expert type icon EXPERT

Robert Marlin Woolery

Chiropractor

Dr. Robert Woolery is a Chiropractor practicing in Vallejo, CA. Dr. Woolery specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating conditions associated with the neuromusculoskeletal system, while improving each patients functionality and quality of life. Conditions treated include sciatica, neck pain, and arthritis pain, among many others. Dr. Woolery seeks to reduce pain and discomfort through manipulation and adjustment of the spine.
33 years Experience
Robert Marlin Woolery
  • Vallejo, CA
  • Life Chiropractic College West
  • Accepting new patients

Can too much sitting cause back pain?

Sitting needs to be balanced by walking; otherwise it will cause back pain. Walking in chest deep water is excellent for unloading joints while performing normal gait and helps READ MORE
Sitting needs to be balanced by walking; otherwise it will cause back pain. Walking in chest deep water is excellent for unloading joints while performing normal gait and helps muscle coordination while maintaining range of motion.

What treatment is the most effective for scoliosis?

This depends greatly on age. An 8 yo. child can, with effective adjustment, avoid the excess curvature that gets tagged as Scoliosis. After 12 or 14, the strategies shift to prevention READ MORE
This depends greatly on age. An 8 yo. child can, with effective adjustment, avoid the excess curvature that gets tagged as Scoliosis. After 12 or 14, the strategies shift to prevention of progression and getting the joints of the spine working as well as possible. What you can do specifically is work with a chiropractor to get you neck aligned, so the nerves and muscles in your spine work properly

Can exercises help with the swollen knee?

Swollen knees are best managed with Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Exercise is best deferred till the swelling is down. Ice 20 minutes at a time, with an hour or two between READ MORE
Swollen knees are best managed with Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Exercise is best deferred till the swelling is down. Ice 20 minutes at a time, with an hour or two between icings. Elevation of the legs above your heart daily for 20-30 minutes. Compression with either an Ace bandage or a Velcro knee brace (Drug store item) however long it's swollen helps the fluid be reabsorbed. If it's still painful or unstable once the swelling is down, see your Chiropractor, Physical Therapist or Athletic Trainer.

Can massage heal shoulder joint pain?

Massage, even self massage can help. In particular, using a ball to to focus force on Pectoralis minor, working on an outside corner and rolling the ball between the shoulder and READ MORE
Massage, even self massage can help. In particular, using a ball to to focus force on Pectoralis minor, working on an outside corner and rolling the ball between the shoulder and the wall can help get the resting position of the shoulder back works well. Search Youtube for Coach E, who has an excellent video on this. The other very helpful move is to back up to a wall or door, putting your butt, shoulders,and elbows against the wall. With the forearms vertical and wrists as close to the wall as you can. Then raise and lower the arms. There are often issues with the neck which contribute to shoulder dysfunction. That's where a DC comes in.

What is the treatment for elbow pain?

Adjusting the neck as needed, and the elbow itself can pay dividends.

Can you help with scoliosis?

We can help the parts you have to work better. Sadly, once you are over about 12, no non surgical treatment will straighten your spine.

Can massage ease neck pain?

yes, but often does not get at the underlying issue. Neck pain often reflects a miscalibration of joint [position sense. That's what we address as chiropractors.

Pubic bone

It appears you were put off by a pubic adjustment with an Activator. This is a legitimate correction. I was taught both this and a hand adjustment while in school. The doctor READ MORE
It appears you were put off by a pubic adjustment with an Activator. This is a legitimate correction. I was taught both this and a hand adjustment while in school. The doctor apparently did not sufficiently explain his intent in advance, These corrections can help resolve pelvic or lumbopelvic pain syndromes when indicated.

Can you fix upper back pain?

Yes, of course. That is part of the spine. Muscle problems around the rotator cuff are common. And rib joint dysfunctions can be very painful.

How can neck pain be fixed?

The flippant answer would be " Come see us, and we'll do what we can". In this office, we find that many painsand dysfunctions issues arise from the joint between the skull and READ MORE
The flippant answer would be " Come see us, and we'll do what we can". In this office, we find that many painsand dysfunctions issues arise from the joint between the skull and the top bone of the neck, tha atlas. Since parts of the brain stem extend down to as low as C4, these are often involved. At home, Ice is your friend. A bag of frozen peas on the painful area for 15 minutes at a time, every two or three hours will go a long way. To the extent that misalignment is important, a successful chiropractic adjustment is needed.

