Category: HBOT

Return to Play After a Knee Injury: 6 Ways to Optimize Recovery

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Dr. Nate Wiechmann assessing young athlete patient with knee pain

Knee injuries can sideline even the most dedicated athletes. At Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic, Nate Wiechmann, D.C., leverages his background in chiropractic care, sports medicine and functional movement to help athletes return to play, safely and efficiently.

Tailored Treatments for Optimal Recovery:

  • Targeted chiropractic adjustments – Realign the knee joint and surrounding structures to improve mobility and reduce pain, setting the stage for effective recovery.
  • Functional movement screens – Assess your movement patterns to identify and address any issues that may contribute to knee injuries or affect performance.
  • Trigger point dry needling –  Target specific muscle knots or “trigger points” to alleviate pain and improve muscle function.
  • Class IV laser therapy –  Utilize advanced laser technology to reduce inflammation, accelerate healing and promote tissue repair in the injured area.
  • BEMER therapy – Enhance circulation and support cellular repair with this unique electromagnetic therapy, aiding in the overall recovery process.
  • Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) –  Accelerate healing and improve recovery with increased oxygen absorption in our pressurized chamber, helping to restore optimal function to your knee.

Our personalized approach addresses the root causes of knee pain, not just the symptoms. Integrating these diverse therapies ensures a well-rounded recovery plan that supports both immediate relief and long-term health.

Ready to get back in the game? Contact us today to schedule an appointment and discover how we can help you recover from knee pain and dysfunction.

Benefits of Chiropractic Care for the Throwing Athlete

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Picture of a softball player pitching the ball

Whether you’re involved in football, baseball, softball, javelin or another sport that demands precise throwing mechanics, maintaining peak performance and preventing injuries are paramount. Chiropractic care can help enhance your athletic abilities and keep you in top shape.

Here’s are some of the chiropractic services we offer that may benefit you:

Chiropractic Adjustments

Chiropractic adjustments help optimize spinal alignment and joint mobility. By ensuring proper alignment, we can alleviate tension and improve your range of motion, crucial for the precision and power needed in throwing sports.

Trigger Point Dry Needling

This technique targets muscle knots and trigger points, common among throwing athletes due to repetitive motions. By releasing these tension points, dry needling helps enhance muscle function, reduce pain and promote quicker recovery.

Cupping Therapy

Cupping promotes blood flow, loosens muscles and enhances tissue flexibility. It’s particularly beneficial for relieving muscle soreness and improving performance, which can help prevent overuse injuries common in throwing sports.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, or HBOT, helps accelerate recovery by delivering pressurized oxygen directly to your tissues, aiding muscle repair and reducing inflammation. It’s an effective complementary therapy for managing chronic injuries and promoting overall athletic recovery.

Why Choose Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic?

At Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic, we prioritize your performance and well-being by offering personalized care tailored to your athletic needs. We emphasize non-invasive approaches to enhance your body’s natural healing processes, helping you achieve optimal performance without unnecessary downtime.

Whether you’re striving for precision in your throw or recovering from a repetitive strain injury, Dr. Nate Wiechmann and our team are here to support you. Schedule an appointment at our Oakland or Council Bluffs clinic today to explore how chiropractic care can elevate your performance and keep you in the game. After all, your athletic journey deserves the best care!

Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for PTSD Relief

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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a complex mental health condition that can severely impact an individual’s quality of life. Traditional treatments often provide limited relief, leaving many searching for alternative therapies. Among these, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) has emerged as a promising option, offering hope for those struggling with PTSD. In this blog post, we’ll explore how HBOT works and its potential benefits in alleviating PTSD symptoms.

Understanding PTSD

Before delving into HBOT’s benefits, it’s essential to understand PTSD. This condition can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, leading to symptoms such as flashbacks, nightmares, hyper-vigilance and mood disturbances. PTSD can significantly impair daily functioning and diminish overall well-being, making effective treatment crucial for recovery.

How HBOT Works

HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, allowing the lungs to absorb a higher amount of oxygen than usual. This increased oxygen concentration in the bloodstream promotes healing by enhancing oxygen delivery to tissues throughout the body, including the brain.

