Services We Provide

The services we provide our patients are tailor made for each individual patient's needs. This is largely dependent upon what the doctor finds during clinical examination. Treatment procedures are based upon the most recent clinical research.

Chiropractic Manipulation (a.k.a. Spinal Adjustment)

This is the primary procedure used by chiropractic physicians to treat mechanical conditions of the spine. The procedure is also applied to extremities. It is used to improve joint function, reduce the affects of scar tissue around the joint capsule, and improve/restore proper range of motion of a particular region. Approximately 20% of patients will experience some temporary soreness following the first couple of treatments. This is usually because the area has not moved properly in quite a while, or the problem is a result of a traumatic injury. Ice or Biofreeze usually resolves this issue.

Flexion-Distraction (F&D)

F&D is a gentle, chiropractic treatment procedure utilized for back pain and a variety of other conditions such as stenosis, advanced arthritis, facet syndromes and disc injuries, to name a few. Flexion-Distraction is a safe alternative to back surgery for those 95% of patients whose conditions do not demand surgical intervention. The doctor is in control of the treatment movements at all times.

How does it work? For Disc related conditions:

1. Increases the disc height to remove tension on the annular fibers (ligaments around the outside of the disc) and nerve roots by making more room and improving circulation.

2. Allows the nucleus pulposus, (the jelly in the center of the disc), to assume its central position within the annular fibers and relieves irritation of the nerve root.

3. Restores physiological range of motion to spinal joints.

4. Improves posture and walking, while relieving pain, and improving body functions.

For Non-Disc related conditions:

Patients with other conditions causing back pain (facet syndrome, spondylolisthesis, sacroiliac restrictions and misalignment, certain types of spinal stenosis), Flexion/Distraction provides all of the above benefits plus the ability to place the spinal joints into normal, painless movements to restore spinal motion without pain.

Manipulation Under Anesthesia (MUA)

Manipulation Under Anesthesia, otherwise known as MUA, is a non-invasive procedure increasingly offered for acute and chronic conditions, including: neck pain, back pain, joint pain, muscle spasm, shortened muscles, fibrous adhesions and long term pain syndromes.

The patient is lightly sedated, which is known as twilight sedation, the same sedation used during colonoscopies. They can then be mobilized, adjusted and stretched in a way not possible through traditional in-office care. Stretching and manipulation of the spine with the patient sedated is one of the gentlest and most effective methods of altering chronic pain. Manipulation Under Anesthesia is a viable alternative for those patients that are not responding to traditional conservative care or other invasive procedures such as pain management injections and surgery.

Manual Therapies

• Joint Mobilization
  

Mobilization is a form of stretching that is applied to stiff joints in order to restore range of motion, relieve pain and reduce muscle tension. This procedure consists of small passive movements, usually applied as a series of gentle stretches in a smooth, rhythmic fashion to the involved joints. Mobilization may be administered in various degrees of pressure, depending upon the sensitivity and stiffness of an individual's joints.

• Trigger point therapy

During this procedure, deep manual pressure is applied to and held on sensitive pressure points within muscles.  This procedure usually reproduces discomfort in the area of a patient’s complaint, as well as under the point or pressure.  Trigger point therapy is used to relieve painful trigger points and their characteristic referred symptoms.

•  Myofascial Release

This procedure is a very effective hands-on technique that provides sustained pressure during active movement of the involved body part to reduce scar tissue adhesions, decrease pain and restore motion.

In the normal healthy state, this tissue is relaxed. It has the ability to stretch and move without restriction. When we experience physical trauma, scarring, or inflammation, however, this tissue loses its pliability. It becomes tight, restricted and a source of tension to the rest of the body. Trauma, such as a fall, whiplash, surgery or just habitual poor posture over time and repetitive stress injuries has a cumulative effect.

• Massage Therapy

Massage is the application of soft-tissue manipulation techniques to the body, intended to reduce stress and fatigue while improving regional blood circulation. The many variations of massage account for several different techniques.

