Frequently Asked Questions in Mesa AZ

Dr. Ammon Opie is a third-generation chiropractor and graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic. His approach combines traditional hands-on chiropractic with modern musculoskeletal evaluation, rehabilitation, therapeutic technologies, nutrition, and patient education. He also has a particular interest in geriatric chiropractic care, maternity and pregnancy-related chiropractic care, and TMJ disorders, areas in which adapting treatment to the individual patient is especially important.

At Opie Chiropractic, we do not believe every patient needs the same adjustment, the same treatment intensity, or the same number of visits. An older adult with arthritis and a history of joint replacement may need a very different treatment approach than a pregnant woman with pelvic and low-back discomfort or a younger adult with an acute sports injury. Dr. Opie's job is to listen, examine, explain what he finds, choose appropriate conservative treatment, and refer to another healthcare professional when chiropractic is not the right answer.

Yes, chiropractic care can be appropriate for many older adults, but the approach should be individualized. Aging commonly brings changes such as arthritis, reduced joint mobility, degenerative disc and joint changes, previous injuries, joint replacements, reduced bone density, and other medical conditions. Those factors can affect both which treatments are appropriate and how those treatments should be performed.

At Opie Chiropractic, geriatric care does not mean simply performing the same adjustment with less force. Dr. Opie considers the patient's health history, medications, surgeries, bone health, mobility, balance, comfort, and goals before selecting a treatment approach. Some patients may be appropriate for traditional adjustments while others are better suited for gentle mobilization, instrument-assisted techniques, therapeutic exercise, or supportive therapies.

There is no specific age at which someone automatically becomes “too old” for chiropractic care. The more important question is whether the patient's health, bone condition, symptoms, and examination findings make a particular treatment appropriate. A patient in his or her 70s, 80s, or beyond may still have musculoskeletal pain or mobility problems that can be addressed conservatively, but the treatment may need to be modified.

Older adults also frequently have more complicated medical histories than younger patients. That makes a thorough history particularly important. If Dr. Opie identifies a concern that warrants imaging, medical evaluation, or another type of treatment before chiropractic care, he will recommend that instead.

Chiropractic treatment does not remove arthritis or reverse degenerative changes that have already occurred. However, arthritis seen on an X-ray and the amount of pain or limitation a person experiences are not always the same thing. Joint stiffness, muscle weakness, reduced movement, previous injuries, and compensatory movement patterns may all contribute to how someone feels and functions.

For an appropriate patient, conservative chiropractic care, joint mobilization, exercise, and mobility work may be used to help maintain comfortable movement and function. The goal is not to promise that an arthritic joint can be made “new again.” The goal is to help the patient get the most useful and comfortable function possible from the body they have.

Yes. Chiropractic treatment should be adapted to the patient rather than expecting the patient to adapt to the technique. Depending on health history and examination findings, Dr. Opie may use traditional manual adjustments, lower-force techniques, joint mobilization, instruments, altered treatment positions, exercise, or supportive therapies.

This is particularly important for patients with osteoporosis or osteopenia, significant arthritis, previous spinal surgery, joint replacement, frailty, or other medical conditions. In some circumstances a particular area should not be manipulated at all, and an alternative treatment or referral may be more appropriate.

Yes, many pregnant women can receive chiropractic care when it is appropriate for their individual health and pregnancy. Pregnancy changes weight distribution, posture, pelvic loading, ligament behavior, and the demands placed on the muscles of the back and hips. These changes can contribute to low-back pain, pelvic discomfort, hip pain, rib discomfort, muscle tension, and difficulty finding comfortable positions.

At Opie Chiropractic, treatment positions and chiropractic techniques are modified as pregnancy progresses. Maternity chiropractic care is focused on appropriate musculoskeletal concerns and patient comfort. Chiropractic care is not a replacement for prenatal medical or obstetric care, and patients should continue routine care with their obstetric provider.

Chiropractic care may be considered during different stages of pregnancy when a woman is experiencing an appropriate musculoskeletal problem. What changes throughout pregnancy is how the patient is positioned and which techniques are most comfortable and appropriate.

Later in pregnancy, lying flat on the stomach or remaining in certain positions may no longer be comfortable, so treatment is modified accordingly. Dr. Opie also wants to know about any pregnancy complications, activity restrictions, or concerns identified by the patient's obstetric provider before treatment.

Low-back, pelvic, and hip discomfort are common musculoskeletal complaints during pregnancy because the body is adapting to changes in weight, posture, joint loading, and movement. When examination findings indicate that the discomfort is musculoskeletal, chiropractic care may be one conservative option for managing the problem.

Treatment may include gentle joint care, soft-tissue treatment, mobility work, therapeutic exercise, and recommendations for sleeping, sitting, lifting, or other daily activities. Treatment is modified according to the stage of pregnancy and the mother's comfort.

We do not describe chiropractic adjustments as a treatment that directly turns a baby. Chiropractic treatment during pregnancy is directed toward the mother's musculoskeletal system, including areas such as the low back and pelvis, and not toward manipulating the baby.

Pregnant patients with concerns about fetal position should discuss those concerns with their obstetrician or midwife. Chiropractic care may still be used for appropriate maternal musculoskeletal complaints, but it should not replace obstetric evaluation or management.

TMJ stands for the temporomandibular joint, which is the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull just in front of each ear. The term “TMJ” is also commonly used when people are talking about temporomandibular disorders, or TMD, which can involve the joint itself, the muscles used for chewing, or a combination of both.

Symptoms can include jaw pain, facial pain, clicking or popping, muscle tightness, difficulty opening the mouth comfortably, pain with chewing, or a feeling that the jaw is not moving normally. Some patients also experience neck pain or headaches along with their jaw symptoms.

Some TMJ disorders have a significant musculoskeletal component involving the jaw joint, muscles of chewing, neck, or surrounding movement patterns. For these patients, conservative musculoskeletal treatment may be appropriate.

Dr. Opie evaluates how the jaw opens and closes, where pain occurs, the surrounding muscles, and whether the cervical spine appears to be contributing to the problem. Depending on the findings, treatment may include gentle joint techniques, muscular therapies, exercises, cervical treatment, and home recommendations. Problems involving the teeth, bite, significant joint damage, locking, or other dental conditions may require evaluation by a dentist or TMJ specialist as well.

The jaw and neck do not function completely independently of one another. Muscles around the jaw, head, and cervical spine work together during chewing, speaking, posture, and other everyday activities. When jaw muscles become persistently tight or painful, patients may also notice discomfort around the temples, face, head, or neck.

That does not mean every headache or neck problem originates from the TMJ. Part of the examination is determining whether the jaw appears to be one contributor or whether another cause needs to be considered.

A jaw that clicks or pops does not automatically mean that something dangerous is occurring. Some people have painless joint noises for years without significant limitation. The sound becomes more important when it is accompanied by pain, locking, catching, changing bite, limited opening, or worsening function.

If those symptoms are present, an evaluation can help determine whether the problem appears primarily muscular and mechanical or whether dental, oral-surgical, or other evaluation should be considered.

Yes. TMJ disorders can overlap several areas of healthcare because the problem may involve muscles and joints, but it may also involve the teeth, bite, dental appliances, or structural changes within the jaw joint. Chiropractic treatment is therefore not a replacement for appropriate dental evaluation.

When needed, Dr. Opie can provide conservative musculoskeletal care while a dentist or other provider manages the dental components of the problem. The goal is to address the parts of the condition that fall within each provider's area of expertise rather than assuming one type of treatment solves every TMJ problem.