Chiropractic Physician (D.C.)

Chiropractors are physicians who specialize in the treatment of biomechanical abnormalities of the spine. Chiropractors are trained in the diagnosis and correction of these vertebral misalignments. These misalignments are often caused by a trauma, poor posture, or repetitive movements that cause muscles and ligaments to pull abnormally on the vertebrae. This results in the loss of normal motion between vertebrae and can lead to a variety of conditions of both the joints and muscles. When left untreated misalignment and abnormal motion can progress to cause disc bulging, neurological deficits to the extremities, as well as long-term muscle imbalances leading to joint degeneration (osteoarthritis) and pain.

Types of Treatments

We treat these misalignments without the use of drugs and surgery. Most of the treatments you can expect involve the use of chiropractic adjustments, modern physio-therapeutic modalities, deep tissue massage inclusive of active release technique, and stretching. This office specializes in both manipulation and physical therapy, and as such will receive a comprehensive examination to decide which treatment is the best for your own condition. The chiropractic manipulation is a quick thrust applied to a vertebra, into a specific direction, for the purpose of correcting the abnormal motion or position.

Adjustments are often accompanied by an audible release of gas known as a cavitation and is simply dissolved gas (CO2) escaping out of the joint. Occasionally, minor discomfort is experienced in the area of the adjustment but this usually subsides within 24 hours. There are times when the audible cavitation does not occur. This is often due to either significant muscle tightness or if this gas was recently released from normal back or neck movements. Even when the cavitation doesn’t take place, the adjustment is still providing the movement necessary to help restore normal function.

Our office has the most modern, state of the art physical therapy modalities available to include diathermy, manual and mechanical traction, therapeutic massage with use of three percussive apparati, and combination electric muscle stimulation/ultrasound machines with laser technology so that the modalities can be performed with metal implants. These modalities are utilized to create local blood vessel dilation to reduce soft-tissue inflammation, breakdown any scar tissue formation, as well as reduce pain and relax muscles.

Lastly, a home exercise regimen will be given gradually during the course of your treatment. This is a vital aspect of the healing process as well as an important part of continuing with your care once the initial stages of healing have been attained. Being a specialist in chiropractic sports medicine and dealing with athletes over the last 30 years of being in practice, our office treatment is not confined to the spine but include the upper and lower extremities to include the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles, as well as any muscular instability both around the spine and the extremities.