According to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA),
Chiropractors are health care professionals who focus on disorders of the neuromusculoskeletal system. Chiropractors practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to healthcare that includes examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors perform adjustments, or manipulations, to the spine or its extremities with the goal of restoring joint mobility.
This is accomplished by manually applying a controlled force into a joint which has become hypomobile, or restricted in its movement, as a result of tissue injury. Injury to the tissues can be a result of a single traumatic event, such as improper mechanics when lifting heavy objects, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in awkward positions with poor spinal posture for extended periods of time. Regardless of the cause, injured tissues typically undergo physical and chemical changes that lead to inflammation, pain and diminished function.
Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint/tissues, restores mobility which alleviates the associated pain and muscle tightness. The restoration of mobility is often accompanied by an audible pop or “crack.” This sound is a result of the rapid change in pressure within the joint which results in the release of gas bubbles and is no different than when you “crack” your knuckles.
Chiropractic adjustments rarely cause discomfort, however, patient may experience mild soreness or aching following treatment.
This is also common with most forms of exercise. The soreness typically resolves within 24 hours. As compared to other common treatments for pain, such as over-the-counter and prescription pain medications, chiropractic’s conservative approach offers a safe and effective option. There is a growing list of research studies and reviews which demonstrate that the services provided by chiropractors are clinically effective, safe and cost effective.
Common conditions that Chiropractic treatment has been shown to be effective for include:
- Acute and chronic low back pain
- neck pain
- headaches
- arm/leg pain
- herniated disc
- sports injuries
This list is by no means complete, but these are the areas in which we focus on here at Sipe Chiropractic and Rehabilitation.
It is a gentle, non-force adjusting procedure. Some of the benefits of flexion-distraction include reducing the pressure on spinal nerves from disc bulges or herniations, increasing spinal motion within the disc and spinal joints, reducing symptoms of sciatica.
Flexion-distraction is a conservative, non-surgical option for herniated discs. Other conditions that benefit from this technique include low back pain, arthritis, general low back stiffness, muscle strains and ligament sprains, spinal stenosis, ankylosing spondylitis, and failed back surgery syndrome.
It focuses on pain believed to arise from myofascial tissues, or the tough membranes that wrap, connect and support your muscles. During myofascial release the doctor or therapist locates myofascial areas that feel stiff or fixed instead of elastic and movable under light manual pressure.
While applying this force they proceed to stretch the aberrant muscles. These areas are thought to restrict muscle and joint movements which contribute to widespread muscle pain.
Sports Recovery
IASTM is performed with ergonomically designed instruments which help the practitioner detect and treat fascial restrictions, encourage rapid localization and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis, chronic inflammation, or degeneration.
IASTM works by breaking down fascial restrictions and scar tissue by introducing controlled microtrauma to affected soft tissue structures and causes the stimulation of a local inflammatory response. This microtrauma allows the body to reabsorb inappropriate fibrosis or excessive scar tissue and facilitate a cascade of healing activities resulting in remodeling of the affected soft tissues. Common causes for these adhesions include surgery, immobilization, repetitive strain or overuse.
IASTM has been found to be effective with medial and lateral epicondylitis (golfer’s/tennis Elbow), carpal tunnel, neck pain, plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff tendinitis, patellar tendinitis, post-surgical or traumatic scars, muscle strains and ligament sprains, back pain, shin splints, and many more.
Kinesiology taping is a specific mode of treatment which involves placing strips of special tape on the body in specific directions to help improve mobility and support the joints, muscles and tendons. Kinesiology tape was developed in the 70s by a chiropractor names Dr. Kenso Kase. He found that using flexible tape that harnessed the interface between the skin and the muscles could provide long-lasting effects for his patients. He developed many of the techniques used in kinesiology taping today.
Is Kinesiology Tape Just Fancy Athletic Tape?
No. Athletic tape is used for support and to limit motion while kinesiology tape is used to facilitate motion and inhibit pain and spasm. Kinesiology tape is a flexible material that moves when you move. Athletic tape is relatively inflexible. Kinesiology tape helps to improve lymph transport and increase circulation. The tight binding nature of athletic tape serves to decrease circulation.
NormaTec is a vasopneumatic device, which simply means that it applies pressure to help direct the circulation of blood flow. By helping direct the flow of blood, NormaTec decreases muscle fatigue after exercise, decreases pain sensitivity, and increases range of motion.
Deep tissue laser therapy can accelerate the body’s healing process through a process called photobiomodulation. Photobiomodulation is defined as form of light therapy that utilizes non-ionizing light sources in the visible and near-infrared electromagnetic spectrum.
It is a nonthermal process involving endogenous chemophores eliciting photophysical and photochemical events at various biological scales.
The process produces beneficial therapeutic outcomes including but not limited to alleviating pain or inflammation, immunomodulation and promotion of wound healing and tissue regeneration. Laser therapy has been shown to beneficial in conditions like (OA), neck pain, back pain, limited range of motion, acute pain, chronic pain, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel, tendonitis, and many more.
