Spinal Adjustments
Chiropractic spinal
adjustments are the primary vehicles which Dr. Lucas will use in order
to facilitate optimum health. These spinal adjustments remove
nerve interference so the body's own innate healing capability can
operate and you can live up to your potential without drugs.
(Click picture to enlarge.)
ArthroStim
The Adjustment...
Chiropractic adjustments help stimulate the body to
heal itself. Traditionally, chiropractors have used single
high-energy thrusting and pulling movements to adjust areas of the body.
The adjustment sets a series of events into motion...
The adjustment produces precise movements which
stimulate 'neural receptors' in an area. These receptors, in turn,
produce nerve impulses which relay crucial information to the brain.
The brain depends on this 'neurological feedback
stream' to update its awareness about an area. Once the brain
evaluates the changes prompted by the adjustment, it issues
self-correcting commands to the muscular system, and other systems, to
bring about healing changes.
Recently, new ways of producing this important
neurological feedback stream have been developed. The ArthroStim
Instrument is one of the most effective and comfortable tools for
creating this valuable input in an area.
The Arthrostim Instrument...
The Arthrostim Instrument delivers 12-14 incremental
thrusts per second. By dividing the energy of a single thrust into
rapid successive inputs, the ArthroStim Instrument modulates the (peak)
force. This allows your doctor to administer an extremely
comfortable, and highly effective, adjustment.
The secret to the instrument's effectiveness comes
from its controlled repetitive input. This input produces a
cumulative 'snowballing' effect on neural receptors.
This permits the Arthrostim Instrument to create
extensive neurological feedback to the brain, using greatly reduced
forces.
By utilizing controlled, incremental thrusts, the
ArthroStim Instrument is also able to stimulate specific neural
receptors (mechanoreceptors and proprioreceptors) without activating
undesirable pain receptors.
The Benefits...
The ArthroStim Instrument permits your practitioner to
maintain the effectiveness of your adjustment while reducing the amount
of force that is applied. This dynamic combination allows the
practitioner to comfortably manage a wider range of conditions.
Individuals that may especially benefit from the use
of the ArthroStim Instrument include:
-
infants and young children
-
individuals in acute pain
-
particularly sensitive individuals
-
individuals who dislike being 'cracked'
-
elderly individuals
Even individuals who are larger and stronger (and may
be difficult to adjust with a single thrust) can benefit from the
'neurological assist' that the ArthroStim Instrument provides.
Your practitioner may use the ArthroStim Instrument by
itself, or in combination with other adjusting methods, depending on the
approach they feel is best for your specific case.
VibraCussor Instrument
Definition of New Dimension VibraCussor Percussion
Instrument:
Percussion is a new treatment modality for those who
suffer from musculoskeletal pain and myofascial trigger syndrome.
It is non-surgical, non-invasive procedure that may serve as a
therapeutic alternative to trigger point and epidural injections or to
be used when other treatments have failed. Performed on an
outpatient basis, the New Dimension VibraCussor Percussion Instrument
carries little or no risk and is relatively comfortable.
Suitable candidates for VibraCussor Percussion
Instrument:
Individuals who suffer from musculoskeletal pain and
local tenderness in areas characteristic for individual muscles or that
characterize myofascial trigger syndrome, and in those who experience
referred pain in a distribution specific for the individual muscle.
The "trigger" or affected area of muscle is firm or hard to palpation;
sometimes it has a ropy consistency and may appear contracted or in
spasm.
The following general indications and
contraindications for vibratory and related therapies to determine
patient selection inclusion and exclusion criteria are recommended as
guidelines.
General Indications for VibraCussor Percussion
Instrument
Clinical benefits of VibraCussor Percussion Instrument
Percussion Instrument clinical benefits are believed
to increase the amount of blood and lymphatic circulation by its primary
kinetic action. Its general physiological effects are attributed
to the primary action of vibration, under whose classification one can
include forms of percussion, which effects an increase in circulation
and lymphatic flow, and a decrease in systemic nervous tension and
general or local muscle spasm.
The clinical benefits of the New Dimension VibraCussor
Percussion Instrument can reduce or eliminate the frequency and
intensity of myofascial trigger syndrome and musculoskeletal pain,
decrease the need for pain medication and greatly improve the ability to
participate in activities of normal daily living.
