At
Spine & Sports Chiropractic Care, we know that a healthy
spine and properly functioning nerves, muscles, and joints are
necessary for a healthy body and an active lifestyle. The spine,
joints, and muscles are designed for movement, and therefore
any reduction in normal motion can contribute to pain. Gradual
and controlled movement and exercise, instead of bed rest and
inactivity, can actually help reduce the severity and duration
of symptoms. We offer a full range of conservative treatment
options to help eliminate and prevent pain, including:
Chiropractic
We perform conservative, non-pharmaceutical, non-surgical, hands-on
manual medicine for the management of musculoskeletal pain.
Through the judicious use of chiropractic manipulation (aka
the adjustment) as well as other effective manual mobilization
and soft tissue relaxation procedures, proper motion is re-established
in the stiff and painful area(s) of the body. We make every
effort to utilize the most gentle and least invasive techniques
possible in order to carefully restore the natural balance and
pain-free function that was present before the injury.
Chiropractic
manipulation / mobilization techniques: These
procedures are characterized by the application of the doctor’s
hands to the afflicted area(s) in order to deliver gentle movement
to the appropriate joints. Sometimes, this may produce a popping
or clicking sound, which is similar to “cracking your
knuckles”. As some may fear, this sound is not that of
bones cracking, but is in fact the release of gas bubbles contained
in the joint fluid.
The
objective of manipulation / mobilization techniques is to achieve
the following:
•
Relieve pain
• Increase joint mobility / range of motion
• Reduce muscle spasm / tightness
• Restore optimal joint function
Common
chiropractic and manual therapy procedures utilized in our office
include:
• Diversified
chiropractic manipulation (adjustment)
• Flexion-distraction therapy
• Joint mobilization techniques / Mulligan technique
• Neural mobilization techniques
• McKenzie exercises
• Soft tissue mobilization / Trigger point therapy
• Muscle energy technique (muscle stretching & relaxation)
• Myofascial release
• Instrument – assisted soft tissue mobilization
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Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy treatments are administered to help ease pain
and restore the function of an injured area of the body.
We
utilize various therapeutic modalities in order to reduce pain
and promote healing including:
•
Electrical muscle stimulation
• Ultrasound
• Cryotherapy (Cold therapy)
• Moist heat
• Cervical and lumbar traction / Spinal Decompression
• ErgoWave® Roller Massage Table
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Rehabilitation
After alleviating the pain complaint, our focus is to teach
our patients how to take control of their condition through
appropriate self care strategies and rehabilitative exercises.
Exercise and movement is important because it helps deliver
essential nutrients to the discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments,
and joints, helping to repair the injured structures. Similarly,
exercise helps keep the body healthy, flexible, and strong which
will decrease the likelihood of further injury as well as future
episodes of pain.
We
have a state of the art exercise and rehabilitation facility
with many pieces of equipment including:
• Upper and lower body exercise cycles
• Backstrong / Variable angle roman chair
• Weight training machines
• Free weights
• Gym / Physio balls
• Thera-Band® and tubing
• Balance / Proprioception equipment (rocker & wobble
boards, balance sandals, posturomed, etc.)
We
teach an individualized rehabilitation program which generally
includes the following components:
•
Therapeutic Exercise:
Exercise programs are customized for each condition and are
utilized to strengthen, stabilize, and/or stretch the affected
area(s) to restore normal pain-free range of motion and proper
muscle balance. Special attention is paid to sports and job-related
activities that may require specific training techniques or
protocols.
•
Postural, Balance, and Coordination Correction (aka Neuromuscular
Reeducation):
Proper body alignment and coordination can be facilitated
through postural exercises, proprioception (self-awareness)
training, and/or behavior modification.
•
Home Exercise Program:
Every effort is made to teach each patient a concise and appropriate
home exercise and/or stretching program individualized for
their condition. Most home exercises can be performed with
minimal equipment, such as floor stabilization training, band/tubing
resistance exercises, and walking or biking. We also educate
our patients about proper body mechanics as well as ergonomic
and lifestyle changes necessary to prevent recurrence of their
discomfort.
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Acupuncture
Acupuncture is a health science that has been in practice for
over 2,000 years and is very safe and effective in the treatment
of a wide variety of acute and chronic health conditions. Early
Chinese physicians discovered the existence of an “energy
network” which runs just under the surface of the skin.
This vital energy, called Qi (pronounced “Chi”)
communicates from the outside of the body to the inside structures
at over 1,000 acupoints located throughout the body.
Normally, this energy works in harmony with the body’s
circulatory, nervous, digestive, respiratory, and genitourinary
systems, however, when the Qi becomes blocked or weakened, then
symptoms may begin to appear. Through stimulating one or a combination
of key acupoints, the body may restore harmony and pain-free
function to the affected area. Traditional acupuncture is performed
by putting very thin needles (only slightly larger than a human
hair) into the skin at specific points on the body (the acupoints)
to balance this energy flow and therefore healing of the affected
area.
The World Health Organization recognizes the use of acupuncture
in the treatment of a wide range of medical problems, including:
•
Pain management
• Neurological and muscular disorders
• Digestive disorders
• Respiratory disorders
• Urinary, menstrual, and reproductive problems
•
Tension,
stress, and emotional conditions
In
1997, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) proclaimed that,
“There is sufficient evidence of acupuncture's value to
expand its use into conventional medicine.” Medical research
continues to demonstrate the effectiveness of acupuncture in
treating many health conditions and its potency in pain control,
and it has therefore become integrated more and more into mainstream
western scientific-based healthcare.
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