Robert L. Larson, D.C., C.C.S.T.

When Billings athletes are suffering from lower back pain, Dr. Robert Larson’s chiropractic clinic will help them to heal quickly and safely. But we also value preventive care, which is why we educate athletes on how to avoid overuse injuries. Cycling is a great way to exercise without subjecting the skeletal system to impacts, but cyclists are at high risk for lower back pain if they do not avoid some common mistakes. It is important for a bicycle’s frame to be fitted to the rider. Cyclists may change their posture while riding, but if the handlebars are too far forward, having to stretch to reach them will put strain on their lower backs. Many peoples’ legs are also slightly different lengths, and while this wouldn’t usually make much of a difference, having to compensate for this over a long period of time could lead to muscle strain. Lower back pain is a common problem even in professional cyclists, suggesting that poorly fitted equipment is not the only issue. While it is necessar...

Dr. Robert Larson has long been recognized as one of the most comprehensive providers of chiropractic care in the Billings area. As part of his training, he is certified in the Gonstead technique for providing adjustments. This technique allows us to treat patients’ back pain with more specificity and less invasiveness. Misalignments in the base of the spine will result in misalignments higher up. If there is a problem with weight distribution at the level of the pelvic girdle, for example, the body may compensate by redistributing weight in the upper back, resulting in strained muscles and pinched discs. While treatments to the upper back may alleviate such a patient’s pain, they will not fix the problem. The Gonstead technique was developed to allow chiropractors to identify and treat all of the problems with a patient’s alignment. Gonstead practitioners use a device called a nervoscope to detect unusual amounts of heat in a patient’s spine, which could be the location of inflammatio...

Pain in the lower back can be a nuisance whether we are performing daily activities, sleeping, or sitting all day due to a desk job. Pain that develops in the low back can be a result of conditions that affect the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, as well as muscles of the low back. If you are bothered by lower back aches and pains, Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., can bring you back to optimal health. Your hip flexors are vital for proper posture, walking, running, and standing upright, so naturally, you want to keep them at their highest performance level. Unfortunately, sitting for long periods of time allows the muscle to become accustomed to the seated position as normal, causing pain when you stand. Treatment for lower back pain depends on the patient’s health history and the severity of the pain level. In addition, the vast majority of lower back pain can improve over a course of six weeks with non-surgical treatment. If you have qu...

As spinal wellness practitioners, we at the Billings chiropractic office of Dr. Robert Larson want our patients to understand how to maintain their own preventive care. In order to protect their backs, patients must first understand how their backs work, which is why we want to make sure they know the basics of spinal anatomy. The bones of the back are scientifically known as vertebrae, and they are linked by a complex system of joints, spongy discs, muscles, and ligaments. Vertebrae have hollow arches in back which together make up the spinal canal, through which the spinal cord runs from the brain to the thighs. Additional nerves branch off it to the rest of the body. At the top of the spinal column is a specialized vertebra called the atlas, which allows the head to move up and down, and below it is the axis vertebra, which rotates the head from side to side. Including the atlas and axis, the top seven vertebrae are called the cervical bones, or the neck bones. Next are the twelve t...

If you have kids, you’re probably doing your back to school shopping. A backpack is the best way for children to carry items, but not all backpacks are created equal. In order to prevent problems with muscle strains and worn-out cartilage in the future, we at Dr. Robert Larson’s chiropractic office want to provide a guide to proper backpack usage. A person should always wear both shoulder straps, and ideally, the backpack will have a strap across the chest, as well. The straps should be wide and padded. The backpack should sit on the middle of the upper back, not sagging down to the lower portion. It should weigh no more than 15% of the wearer’s bodyweight. This means that you should avoid getting a backpack with wheels or a pull-out handle or one which is disproportionately large for your child. As your child learns their schedule, they will need to plan when they can switch out books and other items so they aren’t carrying around too much. When your child leaves for school in the mor...

Scoliosis is a lateral (toward the side) curvature of the spine that occurs most often during the growth spurt just before puberty. Scoliosis is usually mild and needs no treatment; however, for more severe cases treatments include a back brace or sometimes surgery to straighten the spine.  Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., explores all non-invasive treatment options first, before deciding if surgery is necessary. A proper diagnosis of scoliosis is required to treat the curve. During an initial consultation, Dr. Robert L. Larson will perform a physical exam. During the physical exam, he will ask if there is any history of scoliosis in your family and if you have experienced any pain or weakness. He may check range of motion, muscle strength, and reflexes, but will ultimately perform something called the forward-bend test. During this test, the patient will bend over as if they are trying to touch their toes. This position makes the curve more obvious to detect. If you have questions or conce...