By combining chiropractic and orthopedic care, doctors at Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics are able to help patients more effectively rehabilitate from injury. Learn how these disciplines can combine to treat people of all ages.
In an age of increasingly narrowed medical specialties, some savvy doctors are offering compatible disciplines to focus more closely on their patients’ physical needs and broaden the scope of what they’re able to do for them.
One example is Dr. Jacob G. Caraotta, a physician who is board-certified in Chiropractic and Orthopedic medicine. In the Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics clinic, doctors practice chiropractic and orthopedic medicine, enabling patients to regain optimal health naturally.
“Upon completing three years of pre-med, I was accepted at the National College of Chiropractic, and entered the five-year program, where I obtained a B.S. in human biology and a Doctor of Chiropractic degree,” Caraotta says. “After practicing three years, I entered the orthopedic program, and 4 years later, upon passing two national boards, I became a non-surgical orthopedist.”
Along with Dr. Caraotta, Drs. Angienszka Cluchey, Lance Myers and Nicholas Micka also practice chiropractic and non-surgical orthopedics, and are trained in advanced muscular rehabilitation, treating every muscle, bone and joint throughout the body.
Caraotta explains that his concern for people hampered by pain and dysfunction began at an early age.
“One summer day, we were riding down a dusty road and slowed down as we passed this white house in which a man, I’m guessing in his 70s, was carrying a box down the stairs,” he recalls. “I couldn’t help but notice that he was looking at the ground and at each step as he slowly descended the stairs. Being a pre-teen at that time, I remember asking my uncle, who was a physician, why some older people move slowly and look at the ground when walking. My wise uncle replied, ‘They are just being careful.’”
Today, Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics is a full rehabilitation facility located at 4921 E. State St. It offers the best in chiropractic care as well as non-surgical orthopedic care, physical therapy, sports medicine, occupational medicine and nutrition for all ages, from infants to seniors.
“We pride ourselves on quickly rehabilitating routine conditions, as well as difficult conditions, such as slipped discs, rotator cuff shoulder injuries, scoliosis, arthritis, neck and back pain, as well as knee, ankle and foot disorders,” Caraotta says.
Most of Caraotta’s patients come to the office with pain syndromes, and are not aware of the comprehensive preventive aspect of the practice. Caraotta assists patients in overcoming difficulties pertaining to immobility, stiffness and swelling, inflammation of joints and residual pain from old traumas and illnesses that were not sufficiently treated. In some cases, he explains, improper treatment of joint trauma can result in arthritic syndromes.
“It’s not uncommon for us to find osteoarthritis on x-rays. This happens when the cartilage between the vertebra or joints wear down and the vertebra or bones are approximated,” he says. “This condition is not only caused by heredity, but also by trauma, long-term immobility of a spinal segment or joint and improper rehabilitation after an injury.”
He adds, “Routine chiropractic treatment mobilizes joints and minimizes wear and tear in spinal segments.”
Patients who are on wellness programs or preventative chiropractic care usually stay active longer, have minimal arthritic changes and are more productive in the latter years of life, says Caraotta.
“We tell patients that the more active we keep their joints, the more active they will be, – and the more active they are, the healthier they are,” Caraotta says.
The physicians at Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics are active in the community.
“We’ve been the team physicians for semi-professional football teams for more than 15 years,” he says.
Caraotta was entered into the Roscoe Rush Hall of Fame last year for dedicating more than a decade of professional service to the team.
“Because of our reputation with treating sports injuries on a professional level, we tend to see a lot of high school athletes, and work closely with coaches and trainers to quickly rehabilitate athletes, while attempting to keep them in the game during in the process,” he says. “We also see a lot of weekend warriors.
“We have four doctors in our office who are very community oriented. We often partner with organizations and give safety classes and screenings in industries, at no charge the employer. This is our way to give back to the community and make them aware of the vast services we have to offer.”
Caraotta adds, “If an employer is interested in having one of our doctors perform a lecture on a particular health topic, put on a safety class and/or perform a screening, they could contact us through our website, orthochiro.com, or call our office at (815) 398-4004.”
Caraotta Chiropractic Orthopedics has an Injury Care Center and treats individuals who have sustained work or automobile injuries.
“We find that the more expediently we examine and begin treatment after an injury, the greater the responsiveness, which in turn greatly decreases the duration of treatment necessary to restore a patient to pre-injury status,” Caraotta says. “With having four doctors in our practice, we’re set up to arrange for same-day appointments in injury cases.”
The clnic’s doctors and staff are not only set up to rehabilitate patients, but also to teach them what they could do to prevent future injuries.
“We offer spinal and joint rehabilitation classes, free of charge, to our patients and their family members,” Caraotta says. “Individuals who attend these classes are instructed in prevention and things they can do at home to take stress off their joints to speed up the healing process.
“We combine chiropractic and orthopedics by advancing patients through four phases of care: relief, correction, strengthening and wellness care. Once we get a patient out of pain, we instruct them in range of motion, then give them strengthening exercises. These exercises are important because they help a patient hold their adjustment better and longer.”
Caraotta says his staff is dedicated to helping patients regain and maintain the best in health, enabling them to stay more active in their early and latter years of life.
“Our motto is ‘do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act,’” he adds.
This is why Caraotta emphasizes the importance of considering chiropractic care in the same way patients consider other medical concerns.
“People think nothing of routinely seeing their primary doctors, eye doctors, dentists and other medical professionals, on a regular basis, not only to treat existing conditions but also to prevent new ones,” Caraotta says. “Chiropractic should be included. By maintaining good spinal and skeletal health, and correcting small conditions, we can help patients to avoid more painful and debilitating problems down the road.”
Caraotta says 80 percent of spinal and structural pain and immobility can be successfully treated without surgery.
“Surgery is the last resort and only recommended when absolutely necessary,” he explains.
While Caraotta’s practice is based on nonsurgical treatments, he refers to surgeons when necessary. His office works with a variety of medical specialties for the benefit of the patient. When surgery is recommended, the process by which he treats patients differs.
“When surgery is necessary, we often recommend that patients undergo pre-op therapy to condition the affected area for a better surgical outcome,” he concludes. “After surgery, the patient’s body is better conditioned to accept and respond to post-op therapy and their recovery is more rapid.”
Caraotta recommends that anyone seeking orthopedic or chiropractic treatment can visit his website to request an appointment online and to learn about the conditions their clinic treats, methods used and general information about their practice.