Now is a better time than any to see a chiropractor, said Dr. Mike Urban, owner and sole practitioner at Urban Chiropractic Spine and Sports Clinic, 20102 Center Ridge Road, Rocky River. The reason: with President Obama’s recently proposed health care reform, many people are concerned health care will become more expensive and want to take preventative medical measures while they can.

Chiropractic is not just about treating lower back pain, which is a common misconception, said Urban, who is a chiropractic physician, exercise specialist, certified strength and conditioning specialist and is certified in active release techniques. Chiropractic is about overall wellness and well-being.

Some of the services he provides include decompression, active release technique (ART), which is a massage technique for overused soft tissues, and light therapy. He treats a variety of conditions, including carpal tunnel, back and shoulder pain, headaches and athletic injuries.

“I want to take care of the physical side, such as what is hurting, the chemical side, such as what are we eating, and the emotional side, such as stressors that can make us more prone to injury,” Urban said. “It’s a triage of things.”

For pain or discomfort, Urban looks at the spine, and through physical examination, evaluation of medical history, muscle and neurological tests and sometimes X-rays or MRIs, learns what part isn’t moving properly.

When Urban finds the subluxation, which means partial dislocation, he fixes it by adjusting it and lets the body heal itself. If the spine is dislocated, it could be pinching a nerve and causing pain. The adjustment is not painful, which is another misconception about chiropractic, he said.

Urban doesn’t just adjust the body physically, though. He sits down and talks with patients about their lifestyle to pinpoint what may be causing the pain and helps determine how to correct it. This can include diet change or simple exercises to relax the muscles. He has a built-in training facility that includes a vibration plate and can easily illustrate helpful exercises because he used to be an in-home personal trainer.

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