Benefits of HBOT for PTSD Relief

  1. Reduces anxiety and depression: HBOT has been shown to alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression commonly associated with PTSD. The increased oxygen levels in the brain help regulate neurotransmitter function, promoting a sense of calm and emotional stability.
  2. Enhances cognitive function: PTSD often impairs cognitive function, leading to difficulties with memory, concentration and decision-making. HBOT supports brain health by improving blood flow and oxygenation, thereby enhancing cognitive abilities.
  3. Alleviates of sleep disturbances: Many individuals with PTSD struggle with sleep disturbances, including insomnia and nightmares. HBOT can help regulate sleep patterns by promoting relaxation and reducing hyperarousal, leading to improved sleep quality and duration.
  4. Reduces PTSD symptoms: Studies have shown that HBOT may reduce the severity of PTSD symptoms, including intrusive thoughts, avoidance behaviors and heightened reactivity. By addressing the underlying neurobiological mechanisms of PTSD, HBOT offers holistic symptom relief.
  5. Promotes of neuroplasticity: HBOT stimulates neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new neural connections. This process is essential for overcoming trauma-related changes in the brain and fostering resilience in individuals with PTSD.
  6. Accelerates healing of trauma-related injuries: In addition to its psychological benefits, HBOT promotes physical healing by accelerating tissue repair and reducing inflammation. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with PTSD who have sustained physical injuries during traumatic events.

By addressing the physiological and psychological aspects of trauma, HBOT offers a comprehensive approach to healing that complements traditional therapies. As research continues to uncover the therapeutic potential of HBOT, it remains a beacon of hope for those seeking relief from the debilitating effects of PTSD. If you or a loved one are experiencing PTSD symptoms, consider exploring HBOT as part of a comprehensive treatment plan tailored to your unique needs and goals. Contact us for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Supporting Mental Health: Our Comprehensive Approach to Healing

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Picture of Nate Wiechmann, D.C., laughing with a patient at Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic

At Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic, we understand the interconnectedness of physical and mental well-being. That’s why we offer a range of services designed to support mental health and holistic healing.

Here’s how our comprehensive approach can benefit you:

  1. Chiropractic Care: Chiropractic adjustments play a crucial role in supporting mental health by promoting alignment and balance in the nervous system. Misalignments in the spine can interfere with nerve function and disrupt the body’s ability to cope with stress. Through gentle and precise adjustments, we realign the spine, alleviate nerve interference and restore harmony to the nervous system. This can help individuals experience greater emotional stability, improved mood, and enhanced overall well-being.
  2. Autonomic Response Testing: Autonomic Response Testing, or ART, is a non-invasive assessment technique that evaluates the body’s response to various stressors. By identifying imbalances in the autonomic nervous system, ART helps uncover underlying factors contributing to mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression and trauma. With ART, we can personalize treatment plans to address your unique needs and promote emotional balance.
  3. Emotion/Body Code Work: Emotion and body code work focuses on releasing trapped emotions and restoring energetic balance within the body. Through gentle yet powerful techniques, we can identify and release emotional baggage that may be contributing to mental health challenges. By addressing emotional imbalances, we support overall well-being and promote a greater sense of inner peace and resilience.
  4. Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT): Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, promoting oxygenation of tissues throughout the body, including the brain. By delivering concentrated oxygen to the body’s tissues, HBOT promotes cellular repair and regeneration, reduces inflammation and enhances cognitive function. Research suggests that HBOT may also be beneficial for individuals struggling with conditions like anxiety, depression, PTSD and other mental health conditions.

We’re committed to providing holistic care that addresses the root causes of mental health concerns. Whether you’re seeking relief from anxiety, depression or trauma-related symptoms, we are here to support you on your healing journey. Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help you achieve optimal mental health and well-being. Or, use our online scheduling tool to book an appointment.

What to Expect During Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

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Curious about hyperbaric oxygen therapy? Here’s what you can expect during a typical session at our Council Bluffs clinic.

You’ll lay in our HBOT chamber while breathing in pressurized oxygen — up to 3x the amount in the everyday environment. This helps pump oxygen to your body’s tissues, promoting healing, reducing inflammation and supporting overall wellness.

Once inside the chamber, you’ll hear air beginning to circulate. There are two windows at the top of the chamber — one on each end — where you’ll be able to see and talk to us. And we’ll communicate with you the whole time so you know what to expect.

As the chamber fills with air, you may experience a full sensation in your ears, similar to changing altitudes in an airplane or driving up a mountain. Once the chamber reaches its prescribed pressure, the fullness in your ears should subside.

You can take items inside the chamber with you, so you can listen to music or your favorite podcast, catch up on some reading, or just use the time to relax.

