Dr. Philip R. Schalow D. C.

Chiropractor

4519 Highcrest Road Rockford Illinois, 61107 Show map

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About

Dr. Philip Schalow is a Chiropractor practicing in Rockford, Illinois. Dr. Schalow 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. Schalow seeks to reduce pain and discomfort through manipulation and adjustment of the spine.

Dr. Philip R. Schalow D. C.'s Videos

Education and Training

DC at Palmer College of Chiropractic

Provider Details

MaleEnglish 16 years of experience

Dr. Philip R. Schalow D. C.

Dr. Philip R. Schalow D. C.'s Expert Contributions

My Answers

Are there exercises to manage gout pain?
Gout is considered a chemistry problem that can be alleviated by cleaning up your diet. Historically, it was considered a disease caused by alcohol use, but over the last century, we have discovered that there are other things that can precipitate this problem. One medical doctor patient of mine cured himself of gout by changing his diet. You would need to look at a diet like the Paleo Diet. Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
Can a chiropractor help my son with his posture?
Upper cervical chiropractic has been shown many times over to help a child get back on track with developmental milestones. When there is a slight misalignment of the top bones of the neck, it directly interferes with communication between the brain - which is trying to tell the muscles to behave, tone up and balance out - and the body below. I have seen many children heal and get stronger with upper cervical chiropractic. Now, your question about risks is important to address. The biggest risk is that the misalignment doesn't get fully corrected. Then the child won't respond the way we want. For that reason, you will want to select an upper cervical chiropractor who uses a procedure that both defines the goal for the correction and verifies that it was achieved. Three upper cervical procedures follow that plan: NUCCA (National Upper Cervical Chiropractic Association), Orthospinology (orthospinology.org), and Atlas Orthogonal. The first two have a website that can locate a doctor for you, the third you have to hunt. Best of luck, Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
I am suffering from neck and shoulder pain since I was a child. What should I do?
There could be an extra rib putting pressure on the nerves and blood vessels in the base of the neck. A qualified upper cervical chiropractor can evaluate the signs, take the appropriate X-rays, and discover the elements that might be contributing to your problem. The upper cervical chiropractor specializes in very small misalignments of the neck bones that create pinched nerves and symptoms like what you are describing. If there are extra ribs, chiropractic or other types of manual therapy that only work on soft tissue could also help. Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
My husband has a bone growth in his ankle. What should we do?
Sounds like a job for an orthopedic surgeon. I would first check with the primary doctor, get an X-ray of the foot, find out what the X-ray says, and then follow directions. The next referral could be to a surgeon or a podiatrist, or even some other type of practitioner. But certainly find out through X-ray imaging what that thing looks like. Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
I am having severe neck pain. What could be the reason?
First step, emergency room to rule out meningitis. Next step primary care doctor to rule out physical damage to bones, ligaments (MRI shows ligament damage if they do a proton density sequence), and rule out other infectious disease that is causing lymph node swelling. If they don't find anything find an upper cervical chiropractor who will do tests to get to the cause of what you're feeling in the cervical spine. READ MORE
I have just suffered a slip Disc. After how long can I start by back exercises?
The answer to your question depends on what type of doctor gave you the advice. Check out the book "Backache, stress and tension" by Hans Kraus. There are some very good guidelines for getting your back strengthened again. But it depends on what actually happened with your "slipped" disc. If the balance of your spine was actually corrected, which is what upper cervical chiropractic helps with, then it should be about a week before you can get back into workouts. If you had a shot in the back or surgery, there are different conditions present which will dictate how to care for the problem. I would stay in close contact with your health care practitioner and follow instructions carefully. Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
My left shoulder is broader than the right. Is this a growth problem?
I wouldn't worry about asymmetry of the body. It is a good thing to have a qualified upper cervical chiropractor evaluate you for a twisted spine. Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
Is it bad to suddenly stop chiropractic care?
So it sounds like you are asking if you are worth the risk of not having chiropractic in your life. There are many types of chiropractic, and depending on your activity and stress level, you may need more attention. But having said that, it's certainly possible that you may not be working with the best chiropractic procedure for you. How often have you been going? How much do you have to pay when you do get adjusted? How much does your current insurance help out? With some chiropractic procedures, it is common to have a maintenance check up and adjustment on a monthly basis. With some upper cervical chiropractic procedures, you could hold the correction for years and only require a checkup to be sure you are still holding twice a year. While it's true that insurance can help out with some costs, you might want to consider how much worth it is to you to keep your health up with chiropractic care. Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
My back hurts when I sit down. Why?
There could be a number of issues driving back pain that kicks in only when sitting down. It could be a misalignment of the pelvic structures that is creating a reflex response up the back. Not knowing your body type or how you sit, I cannot lay the blame on your posture, but even your sitting posture could be causing it. It is possible that simple exercise of appropriate type or correcting sitting posture can alleviate this pain for you. I have never had hip or leg pain, but after driving 1000 miles to Colorado in a newer Toyota Corolla with a strange seat for a six footer, I experienced severe hip and leg pain that radiated down to the knee. This got better when we arrived home and I got rid of the car. A thorough exam at a knowledgeable chiropractic office would help to understand the dynamics of your situation. Best to you! Dr. Philip R. Schalow READ MORE
Do chiropractors typically take x-rays?
Actually, taking xrays is the standard in taking care of people. In some chiropractic techniques, it is essential to discover the "architecture" of the bone structures that cause subluxation, and critically important to use those images to develop a correction strategy which resolves that subluxation. One of the other important reasons, as you have discovered, is to rule out pathology that might be causing symptoms. Bone infections, bone cancers are among those conditions that would require an alternative approach. Dr. Philip R. Schalow Upper Cervical Care Center-Rockford a division of 1st Step Chiropractic, S.C. 4519 Highcrest Rd Rockford, IL 61107 815-398-4500 wwwMyRockfordChiropractor.com READ MORE
I had back surgery. Should I see a chiropractor or avoid it?
Having had back surgery does not contraindicate the use of chiropractic. The question is what type of chiropractic procedure is best in your case. We use Upper Cervical Chiropractic procedures, because they are less invasive than other types. Chiropractors are trained in knowing how to handle patients who have had all kinds of injuries including surgeries. READ MORE