Chiropractic Treatments

What is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic supports the concept that proper function of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems can provide for better health. Chiropractic is a form of health care that is drugless, non-invasive, and actively promotes health.

Chiropractic care is holistic, meaning that the entire body and a person’s lifestyle are examined and treated. When a chiropractor works with a patient, the cause of the patient’s physical problem is addressed and lifestyle factors that may affect the problems (such as diet, posture, exercise, and others) are modified to speed recovery and prevent recurrence.

Chiropractic care uses natural health methods such as exercise, nutrition, diet, and lifestyle, modifications to promote wellness.

Adjustment or Manipulation

Chiropractic care is known (but not exclusively) for its use of the adjustment, sometimes called manipulation. An adjustment is a precise procedure in which the trained Doctor of Chiropractic exerts specific corrective pressure at specific places on your spine or other joint. When a thorough examination reveals joints that are not in proper function, adjustments are applied to correct joint alignment, mobility, relieve associated muscle and nerve tension, improve balance and assist healing.

Ice and Heat Therapy

Ice and heat have long been used to treat many painful conditions. Ice therapy is often used to reduce swelling and help control pain immediately after an injury. Heat therapy is used to relax the muscles and increase circulation and can provide relief to patients with chronic pain. Depending on the patient's condition, a combination of ice and heat can be used.

Muscle Stimulation

This type of therapy uses light electrical pulses that are transmitted to specific areas of the body through electrodes placed on the skin. There are many different types of electrical stimulation. Some are more beneficial for pain relief or to reduce inflammation, some for muscle spasm, and some actually cause muscles to contract in order to reduce muscle atrophy. Some have combination effects.

Ultrasound

To further aid in your recovery, we may also add ultrasound. Therapeutic ultrasound is administered at the site of soft tissue injury, specifically muscles. This helps to reduce pain, decrease swelling, promote muscle tone, and speed the healing process.

Why do we use this in our office?

Ultrasound has been used as an effective form of pain relief. It is recommended in cases in which pain is accompanied by swelling and inflammation.

Intersegmental Traction

Intersegmental traction is a way of inducing passive motion into the spine for the purpose of stretching spinal joints, and increasing mobility. The patient lies face up on a bench table that has a roller beneath its surface. These rollers slowly travel the length of the spine, stretching spinal joints.

Why do we use this in our office?

Because spinal discs have a poor blood supply, they get nutrients from the circulation of fluids surrounding the spinal joints. Fixations of the spine prevent this natural circulation and can cause disc thinning and degeneration. Intersegmental traction helps increase and restores necessary elasticity and motion to the spine.

Rehabilitation Strength Training or Therapeutic Exercises

Strength training is the use of resistance to muscular contraction to build the strength, anaerobic endurance and size of skeletal muscles. There are many different methods of strength training, the most common used in our office with Therabands or an exercise ball. The exercise program is developed by Dr. Fucinari, who is a Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician (C.C.S.P.).

When properly performed, strength training can provide significant functional benefits and improvement in overall health and well-being including increased bone, muscle, tendon and ligament strength and toughness, improved joint function, reduced potential for injury, improved cardiac function and elevated good cholesterol.

Strength training differs from bodybuilding, weightlifting, powerlifting and strongman, which are sports rather than forms of exercise. Strength training, however, is often part of their training regimen.