Chiropractic Techniques at Contemporary Chiropractic

March 3, 2010

Techniques available at Contemporary Chiropractic

As a new patient or a patient with years of chiropractic experience knowing what techniques are utilized at a Chiropractic office would be helpful. While you can often get such information if you call I have provided it here for your perusal.

Segmental Chiropractic techniques include:

1. Diversified – Diversified is a generic bending of named and unnamed techniques usually done by hand with low to moderate force often with an osseous release.
2. Toggle recoil – Toggle recoil is a specific upper cervical technique utilized to realign the Atlas and stimulate the brain stem. Usually done by hand with very high speed and low force without an osseous release.
3. Thompson drop work – Thompson drop work utilizes a table with drop sections, which suddenly stop after a small drop causing joints to move utilizing inertia. This technique works particularly well with some types of low back cases. Always done by hand on a drop table with low to moderate force usually without an osseous release.
4. Cox Flexion Distraction – Cox flexion distraction work utilizes a table with moving section, which lowers and rises while the doctor distracts lumbar vertebra utilizing the motion of the table. The is a lumbar disc technique done by hand with low force without an osseous release.
5. Gonstead – Gonstead work is manual adjusting done by hand with moderate force to affect the disc with an osseous release.
6. SOT – SOT is a lowback and pelvic technique utilizing wedge shaped blocks to gentle realign the pelvic joints and improve low back biomechanics. This technique works particularly well with some types of low back cases, done by hand with wedge shaped blocks positioned under the pelvis with no force and no osseous release.
7. Activator – Activator technique utilizing a special hand held tool, which can deliver a high-speed impulse into the patient to improve segmental biomechanics. This technique is done by hand with an adjusting instrument with low force and no osseous release.
8. Extremity Adjusting – Extremity adjusting can be done by hand or instrument and is usually low force with and with out an osseous release.

Regional Chiropractic techniques include:

1. Chiropractic Biophysics – Chiropractic Biophysics is a technique utilizing blocks, wedges, and specific positioning of a patient before drop work is utilized for the corrections. This technique is based on correction to gravity and to idea curvatures utilizing mirror image preloading. This technique has a powerful systemic effect on the nervous system.
2. Pierce Stillwagon – Pierce Stillwagon is a technique utilizing specific positioning of a patient before drop work is utilized to restore the proper curvature to the cervical spine.
3. Axial traction release – Axial traction release is done by hand or with appliances to axially stretch and or release the joints of a region —particularly the disc in a region. This is a valuable technique for patients with moderate to severe osteoarthritis.

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Chiropractic Treatment

March 3, 2010

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Chiropractic Low Back Exam

March 2, 2010

What to expect as a new patient with low back pain when you enter Contemporary Chiropractic will vary from patient to patient as we strive to make your first visit and the information gathering experience a tailored match to each individual. You can provide your initial information online, at or reception kiosk or via traditional paper works.

After the initial information is gathered your assigned provider who has reviewed your initial information will greet you and give you a brief tour of our facility.

Often after reviewing your information your provider may request pain scale information or want you to fill out baseline ADLs (activities of daily living) utilizing a disability question like the revised Oswestery or the Roland Morris, as these are common standards by which improvement can be charted.

Examinations of varying complexity will follow but will include pertinent medical history not provided, prior accident history, and the accident history relevant to your current condition.  Be prepared to give OPQRST details, onset of your current condition was it sudden or gradual, provocation-what makes it better or worse, and quality of the pain is it dull, sharp, pulsing, burning, etc. Is it localized or does it radiate, what is the severity mild, moderate, or severe and what is the timing, it better in the morning or evening.

Next your provider will do a visual inspection of the area followed by a physical examination probably more detailed than you are used to. These exams vary greatly according to many variables but will generally include static palpation, motion palpation, neurological testing, DTRs, sensory testing and orthopedic testing. Other testing may include SEMG, x-rays, dynastic SEMG, various moment assessments, and or various differential chiropractic testing procedures to produce the initial differential DX.

At this point your provider may elect to reschedule you allowing him or she additional time to review your case for a report of findings or they may choose to discuss your case and explain treatment options at that time.

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Getting the Most Out of Life and Chiropractic Treatment

March 1, 2010

Want to most out of life, get a Chiropractor and go regularly. If you are still unsure of why toss the word subluxation into a search engine and learn for yourself the science behind this devastating condition that only a Chiropractor is trained to find and correct. Faulty spinal biomechanics can rob you of your health and vitality. Want the most out of your Chiropractic treatments, drink water after your adjustments, and do the exercises your Chiropractor recommended. Between adjustments stay active. Movement, particularly movement of the spine once your Chiropractor has realigned and normal motion is restored is a major key in maximizing the short and long term benefits of those adjustments.

As a Chiropractor for more than twenty-five years I call tell that those individuals who ballroom dance, or perform Tai Chi, Yoga, or Pilate’s do far better between adjustments than those who don’t. The key is to pick an activity, which contains both dynamic motion of the spine and balance. Make sure to pick an activity that you enjoy so you will stick with it.

If ballroom or Tai Chi isn’t your thing I recommend an inversion table. For safety reasons I only recommend better models which range in price from roughly 250- 400 dollars. The quick adjustable ankle lock down feature makes any inversion table a pleasure to use so look for that feature. The Align is currently the best bang for the buck on the market due to Costco’s buying power.

Benefits of daily use of an inversion table between Chiropractic adjustments include better rehydration of spinal discs and facet joints through movement and axial traction. Reversing the gravitational forces on the spine also helps with other components of the subluxation complex including, IVF encroachment, facet imbrications, disc bulging, neural compression, DJD / osteoarthritis, and improves kinesthetic feed back loops. Too complicated?  Ok, well if we didn’t stand up right gravity wouldn’t be a problem for our spine – that’s simple enough and all you really need to understand. So see your Chiropractor regularly, stay active and or get an inversion table. Make it a great day and a healthy tomorrow.

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