Archive for January 2014

Patient Forms
When you first walk into our office, our receptionist will warmly greet you and ask that you complete our patient form located in the New Patient Center on this website. This form provides us with a history of your health and any other information on your current condition.

Consultation
After filling out the patient forms, you will have a consultation. During this consultation, you and the chiropractor will discuss your health, symptoms, concerns, and potential options for treatment. This purpose of the consultation is for us to learn more about you, your condition, and your expectations in order to determine how chiropractic care can assist in helping you meet those goals.

Examination
A complete chiropractic examination testing your reflexes and flexibility will be performed after your consultation. Standard neurological, orthopedic, postural, and physical tests will also be performed. All testing will only be done at the patient’s consent.

X-Ray Studies
Specific conditions may require X-rays. X-Rays can assist in the development of the most beneficial treatment plan for your condition. In some cases the X-rays alone can identify misalignments and degeneration that may be occurring. Please alert us first if you have any serious spinal conditions.

Report of Findings
Once all patient information has been collected and examinations finished, you will be provided with a detailed report of all findings. Any questions you have about how we can help you, how often you should visit, and expected cost of your treatment, will be answered. You will be notified if your condition requires treatment from any other providers and provided with the best treatment and wellness program we have to offer for your individual needs.

Treatment
At this point of your initial visit, you will be given the option of receiving your first chiropractic treatment. Spinal adjustments, soft tissues massage, and/or physical therapy may be included as part of this treatment session. Feel free to express any concerns you may have about the different styles of treatment at anytime. Chiropractic treatment should be an interactive experience.

Wellness Program
Before you leave, you will be asked if you would like to incorporate a wellness plan to assist you outside of your treatment. Ice and Heat application may be recommended if you have been experiencing pain prior to your first visit. Certain stretches may be recommended and certain activities or positions to avoid will be identified. If you would like, we can also assist you with creating healthy habits and routines in your lifestyle to assist you with maintaining good spinal alignment, exercise, diet, and to help you maintain a positive mental state. Every person is unique, requiring a custom wellness plan specifically for you.

Is chiropractic effective?
The purpose of Chiropractic is to restore, over a period of time, your natural ability to be healthy. Your nervous system must be free of interference for it to function naturally. Chiropractic adjustments work to eliminate nerve interference by realignment misaligned vertebrae. This realignment allows for optimal nervous system function and therefore improves health.

Why should I see a Chiropractor?
Chiropractic treatment is about far than just back and neck pain. The focus of chiropractic care is to keep your body at optimal performance through regular nutrition, exercise, and adjustments. Even a wide range of conditions from diabetes to fibromyalgia can be helped through chiropractic treatment.

What is Subluxation?
A subluxation occurs when the vertebrae becomes misaligned or moved out of its normal position. A wide range of incidents can lead to a subluxation, anything from a small slip or bump to a car accident or any other sudden trauma. A subluxated vertebrae puts pressure on nerves, blood vessels, and everything else surrounding it. This causes an interruption between natural pathways that send messages between different parts of your body and your brain and keeps them from communicating properly.

How does chiropractic care work?
Chiropractic looks at the human body as a whole. The body is controlled by the brain and the brain communicates with the body through its connection with the spinal cord and nerves that go through the whole body. Chiropractic focuses on keeping this connection at its peak, treating the source of any problem that may be interrupting this connection.

In the chiropractic world, nutrition and health take importance over drugs and medicine. Drugs and medicine only serve as bandaids, while nutrition and overall health loo at the big picture, keeping the body as a whole in optimal health, and giving it the strength it needs to avoid acquiring anu pain or ailments in the first place.

What is a chiropractic adjustment? Is it safe?
The objective of adjustments, also called spinal manipulation, is to realign vertebrae that may have moved out of place due to anything ranging from normal daily activity or trauma such as a car accident. Without proper alignment of the spine, the flow between brain and nerves can’t function properly, keeping the body from its peek function. Realignment is attained by through gentle applications of pressure on the spine.

