Chiropractic

What is chiropractic?

Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.  

Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling. (American Chiropractic Association).

"We are committed to providing chiropractic care that is effective and efficient."

 

What conditions do we treat with chiropractic?

Neck Pain
The chiropractic approach to neck pain is to check that the proper curve is present. We'll check for level shoulders and proper alignment. Specific chiropractic adjustments and adjunct therapies help restore motion and position of cervical vertebra, and correct spinal function and alignment, which will diminish neck pain.  Chiropractic can help treat spinal misalignments, torticollis, strain/sprain on the neck, herniated discs (radiculopathy), "kinks" in the neck, degenerative disc disease, and thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).

Back Pain
Over 80% of all people will have back pain at some time. Causes of back pain range from simple overuse, improper lifting, or more serious disc problems. Chiropractic seeks to restore a normal motion and position through lumbar spinal adjustments. The success of chiropractic care for low back pain had been documented in many research projects.   Chiropractors often treat sciatica, herniated dics, scoliosis, rib pain, pain from poor posture, spondylolisthesis, overuse strain, and facet syndrome.
 
Headaches
There are many kinds and causes of headaches; cervicogenic, sinus, cluster, stress, and migraine are a few. A chiropractic approach looks for spinal nerve irritation, reduced range of motion, loss of normal spinal curve, all which can produce headaches.   Chiropractic has great success with tension headaches, migraine headaches, and cervicogenic headaches.

Pelvic and Sacroiliac Pain
The problem begins in the low back where the sciatic nerve runs through the back and down the back of the leg. Intense shooting pain develops when the nerves in the low back are irritated. Chiropractic and our traction table have had good results helping to restore a normal spinal alignment to the low back and reducing the nerve involvement.   Sacroiliac sprain, piriformis syndrome, pelvic imbalances can all be helped with chiropractic adjustments.

Disc Problems
Discs can bulge, herniate or rupture which can put pressure on an exiting nerve root.  Numbness, tingling, or pain down the leg can also be symptoms of disc involvement. The traditional approach of surgery to remove the facet joints and expose the spinal cord can be risky and should only be used as a last resort. A more conservative and safer approach is chiropractic care combined with our decompression traction table. 
 
TMJ Pain
Chiropractic can help with clicking of the jaw, popping of the jaw and temporal pain.

Shoulder Pain
Shoulder pain can result from repeated overuse or an injury which can cause inflammation and stiffness. As chiropractors we see problems ranging from bursitis to rotator cuff problems. Sometimes an irritated nerve in the neck can cause shoulder pain. Chiropractic adjustments and physiotherapy generally provide relief from pain and stiffness associated with shoulder problems.  Chiropractors frequently see impingement syndrome, tendonitis, rotator cuff pain, bursitits of the shoulder, and sternoclavicular joint pain or misalignments.

Elbow / Arm Pain
Chiropractic care for extremities get great results including lateral epicondylitis, tendonitis of the elbow, elbow joint misalignments, and tennis elbow.

Wrist Pain
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a painful nerve problem that occurs when tissue or bone put pressure on the nerve that runs from your neck through your wrist to your fingers. Numbness, tingling, burning, shooting pain and a weak grip may be symptoms. Repetitive hand motions are usually the cause.  Chiropractic adjustments to the thumb, fingers, wrist, forearm and neck along with physiotherapy can provide relief.  Chiropractic treatments are beneficial for carpal tunnel syndrome, carpal bone misalignments, wrist sprain or strains.
 
Hip Pain / Leg Pain
Trochanteric bursitis, snapping hip syndrome, hamstring strain, quadriceps strain and meralgia paresthetica (tingling on the side of the hip) can be helped with chiropractic care.

Knee Pain
Chiropractic can be beneficial for runner's knee (patellofemoral pain syndrome), IT band syndrome, patellar tendonitis, and osteoarthritis.

Foot / Ankle Pain
Most foot problems can be helped with chiropractic care, including tarsal tunnel syndrome, ankle sprains, and ankle joint misalignments.

Auto Accidents
Even minor accidents can cause pain and discomfort in the neck and back. We see injuries ranging from severe whiplash to mild strained knees resulting from auto accidents. Sometimes pain is not apparent until several days after an accident. A chiropractic check-up after any accident is a wise decision.

Work Injuries
Numerous studies point to the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of chiropractic care generally with less lost work time when chiropractic was compared to traditional medical care.  Chiropractors see many on-the-job-injuries.

Sports Injuries
Many sports related injuries involve the spine or extremities. These days many professional sports teams, Olympic trainees, competitive athletes as well as weekend athletes are seeking chiropractic care. Spinal injuries and restrictions can restrict range of motion, slow reflexes and endurance, and decrease performance. Normalizing spinal function with chiropractic adjustments helps athletes achieve their peak performance.

Family Care:

Infants
Spinal trauma in a difficult birth can cause early misalignments. Many parents bring their infants in for a chiropractic check. Safe and modified adjusting techniques are used to correct any imbalances indicated.

Children 
Childhood falls and activities can cause spinal misalignments which chiropractic can help. There are studies that a properly working spinal system can help reduce colic, reflux, ear infections and other childhood maladies.

Pregnancy 
Hormonal changes cause many pregnant women to experience back pain. Chiropractic can safely relieve discomfort. Modifications to techniques and the table are made during this time.

Seniors 
Later years find chiropractic care can help improve mobility and vitality. Chiropractic care is safe and natural. Arthritic symptoms can be addressed with functional medicine and regular chiropractic care. A low force technique is often indicated.

What chiropractic adjustment techniques do we use?

Our chiropractic physicians are trained in Diversified Technique (manually adjust the spine or extremity), Activator Methods (instrument adjusting), Gonstead (manual method), Thompson (table-drop method), SOT, among others.  If there is a specific chiropractic technique you are looking for call our office, with multiple chiropractors having various training, we most likely will be able to accommodate your request. 

We have many treatment options to individualize your care:

Graston Technique incorporates a patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively detect and treat scar tissue and restrictions that affect normal function.  Scar tissue limits range of motion, and in many instances causes pain, which prevents the patient from functioning as he or she did before the injury. 





Rocktape is a special kind of kinesiology tape. When applied properly, Rocktape lifts the skin away from the muscle, which promotes blood flow; faster blood flow promotes quicker recovery. Rocktape is also useful for taping a joint, such as the shoulder or knee, in a more stable position. Athletes across the globe are enhancing their performance using Rocktape.





Foundation Training and our other active therapies are a safe and effective exercise program created to help you change the movement patterns that are hurting you. These simple and transformative exercises are designed to naturally heal back pain. Relief begins immediately, no equipment needed.




Active Release Technique is a chiropractic soft tissue movement technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Most often with acute and chronic conditions such as a pulled hamstring, carpal tunnel syndrome, or plantar fasciitis, your body responds by producing touch, dense scar tissue in the affected area. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension in tendons cause tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped causing numbness, tingling, and/or weakness.

Spinal Decompression Therapy is a type of motorized traction that helps relieve nerve pain caused by a bulging disc, degenerative disc disease, or a “pinched nerve”. During this procedure, Spinal Decompression Therapy reduces the pressure on the irritated nerve by cycling through distraction and relaxation phase. Doctors have used nonsurgical spinal decompression in an attempt to treat back pain, neck pain, or sciatica (pain, weakness or tingling that extends down the leg).

Passive therapies in our office include electrical muscle stimulation - for soft tissue to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation; ultrasound - to increase blood flow and stimulate healing; infrared therapy - to increase circulation and lymphatic system activity and reduce swelling and edema, among other passive therapies to fit your specific needs.