Need a chiropractic adjustment but can’t make it to the office? Ask your doctor to come to the field.
Dr. Blake Wayson, owner of Wayson Family Chiropractic in Cedar Falls, Iowa, hauls his portable adjustment table to the field to help farmers find relief in the busy seasons.
“As humans, we’re designed to move,” he says. “Whether you’re a farmer or somebody who works at a computer desk all day, that amount of sitting is too long.”
Finding Relief
Alleviating an ackey spine between appointments is easy to do in and out of the cab, according to Wayson. He says it’s all about extension.
“People think when they want to stretch their lower back, it’s good to bend over and touch their toes. But that’s the opposite of what you want to do,” he says. “You want extension, not flexion.”
Wayson suggests two extension stretches to use in the field:
1. Sit forward on the cab seat, put one hand on the wheel and elongate the back
2. Before climbing into a machine, grab the stair handrails and lean in to open the chest
Time to Call the Doctor
When the pain gets to be too much, Wayson says it’s time to see the doctor. While not all chiropractors make field calls, he says it’s something he’s willing to make a priority.
“I really miss my family farm and I could see how more of these 10-min. field calls would be appealing to me,” he says.
Wayson is more than willing to see existing patients in the field but says new patients should plan an initial office visit, as x-rays are a large part of his team’s analysis and care.
Farmers should consider pitching the field call idea to their chiropractor, according to Wayson. If the doctor has a portable adjustment table and the farmer is willing to stop for 10 minutes, he says, “relief is available.”
More on health:
Farmers’ Back Pain: Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On
Here’s Why You Need to Find Time for A Nap During the Busy Season
