Techniques

Full Spine Manual Adjustments

Manual adjustments are a controlled and quick thrust in order to properly align a segment of the spine and/or extremity. The goal is to allow the joint(s) to return to their normal positioning and increase its natural range of motion. It is the most commonly used technique in the chiropractic profession. The most optimal adjustments are performed that require just enough force to restore proper biomechanics of the joint and that is comfortable for the patient. 

Thompson (drop table) Technique

This involves a specialized table with padded platforms designed to drop a set amount when the doctor applies a quick thrust to make a precise adjustment. The subtle dropping motion makes it very comfortable for most patients. It can be used for the spine or extremities.

Extremity Adjustments

Extremities are the joints of the body that are outside the spinal joints.  These joints include the ribs, shoulder and elbow, wrist and hand, hip, knee, ankle, and feet, as well as the hands and toes.

Chiropractors look at the spine for joint restrictions and joint motion dysfunction.  In a very similar way, extremities can have joint restrictions and motion dysfunction.  These problems may be chronic or acute and many people have great relief from their extremity adjustments.

Signs of possible symptoms of an extremity issue include:

• Extremity pain or pain in the extremity joint
• Weakness in an extremity or joint
• Stiffness in the extremity
• Immobility of an extremity joint
• Numbness or tingling in an extremity
• Catching or locking of an extremity joint

Activator 

This is a hand-held, spring-loaded instrument-based adjustment tool. Instead of the adjusting forces being delivered by hand, the force is generated with the small device that delivers a lighter, but quicker, thrust than can be delivered by hand. The Activator can be used as a primary treatment protocol for all patients or a selective method for patients who may not desire manual adjustment.  The activator is an FDA approved device. It is used to restore range of motion to the vertebrae and/or extremity joints. 

Flexion-Distraction Technique 

This is the use of a specialized table that gently “distracts” or stretches the spine In order to create a negative decompressive force to help draw the contents of a herniated disc away from a spinal nerve. As the disc moves away from the exiting nerve, it will reduce inflammation of the nerve root and eventually any associated pain and inflammation thus decreasing lower back pain or leg symptoms (if there is any related to your herniated disc).

With flexion-distraction for a herniated lumbar disc, you generally need a series of treatments combined with adjunctive ultrasound, muscle stimulation, physiotherapy and at-home treatments (our clinic will let you know what those are). 

Sacro Occipital Technique (SOT)

This is a specific chiropractic technique that uses triangular-shaped blocks usually placed under the pelvis of the face down patient to treat problems identified in the low back. Low force, slow pressure types of manipulations/adjustments may be used to address joint problems. SOT may be used as an exclusive treatment technique or as an adjunct method of patient management.

Adjunctive Therapies

Trigger Point Therapy

Each muscle has potential trigger points (small, localized muscle spasms) which can become activated by muscle overuse, inflammation, trauma, electrolyte imbalances, and nerve pain. These trigger points can cause pain over the muscle affected or refer pain and thus be felt in another area of the body. Other trigger points are only felt when the muscle is directly palpated. 

Trigger point therapy is a technique where sustained pressure is applied directly onto the specific region of the muscle to bring about a reduction in muscle tension and pain and increase blood flow for tissue healing.

Electric Muscle Stimulation (E-Stim)

E-stim uses pads placed onto the area of muscle spasm/discomfort to create electrical pulses to mimic the action of signals coming from neurons (cells in your nervous system). These mild electrical currents target either muscles or nerves.

E-stim therapy for muscle recovery or pain sends signals to targeted muscles to make them contract passively (flexing your biceps is a form of muscle contraction.) By causing repeated muscle contractions, blood flow improves, helping repair injured muscles and decrease muscle spasms, therefore, decreasing pain.

Ultrasound

Therapeutic ultrasound is used primarily to provide deep heating to soft tissue structures in the body. Deep heating tendons, muscles or ligaments increases circulation to those tissues to help with the healing process. Increasing tissue temperature with ultrasound is also used to help decrease pain by increasing local blood flow and breaking down scar tissue.

Deep heating can also be used to increase the extensibility of muscles and tendons that may be tight or contracted. The most common conditions treated with ultrasound include soft tissue injuries such as tendonitis, bursitis, non-acute joint swelling, and muscle spasm. Most muscle and ligament injuries can benefit from therapeutic ultrasound.

Massage Therapy

This form of therapy involves hands-on techniques to increase circulation, relieve tension, reduce stress, relieve anxiety, improve sleep, and promote relaxation throughout the entire body, as well as many other benefits. The body’s soft tissue areas include the muscles, tendons, connective tissue, etc. If someone is experiencing pain in the muscles of the body or if they have been injured and have extensive muscle and/or nerve tissue damage that plagues their body, massage therapy may help. 

Percussive Therapy

This treatment, also known as tapotement, is a new breakthrough in soft tissue therapy that treats patients with soft tissue/muscular pain. It helps accelerate the growth of tissues and repairs them by providing strong, rapid, short-duration pulses deep into the tissues of the body.

Cold Laser Therapy

Cold Laser Therapy or Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is a FDA approved treatment that utilizes specific wavelengths of light to interact with tissue to help accelerate the healing process. It can be used on patients who suffer from a variety of acute and chronic conditions in order to help eliminate pain, swelling, reduce spasms and increase functionality. Cold laser therapy can be used to help treat muscle spasms, muscle strains/sprains, tendinitis, bursitis, back pain and extremity pain (such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome and plantar fasciitis).

Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)

Neuromuscular therapy targets the soft tissue or trigger point that causes the pain. When pain is reduced, the range of motion is improved. This type of massage/soft tissue therapy relieves muscle tension and soreness which boosts mobility and flexibility.