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Our Techniques & Therapies

At Chiropractic Solutions, we use a number of highly-effective adjusting approaches to help improve spinal biomechanics and reduce nervous system interference. The approach we use is based on our clinical judgment and years of experience.

The primary adjusting techniques we use include:

We use one of the most popular “low force” chiropractic techniques in the world.

First the Evaluation

We begin by analyzing how well your spine moves. We test how well you turn and bend. While you’re lying face down, we’ll evaluate the length of your legs. This simple procedure can reveal significant differences in leg lengths. Click here to try a simple leg-length home test.

This time-tested protocol tells us if vertebral subluxation complexes exist and their location. It also helps us know when to adjust and when not to adjust.

Activator Instrument

The Activator Methods® Adjusting Instrument is a handheld spring-loaded tool that delivers a consistent low-force, high-speed thrust.

Because it’s many times faster than adjustments delivered by hand, the body rarely tightens to resist, making adjustments comfortable and effective. It’s also helpful for adjusting elbows, wrists, knees and other joints of the body.

The Follow Up

After your adjustment, we retest to make sure changes have been produced. Testing afterwards helps us deliver high-quality care and high levels of practice member satisfaction.

We use the ArthroStim™ adjusting instrument. Instead of the traditional thrust by hand, this handheld instrument introduces the precise energy needed for optimum correction. Our practice members appreciate that we can avoid the twisting, turning or “cracking” of joints.

Pleasant Tapping

Instead of a single thrust, the ArthroStim™ delivers a series of “taps.” In fact, 12 taps per second. (Also known as the low beta somatomotor rhythm.) This is so quick, we avoid the all too common reaction of tensing up to “guard” the area being adjusted. (One more reason why we see such great results.)

Variety of Positions

Some types of problems seem to resolve better when the adjustment is delivered while seated or standing, such as a car accident injuries. Naturally, the ArthroStim™ permits this type of flexibility.

It’s also helpful when attending to extremity joints, such TMJ problems, shoulders, knees and other areas where precision is important.
Patient Benefits

We have chosen this approach because of the great results it produces and the chorus of countless delighted practice members who sing its praises:

  • Quick and often dramatic results
  • Comfortable and noninvasive
  • Low force and highly precise
  • Ideal for seniors and infants
  • Appreciated by those with arthritis

Most people report a feeling of ease, relaxation and sense of well-being as their spinal structure improves and vertebral subluxation complex patterns improve.

Each of us is constantly in a battle—with gravity! A frequent casualty is the soft disc material that separates each spinal bone. Pressure from our weight, trauma from an accident and other causes can increase the pressure on a weakened disc. In extreme cases, the soft pulpy center of the disc can escape. That can be quite painful.

We use the latest technology to help relieve the effects of back pain due to herniated and degenerated discs. Since discs are constantly under weight-bearing pressure, they can be slow to heal. By gently “stretching” your spine, we help relieve pressure and enhance healing. This is called disc decompression.

First, we’ll have you lie down on our specially-equipped table. Then, ever so slowly, we’ll stretch your spine. And then relax it. Stretch. And relax. Our practice members tell us this tractioning process is quite pleasant, even relaxing. Because they don’t feel the need to “guard” their spine, each sequence helps the damaged disc receive nourishment, expel cellular waste and enjoy reduced pressure. Then, healing can begin.

While not a cure-all, our decompression table is highly effective, especially when combined with chiropractic care. Our experience shows that decompression can be helpful in supporting cases prone to frequent relapses. Do you know someone we could help overcome the effects of gravity?

At Chiropractic Solutions, we use an adjusting style commonly referred to as “Diversified.” First, an analysis of your spine is performed. This can initially involve a case history and X-ray pictures of your spine.

Subsequent visits may include motion palpation, with the chiropractor feeling the spinal joints move as you turn and bend. Or, a leg check may be performed, to uncover an imbalance in the neck or lower spine.

With the malposition of one or more spinal bones identified, a specific manual thrust is administered. The direction, speed, depth and angle that are used is the result of years of experience, practice and a thorough understanding of spinal mechanics.

The energy delivered during the thrust may produce a slight “popping” sound from the shifting of gas and fluids in the joint. This sound may be interesting, but is not a guide as to the value or effectiveness of the adjustment.

While improving spinal biomechanics can reduce nervous system interferences, virtually all joints of the body can be adjusted to help restore proper range of motion.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

Also known as EMS, Electrical Muscle Stimulation is a form of electro therapy that uses a special type of electrical current to stimulate specific muscles.