Cold Laser
Treating Arthritis with Light Therapy:
For more than 20 years, Light Therapy has been used
extensively throughout the world to effectively treat a number of
soft-tissue injuries, pain, and inflammatory conditions. Recently,
this exciting technology was cleared by the FDA for the treatment of
pain and stiffness associated with arthritis. This is particularly
important and timely in light of recent published concerns regarding the
safety of traditional arthritis medications.
Light Therapy is backed by extensive research with
hundreds of published studies covering a wide range of conditions
including arthritis.
Manifestations of Injury/Disease
Healing is a continuous process with overlapping
phases. All tissue injury whether a result of surgical
intervention or trauma (physical, chemical, or infection) is medicated
by inflammation. The four cardinal signs of inflammation (pain,
swelling, redness and heat) result from the vascular and cellular
responses of the body to an injury/disease. This response is
designed to protect the body against excessive blood loss and infection,
and disose of dead and dying tissue in preparation for the repair
process which restores the body to homeostasis. The duration and
phase of healing depends on many factors including degree of trauma,
nature of injury, and pathogen contamination.
Therapeutic effects of Low Level Laser Therapy
Peer Review published work demonstrates that laser
therapy is more effective and economical than conventional methods.
Therapeutic laser treatment is easy to use and has good patient
aceptance considering it is non invasive and produces no side effects.
The direct effects of Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT)
are:
-
Bio-chemical
-
Bio-electrical
-
Bio-energetic
The LazrPulsr 4X is a true therapeutic laser which
minimizes the adverse responses to tissue injury while enhancing the
repair process allowing the body to heal itself. This allows the
physician to remain true to his Hippocratic Oath of, "Remove pain and
suffering and above all else, do no harm."
How is Light Therapy Applied?
Treatments are fast and easy to apply.
Preferably, treatments are administered 2-3 times per week for optimal
results with treatment times generally less than 5 minutes.
Torque Release
Out of the largest human
population research study in chiropractic history comes the Integrator™.
The Integrator™ is the only chiropractic adjusting instrument that
was developed out of randomized clinical trial, blinded and with
placebo control. The study was designed by Robert Duncan, Ph. D.,
biostatistician, at the University of Miami School of Medicine,
together with the Holder Research Institute and founded in part by a
grant from the Florida Chiropractic Society. Years of development,
testing and design went into creating an instrument that would deliver
that 3rd dimensional dynamic that adjusting by hand embraced but that
no other instrument in chiropractic delivered; "TORQUE" and
"RECOIL". THE INTEGRATOR reproduces the entire thrust and
movement components of TOGGLE RECOIL, the classic Chiropractic Method
of adjusting by hand at a speed of 1/10,000th of a second. No
instrument in chiropractic history has been able to reproduce what the
hands were intended to do! Many other features are built into the
Integrator however the precocking/tip sensitive automatic release
mechanism makes the Integrator the first and only chiropractic
adjusting instrument capable of totally true inter-professional
reproducibility. This instrument, also known as the Torque Adjustor™
is unlike other hand held instruments. The Integrator has true
force adjustment as well as choice of three tip sizes, shapes and
density characteristics to allow for the chiropractor the greatest
outcome in correcting almost any subluxation that can present itself.
The Integrator™ is a legally marketed instrument in the United
States. Few have FDA approval!
Below is an example of how
the Integrator™ is used.
(Click picture to enlarge.)
Cryotherapy (Ice Packs)
In Sports Medicine, ice
packs are utilized in order to reduce edema (swelling), calm irritated
nerve roots and decrease inflammation of a disc.
Intersegmental
Traction
Intersegmental Traction
is utilized to improve mobility of the spine and help the muscles to
relax.
Activator Method
The Activator Method is
a "low force" technique, which utilizes light, yet extremely
fast thrust. Because of its "low force" the Activator
Method can be used on all types of patients, ranging from pregnant
women, babies, and children, to athletes.
Chiropractic
Examination
We at Tallmadge
Chiropractic have a commitment to providing the highest quality
chiropractic care possible. To maintain this commitment we have
added a new hi-tech analytical instrument to our office to better
serve our patients. Four important factors to consider before
the tests are administered:
1. Do the Subluxation Station tests
hurt?
Absolutely not. The
testd do not utilize any needles, electrical shock, or heat whatsoever.
They are receiving important information from your Central Nervous
System.
2. Why does the chiropractor
administer these tests?
