Extremities & Joints
Joint Dysfunction & Restricted Mobility
A joint that is not moving through its expected range, with or without pain.
Also called: Restricted joint mobility, Stiff joint.
Restriction may follow injury, inactivity, protective guarding, or joint change. Identifying which is the point of the examination, since each responds differently.
A joint does not need to be painful to be restricted, and a restriction does not always announce itself until it affects a specific movement or activity.
Why this matters
Restriction in one joint is usually compensated for somewhere else, which is how problems spread from an area that feels fine to one that eventually hurts.
Addressing a restriction early, before compensation patterns build up elsewhere, is generally more straightforward than addressing several linked problems at once.
The brain & nervous-system connection
Where the nervous system fits in
Joints supply position information. Reduced movement means reduced information reaching the nervous system about where that part of the body is in space.
Restoring available movement in a restricted joint can support more accurate position sense and more efficient movement patterns overall.
What we look at
We look for patterns, not a single test
- Detailed health history and consultation
- NeuroInfiniti Stress Response Evaluation
- Posture and movement
- Balance and coordination testing
- Eye movement or neurological screening when appropriate
- Grip or motor-function testing when appropriate
- Palpation and spinal function
- Other examination procedures based on the individual
Not every person receives every test. What we perform depends on your history, your age and what the examination shows as we go.
Scope of care
What this does — and doesn't — mean
What we do
- • We evaluate chiropractic and musculoskeletal function.
- • We look at nervous-system-related functional findings that fall within our scope.
- • We assess movement, balance and coordination findings.
- • We measure stress-response patterns with the NeuroInfiniti evaluation.
- • We make individualized chiropractic care recommendations and re-measure over time.
What we don't claim
- • We do not diagnose, treat or cure diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a treatment for dementia, Alzheimer's disease or other neurological diseases.
- • Chiropractic care is not a replacement for medical care, testing or medication.
- • No outcome is promised. Results vary from person to person.
Common questions
- Will I be adjusted on the first visit?
- Generally no. The first visit is an evaluation visit. Dr. Geran reviews the findings and makes recommendations at the follow-up visit.
- Do I need imaging before I come in?
- Not usually. If your history or examination suggests imaging is needed, we will say so and help arrange the right next step.
When medical evaluation may be needed
Some symptoms need medical evaluation first. If anything in your history or examination suggests that, we will say so and help point you in the right direction.
Related at Foothills Chiropractic
- Joint Pain & Staying Active — Shoulders, hips, knees, ankles — extremity function matters as much as the spine.
- Achilles Tendinopathy — Pain and stiffness in the Achilles tendon, usually load-related.
- Ankle Instability — A repeatedly rolling or unreliable ankle, usually following earlier sprains.
- Ankle Pain — Pain or restriction at the ankle, often after an old injury.
Think Foothills Chiropractic might be right for you?
Start Here walks you through what the process looks like, so you can decide whether taking the next step makes sense for you.