Rehabilitation Procedures

Kinesio Taping

Kinesio Taping is a technique designed to aid the body’s natural healing process.  It is a non-restrictive type of taping allowing for full range of motion, which helps aide recovery. The Kinesio Tape is applied over muscles to reduce pain and inflammation, relax overused tired muscles, and to support muscles during movement on a 24hr/day basis. Our office utilizes this technique during the acute phase as well as rehabilitative phase of treatment. Patients are taught taping techniques, allowing them to be more involved in their rehabilitative recovery. Each application lasts 3-4 days before needing to be repeated. Examples of conditions that respond to this technique include disc herniations, overuse muscle strains, sprains tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel and minor soft tissue tears (i.e. rotator cuff syndromes), to name a few.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

PNF is a stretching technique used to reduce a muscle spasm or chronic tightness that has affected joint movement, and to eliminate pain points where the tendon attaches to bone. The patient is asked to contract the involved muscle group and hold against the doctor’s resistance. They then are asked to relax allowing the doctor to stretch the affected tissue. This can be used early in treatment prior to performing joint manipulation, especially with acute conditions. It is very effective for the acute patient who can tolerate very little movement.

Neuromuscular Re-Education Exercises

A category of exercises designed to improve proprioception (balance and coordination) during daily activities that require standing and sitting. Exercises may range from specific movements on an exercise ball to challenge balance and kinesthetic sense, to wobble and rocker boards to challenge balance and re-train this portion of the nervous system.

Spinal Stabilization Exercises

A series of exercises and stretches that are used to improve involuntary control of the muscles that provide stability to the spine. Unlike general exercise programs which focus on gross muscle tone and strength, spinal stabilization exercises are tailored to a specific patient’s needs and train the small, fine controlling muscles of the spine.  Rehabilitating these muscles can restore optimal spinal function and reduce the risk of re-injury.

Home Exercise Programs

Patients are taught stretches and exercises that can be completed at home to improve their overall fitness and health. Condition specific exercises and stretches are customized to each patient’s physical needs. Handouts of all exercises taught and performed in the office are provided for reference while at home and work.

Therapeutic Modalities

Short courses of some therapy modalities may facilitate pain relief and muscle relaxation.  We provide the following therapy modalities very conservatively, in order to facilitate exercise-based treatments.

• Therapeutic Ultrasound

Therapeutic Ultrasound is a treatment modality that uses high or low frequency sound waves by applying electrical energy to a crystal in the ultrasound head. The crystal can produce continuous or pulsed waves to provide deep heat.  These sound waves are transmitted to deep tissues to help repair soft tissue, relax muscles, increase circulation and speed healing. They penetrate between 1 and deep into the tissues to create deep tissue/muscle warming. This promotes tissue relaxation and therefore is useful in treating muscle tightness and spasms. The warming effect of the sound waves also creates an increase in blood flow, which may cause blood vessel vasodilatation and increase circulation to the injured area assisting in healing. The frequency of the ultrasound can be adjusted to use the sound waves to decrease inflammation.

• Electric Muscle Stimulation
  

Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS) involves administering alternating electrical currents through electrodes placed on the skin at a painful area, or the spinal nerve root associated with a painful region. It is theorized that the frequency of the EMS causes affects the nervous system in such a way as to result in muscle relaxation, suppress pain and accelerate of healing.

• Mechanical Traction

Mechanical traction is a gentle procedure that is used to "gap open" the joints, usually in the cervical and/or lumbar regions, to allow more room for spinal nerve roots. This procedure is an important treatment modality for patients with "space occupying lesions" (bone spurs or herniated discs compressing spinal nerve roots). Usually treatment ranges from 9-12 minutes, depending on patients symptoms. If treatment is found to be highly effective, some patients are supplied with a home unit to continue treatment at home.

Goals of Chiropractic Treatment

• Short Term Goals: To reduce pain, restore normal joint motion and return regional range of motion to normal.
• Long Term Goals: To restore strength to the affected areas in order to restore optimal health, and improve your ability to perform daily activities without pain.
  

In order to achieve these goals, we may recommend a specific number of treatment visits based on you condition. For example: 1-3 chiropractic visits per week (as determined by your health condition and presenting symptoms) for 1-4 weeks, followed by a progress examination. Based on clinical findings from your re-examination, we will measure the response to treatment and determine whether to:

1. Continue treatment, if appropriate;
2. Release you from chiropractic care if your goals have been met;
3. Refer you to another health care specialist (or back to your referring medical physician) if the goals have not been reached.