When joints in the spine lack proper motion, it has an overall systemic effect from the muscular system to the central nervous system. Without proper alignment and flow of all nerves and systems in the body from the brain, we cannot function at our peak.
An adjustment is often a pressure from the chiropractor utilizing the hands or an instrument to induce motion into the spinal joints. This happens with a quick movement and is often without discomfort. You may hear a noise that sounds like you are cracking your knuckles referred to as joint cavitation. It is the release of gases such as oxygen and nitrogen from the joint.
Overall, adjustments are an excellent way to keep the body functioning at its highest level. When the body is in alignment, the body is able to respond and perform as it was designed.
Exercise Therapy consists of repetitive strengthening or stretching exercises that are designed to develop injured or weakened muscle groups that support the spine or other joints in the body. The individual bones of the spine and bones that comprise the joints of the extremities are held in place by muscles and ligaments. Exercises help to condition and alter abnormal movement patterns of these connective tissues. Specific strength exercises using manual resistance, exercise tubing, exercise balls, balance boards and wobble boards are incorporated to help rehabilitate and stabilize the spine and other joints in the body.
PNF Stretching (Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation) involves the stretching and contraction of a specific muscle group and is a more advanced form of flexibility training. It is excellent for increasing flexibility, range of motion and muscular strength.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation is an exceptional way to help the body in the healing process. This is accomplished by sending a very small electrical current into the affected soft tissue injury or muscle spasm. The therapy utilizes this current in an effort to help reduce swelling, block pain and decrease muscle spasms. It does this by helping the body to release natural relievers of pain often referred to as endorphins.
This is a great therapy if there is a muscle spasm in a back or neck muscle. Electric muscle stimulation is a very effective way to relax a tight muscle, and it allows the muscle to quickly return to its normal state. Short therapy sessions are excellent at facilitating healing from acute and chronic pain.
Ultrasound is a therapy that is utilized in the office to handle injuries related to joints, muscle spasms, as well as most soft tissues. While it shares the same name, this ultrasound is not the same as the type of ultrasound utilized diagnostically to screen internally in the body. This ultrasound creates small sound waves that in effect vibrate and massage soft tissues and muscle. These sound waves do an excellent job in facilitating the body's healing process in addition to decreasing scar tissue formation.
Certain ultrasounds also create a heating effect to help relax the muscles or tightness in the body. This heat combined with the overall features of the ultrasound help to start the healing process at the most basic cellular level, which speeds up your road to recovery.
Cryotherapy is an excellent way to help with muscle spasms in the body. This therapy is well known to help numb painful areas as well as provide a cooling relief to affected soft tissues. The therapy consists of applying cold compresses on to the skin to effectively reduce the temperature of the skin as well as constrict the blood vessels in the area.
If you are suffering from a muscle spasm or just recently had a soft tissue injury, cryotherapy is an excellent way to help reduce swelling and further injury in the early stages of your healing process. This therapy is rather inexpensive and is something that can be done at home as well as in the office.
Superficial Heat is used to decrease muscle spasms and promote increased circulation in order to speed the healing process. This therapy typically consists of applying a moist hot pack to the muscles of the spine or extremities. The use of moist heat ultimately calms the tight muscles and increases range of motion and flexibility.
Intersegmental Traction increases spinal mobility and stretches spinal joints by inducing passive motion into the spine. Discs in the spine have a poor blood supply, and they obtain nutrients from the fluids that circulate around the spinal joints. Spinal fixations prevent the normal circulation of fluids, which can cause disc degeneration and disc thinning. Intersegmental traction helps to increase and restore necessary elasticity and motion to the spine.
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Trigger Point Therapy As a specialized form of massage, trigger point therapy is used for patients that experience pain, tension, discomfort and “knots” at specific muscle groups and nerve sites of the body referred to as trigger points. It often used for patients with fibromyalgia and other myofascial conditions. Trigger point therapy focuses on a patient’s individual trigger points and works to release the buildup of tension among the nerve and muscle tissue fibers. This specialized technique is designed to prevent the chronic tension that creates trigger points and gradually release the existing accumulation of strain and inflexibility.