Joint cavitation is what occurs when you hear cracking sounds during an adjustment. Gases such as oxygen and nitrogen leave the joint during cavitation, causing the sound.  

What can I expect from my visit to a chiropractor?
The first objective when you visit our office is to reduce any pain you may already be experiencing. While the mount of visits per week and longevity of these visits varies depending on the severity of the underlying condition, this step usually requires 2-3 visits per week for anywhere from 4 to 12 weeks. The next goal is to restore your body to 100% of its functioning capabilities. It is during this phase that muscle and tissues are given time to heal more completely, thus preventing injuries in the future. This phase requires visits for chiropractic care and/or adjustments around 4-8 times per month for anywhere from 6 to 24 months, depending on the severity of your initial problem and your overall health. Once you are no longer experiencing pain and your body has fully healed, coming in for periodic chiropractic adjustments is important to ensure that you avoid any problems in the future. Based on your lifestyle and goals, this final phase requires a quick visit to your chiropractor anywhere from 1 to 4 times per month.

Burn Scar Massage – Burn scar massage, as an aid to traditional medical treatment, is a means of helping burn victims heal more quickly and control the development of scar tissue. Many doctors encourage burn scar massage therapy to their patients as part of their recovery plan. It is an effective tool in healing and revitalizing skin.

Deep Tissue – Deep tissue massage differs from most relaxing massages in that it involves more intense muscle manipulation that is proven to increase healing, restore mobility, and relieve chronic pain. Before the massage, the patient will be asked about the pains they are feeling and what they expect to gain from receiving the massage. Deep tissue massage works to break down muscle adhesions and relax rigid muscle tissue . Patients may experience discomfort and are encouraged to keep their doctor informed on how they feel throughout treatment. Discomfort pass within the next day.

Lymphatic Massage – The purpose of Lymphatic massage is to reduce muscle swelling and increase blood flow to ensure optimal function of your body’s lymphatic system. The purpose of the lymphatic system is to detoxify bodily fluids before they are circulated into the blood stream. Toxemia and swelling can occur if the Lymphatic system is not functioning properly.

Myofascial Release – Myofascial release is a soft tissue therapy for the treatment of skeletal muscle immobility and pain. It involves applying gentle pressure for a sustained amount of time to areas with Myofascial connective tissue restrictions. When these muscles become relaxed, it increases venous and lymphatic drainage. It is an excellent treatment for somatic dysfunction and relieves the pain that accompanies it as well as restoring range of motion.

Pregnancy Massage – Pregnancy massage is especially gentle so that it will not harm the baby or mother. It focuses on the areas most affected by pregnancy, such as the feet and back. It is recommended that patients not receive pregnancy massage during the first trimester of their pregnancy. It reduces stress and anxiety for the mother as well as relief from common aches and pains. 

Rehabilitative Massage – Rehabilitative massage is designed to assist in the healing of injuries and restore full range of motion to the body. The focus of the massage is to restore the muscles in the body to their natural state. Various types of rehabilitation massage include Active Release, Myofascial Release, and Neuromuscular Therapy. These techniques locate the source of tension and spasms in your body and work to treat them.

Relaxation Massage – Relaxation massage is exactly as the title describes, a massage to provide you with relaxation. Often performed in a dim setting with candles and scented oils, Relaxation massage is designed to be a total experience. During the massage, the therapist gently works  the upper layers of muscle tissue to provide maximum relaxation. Relaxation massage is very gentle and less intense than most other massage styles.

Sports Massage — Designed to increase flexibility and prevent injuries, sports massage works on the connective tissue and deep muscle structures of your body. Utilizing deep strokes, hard strokes, and applying finger pressure, the application of sports massage is designed to specifically target areas that obtain injury due to athletic activities. 

Swedish massage – The purpose of Swedish massage is to release the stagnant toxins stored in muscle fibers. This causes the blood circulation in the body to increase to a rate generally 4 times more than normal. The result is the flow is fresh oxygenated blood into the muscles, boosting the energy levels of your body.

