New patients are given a thorough health history interview for the presenting complaint and past health. Following the history he or she will have a physical examination directed at identifying the cause of the health concern. An x-ray examination or other laboratory testing may be necessary to arrive at an accurate diagnosis. If your condition will respond to chiropractic, then a treatment trial is justified. If no improvement is seen within the time period of the treatment trial, referral to another healthcare provider is considered.
A common misconception regarding chiropractic is “once you have been adjusted you have to come back for more adjustments.” This is not true. Everyone is unique and responds to treatment differently. Likewise, some conditions or injuries require more intense treatment than others. The degree of injury, duration of complaint, and individual complicating factors must all be considered when predicting how much treatment is necessary and how long it will take to recover from a given condition.
Many patients do choose to use chiropractic in a preventative sense to optimize health and wellness. The positive health effects from chiropractic adjusting and treatment make people feel better. Therefore, patients often want to continue treatment as individualized maintenance treatment. They make this choice because regular chiropractic adjusting makes them feel better, function better, and recover faster from ailments.
Research has shown that chiropractic adjusting combined with specific therapeutic exercise and stretching is more effective than adjusting alone. Results are seen faster and last longer. Most patients at our clinic are given an individualized rehab exercise program. Varying degrees of intensity are used with the rehab exercises depending on individual fitness, strength, and flexibility. The rehab programs are designed to increase in difficulty as the patient improves.
The primary therapeutic tool used by chiropractors is the spinal adjustment. The adjustment is utilized to correct biomechanical abnormalities of the spine and extremities. The adjustment is characterized as a high velocity, controlled amplitude trust to specific joints. Adjustments are most commonly done with the hands; however, some adjustments are done with tools. Adjusting has proven to be a safe, effective treatment for the biomechanics of the body. The adjustment also has significant positive effects on the peripheral and central nervous systems. The adjustment removes interference with the nervous system, allowing for improved function of the nervous system and body as a whole. The improved function helps the body cope and adapt to stress.
In addition to adjusting and rehab exercise, we also implement the use of supportive physiological therapies including therapeutic massage, electric muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, hydromassage, ice, and heat. Furthermore, nutrition and nutriceutical supplementation are considered with each condition to support the body during the healing process.
The overall goal of chiropractic healthcare is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of functional disturbance and ailments of the body. I strive to promote health and wellness in all aspects of my patient’s lives. With a wellness approach to healthcare, I believe that many conditions can be managed or prevented. Many health conditions respond favorably to chiropractic in some degree. A conservative treatment trial with chiropractic may be appropriate before more aggressive and invasive treatment is considered. Chiropractic is often used in conjunction with other health care providers for the best interest of the patient’s health and well being.
If you would like an information packet about our clinic or chiropractic, please call Alaska Advanced Care Chiropractic at (907) 262-6050.
Orthopedics
