Other Treatments

MODALITIES

The clinic boasts of over thirty different types of ancillary physiologic therapeutic devices that we use to augment our chiropractic treatments. Many of these are quite familiar, such as ultrasound, which is used to relax muscles, reduce pain, and increase circulation. The doctor can either apply a gel or cream to the affected area and then apply the ultrasound through the gel, or he or she can submerge the foot or hand in a water bath and apply the treatment through the water.

Electric stimulation can be administered using a wide variety of equipment. The treatment can be alternating or direct current, continuous or pulsed, and applied through sponge electrodes or through ones attached to a vacuum device. By varying the different pulses, frequencies, waveforms, site selection, intensity, and programs, doctors can achieve a wide variety of therapeutic goals. The number of manufacturers and therapeutic uses allows us to give patients treatments that are individual and unique to each person. The doctor will discuss which specific unit of therapy he or she feels is best for you. With our new state -of-the-art equipment, you will experience minimal or no discomfort. Treatment times vary from case to case and no two people ever receive the exact same treatment.

TRACTION - Traction can be applied either manually (using hands) or mechanically (using machines). Spinal traction for disk problems has been very effective. We are certified in Cox flexion-distraction traction. Our equipment allows the doctor to create an exact protocol for each patient. The unit allows the doctor to apply a passive range of motion of the cervical and lumbar spines as well as provide long-axis distraction. Although this equipment is mechanical, it is operated by the doctor and it is the doctor's hands on the patient. We also use intersegmental traction to roll up and down the spines of patients lying on their backs. This helps the vertebrae increase their ranges of motion and also reduces the intensity of muscle spasms.

MISCELLANEOUS - We also offer hot and cold packs, infrared and ultraviolet lamps, braces, supports, and home treatments. We provide patients with written take-home instructions to help them complete their portion of the "get well" process.

EXERCISE

The healing process is best divided into stages. Once the patient has completed the acute care phase, which uses passive equipment or treatment, the active phase begins. This is when patients begin to use the injured portion of their bodies to regain their strength and synchrony (smoothness) of motion. The first exercises will be done in the clinic under the direct supervision of a doctor.

Patients will be closely watched to ensure that they have proper posture before beginning the exercise, maintain that posture during the active exercise, and conclude the movement by using the muscle in its proper range of motion. Exercises are highly individualized and patients are provided with printed materials showing pictures of the exercise, the number of repetitions required, and how often they should perform the exercise. As patients become more fluid in their activity, strength measurements may be taken to help rebuild and strengthen joints.

REHABILITATION

Once the patient is able to move the injured part in a smooth and even manner, and most, if not all, of the pain has been reduced, then the rehabilitation portion of care begins. The doctor will evaluate the patient's entire movement pattern and order specific activities to address that patient's needs. Activities may include exercises on a Swiss gym ball, balance board, or gait training, body kinetics training, and aerobic activity. In this phase, the patient is doing most of the care and the doctor adds or removes activities as the patient's skill, balance, synchrony, and tone return to normal. The patient will then be transitioned to a home or gym program as rapidly as possible. Prior to release, muscle strength, range-of-motion, algorimetry, and other tests will be taken to make sure the patient is within the normal ranges.

INJURY PREVENTION

Many people have jobs that are particularly labor intensive or require the extensive use of specific muscles. These jobs include computer operator, secretary, delivery person, waiter, food service employee, security person, and more. In order to avoid an on-the- job injury or a feeling of total exhaustion after a normal day's work, we will perform a job analysis and outline a program to allievate the strain and rehabilitate the injury. The doctor may develop a home-care program, an exercise program, a cardiovascular program, a nutritional and dietary regimen or a wellness regimen to keep patients performing at their best. Programs are specific to each individual and take into consideration the patient's heredity, biotype, muscle mass, and dietary preferences.