Thai Massage – Thai massage consists of easing the patient into various stretches that deepen muscle relaxation. It is encouraged to that patients wear comfortable clothes that allow maximum movement when receiving Thai massage. Thai massage is relaxing yet also vigorously stimulating.

Warm Stone Massage – Warm stone massage utilizes warm river stones that are placed on specific areas to increase circulation and relax muscles. This treatment combined with manual massage is an exceptional way to relax and ease pain.

Youth Massage – Massage is beneficial for children of all ages. It helps sooth infants while also boosting the immune system of young children and helping reduce their stress. It has also proven to help children maintain focus and self-control in school, making it an excellent choice for children with ADHD. 

Chiropractic Massage Therapy is an excellent avenue for treatment and relief from pain due to a number of different issues, including:

• arthritis
• TMJ
• immune system issues
• muscle spasms
• insomnia
• fibromyalgia
• and many more

Chiropractic massage is also an excellent way of removing waste and toxins from your body.

Massage therapy is an excellent way to restore the body to its natural state and increase its healing capabilities. Benefits that result from massage include increased blood circulation, relief from joint and muscle pain, as well as help reduce levels of stress and depression. It has also been proven to aid in detoxifying the body, helping to rid it of waste and toxins. Massage therapy has been used over many years to help treat a vast number of conditions.

When used in addition with exercise and good nutrition, massage therapy helps insure that your body stays in top form. Regular practice of these activities helps minimize stress and pain, also making it easier for your body to fend off disease. Massage therapy is an excellent resource in maintaining optimal health.

Standing

Good Postures of the utmost importance. Don’t let your head hang down and don’t slouch. Wear comfortable shoes if you know you are going to be standing for a long period of time.

Sitting or Working at a Desk

Keep your computer at eye level to avoid looking down. Choose a chair that fits to your back and allows your feet to reach the floor while keeping your legs at a 90 degree angle. it is recommended that you stand up or stretch every 20 minutes or so.

Lifting

Always bend at the knees, NOT your back. Avoid lifting anything that may be too heavy. Lifting objects is one of the most common ways that people hurt themselves, even twisting or pulling in the wrong direction can, over time, lead to spinal misalignment.

Overall Physical Activity

Whenever you are going to be engaged in physical activity for an extended period of time, it is important that you stretch and warm up. Even the lightest of tasks can result in the pulling of something if the body is not adequately ready.

Talking On The Telephone

Avoid cradling the phone between your neck and shoulders. It is recommended that you use a headset when making long calls if available.

Resting or Sleeping

Falling asleep in odd positions can cause our neck a great amount of pain. Try to be sure your body is in a supportive position when napping or going to sleep.

A subluxation occurs when the vertebrae becomes misaligned and moves out of its normal position. When this occurs, the vertebrae can put unwanted pressure on the nerves, blood vessels, and all of its other surroundings. This pressure can cause pain and which will only get worse if left untreated. It also keeps the brain from being able to properly send messages to other parts of the body, greatly affecting your body’s ability to heal itself.

If left untreated, a subluxation can eventually cause the spine and its surroundings to begin a degenerative process that becomes more difficult reverse as the body begins to adjust itself to the misaligned shape. This causes pain and keeps the body from being able to treat itself. For these reasons, it is very important to get a subluxation treated and the spine realigned as early in the phase of misalignment as possible.

Chiropractic dates back to the time of Hippocrates, widely considered the father of western medicine. He believed that misalignment of the spine could lead to many affects on the health of any given individual.

Modern chiropractic began practice in 1895 when Dr. Daniel Palmer adjusted a man who had lost his hearing years prior. When the man’s vertebrae was realigned he heard a large pop, and his hearing after the adjustment greatly improved.

Dr. Palmer’s theories are still discussed in the chiropractic industry. The medical community may have criticized Palmer’s new method for healing the body, but many have followed in Palmer’s footsteps and have found an amazing new way to stay healthy and keep their body and health in optimal form. There are now over 20 chiropractic schools in the country with thousands of students learning the amazing techniques of chiropractic care.