Healthcare that Gets Results
When you think about a doctor’s “toolkit” the iconic image of a black bag filled with a stethoscope, tongue compressor and/or a shot may come to mind. But what exactly do you think of when you think of your chiropractor’s “toolkit”? An adjusting table and their two hands right? Well…anyone that has come to our office knows that is not entirely the case with our doctor. When you come in for your appointment you may be treated with any number of different “tools” as well as introduce you to a new model of healthcare called patient-centered care.
Patient-Centered Care
This includes listening to, informing and involving patients in their care. The Institute of Medicine defines patient-centered care as: “Providing care that is respectful of, and responsive to, individual patient preferences, needs and values, and ensuring that patient values guide all clinical decisions.
We strive to provide the best quality care to each patient in our office, care that is individualized to your specific problem and based on the best available evidence on those conditions. Our job is to determine whether the care that you will receive here is going to benefit you and the condition you are seeking help for.
Here’s a quick list of the tools we use in our office and their applications:
Exercise Rehabilitation
Your care in this office may include a therapeutic exercise program to help strengthen areas of your body contributing to your injury or pain complaint. Our doctor has extensive education in this area to ensure a quicker recovery. Exercises are essential to reducing your risk of re-injury and helping you overcome the pain that you have.
Sports Chiropractic
There are chiropractors who have patients that play sports and there are sports chiropractors. There is a BIG difference. Sports chiropractors are trained and certified as experts in various treatments for athletes with pain and injury from participating in a sport. From the weekend warrior to the serious, competitive athlete we can get you back to playing faster.
Spinal and Joint Manipulation
When joints are misaligned a chiropractic physician can use their hands or an instrument to manipulate the joints of the body, particularly the spine, in order to restore or enhance joint function. When bones misalign in the body the muscles attached to them will either become over-active (tight) or inactive (weak). When our joints are incapable of moving properly, it eventually leads to stiffness, inflammation and pain. Adjustments will help free these joints that are moving improperly and allow the muscles to relax. Once the joints are moving properly we are able to apply a variety of therapies to help improve muscle strength, reduce tightness and pain. Adjustment of a joint may result in the release of a gas between the joints, which makes a popping sound.
Thermo-Therapy
Ice and heat have been used commonly to treat injuries, but when do we know when to use ice or heat?
Ice is typically used in the first 24-72 hours after injury to help decrease pain. We know that ice can help decrease pain by causing a numbing effect on the skin but is it beneficial? Cold therapy had been the starting point for common for sports or lifting injuries such as sprains, strains, bumps, and bruises but new evidence may refute ice as a first treatment. After an injury your first thoughts may be to ice the area, but ice will cause blood vessel constriction which may reduce our bodies natural inflammatory response that can lead to delayed healing.
Heat is typically used 72+ hours after injury to help reduce muscle spasms and increase range of motion. Heat opens up blood vessels, which increases blood flow and supplies oxygen and nutrients to reduce pain in joints and relax muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The warmth also decreases muscle spasms and can increase range of motion. Applying heat to your body can improve the flexibility of tendons and ligaments, reduce muscle spasms, and alleviate pain.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical Stimulation can be used for two primary functions; muscle strengthening or pain control. Electrical stimulation uses a small electrical current to “turn on” nerves in our body. By placing a pair of electrodes on the body, we can send electrical impulses through the skin to underlying nerves to create the necessary response.
The TENS unit is an electrical stimulation device used for pain management. It provides pain relief by sending small electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin to underlying nerve fibers. Very simply, TENS is effective at blocking nerves that transmit pain information by turning on sensory nerves in our skin. By effectively managing pain without drugs, TENS allows many people with chronic pain conditions to resume daily activity.
Kinesio-Taping
Kinesio-taping methods were developed by a chiropractor and have been around for decades. These methods have become wildly popular due to their wide use in professional, collegiate and recreational sports. Kinesio-taping is effective for a wide variety of sports injuries, but is also effective for non-sports injuries and pain. RockTape is an elastic tape that when applied over muscles and joints will lift the skin and fascia to help increase blood flow, which increases oxygen to the muscle to promote healing and reduce fatigue. By lifting the skin, Rocktape will also improve lymph drainage to reduce swelling in joints. It can be applied to nearly every joint and will last for up to 5 days without falling off under most circumstances.
Compression Banding or Flossing
The basic principle of flossing is that in healthy tissues, tendons and ligaments and fascia and muscle slide against one another freely. If any of these tissues have become inflamed by injury or by overuse, they can get bound up. This creates pain, inflammation and decreased range of motion.
The “flossing” pins down painful tissue offering compression and support, allowing it to slide underneath as you move the joint safely through range of motion exercises. After the wrap comes off, blood flows back into the area as you move the joint around freely again, and the extra oxygen boost helps keep things from tightening up immediately. The effects of flossing are not permanent but will help someone with a minor injury continue to move the joint freely, workout with decreased pain and improve range of motion.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal Decompression Therapy involves a safe and gentle stretching the spine, using our Triton DTS table with the goal of decreasing neck pain, low back pain which may be associated with numbness or tingling into the legs or arms. Typically spinal decompression may be used in the treatment of disc herniation, severe muscle spasms and spine pain. This treatment is an excellent alternative to surgery, is very comfortable and has a high success rate.
Exercise Rehabilitation
Your care in this office may include a therapeutic exercise program to help strengthen areas of your body contributing to your injury or pain complaint. Our doctors have received extensive education in this area to ensure a quicker recovery. Exercises are essential to reducing your risk of re-injury.
Nutritional Counseling
We recognize that wellness isn’t just about looking healthy on the outside. It starts from within your body. Good nutrition is the easiest way to dramatically impact your health. If you are currently overweight and/or taking medications to control blood pressure, cholesterol, pain, diabetes, etc. then dietary modifications may be perfect for you.
Are you a good candidate for chiropractic care? Find out! Call (864) 804-6395 today.