Chiropractic services
Chiropractic care is a safe, effective, and highly researched complementary form of health care. Chiropractors treat a wide variety of musculoskeletal conditions using a large range of techniques. By performing a thorough history taking and physical examination, chiropractors aim to find and treat the source of the symptoms rather than focusing on the location of the pain alone. Chiropractors assess patients for disorders related to the spine, pelvis, extremity joints, and their effect on the nervous system. Treatments will often compromise of musculoskeletal treatments, but individualized rehabilitation and nutritional plans can also play a key role in preventing recurrence of pain, as well as giving your body the tools it needs to heal itself properly. For more information on a particular treatment, please read the explainations below.
Manipulation/Adjustment:
The ‘adjustment ‘or ‘manipulation‘ has been used for centuries in healing arts and has become synonymous with chiropractic treatment. This type of treatment is done usually by hand, on joints of the body, predominately the spine. It involves moving the joint beyond its passive range of motion by applying a high velocity thrust, and is usually accompanied by an audible click. Some people are apprehensive about having manipulations because of the clicking or ‘cracking’ sound. Essentially what causes this sound is the release of gasses that are dissolved within the synovial fluid of the joint (the fluid that lubricates and nourishes the joint). The clicking sound is analogous to opening a can of pop, in that the compressed gasses are able to escape and by doing so, make a popping sound. Adjustments are important parts of chiropractic treatment. They help relieve pain and store normal function to spine, joints and supporting body structures.
Mobilization:
Mobilizations, like manipulations, are used to restore motion to a joint. Unlike manipulations, which are very fast, mobilizations involve inducing a slower, oscillating movement to the joint. Because of this, no popping sound it produced.
Soft Tissue Treatments:
Often some form of manual work that is localized to the area of complaint will be a part of chiropractic treatment. This form of treatment can be delivered in many forms, such as general muscle stripping, ischemic compression, instrument assisted, and myofascial release therapy. Like massage, soft tissue treatment works on trigger points or tight bands of muscle that have built up toxins such as lactic acid, and render the muscle dysfunctional. It can help relax the tight bands of muscles, break up scar tissue from micro-trauma, restore blood flow and lymphatic drainage, and help restore motion to the area.
Rehabilitation:
Rehabilitation is one of the most important aspects of the chiropractic encounter. Chiropractic treatments can help provide temporary relief by affecting the joints, however, when combined with rehab, the body is functioning optimally, and thus re-injury and recurrence is much lower. It is a progressive, dynamic, goal-oriented exercise program that is tailored to the patient and their specific needs and goals. The patients’ impairments, functional limitations, and disability are all considered in coming up with a plan that will work best for the patient. Education and work conditioning can also be employed to help the patient achieve optimal quality of life.
Orthotics:
Just as steel and metal girders provide the foundation for the tallest of buildings, your feet provide the foundation for your body. People who spend a lot of time on their feet through work, athletics, or an active lifestyle, can come to realize that this foundation can become a source of pain and discomfort. Sometimes, even chronic diseases can affect the feet, such as diabetes. Orthotics can be prescribed through custom fitting by foam casting or gait scan analysis to tailor your specific footwear to your feet and specific needs. Everything is connected. By putting your feet in proper alignment, other joints in your body become aligned and functioning properly as well, from knees to hips, to spine. Orthotics are also useful for biomechanical conditions such as overpronation, oversupination, as well as neuromusculoskeletal conditions such as plantar fasciitis, achillies tendon problems, chronic ankle sprains, metatarsalgia, as well as other conditions.
Nutrition & Lifestyle:
In order to achieve optimal health and wellness many lifestyle issues can be addressed as a part of the chiropractic visit. Our bodies are wonderful and complex. In spite of the abuse a lot of people give their bodies, either through diet, smoking, alcohol, drugs, inactivity, environmental toxins, our bodies maintain the innate ability to heal itself. Specific nutrients differ in form and function and amounts needed by the body, but they ALL are vital to our health. They come in the form of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water, amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Dr. Chu can work with you to come up with an individualized nutrition plan that can help optimize organ function so you can live healthier, longer, and lose weight.
