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Chiropractic Therapy & Rehab Services

Chiropractic is many things: a philosophy - a science - an art.  The foundation upon which it is built is the realization that health is the body's normal state, and good health is perfectly natural.
 
Chiropractic holds that the body possesses a unique internal wisdom that continually strives to maintain it in a state of good health.  It is the innate, instinctive intelligence, that is also the guiding force, which allows our body to adapt naturally to the influences of internal and external environment, and controls our heart rate, BP, adrenaline production, and other vital body functions.
 
To a great extent, the ability of the body to maintain good health is dependent on its ability to adapt to the environment.  Ensuring this capability is one of nature's most remarkable communication networks: the nervous system, comprised of the brain, the spine and the nerves.
 
The brain sends mental impulses to each of the more than 100 trillion cells in the body, instructing them how to function properly.  At the same time, each part of the body is sending the brain information based on its internal and external environment at that moment.
 
As the brain receives and processes this information, it sends out revised commands so that the body will adequately respond to its surroundings and maintain the optimum level of good health.
 
These mental impulses are transmitted to and from the brain via nerves, passing through the spine.  Vertebrae in the spine can- and frequently do- become misaligned and interfere with the body's natural communication process.  These misalignments, called subluxation, cause messages transmitted over the spine to become garbled, modified, or diminished.  As a result, the body's response is inadequate to adapt properly.
 
As the natural ability to adapt and respond to its environment is reduced, the body's ability to respond to challenges to its health is likewise reduced and poor health results.
 
Chiropractic seeks to identify and analyze subluxation.  Whenever possible, the doctor of chiropractic re-opens the body's natural communication network by adjusting the misaligned spinal segment back to its correct position.  With nerve function improved, bodily processes are permitted to become more normal, and the body is better able to return to its natural striving towards good health.
 
Chiropractic's concern then is with the correction of subluxation.  Its aim is to ensure that the body's natural health-ensuring processes are allowed to fuciton without nerve interference due to misaligned vertebrae.  It does NOT provide "sickness" care - "disease" care - or "symptom" care.  It provides HEALTH CARE.
 
As a philosophy, chiropractic recognizes that the body has a natural ability to express its health potential to the fullest.
 
As a science, it deals with the relationship between the spinal segments and the nerve system, and the effect this relationship has on the body's innate ability to express and maintain its good health.
 
As an art, it entails knowledge, skill and dexterity to locate and correct subluxation that can rob the body of the ability to maintain its own health.
 
 
What to Expect on Your 1st Visit
 
Most patients are in pain when they schedule their first visit.  The initial visit to my office will consist of the following:

• Intake paperwork; you will complete a health history form as well as a current complaint form as well as any necessary insurance/HIPAA forms (we will gladly email forms to you prior to your visit)
• Consultation:  We will discuss your current complaints, your health history and any other areas of concern
• Examination: a complete orthopedic and neurological examination will be performed
• X-rays: If deemed necessary after the examination, x-rays may be taken here in the office
• RELIEF! I will determine, from the consultation/examination a course of therapy for the purpose of pain relief.  If I do not feel that you are a good candidate for treatment here, you will be referred appropriately.
• Spinal Adjustment:  May or may not be performed on the first visit; it depends on the examination/x-rays/and your condition.
• A follow up visit will be scheduled if you are accepted as a patient, and home care instructions will be given to you.

What to expect on your 2nd visit

• Report of Findings:  We will have an in depth discussion of your condition/exam findings as well as my treatment recommendations
• If x-rays were taken, they will be reviewed with you
• We will address any questions you have
• Your course of treatment will begin!

Subsequent Visits

• Subsequent visits will consist of recommended treatments at a reducing frequency
• Home care and Therapeutic Exercise regimens will be demonstrated and recommended (see Therapeutic Exercises Insert for more information!)

Disc/Spinal  Decompression

Spinal disc decompression has been shown to decompress disc space and is an effective  non surgical treatment for herniated discs/degenerative spinal disc disease (the most common cause of back pain). Improvements in reflexes, gait, pain reduction, recovery of sensory and motor loss, normalization of range of motion and decreased need/use of pain medication have all been reported results in 86%-92% in clinical trials of patients with degenerative disc disease demonstrated on MRI.  Spinal decompression cycles through distraction and relaxation phases and by proper positioning a spinal disc can be isolated and placed under negative pressure causing a vacuum effect that can stimulate blood supply (and therefore a healing response) and can pull the disc back to within its normal confines, helping with pain reduction.
 
Low Level Laser Therapy
 
 
What is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)/Cold Laser?
 
Low level laser therapy (LLLT, or cold laser) is a painless sterile non invisive drug free tretment which is used to treat a variety of pain syndromes, injuries, wounds, fractures, neurological conditions, and pathologies.  LLLT/Cold Laser can be used anytime a patient requests or needs a drug less procedure for the control of pain, when conventional therapies have been ineffective, or when acceleration of healing from injuries is desired.
 