Can I correct scoliosis without surgery?

Once past about twelve, there is no straightening a scoliosis; careful chiropractic care can help your spine work better. Spinal surgery often has disappointing outcomes.

Is a hot shower good for lower back pain?

It depends on the cause of the pain. If it's arthritic pain or other pain of longstanding origin, a hot shower works. If the pain is from a recent trauma or relatively new injury, READ MORE
It depends on the cause of the pain. If it's arthritic pain or other pain of longstanding origin, a hot shower works. If the pain is from a recent trauma or relatively new injury, ice is superior to heat. (Look at the example of football players, when one is injured on the field, the coaches pack him in ice, not heat.)

How serious is a spinal compression fracture surgery?

Surgery of any sort is entirely outside my scope of practice. There are surgeons who claim to restore the normal shape of the compressed vertebral body and maintain the more normal READ MORE
Surgery of any sort is entirely outside my scope of practice. There are surgeons who claim to restore the normal shape of the compressed vertebral body and maintain the more normal shape by filling the void with some sort of cement. Spinal surgery has a depressing track record, about 50% being no worse at 5 years post surgery than they were when they first consulted, with the other half being worse. I would expect that long term compatibility of the cement to be the biggest issue.

How long does it take to recover from elbow surgery?

That depends on you and the particular surgery. Ask your MD and PT - they can give you better answers.

What position should you sleep in if you have lower back pain?

A neutral sleeping posture, on your back with the neck supported on a small pillow, or on your side with enough thickness of pillow to bring the head and neck into line with the READ MORE
A neutral sleeping posture, on your back with the neck supported on a small pillow, or on your side with enough thickness of pillow to bring the head and neck into line with the lower spine. Belly sleeping with the head turned is apt to make spinal pain worse. A pillow between the knees is often recommended and found helpful.

Is it safe to go to a chiropractor with scoliosis?

If you are over the age of about 8, we cannot straighten your spine. What we Can do is get the bent parts you have to work better. A chiropractor is not going to hurt you, and READ MORE
If you are over the age of about 8, we cannot straighten your spine. What we Can do is get the bent parts you have to work better. A chiropractor is not going to hurt you, and many offices use very low force procedures to improve your overall balance.

What helps back pain from scoliosis?

As you probably know, once a person with scoliosis grows to full stature, nobody is going to straighten out the spine, short of surgical insertion of Harrington Rods. Regular chiropractic READ MORE
As you probably know, once a person with scoliosis grows to full stature, nobody is going to straighten out the spine, short of surgical insertion of Harrington Rods. Regular chiropractic care can reduce the symptoms, making the parts you have work the best they can, and is safer than either pain pills or surgery.

Can back surgery help sciatica?

Spinal surgery on the whole has a roughly 50% success rate. The rub is in the definition of success: You are, 5 years after the surgery, *no worse* than you were when you first READ MORE
Spinal surgery on the whole has a roughly 50% success rate. The rub is in the definition of success: You are, 5 years after the surgery, *no worse* than you were when you first consulted with the MD. One should explore options, especially including upper cervical chiropractic care. Physical therapists do a marvellous job of choosing appropriate exercises, but sadly, most people do not do them. I have personal experience here, as I had sciatica for 35 years in the aftermath of a high speed head on when I was a ten year old child. Adjusting my low back gave 2 or 3 days relief, but once my C1 and C2 were successfully adjusted, the sciatica drifted away.

What are the treatment options for a sports hernia?

Sorry, this is not my area of expertise... You can fix it internally or externally, but I cannot answer that question.

Is chiropractic adjustment good for bulging disc?

Sure. Most disc bulges respond well to self care: Ice where it hurts 20 minutes on, 1 hour off whenever you are awake. Get on all fours and do cat and camel exercises several times READ MORE
Sure. Most disc bulges respond well to self care: Ice where it hurts 20 minutes on, 1 hour off whenever you are awake. Get on all fours and do cat and camel exercises several times a day. Avoid NSAIDs, Tylenol, Aspirin, all of which slow recovery. Disc bulges, even sequestered fragments heal well with time; the subdural space is lousy with Macrophages, white blood cells that gobble up what doesn't belong there. Adjustments assist in healing in good alignment. If you do nothing but ice when and where you hurt, you are way ahead of the game.