Chiropractic Care

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Chiropractic care is non-surgical, drug-free treatment that seeks to treat the "total person."  It includes spinal manipulation and non-manipulative therapies, such as electrical stimulation, massage, and ultrasound.

Chiropractic care can be considered if the patient's spine is stable and without nerve root impingement. Chiropractic is not recommended to treat spondylolisthesis, abnormal spinal curvature, or disc herniation.

Chiropractic Philosophy

Doctors of Chiropractic (DC) believe good health is dependent on a normal, well-functioning central nervous system.  The central nervous system includes the spinal column, spinal cord, and nerve roots.  

• The central nervous system (CNS) is critical to the body’s overall health

• It is essential to treat the cause of illness, not just the symptoms

• Prevention and early intervention (e.g. diagnosis) is key
• Proper nutrition, daily exercise, and lifestyle modification promotes good physical and mental health.

Diagnosis

Chiropractic and medical diagnostic procedures are similar.  A chiropractic consultation includes a thorough review of the patient’s history, current symptoms, physical examination, and x-rays or other imaging studies.  The patient's mobility, muscle function, posture, and overall range of motion are evaluated.

Manipulative Therapies

In chiropractic terms, the word subluxation is used to mean joint dysfunction.  Subluxations can cause pain, numbness, dizziness, pins and needles feelings, and other neurologic symptoms.  

• Manipulation adjusts the spinal joints to correct subluxation.  Using their hands, the chiropractor applies controlled and specific pressure directly to a joint or muscle. Successful manipulation may release a joint into correct position and/or alleviate muscle spasms causing spinal nerve irritation.  

• Flexion and distraction combines manipulation with gentle adjustments while the patient lies on a special treatment table.  The treatment table can be adjusted to slowly move up and down, side-to-side, and rotate.  The table movements mimic flexion/extension, lateral flexion, and circumduction (circular movement). Distraction manipulation does not cause pain.

Non-manipulative Therapies

Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS,) delivers a painless electrical current through the skin to specific nerves.  The current produces mild heat to help relieve stiffness and pain.  Furthermore, it can improve range of motion.  This treatment is non-invasive, with no known side effects. It may be used to control acute pain and chronic pain.

Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a common non-invasive therapy used to treat back and neck pain, tendon and ligament injury, muscle spasms, joint problems and other spine-related conditions.

Special ultrasound gel is applied to the patient’s skin.  The gel helps transmit ultrasound waves into tissues beneath the skin.  An ultrasound probe gently swirls over the skin area.  Ultrasound utilizes high-frequency sound waves to deliver heat deep into tissues.  Ultrasound promotes circulation and healing, relaxes muscle spasm, decreases inflammation, and helps alleviate pain.

Massage
There are many types of massage including acupressure or Shiatsu, deep tissue or Swedish massage, and myofascial release.  Massage stimulates blood and lymph circulation to remove toxins and promote healing.  Lymphatic fluid maintains fluid balance and protects against infection.

Acupressure

The practitioner uses his hands and fingers to apply steady pressure to specific body points such as acupressure points.  Acupressure theory therapy opens blocked areas and allows energy, or Qi (chee) to freely flow. 

Deep Tissue (Swedish) Massage

Deep tissue massage increases the flow of lymphatic fluid.  The practitioner uses his fingers, thumbs and elbows to massage muscles and connective tissue.

Myofascial Release

Myo means muscle and fascia are sheaths of connective tissue supporting muscles, bone, and organs.  Stress from injury or poor posture causes fascia to tighten.  As fascia constricts, muscles and bones may be pulled out of place and cause inflammation and pain. The practitioner uses his fingers, palms, elbows and forearms to firmly and gently stretch the fascia.

Conclusion

Chiropractic care helps many people with back and neck disorders. Chiropractic treatment is not appropriate for spinal disorders that may involve spinal instability or significant nerve impingement.