, newborns, and a chiropractic adjustment that helps breech babies turn in the upright position before birth. She also works closely with the Motherhood Center in Houston, Texas.
Click here for more information about Pregnancy and Pediatrics.
Read patient testimonials of pregnancy treatment by clicking here.
Sciatica and Lower Extremity Pain
Imagine that you have a water hose running from your low back all the way down to your toes. If you pinch that water hose at the top, the water flow will be significantly impaired down at the bottom. This is essentially what happens when the bones shift in the low back causing a “pinched nerve”. If that nerve happens to be the sciatic nerve, which runs down the back of your thigh and leg, it is called “sciatica”. Only chiropractic can gently shift those bones back into position without surgery.
The same can be said for hip, knee, and ankle problems. We treat the body as a whole and establish if there is any nerve pinching at the ankle, knee, hip, or low back level that can be inhibiting healing. For these patients we have found great results when using deep myofascial
release
techniques for
the low back and
leg muscles. In
some patients we
have found
acupuncture to
be an excellent
adjunct to more
difficult cases.
Having been diagnosed with scoliosis as a teenager, Dr. Long is very familiar with scoliosis (abnormal lateral curvature of the spine) and its effects on the body. In fact, if younger scoliosis patients are treated before their growth spurt, chiropractic can help diminish the abnormal curve and assist the spine in growing as straight as possible! Chiropractic treatments for your spine are like braces for your teeth. You cannot expect change to happen overnight, but gradual correction helps the bones to align as straight as possible.
Many patients have suffered from sprains and strains of the shoulder complex and rotator cuff. There are actually many more muscles and ligaments that can cause shoulder pain. We use physical therapy modalities such as ultrasound and electric muscle stimulation to help a sprain/strain injury recover faster. We also utilize acupuncture and chiropractic manipulations to reduce inflammation and restore normal joint alignment. Our patients are given a stretching and exercise program to strengthen the shoulder quickly and prevent a “frozen shoulder”.
Read patient testimonials of shoulder pain treatment by clicking here.
Chances are if you’ve ever participated in a sport, you’ve sustained a sprain/strain injury. Sprains are tears in the ligaments, whereas strains happen to the muscles. While most of these injuries heal with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E.), some can linger for long periods of time. If conservative home treatments and massage are not sufficient, chiropractic may be the answer for you. If the muscles have tensed up considerably, they can actually pull the bone out of alignment. When this happens, the bone becomes “stuck” and can pinch on a nerve. The nerve then reacts by causing a muscle spasm and a subluxation occurs. Chiropractors not only help calm the muscles down with therapies and massage techniques such as myofascial
release, but we
use specific
adjustments to
move the bone
back into place.
Just like braces
for your teeth,
the corrections
do not occur
overnight. It
may take several
adjustments
until the
correction holds
in place. And
after that, our
chiropractors
will continue to
treat you and
strengthen the
muscles to hold
the bone in
place so that
the injury does
not recur.
Click here for more information about Sports Injuries.
Emotional stress can have devastating consequences on the nervous and immune system. It oftentimes causes even more vertebral subluxations than physical trauma. Chiropractic and acupuncture treatments help to calm down the nervous system. Most patients report sleeping as well as concentrating better after having been under chiropractic and acupuncture care. We also offer different types of massage therapy that complement the alternative treatments we utilize here. Oftentimes, the massage is covered under your health insurance plan. But even for those whom insurance does not cover our services, we have an affordable “Stress Relief package” where patients receive a stress relief massage and adjustment once a month to help them put their best face forward.
TMJ Disorder
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) or jaw can frequently move out of the correct position and cause tremendous jaw pain, headaches, and neck pain. We offer delicate chiropractic and acupuncture techniques to help with 90% of all TMJ problems.
It was recently announced that 2/3 of all Americans are overweight! The USDA recently developed a new food pyramid, but how many people really understand it? And how many people know how to apply it to their own dietary habits? At West U Wellness, we conduct in-depth, extensive nutritional counseling sessions for our patients who seek this type of advice. We work together to develop a plan for achieving your health goals. For some patients, we will also recommend the Isagenix system to help kick-start weight loss. Dr. Yeager has had success with his patients who use acupuncture to curb their appetite and lose weight in that manner.
Read patient testimonials of exercise and weight loss treatment by clicking here.
Chiropractic has been a blessing to millions of people who have had whiplash injuries. Whiplash takes place when a person’s spine, usually their head and neck, is thrown very quickly in one direction and then rebounded in the opposite direction. It may also happen from side-to-side or when the neck is rotated. This sudden and unnatural movement can lead to nerve, joint, ligament, tendon, muscle, and disc stress, irritation, or damage. Chiropractors call this vertebral subluxation. What’s worse is that these vertebral subluxations can persist in the spine for many years before the patient even feels any pain. Chiropractors use tests such as x-rays, MRI, muscle and temperature scans, neurological, and orthopedic tests to determine if a patient is suffering from whiplash. Although it may take awhile to heal from this type of injury, chiropractic care has an excellent rate of success in treating this condition. Incidentally, low back sprain and jaw subluxations are also commonly associated with whiplash. That is why at West U Wellness each patient receives a thorough examination after any type of injury.