THE CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTMENT
The Chiropractic adjustment or “joint manipulation” is the cornerstone of the chiropractic healing arts. Studies show that joint manipulation is an excellent means of restoring joint function and “re-booting” the neurological circuitry to the brain. The purpose of adjustment can vary.
Most commonly, the purpose of adjustment is to restore motion to a joint that has become restricted. The primary purpose of a joint is to move. If, for some reason, the joint movement becomes compromised (by injury, inflammation, or de-conditioning), the entire joint complex begins to demonstrate degenerative changes. This can affect not only the musculoskeletal aspects of your being, but the internal aspects as well.
Sometimes a spinal area will be manipulated to stimulate the nerves to a particular internal component. For example, the thoracic (mid-back) spine might be adjusted to stimulate nerve, blood, and lymphatic flow in a case of lung or digestive compromise.
Other times, adjustments are aimed at restoring proper positioning such as in the common case of an un-level pelvis, or a slipped fibula after an ankle sprain.
Chiropractic Adjustment Techniques are appropriate for:
- Headaches
- Neck, mid-back & low-back pain / stiffness
- Whiplash injury
- Tendonitis / Bursitis
- Arm or leg pain / numbness
- Persistent Pain
Myofascial Release – Myofascial release involves applying gentle, sustained pressure to the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions. The massage relaxes the contracted muscles and increases venous and lymphatic drainage. Myofascial release treats somatic dysfunction and relieves the accompanying pain and limited range of motion.
PHYSIOTHERAPIES WITH CHIROPRACTIC CARE
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
Electrical Muscle Stimulation is an exceptional way to help the body in the healing process. This is accomplished by sending a very small electrical current (low-volt galvanic) into the affected soft tissue injury or muscle spasm. The therapy utilizes this current in an effort to help reduce swelling and release trigger points that may have the muscle locked up. It does this by helping the body to release natural relievers of pain often referred to as endorphins.
This is a great therapy if there is a spasm in a back or neck muscle. It works well in relaxing the muscle and allowing it to return to its normal state rather quickly. Short therapy sessions are excellent at facilitating healing from acute and chronic pain.
Hot and Cold Packs
When you are in pain, nothing feels better than gentle, moist heat. Heat assists with muscle relaxation and improves blood flow to troubled areas. It is also very relaxing.
Cold packs (cryotherapy) are an excellent way to help with muscle spasms in the body. This therapy is well known to help numb painful areas as well as provide a cooling relief to affected soft tissues. The therapy consists of applying cold compresses on to the skin to effectively reduce the temperature of the skin as well as constrict the blood vessels in the area.
If you are suffering from a muscle spasm or just recently had a soft tissue injury, cryotherapy is an excellent way to help reduce swelling and further injury in the early stages of your healing process. This therapy is rather inexpensive and is something that can be done at home as well as in the office.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a therapy that is utilized in the office to handle injuries related to joints, muscle spasms, as well as most soft tissues. While it shares the same name, this ultrasound is not the same as the type of ultrasound utilized diagnostically to screen internally in the body. This ultrasound creates small sound waves that in effect vibrate and massage soft tissues and muscle. These sound waves do an excellent job in facilitating the body’s healing process in addition to decreasing scar tissue formation.
Certain ultrasounds also create a heating effect to help relax the muscles or tightness in the body. This heat combined with the overall features of the ultrasound help to start the healing process at the most basic cellular level speeding up your road to recovery.
Orthotics
Orthotics are a great way to help with issues related to walking and alignment. Some of these include but are not limited to knee, foot and lower back pain. The need for orthotics is often related to an issue with the natural functioning of the foot. Orthotics will often help to realign the bones within the foot and ankle and therefore take pressure of other parts of the body such as the back, neck, shoulders and hips. In addition, orthotics will help with distributing your weight properly and take further pressure off of toes, bunions and other parts of the foot.
Orthotics are really for anyone with an issue or discomfort relating to walking or imbalances in the body that are known to cause related pain. The great benefit of orthotics is that they can be worn on a daily basis and be utilized during most activities to take further stress of the body.
Orthotics can often be prescribed by your chiropractor and can last many years in most cases. This is a great investment into your overall health and well being via a bio-mechanical standpoint.
Auto Injuries
Being in a car accident is a very difficult situation on a number of levels. Your pain is sometimes secondary to the aftermath of having your car at the mechanic as well as the stress of dealing with your insurance and potentially missing work.
While you are in a hurry to get your car fixed and back to normal activities, getting a chiropractic evaluation is a good idea before you make any major decisions. There could be underlying injuries that a minor stiff neck are not allowing you to uncover. A car accident is a major event and the trauma that come from them could be significant.
Chiropractors are specialists in soft and hard tissue problems including the results that could come from the trauma from a car accident.
