Chiropractic Care


Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. 

Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling. Chiropractic adjustments are a safe, natural and effective approach to achieving optimal health and wellness. These adjustments restore motion, relax muscles and relieve pain. Everyone from children to adults can benefit from chiropractic care.


Our Chiropractic Physicians


Here at Active Chiropractic, our practitioners use a variety of techniques and protocols to best assist the recovery and wellness of our patients. Our chiropractic care services include the use of techniques such as Active Release Technique (ART), Graston Technique, Kinesio Taping, Intersegmental Traction (IST), NeuroKinetic Therapy (NKT) and Dry Needling.


ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE (ART)

Active Release Technique, ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

How do overuse conditions occur?

Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:

• acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc)
• accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
• not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia)

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.

GRASTON TECHNIQUE

Graston Technique incorporates a patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively detect and treat scar tissue and restrictions that affect normal function. The technique separates and breaks down collagen cross-links and stretches connective tissue and muscle fibers. It also increases the rate and amount of blood flow to and from the affected area.

Graston Technique®:

  • Decreases overall time of treatment

  • Fosters faster rehabilitation/recovery

  • Reduces need for anti-inflammatory medication

  • Resolves chronic conditions thought to be permanent

Graston Technique® is clinically proven to achieve faster and better patient outcomes in treating the following:

  • Achilles Tendinosis/itis

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

  • Cervical Sprain/Strain (Neck Pain)

  • Fibromyalgia

  • Lateral Epicondylosis/itis (Tennis Elbow)

  • Lumbar Sprain/Strain (Back Pain)

  • Medial Epicondylosis/itis (Golfer's Elbow)

  • Patellofemoral Disorders (Knee Pain)

  • Plantar Fasciitis (Foot Pain)

  • Rotator Cuff Tendinosis/itis (Shoulder Pain)

  • Scar Tissue

  • Shin Splints

  • Trigger Finger

  • Women's Health (Post-Mastectomy and Caesarean Scarring)

KINESIO TAPING

Kinesio® Taping gives support and stability to your joints and muscles without affecting circulation and range of motion. It is also used for preventive maintenance, edema and pain management. Kinesio Taping is a technique based on the body's own natural healing process. Kinesio Taping exhibits its efficacy through the activation of neurological and circulatory systems. Muscles are not only attributed to the movements of the body but also control the circulation of venous and lymph flows, body temperature, etc. Therefore, the failure of the muscles to function properly induces various kinds of symptoms. Using an elastic tape, it was discovered that muscles and other tissues could be helped by outside assistance. Kinesio Taping is ground-breaking approach to treating nerves, muscles and organs. The method and tape allow the individual to receive the therapeutic benefits 24 hours a day.

The Kinesio Benefit
Evaluation and assessment are key in the treatment of any clinical condition. In order to get the desired results from a Kinesio Tex Tape application as well as any other treatment, a full assessment of your patient is necessary. In some cases, the treatment of a condition may require treatment of other underlying conditions as well. This assessment should include manual muscle testing, range of motion testing, gait assessment, and any other orthopedic special tests that you deem necessary. The information gained from these assessments will allow for the proper treatment protocol to be laid out. Kinesio Tex Tape can be a valuable addition to this protocol. It has been proven to have positive physiological effects on the skin, lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. It can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other treatments and modalities within your clinic and is effective during the rehabilitative and chronic phases on an injury as well as being used for preventative measures.

INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION (IST)

Intersegmental Traction (IST) helps to gently and effectively reestablishes normal range of motion to your spine. It also facilitates muscle relaxation to significantly reduce muscle spasms. The intersegmental traction table carefully elongates the postural muscles of your spine in a comfortable, even manner and allows normal joint motion, circulation and mobility to return. The contact pressure can easily be customized to suit individual needs and sensitivities.

Expected Benefits Using the Intersegmental Traction Table:

• Mobilizes the spinal column while simultaneously and gently stretching ligaments and muscles. 
• Increases blood flow and oxygen to discs, ligaments and muscles, thereby improving balance, strength and mobility. 
• The roller table may also be used to help restore proper spinal curves and increase circulation of cerebrospinal fluid (a watery cushion protecting the brain and spinal cord)


NEUROKINETIC THERAPY (NKT)

NeuroKinetic Therapy® corrective movement system is a bodywork modality that is used both as an assessment and rehabilitative technique for low back pain, neck,pain, carpal tunnel, and other injuries.The system is able to treat both acute and chronic injuries by outlining a custom, individualized program of exercise for the patient to practice at home for ongoing rehabilitation. The doctor uses precise muscle tests to locate imbalances within the body. Once the imbalances are located the doctor will release the over-contracted muscle and activate the weak muscle with exercises. This therapy corrects dysfunctional patterns that patients have developed. It is a combination of muscle testing, deep tissue massage and exercises.

The NKT protocol allows the practitioner to address the motor control center in the cerebellum which coordinates and stores all movement programs. When a muscle test fails the motor control center is opened to new learning.

The NKT protocol actually re-programs the dysfunctional routines stored in the motor control center. This allows you the practitioner to treat the cause of dysfunction instead of the symptoms. This use of manual muscle testing is combined with whatever release technique you already employ. The NKT protocol allows you to become a true somatic detective.


DRY NEEDLING

Dry Needling is also called trigger point dry needling or myofascial trigger point dry needling and is used to treat myofascial pain.

Muscles sometimes develop knotted areas called trigger points. These trigger points are highly sensitive and can be painful when touched. They are also often the cause of referred pain (or pain that affects another part of the body). We push thin solid needles through the skin into those trigger points. The needles are used to stimulate the tissue, not to inject medication.

We use dry needling in combination with chiropractic care.