Spinal Adjustments / Manipulation
This is the foundation of our treatment, and the main thing that sets us apart from other health professionals. An adjustment is a therapeutic treatment applied to the spine or other joints. Chiropractors and osteopaths are both trained to perform these sorts of adjustments – the style may vary slightly between practitioners but there are more similarities than differences! There is no other profession trained to perform these sorts of adjustments.
We apply varying amounts of pressure to the spinal or other joints that have abnormal movement patterns or fail to function normally. Adjustments are performed with our hands or other specifically made instruments.
We also use lots of different techniques to work on dysfunctional soft tissues. We will use our hands or various tools to apply pressure to parts of the muscles or fascia to release any tension in the area. While these techniques can be applied almost anywhere, they are especially useful for the paraspinal musculature that surround each vertebra of the spine. Soft tissue work is occasionally uncomfortable but does not last long, and we will always work within your tolerance levels. The end goal of all soft tissue techniques is to relax hypertonic muscles and stretch tight fascial structures, usually resulting in a decrease in pain and immobility.
The objective of this treatment is to increase range of motion, reduce nerve irritation and inflammation and improve function.
Patients are encouraged to perform exercises that are tailor made to their particular condition. Once we have demonstrated and observed the patient performing them in the clinic, we then suggest patients incorporate them into their regular exercise routine; to complement their appointment visits. The exercises are always simple, quick and safe to do without supervision. Studies have shown that patients with a variety of conditions will respond best to a combination of chiropractic treatment visits and home rehabilitation exercises. Our patients who perform their exercises regularly will get the most out of their chiropractic care.