Near the end of your session, we’ll gradually decrease the pressure. This is the decompression phase, which usually lasts about 5-10 minutes. During decompression, you may experience an automatic “popping” sensation in your ears as a result of the decreasing pressure — again, just like you’d feel on an airplane.

After that, you’re free to go about your day or stick around for an adjustment. Either way, you’ll continue reaping benefits from the chamber long after your session ends. (But depending on your situation, you may want or need a few more.)

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, managing a chronic condition or simply looking to optimize your health, hyperbaric oxygen therapy is where it’s at!

In particular, it can help provide relief fo:

  • Anemia
  • Brain abscesses
  • Bubbles of air in blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
  • Burns
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Crushing injuries
  • Deafness
  • Decompression sickness
  • Gangrene
  • Infections
  • Lung issues
  • Nonhealing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
  • Radiation injuries and skin grafts
  • Sports injuries, including medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries and concussions

Contact us to learn more or use our online scheduling tool to book a session. (New patients get $25 their first one! Available in Council Bluffs only.)

FAQs About Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy

We’re thrilled to announce that we’re now offering hyperbaric oxygen therapy at our Council Bluffs clinic. Read on to learn how it works and what you can expect during and after treatment.

Picture of Dr. Nate Wiechmann helping a patient climb into the hyperbaric oxygen therapy chamber at Pott. County Sports & Family Chiropractic

What is hyperbaric oxygen therapy?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy involves lying inside a pressurized chamber that releases 95-100% pure oxygen. Often, pressure in the chamber is between 1.5 and 3 times greater than normal air pressure. When your blood carries this extra oxygen throughout your body, it helps fight bacteria and stimulate the release of growth factors and stem cells, which promotes healing. With repeated treatments, the extra oxygen can help increase your normal oxygen levels, even after the session ends. This means you can continue reaping benefits of the treatment long after you leave.

What are the benefits of hyperbaric medicine?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (or hyperbaric medicine) has become a popular recovery tool for athletes and non-athletes alike. The non-invasive treatment option can be beneficial for anyone looking to obtain better overall health and wellness. In particular, it can help provide relief for the following conditions:

  • Anemia
  • Brain abscesses
  • Bubbles of air in blood vessels (arterial gas embolism)
  • Burns
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Crushing injuries
  • Deafness
  • Decompression sickness
  • Gangrene
  • Infections
  • Nonhealing wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers
  • Radiation injuries and skin grafts
  • Sports injuries, including medial collateral ligament (MCL) and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries
  • Traumatic brain injuries and concussions
  • Vision loss

Other benefits include:

  • Increasing collagen production
  • Reducing pain and inflammation
  • Speeding up recovery time after an infection, sprain, strain, concussion or head injury
  • Decreasing the risk of re-injury

Is hyperbaric oxygen therapy safe?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is a safe, non-invasive treatment option. A typical session at our clinic lasts about an hour, and the pressure is constantly monitored to ensure your safety and comfort. However, hyperbaric medicine is not right for everyone. You shouldn’t receive hyperbaric oxygen therapy if you:

  • Have certain types of lung diseases or a collapsed lung
  • Are experiencing a cold or a fever, or have tested positive for COVID-19 within 24 hours
  • Recently had ear surgery or have a history of ear problems
  • Do not like small enclosed spaces (claustrophobia)

In some cases, patients may experience the following side effects, which resolve within a few hours:

  • Fatigue or lightheadedness
  • Sinus pressure
  • Fluid buildup or ear discomfort

Can hyperbaric medicine be used in conjunction with other treatments?

Yes. Like many of the services provided at our clinics, hyperbaric medicine works well in conjunction with other treatments, including chiropractic adjustments, trigger point dry needling, soft tissue therapy and laser therapy.

Is hyperbaric medicine covered by insurance?

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is an out-of-pocket expense. For your convenience, we offer competitive cash pricing options (see below).

How much does hyperbaric oxygen therapy cost?

We offer competitive pricing for hyperbaric oxygen therapy:

  • $75 for a one-hour session / $50 for your first session
  • $350 for five one-hour sessions ($25 savings)
  • $700 for 10 one-hour sessions ($50 savings)
  • $1,025 for 15 one-hour sessions ($100 savings)
  • $1,300 for 20 one-hour sessions ($150 savings)

To book an appointment, use our online scheduling tool, or contact us for details.