More than 27 million Americans seek medical care from a chiropractor each year. These highly trained professionals specialize in the alignment and health of the musculoskeletal system- with special attention paid to the spine. Advanced chiropractic care has been shown to help a litany of common health conditions and chronic ailments. Here are a few types of advanced chiropractic care techniques that are commonly used in these medical offices so that you become familiar with the terminology that you might hear during your visit. 

Advanced chiropractic Spinal manipulation 

Spinal manipulation is one of the most common advanced chiropractic care techniques used by chiropractors. The technique is done by exerting bursts of pressure onto the joints; usually causing a popping sound. The popping sounds are actually gasses trapped between your joints in the synovial fluid there. Spinal manipulation is successfully used to treat many conditions including sciatica, low back pain, headaches, neck pain, and even fibromyalgia.  

Gonstead advanced chiropractic technique

The Gonstead technique is a chiropractic philosophy that covers all alignments conducted by a provider. Rather than performing general adjustments to the spine and other major musculoskeletal parts of your body for overall relief, a chiropractor using the Gonstead technique will look for and isolate subluxations—places where your joints are misaligned—and attempt to manipulate only that specific joint to correct the subluxations. This technique is often considered the best method within advanced chiropractic care because of its precision and focus on small parts of the spine at a time.

Spinal mobilization

Spinal mobilization is used in many of the same instances as spinal manipulation but is widely considered a much more gentle manipulation technique. Reasons why a provider might choose spinal mobilization over manipulation include health conditions such as osteoporosis, patient preference, nervous system issues, severe pain, and obesity. The activator method, toggle drop, and cox-flexion distraction are all techniques commonly used for spinal manipulation therapy.

Myofascial release

Myofascial release is another common treatment method used in chiropractic offices but with specific attention paid to the musculature of the body. It is more like massage than it is like other thrusting chiropractic methods, and requires an expert to apply gentle and constant pressure to problematic muscles in specific areas of the body. It is widely accepted that this treatment method is effective at reducing pain caused by contracted muscles, improving lymphatic circulation, and promoting tissue healing within damaged muscles by improving blood flow.

Chiropractic care can have a lot of benefits to your body, the main one being back pain relief. If you live with back pain you know how uncomfortable and life constraining it can be. Instead of turning to a remedy that involves surgery or a lifetime of medications, you might want to consider using a physical method first. Chiropractors in Lakewood can treat and even cure back pain using a few different methods.

Alignments and Adjustments

A chiropractor is a doctor that specializes in aligning your spinal cord and providing treatment for the surrounding soft tissue and nerves through a series of adjustments. Your spine runs from the base of your back, up through your neck to your skull, and surrounding your spine is a network of nerves. If your spine is not properly aligned it can cause nerve pinching or irritation, which is very commonly the source of most people’s back pain. Chiropractic care aims to train your vertebrae to align properly on their own to alleviate nerve pressure. This process continues over the course of multiple visits, with the ultimate goal of permanently eradicating all back pain symptoms. If you have never been to a chiropractor before, do not be alarmed by the ‘knuckle cracking’ sound you may hear while being adjusted; it is simply the release of gases from the joint.

Chiropractic massage

When the main source of your back pain is muscular or tissue related your chiropractor might opt to use a variety of massage techniques and tools to relax those muscles and get them back to a state of healing. Different massage methods have different purposes and therefore different results. If you are experiencing very localized pain in your back your chiropractor will likely apply direct pressure to the affected area or possibly use an instrument to pin-point and alleviate the source of pain. If your back pain spans a majority of your back, your chiropractor might use a more traditional massage style. Deep-tissue massages stimulate blood flow and increase your muscles’ flexibility, which helps speed up the healing process.

Physical Therapy

Lastly, your chiropractor will likely provide you with multiple physical therapy exercises you can do on your own. A chiropractor in Lakewood can give you detailed exercises that are specific to your body and pain management regimen that a physical therapist might not be able to offer. These exercises can help encourage muscle memory and growth with a holistic and natural approach to pain management. While some back pain cases are much more serious than others, pain management without prescription pills is always a healthier treatment option. Additionally, your chiropractor will be able to advise you on certain posture correcting exercises, relaxation techniques and proper lifting form for continued muscle strength and health.

If you are currently seeing a healthcare professional for your back pain, please consult your specialist before seeking chiropractic care and note any medications you are taking upon your first chiropractic visit. If you are looking for a chiropractor to treat your back pain in the Lakewood area, go no further than Academy Chiropractic.

Chiropractic care has a lot of benefits for your body, but one you may not have been aware of is migraine treatment. Whether you’ve only had one migraine before or experience chronic migraines, you know it is not a pleasant experience. If you live with migraines you have likely tried almost every remedy under the sun, ranging from special diets to countless medications.  But have you considered using a physical method, such as chiropractic care, to treat your migraines? If not, you may want to think about visiting a chiropractor in Lakewood for migraines.

A chiropractor specializes in aligning your spinal cord and providing treatment for the surrounding soft tissue and nerves. Your spine runs from the base of your back, up through your neck to your skull, and surrounding your spine is a network of nerves. It’s no wonder studies have found a strong connection with spinal alignment and migraines, among other health issues. If your spine is not properly aligned it can cause nerve pinching or irritation, which could very easily be the source of your headaches and/or migraines. Adjusting your vertebrae so they are stacked properly can alleviate nerve pressure and, hopefully, achieve the ultimate goal of permanently eradicating your migraine symptoms.

Aside from adjusting your spine, a chiropractor might also suggest some other physical therapy of dietary advice to supplement your chiropractic care. Having a well balanced and healthy diet can help you get the most of your chiropractic care and improve your overall wellness. Additionally, your chiropractor may recommend certain exercises to correct your posture as well as relaxation techniques to ensure muscle health.

Another benefit of turning to chiropractic care for migraine treatment is it is a holistic and natural approach to pain management. While migraine cases are much more serious than others, pain management without prescription pills is always a healthier treatment option. The goal of chiropractic care is to treat and return your body to its best state so the healing process can be more efficient and effective.  The sooner you schedule an appointment with your local chiropractor for migraines, the sooner you can alleviate your pain and begin your road to recovery.

What to expect from your first chiropractic visit

If you have never been to a chiropractor for migraines in Lakewood, there are just a few things to expect from the adjustment process. A doctor of chiropractic often uses his or her hands or an instrument to apply pressure to help move vertebrae back into place. This usually happens with a quick movement and is often without pain or distress. You will probably hear a noise similar to the one you hear when cracking your knuckles. This sound is completely normal and nothing to fret about. The sound is referred to as joint cavitation and is simply release of gases from the joint.
Remember to consult your migraine specialist, if you have one, before seeking chiropractic care and to note any medications you are taking upon your first chiropractic visit. If you are looking for chiropractic care in the Lakewood area, go no further than Academy Park Chiropractic.