What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a primary health-care profession, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and management of musculoskeletal conditions (problems with the joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles). Although chiropractors are best known for treating back and neck pain, which they do very well, a chiropractor is trained and qualified to assess and treat all the joints of the body, not only those relating to the spine. Chiropractic care is concerned with the assessment and correction of abnormal joint movement and position.
Many people are looking for a more natural approach to their healthcare. Chiropractic uses no drugs or surgery and is extremely safe. Published research is now validating the positive results that chiropractic patients have experienced over the last 100 years. Chiropractic is a highly cost-effective health strategy for both patients and third-party payers.
At an appointment, after thorough medical history and exam the practitioners’ findings will be explained to you and the treatment options given. Treatment at the Chiropractor is case dependent i.e. tailored to the individual and may involve a range of techniques. These include:
Specific Joint Manipulation, Joint Mobilization, Medical Acupuncture / Dry Needling, Neuromuscular Therapy, Activator, Massage, Exercise and Kinesiology Taping
Each patient is an individual, and the application of any treatment is decided upon on this basis. This is consistent with all aspects of your care. The options will be discussed with you by your Chiropractor.
Chiropractic treatment identifies and corrects misalignments of the bones of the spine and joints of the extremities. These misalignments can disrupt the nervous system and reduce range of motion – resulting in pain, numbness, tingling, and reduced function of the tissues served by the affected nerves. Through hands-on chiropractic manipulation, joints are freed – allowing them to return to their proper alignment.
What happens when joints and vertebrae are out of alignment?
First, we must understand that all the joints in the body – including vertebrae – must be aligned properly to absorb shock. This allows impact forces to dissipate into the ground and decreases wear and tear on the body.
An example from everyday life: If you got into an automobile accident and your car got banged up, what would happen if you didn’t correct its alignment? Well, there would be the costly expense of repeatedly and prematurely replacing tires, for one thing. You wouldn’t dream of NOT fixing your car’s alignment. Does your body deserve any less?
The muscles surrounding a joint must have optimal amounts of tension in all directions to hold the joint in its place. If the muscles are not balanced, the joint position is altered, and the mechanics of the joint are disrupted. This leads to excess wear and tear on the joint.
If the joint is not moving properly due to poor muscle balance, then assisting muscles (synergists) must do extra work to help stabilize the joint. Over time, the synergists that continue to be overloaded will become ischemic and constricted, and may develop chronic, painful trigger points. This means that the muscles will suffer from a lack of blood flow and eventually lose the ability to completely clear waste products from the tissue. The result – pain, dysfunction, and overall, decreased performance.
What does chiropractic adjustment do?
When the joints or vertebrae are out of proper alignment – whether due to trauma, injury, or repetitive motion – mechanical irritation results. This, in turn, prompts chemical irritants to be released from those tissues that have been injured. These chemical irritants cause reflex muscle spasms, loss of joint motion, nerve irritation, vasoconstriction, and pain – all of which promote the development of pathological changes in the structures of the joints or spine. These changes can be in the form of scarring in the soft tissues and/or degeneration in the bones and joints, a condition known as osteoarthritis.
Chiropractic adjustment serves to restore joint motion and re-establish nerve function – resulting in reduced mechanical and chemical irritation. Thus, as the adjustment returns normal motion to the joints or spine, it also reduces muscle spasms, improves coordination, and inhibits pain.
How is chiropractic integrated into the Soft Tissue Solutions practice?
At Soft Tissue Solutions, we use chiropractic as a complementary therapy – part of a comprehensive treatment program, incorporating a variety of soft tissue techniques, individualized to meet the needs of each patient.
Chiropractic adjustments release joints, so they can resume correct alignment. However, this successful return won’t happen if the supporting muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves are bound up and unable to function as designed.
By combining chiropractic with treatments such as Active Release Techniques (ART), Sound-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (SASTM), and Shockwave Therapy, we achieve a complete solution – returning the patient to optimum function.
What is a chiropractic adjustment like?
During an adjustment, the doctor applies precisely directed pressure – by hand – to release the affected joint. Once released, the bones of the joint are free to return to their proper positions.
Chiropractors are trained to use minimal force and gentle, controlled pressure. As a result, patients should feel no pain during the adjustment. And, typically, any slight discomfort that may be perceived is caused by the patient’s own tension in resisting the adjustment.
The popping sounds that may be heard during an adjustment are perfectly normal – simply gas rushing in to fill the vacuum created when the joints are released.
What are some of the benefits?
Chiropractic treatment offers many benefits, including:
- Pain relief
- Increased mobility and range of motion
- Enhanced joint health
- Reduced risk of degenerative injury
- Improved nerve function
- Support for soft tissue healing
What conditions can be treated?
Chiropractic can be used to successfully treat the following conditions and more.
- Neck and low back pain
- Headaches
- Stress
- Low energy
- Shoulder and arm pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Leg pain (sciatica)
- Arthritis pain (joint stiffness)
- Work or sports injury
- Numbness and tingling in the arms or legs