MASSAGE

HISTORY - For thousands of years, East Asian and other cultures have used stones in healing. Some would wrap stones in leaves and build a fire around them. They would then place the stones near the body of an ill person and then cover him or her with blankets. They believed that certain stones had healing properties and performed a ritual to accompany the therapy. They used igneous and sedimentary rocks, which cover about three-quarters of the earth surface and are well known for their heat- and cold-retention properties. Even in the eighteenth century, heated stones were used to warm beds and wrapped in blankets to help the elderly keep their feet warm. It was only the invention of the electric blanket that finally ended the widespread use of this thermal therapy.

 

EFFECTS - The stones are kept warm in a 120° F stainless-steel temperature-controlled water bath. The stone's warmth is then transferred to the body by means of conduction. The longer the application, the deeper the penetration into the body's soft tissues. The stones can warm up to 1.5 inches below the skin.

If the stone is moved in a slow and smooth manner, the temperature will feel comfortably warm. Once the stone has passed over the skin, the skin may appear pink because of the increase in blood flow. Increasing a muscle's temperature also increases micro-circulation by bringing in oxygen, increases cells' metabolism, and improves lymph circulation to remove waste. This process also stimulates detoxification and increases the number of red and white blood cells.

Many people experience a sensation of calmness as their connective tissue relaxes. The warmth of the stone sliding along your musculature is quite a different sensation than that produced by a heating pad.

The stone massage also affects other areas in the body via the nervous system. The nerves that innervate the surface of the skin carry the stimulus along the nerve fiber to the spinal cord. From here the stimulus can travel to a related organ or to other destinations in the body. The warm stone's main effect is a feeling of sedation and calming.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING A TREATMENT? - First, the patient is placed in a comfortable position in a massage chair or lying on his or her stomach and the area to be treated is disrobed. Depending on the desired effect of the treatment, the doctor may choose to use essential oils of various plants to augment the relaxation, increase blood flow, improve lymph drainage, promote detoxification, or make other positive physiological changes. If oil is used, it is applied directly to the stone to warm it and then the stone is slowly stroked along the plane of the muscle. The doctor may use his or her hands along with the stone to intensify the contact. The vital flow of energy is then directed into the desired location. The physician may vary techniques and movements of the stone to enhance the patient's response to the treatment.

As the doctor moves on to another location, the exposed area is covered with toweling. When a stone begins to cool, it is set aside and another is chosen. Different sizes of stones are used on different parts of the body. When the desired result is obtained, the patient is totally covered and is permitted to rest for several minutes before the skin is wiped and the treatment concluded. Before the cooled stones are returned to the warming bath, they are washed with disinfectant soap and then rinsed. The stainless steel talk is cleaned and disinfected daily.

If the patient desires chiropractic manipulation, it will be performed at this point.

CONTRAINDICATIONS TO STONE THERAPY

1. Any condition where massage is contraindicated
2. Any skin condition that may be aggravated by moisture or heat
3. Anyone taking a prescription medication that may alter a person's ability to detect temperature changes
4. Varicose veins
5. All autoimmune dysfunctions
6. Burns or inflammations on the skin
7. Very thin or sensitive skin
8. Anyone who cannot detect temperature changes
9. Application over bony surfaces
10. Bleeding disorders

 

WELLNESS CARE

Wellness care is not about taking treatments on a repetitive basis just to feel good. It is performing specific individualized examinations of the patient's well-being at regular intervals. The interval and type of examination are based on the patient's past history, family history, trauma history, occupation, lifestyle, nutritional habits, exercise, and toxic load.

State law mandates that we schedule regular evaluations of our automobiles. Most people maintain their dental health by brushing daily and periodically visiting the dental hygienist to clean and inspect our teeth. The same concept should apply to the rest of your body. Through periodic physical examinations with our physician, evaluation by our optometrist or podiatrist, and checkups on your spinal, nutritional, and musculoskeletal health, you can prevent many maladies from ever occurring. Usually, all it takes are minor changes to your nutrition or exercise to maintain your good health.

It is universally agreed that it is easier to prevent problems than cure them. As your body chemistry changes as you grow older, our programs to maintain your health also change. We desire to assist you in maintaining the healthiest lifestyle possible. This requires regular exercise, proper diet and nutrition, restful sleep, and a balancing your activities. We tailor this unique and individualized program specifically to meet your needs.