LLLt is FDA approved for relieving chronic pain in the neck and shoulder.  In studies the device increased muscle strength and range of motion and decreased inflammation.  Many times the patients get immediate relief. (based on an informal survey of chiropractic patients)
 
Interferrential Electrical Muscle Stimulation/TENS

Electrical muscle stimulation prevents and reduces muscle spasms and atrophy as well as pain.  The electrical muscle stimulation interferes with pain messages at the cord level, and causes muscle contractions and relaxation helping to pump toxins and lactic acids out of the muscle.  It also exhausts the muscle allowing it to relax.  Benefits of interferrential muscle stimulation include reduction of edema/swelling/fluid build up, pain reduction, increase of blood flow to affected tissues, and increased range of motion.
 
Gua Sha

Asian healing technique; Gua Sha means to scrape or rub. (The Graston Technique of Western Medicine is a similar technique) Sha is a reddish skin rash and is the term used to describe blood stasis in the subcutaneous tissue before and after it is raised as petechiae.  Gua Sha can be used for both acute and chronic pain; there can be aching, tenderness, or a knotting feeling in the muscles that can be relieved through GuaSha. 


Ultrasound

Ultrasound is performed over injured areas to help decease pain/inflammation, increase blood flow to injured areas and help decrease muscle spasms and promote healing.


Trigger Point Therapy

Trigger points are disruptions in muscles or tissues that can cause extreme pain / spasms/chemical irritation (toxins) and can potentially cause subluxations in the spine.  Many techniques and mechanisms can be used to treat trigger points effectively; combination of ultrasound and electrical muscle stimulation sends a pulsed current to the affected muscles/tissues to decrease or prevent the spasms.

 
Mechanica/Traction

Mechanical Traction is a very successful non-surgical procedure for relieving low back, neck, arm, and leg pain . It is also a highly effective treatment for patients suffering with carpal tunnel syndrome and herniated or degenerated discs. Mechanical Traction reduces the pressure on discs through a gentle traction force, allowing for improved circulation and exchange of fluids within the disc. 

 
Soft Tissue Techniques/Myofascial Release

Specific hands-on techniques are used to release the fascia in areas that are adhesed or are restricting movement/motion.  Myofascial Release is a form of soft tissue therapy which includes, but is not limited to, structural assessments and manual massage techniques for stretching the fascia (Fascia is a seamless web of connective tissue that covers and connects the muscles, organs, and skeletal structures in our body, which is located between the skin and the underlying structure of muscle and bone.) Muscle and fascia form the myofascial system.and releasing bonds between fascia, integument, muscles, and bones are applied with the goal of eliminating pain, increasing range of motion and balancing the body. The fascia is manipulated, which allows the connective tissue fibers to reorganize themselves in a more flexible, functional fashion. Injuries, stress, inflammation, trauma, and poor posture can cause restriction to fascia. Since fascia is an interconnected web, the restriction or tightness to fascia at a place, with time can spread to other places in the body like a pull in a sweater. The goal of myofascial release is to release fascia restriction and restore its tissue health.

 
Moist Heat/Ice

Ice reduces inflammation, pain and swelling when properly applied to an injured area because it acts as a vaso-constrictor (it causes the blood vessels to narrow).  Moist heat is ideal for soreness stiffness and nagging joint or muscle pain as it stimulates blood flow (increases circulation) and can help relax tightened muscles and increase the elasticity of joint and connective tissues. 

 
Kinesiotaping

This is a method developed in Japan of applying a uniquely designed patented tape for treatment of both muscular disorders and decreasing lymphedema.  Kinesio-taping involves the application by a certified professional of kinesio-tape over and around specific muscles, which accomplishes several things: increases support to the affected area, prevents over contraction of specific areas, and facilitates lymph flow.  Kinesio taping allows you support without loss of motion and does not interfere with normal routines and activities.  You may have seen kinesio-taping in action if you watched the US Women’s Beach Volleyball in the Summer Olympics.
 
 
Therapeutic Exercise/Functional Rehabilitation

The most common forms of physio therapy exercises include activities to strengthen and stretch muscles. However balance and endurance training are two other important sorts of physio therapy exercise. Therapeutic exercises are specialized to meet the needs of each patient individually.  . Stretching, strengthening, balance, joint control, and muscle re-training are all types of important physiotherapy/ functional rehabilitative exercises.
 
 
Hey, Doc!  I'm feeling better! What's next?
 
Our goal, immediately, is to decrease your pain.  Our long term goal is to increase stability, strength, and flexibility in your muscle groups, and finally to set you up with an independent home care/ home exercise regimen to strengthen you up and to keep you flexible...Regular exercises will decrease your flare ups and should help to keep you pain free.