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Chiropractic care

Chiropractic Care
 

Overview

As we go through our daily lives we are constantly putting stress on our bodies through poor posture, our habitual sleeping position, bad mechanics while lifting, or any number of other factors involved with motion and living our lives. Fortunately, our bodies have a remarkable ability to absorb the impact of theses stressors and maintain homeostasis but, over time or following a larger more serious trauma, the strain can cause problems that require outside professional help to correct.
            The spine is made up of a series of 24 vertebrae, each connected to the vertebrae above and below with several different joints. For proper function, all of these joints must work together. When there is an injury or repeated micro-trauma, these joints can begin to “stick together” rather than glide smoothly against each other. The body senses that there is a problem and causes the surrounding muscles to tighten up, in effect splinting the damaged area. This process provides a measure of stability but also causes pain and discomfort. Additionally the effects of this can go on long after symptoms have subsided, contributing to arthritis, spinal degeneration, and disc injuries.
            Chiropractic works to stop this process. The chiropractic manipulation or “adjustment” serves to restore normal motion to spinal joints. This along with soft tissue and rehabilitative techniques help restore normal function to both muscles and joints, relieving pain and allowing you to live productively unimpeded by pain or discomfort.

Techniques

Manual Manipulation, Diversified Method, Activator Method, Drop Table, Traction Therapy

Therapies

Ultrasound, Electric Stimulation, Hot/Cold

What to expect

             On the initial visit you will complete an intake form, followed by a thorough exam, lasting approximately an hour. This will insure that we arrive at an accurate diagnosis and determine if you are a candidate for chiropractic care. The exam includes basics exam procedures, like blood pressure and heart rate, but also include a series of orthopedic and neurologic tests as well as postural analysis and range of motion measurements. If necessary we will also order X-rays or other diagnostic imaging necessary for your particular case.
            Once this is complete and we have arrived at a diagnosis a treatment plan specific to your individual needs will be written. This will include visit frequency as well as the treatment techniques that will be used. Although treatment plan will vary for each person, initial treatments need to be fairly regular—usually 2-3 times per week for 3-4 weeks, with each visit lasting about 15 to 30 minutes. As you begin to heal and feel better the visits become more and more infrequent.
Treatments vary from patient to patient however most receive a spinal manipulation or ”adjustment” along with any therapies appropriate for your treatment. These therapies may include stretching, deep tissue work, ultrasound therapy or electrical stimulation and home exercises.
Although each person responds differently, most people can expect to feel better fairly soon. Some people feel significantly better following the first visit while others take some more time. It is even possible that you may feel sore or achy for 12-24 hours after your first visits, but this is a normal reaction to receiving the therapy and will dissipate quickly. While individual responses are hard to predict, early intervention is the best way to increase the probability of a positive result. In other words, don’t wait! If you are having pain the sooner you come in the quicker you are likely to feel better and the more complete your healing will be.

 

If you suffer from any of these conditions, the Chiropractors at Community Wellness Center want to help you resolve your pain conditions and experience the relief that comes from healing your body.

Chiropractic Techniques and Methods

• Individualized treatment plans
• Extensive evaluation and reevaluation
• Diversified Method
• Nutritional Support and Counseling
• Custom orthotic fitting
• Strapping/Taping

Traction Therapy

Mechanical traction is a valuable, non-invasive and effective treatment for many spinal conditions, including disc injuries with and without radiculopathy as well as persistent low back pain of mechanical origin.

The principles involved with traction are simple; the machine applies a focused and controlled force, which effectively isolates and slowly decompresses the involved spinal structures. This process creates a vacuum like effect called “negative intradiscal pressure”. The result is significant and sustained relief of pressure on the intravertibal discs, which in turn reduces the pressure on neighboring structures including the facet joints and spinal nerve roots. The results are reduced pain and improved spinal function. The periods of rest between pulls facilitates fluid movement and allows the relatively avascular discs to absorb nutrients from surrounding tissue. This accelerates the healing process and thus patient recovery time.
Although mechanical traction can be use as stand only treatment the doctors in this office have found it most effective as an addition to a more comprehensive treatment plan, utilizing both passive and active care with an emphasis on core stability and rehabilitation exercise.  If you are receiving rehabilitative or chiropractic care elsewhere, the doctors at CWC are able to work with your provider to supplement your existing treatment plan with this effective therapy.