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

Correct diagnosis of fibromyalgia is very elusive. It is a disorder that is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Symptoms sometimes begin after a physical trauma, surgery, infection, or significant psychological stress. In other cases, symptoms gradually accumulate over time with no single triggering event. If you have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., can best help manage your symptoms.   Chiropractic medicine is an alternative form of treatment that uses spinal manipulation and realignment to relieve pain, improve function, and promote natural healing. Chiropractic has been studied in many chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia. Chiropractic care has consistently ranked as one of the therapeutic approaches that offer the most relief for the fibromyalgia patient. Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., can provide you with ultrasound and electrical stimulation in the treatment program, which ma...

Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C. recommends chiropractic adjustments for migraine sufferers who have yet to find relief. Chiropractic treatment will not cure migraines, but it is one of the few ways to be proactive against migraines and help prevent them.  In someone prone to migraine episodes, a trigger can often be a misalignment, or subluxation of the spine.  Migraines can begin with tension in the neck, but even patients without migraines find keeping their neck free of kinks helps improve frequent headaches. Dysfunctional vertebrae in the neck can cause increased muscle tension and interrupt the nerves that control blood flow to the brain. Chiropractic adjustments relieve the pressure and tension that results in headaches, and keep the spine aligned to help it function at its best. The exact cause of migraines is unknown, but most theories acknowledge an interruption in either nerve activity, blood flow to the brain, or both.  Regular chiropractic adjustments also help facilitate health...

Chiropractic care is typically sought out by people seeking relief from neck or back pain.  Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., is also skilled in treating extremities like the knees, elbows, and the shoulders. The shoulder joint is the body’s most mobile joint. It is surrounded by nerves, tendons, bursa, and other tissues which can all experience irritation and cause pain. This complex structure means that shoulder pain can have many causes and may require your chiropractor to assess your overall health and condition to target the root of the problem.  Whether pain began after an injury or has increased over time, chiropractic treatment is a safe and effective way to treat damage to both hard and soft tissue.  When shoulder pain is caused by joint irritation, relief can often be achieved through an adjustment.  Pain in the muscles can be addressed by massage or stimulation therapy, and your chiropractor will recommend exercise and stretches if needed.  If you are suffering from pain in the sh...

Chronic pain can range from mild to excruciating or can be episodic as well as continuous. Though chronic pain may originate with an initial trauma/injury or infection, some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past body damage. If you are experiencing mild to severe pain that does not go away, pain that may be described as shooting, burning, or aching, or you are feeling discomfort or stiffness of some kind, please give Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., a call to discuss treatment options.    Treatment for chronic pain depends on where the pain is stemming from and located. When visiting Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., will perform a physical examination and assess your ability to sit, stand, walk and lift your legs. Depending on the type of pain present, Dr. Robert L. Larson, D.C., will work with the patient to develop an individualized treatment plan that suits his or her needs. The ultimate goal is to provide the patient with treatment that will keep the body functioning at its h...

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...