Spinal manipulation, which chiropractors call "spinal adjustment" or "chiropractic adjustment", is the most common treatment used in chiropractic care. Spinal manipulation describes techniques where the hands are used to manipulate, massage, mobilize, adjust, stimulate, apply traction to, or otherwise influence the spine and related tissues.
Extremity Manipulative Therapy and Joint Manipulation
Chiropractors are trained to treat all of the joints of the body with extremity manipulative therapy and joint manipulation including the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hands, fingers, hips, knees, ankles, feet, toes and even the jaw.
Active Release Therapy
ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles. Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. These treatment protocols, over 500 specific moves, are unique to ART. They allow your Doctor to identify and correct the specific problems that are causing your pain and dysfunction.
Graston Technique®
Graston Technique® is an innovative soft tissue technique that allows the practitioner to identify and treat ‘scar tissue’ or adhesions in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia with the aid of patented stainless steel instruments. The primary goal of Graston Technique® is to break down scar tissue in order to reduce pain and restore proper function. The Graston instruments act as soft tissue stethoscopes allowing your Doctor to better scan your injury site and detect the precise location of the injured tissue. Once these areas are identified, your Doctor will use the proper instrument to address and degrade the scar tissue by applying technical instrument motions to the area. The result of a Graston session is temporary low grade inflammation that increases blood flow to the injury site which results in initiation of the proper healing process. Furthermore, once the proper healing process is started Graston Technique® will also help strengthen the injured tissue and help it return to its original state decreasing the risk of re-injury. Graston Technique® is also used in conjunction with other soft tissue therapies such as Active Release Therapy.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture is performed by both of our chiropractors and our naturopathic doctor. We use medical acupuncture as well as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) when we choose our acupuncture points. We also integrate electroacupuncture, dry needling, and moxibustion techniques. It is commonly used for pain relief, though it is also used to treat a wide range of conditions. The majority of people who seek out acupuncture do so for musculoskeletal problems, including low back pain, shoulder pain, and knee pain. Acupuncture is generally only used in combination with other forms of treatment. For example, the current guidelines of the American College of Physicians (2017) states it may be considered in the treatment for nonspecific, noninflammatory low back pain in conjunction with spinal manipulation and massage therapy.