OUR SERVICES & TECHNIQUES

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy uses low voltage electrical currents to generate pain relief in the body. How does this work? A battery-powered device (a TENS unit) delivers electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the surface of the skin. These electrodes are placed at or near nerves where the pain is located or at any trigger points in the body.

This type of therapy is often used to relieve both chronic (long-lasting) and acute (short-term) pain. Common conditions TENS has been used for include:

• Osteoarthritis (a disease of the joints).
• Low back pain.
• Chronic pelvic pain.
• Fibromyalgia (aching and pain in joints, tendons, and muscles of the body, but especially along the spine).
• Tendinitis (an inflammation or irritation of a tendon).

When a patient comes in experiencing pain, whether in the muscles, tendons, or joints, we may recommend some modifications to their lifestyle to help ease the symptoms. These modifications may center on the patient’s diet and nutrition, exercise, self-care strategies, and coping mechanisms.

Knowing how lifestyle choices impact the body is a big step towards knowing the cause of your pain and how to prevent it. It’s true that a poor diet can contribute to a variety of illnesses, including stroke, heart disease, diabetes, and more.

Common lifestyle choices that impact health are:

• Lack of exercise.
• Smoking.
• Poor diet.
• Excessive stress.
• Excessive alcohol consumption.

If a patient is experiencing lower back pain, neck pain, or headaches, we may recommend Chiropractic Manipulation as a form of treatment. Also known as Chiropractic Adjustment, this procedure is when a chiropractor uses their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. This spinal manipulation aims to improve spinal motion and the body’s physical function.

A common treatment for pain relief is Ice and Heat Therapy. Chiropractors often use this procedure to reduce swelling and help control pain following an injury. Heat is applied, using the hydrocollator in our office, to the problem area to help the muscles relax and increase blood circulation. It can also provide chronic relief in some patients. Ice packs are applied for a 10 – 15 minute period to numb the injured or problem area. Alternating between heat and ice can promote faster healing.

In Spinal Traction Therapy, traction devices are applied to different areas of the spine to relieve pressure and alleviate pain. This form of decompression therapy stretches the spine, massages the muscles in the back, helps straighten the spine, takes pressure off compressed discs and reduces the pressure on the nerve roots (a procedure known as non-surgical spinal decompression).

Spinal Traction Therapy is often used as a treatment for:

• Herniated discs.
• Sciatica.
• Degenerative disc disease.
• Pinched nerves.

We offer Standard Process Supplement products to patients in need of vitamins, probiotics, and other nutrients. Some chiropractic treatments are improved by taking additional supplements that aid in overall health and/or preventative health. Standard Process uses high-quality, FDA-approved, natural ingredients in all their nutritional supplemental products.

Supplements are suggested on a patient-by-patient basis and are often used to help relieve chronic health symptoms and nutrient-deficiency issues. Whether you are recovering from an injury or lack specific nutrients in your everyday diet, getting the proper supplements is crucial to healing and health.

Kinesio Tape (or K-tape) is a therapeutic taping technique that aids in pain relief by acting on receptors found in the skin. This effect alters the signal to the brain and modulation of pain sensation. It can also decrease inflammation because facilitation of lymphatic drainage occurs because of the adhesive design creating a convoluted pattern, resulting in microscopic separation of the skin and fascia. This decompression forms space for improved clearance of inflammatory waste.

Kinesio Taping is commonly used adjunct to other forms of treatments, such as chiropractic manipulation. It’s designed to move with the body and does not stifle movement. It’s a stretchable, breathable tape that, depending on the brand, is offered in a variety of colors and options for skin sensitivity and form of activity. K-tape can also be used with at-home exercises suggested by chiropractors.

The manipulation of soft tissues using machines is a common chiropractic technique referred to as a Mechanical (or Percussion) Massage. This type of massage can relieve muscular tension, increase range of motion and flexibility, decrease soreness and stiffness, and improve circulation. This technique provides patients with a more intense, focused-approached massage. It can be used with other manual therapies or as a stand-alone therapy.

The devices used to massage can vary depending on the goal or treatment outcome. Some common machines include handheld devices and vibrating foam rollers and spheres.

• Chronic pain.
• Acute pain.
• Previous injuries.
• Relax the muscles.

The “Palmer Package” refers to a variety of methods and techniques taught at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa.

These techniques are:

• Diversified: The first step is the analysis of the spine. Once malposition of one or more spinal bones is identified, a specific manual thrust is applied over the restricted joints. This is accomplished based on experience, practice, and a thorough understanding of spinal mechanics, and aims to restore normal range of motion in the back.
• Thompson: The Thompson technique combines a system of chiropractic analysis and a way to offer patients a less forceful spinal adjustment. This method uses a special table with drop-away sections.
• Gonstead: With Gonstead, the doctor examines the spine through palpation and x-ray analysis and determines the necessary adjustments to be performed. Patients are asked to lay face down to adjust the thoracic spine or mid back and then on their side to adjust their lower spine and pelvis. When the patient is seated, we can adjust the cervical spine restoring structural integrity without twisting or rotating the neck.

We also utilize low force techniques for patient who prefer not to be manually adjusted!