Our purpose for administering these
tests is to detect and pinpoint abnormal function in the spine
which cannot be seen on X-ray. Abnormal spinal function causes
abnormal Nervous System disturbance. The three standard tests will
measure: 1) SEMG - the amount of electrical current in the
muscles, 2) Thermography - skin temperature along the spine, and
3) Inclinometry - range of movement of the spine.
3. Why is it important to monitor
the results?
Your chiropractor wants the best
results for patients like yourself. He/she can easily monitor your
changes through periodic progress exams. It has been proven that a
very slight amount of pressure (the weight of a dime!) can disturb the
communication of the Nervous System whether or not symptoms are
present. How can the chiropractor measure the results after
removing pressure? The advanced technology of the Subluxation
Station. This is vitally necessary to monitor how the spine is
working. It is key to improving your health and well-being.
4. How will this test benefit me?
For years, a major concern of the
public has been, "Why do I have to keep coming back when I'm pain-free?"
or "How do I know if I'm getting the proper amount of adjustments?"
Now you are able to actually see the changes, and it will be easier to
understand the amount and type of care you are receiving. Because
of this technology, your chiropractor can provide a "tailor-made"
program to meet your specific health needs.
Motor Nerves
SEMG Scan
Measures
Electrical Current of the Muscles
Surface Electromyography (SEMG
Scan)
Your muscles are controlled by
nerves. The SEMG measures how well the motor nerves are working by
reading the amount of current found in the muscles. Subluxations
(misalignments) disturb the function of the nerve causing an abnormal
amount of electrical current flowing to your muscles (indicated by
colors and/or abnormal patterns).
Muscle Balance
Muscle Balance
(Symmetry)
Muscle Balance
is extremely important because the vertebrae in the spine
depend on the muscles to move properly. If one or more
vertebrae are out of their normal position, it disturbs
nerve function. This disturbance creates muscle
imbalance caused by an abnormal amount of electrical current
in the muscles on either side of the spine. As a
result of this disturbance, the muscles can become weaker or
stronger, tighter, or fatigued. The abnormal muscle
pattern on the scan reveals an increased amount of
tension/pull on one side compared to the other (similar to a
Tug-of-War).
Autonomic
Nerves
Control Blood
Vessels, Glands, and Organs.
Thermal Scan
Measures
Temperature Differences
Temperature
Differences (Thermal Scan)
If your body
temperature is 98.6 degrees, then the left and right sides
of your spine should also be the same temperature.
Your skin is the largest organ of the body and the blood
vessels under the skin work as the body's thermostat.
(They expand to release heat and contract to retain heat
controlling the body's temperature.) When the
communication between the Nervous System and the blood
vessels is disturbed, it causes the body's thermostat to
malfunction producing an imbalanced temperature reading
along the spine. These blood vessels are controlled by
the same part of the Central Nervous System that runs your
organs and glands, known as the autonomic system. This
thermal scan provides us with information to monitor the
autonomic system for proper function.
Loss of
Motion/Flexibility (Inclinometer)
A third test
that your chiropractor may include in your exam is performed
with a Digital Inclinometer. This test measures your
spine movement as compared to a normal reading. When
there is abnormal positioning of the vertebrae, it disturbs
the Nervous System and causes abnormal muscle function.
This causes abnormal movement in the spine. The longer
the movement is restricted, the more irritation will occur
causing increased degeneration.
Deterioration
Begins
When the range
of motion is restricted, your ability to move is limited and
causes stress on the parts involved - this begins a decaying
process. This process not only affects the problem
areas, but left uncorrected will negatively affect the areas
above and below it (i.e. domino effect). This process
is similar to your vehicle's front end - when out of
alignment, it limits proper movement of the tires, causing
uneven wear and tear on certain areas.
Decline of
Overall Function and Health in YOUR Body.
To summarize,
your body can be malfunctioning for months, even years,
before you experience any symptoms. Since symptoms are
always the last to show and first to go, it is important to
monitor the function of your Nervous System which is why
your chiropractor utilizes the Insight Subluxation Station.
This technology provides vital information for your
chiropractor, who is the only health care specialist trained
and licensed in the detection and correction of subluxations.
As a result of this expertise, the highest level of health
possible may be within your reach.
Below is an example of a
scan.
(Click picture to enlarge.)
Low Dosage X-RAY Exam
Low dosage X-ray
examinations are utilized by your doctor to prevent any undue harm to
your body from the radiation associated with normal X-ray systems.
(Click picture to enlarge.)
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