With strategically-placed electrode pads, low levels of electrical current excite the targeted muscles producing rhythmic contractions.
Many Different Types

There are many types of electrical stimulation. Some are used to promote pain relief, reduce inflammation, avoid muscle atrophy and lessen muscle spasm:

  • Low Volt – For reducing muscle spasm and pain relief.
  • High Volt Galvanic– Muscle spasm reduction.
  • Russian Stimulation– Muscle strengthening.
  • Interferential– Pain and inflammation reduction.
  • Iontophoresis – A pain and swelling reduction technique.
  • Micro Current – Increase cellular metabolism to enhance healing.

We choose the approach that best matches your particular clinical presentation.

What Does EMS Feel Like?

At first, the electrical impulses can produce a slight tingling sensation. The impulses mimic the signals normally coming from your nervous system, causing the muscles to contract. As your body accommodates this muscle excitation, the intensity of your treatment may be slightly increased for maximum effect during the course of your 10- to 20-minute treatment.

We begin with a thorough analysis. We check the structural system of your body. Areas that can be out of proper alignment may include the skull, your feet and everything in between.

Listening to Your Body

By using an approach similar to applied kinesiology, in which muscles become weak when challenged or confronted with a negative impulse, we ascertain the exact location of lost structural integrity.

Those new to chiropractic are often surprised by the accuracy of this diagnostic system.

Realignment Protocol

With a clearer picture of the source of your problem, we enter the correction phase. We use an FDA approved instrument called the ArthroStim.

Not only does this device deliver a fast, accurate and low force adjustment, adding energy to misaligned structural components of your spine, it does so by tapping 12 times every second. This controlled tapping avoids having to twist, turn or “crack” the joints.

Accelerated Healing

The other advantage is we’re able to adjust you while you assume positions that tend to make your problem worse, such as standing and sitting or even chewing (TMJ) or typing.

This versatility allows your body to more quickly process the energy of the adjustment and begin making corrections.

Many people report a feeling of ease as nerve stress is released. Those with chronic, long-standing injuries find that healing occurs in stages, as if the layers of an onion are being removed. Repeated visits are usually necessary to strengthen and retrain the spine.

Imagine the surprise when researchers learned that certain light frequencies could actually reduce inflammation and enhance the healing process!

Related to the lasers used in scanners, this low level light energy can have positive effects on the body.

When practice members learn that we use laser therapy in our practice, they have visions of a powerful, steel-cutting beam of light. The “cold” laser we use has only a tiny fraction of the power. Instead, its value comes from the frequency of the light it emits, not its intensity.

Specific Wavelengths

Instead of the full spectrum of light that comes from the sun, our low level laser produces light in a narrow frequency. Frequencies in the red portion of the rainbow are shown to assist the healing of soft tissues. Apparently, cells of our body have receptors that are sensitive to light.

How Does It Work?

How can certain frequencies of light speed up or slow down biological processes? Many theories have been suggested, but from practical application with real practice members, we know it works for:

  • Wound healing
  • Inflammation reduction
  • Pain management
  • Cell regeneration
  • Scar tissue reduction

While scientists debate the mechanism by which low level laser works and publish their work in the scientific literature, our practice members are just delighted that it works!

Pelvic Pain

Mercier Therapy is a technique used to help restore the health and general well-being within the female pelvis.

Neuro Cranial Integration: NCi is a specific technique that aligns the cranial bones, brain and nervous system from the inside out and from the top down. The re-alignment takes tension off the nervous system, releases cranial, fascial and muscle tissue fixations, and returns proper cerebrospinal fluid flow throughout the spine and entire body.

Therapeutic ultrasound uses high-frequency, inaudible sound waves to treat a variety of soft tissue injuries.

Ultrasound is applied using a round-headed wand or probe that is placed in direct contact with your skin. At first, you’ll feel the coolness of the gel used to improve sound conduction. Then, you’re likely to feel a pleasant, warm feeling beneath your skin in the region being treated.

When these high frequency sound waves are directed to soft tissues and joints, the rise in temperature increases blood flow to the region, relaxes muscle spasms, increases metabolism and promotes your body’s healing response. Think of ultrasound as a form of deep tissue micro-massage, helping reduce swelling, increase blood flow, decrease pain, reduce joint stiffness and stimulate cell-repair.

A typical ultrasound treatment can take from 3-5 minutes. However, in cases where scar tissue is present, treatment time can be longer. During the treatment, the ultrasound probe is kept in constant motion.

Ultrasound can also be helpful at diagnosing minor fractures that may not be obvious on X-ray. Small, hairline fractures may produce pain as sound waves are trapped between the two parts of the break.

Naturally, we avoid using ultrasound where there are malignancies, metal implants below the area treated, vascular abnormalities and on the abdomen of pregnant women.

Vertebral Subluxation Complexes where the sacrum joins the pelvis (hip) can be quite common during the course of pregnancy. Besides potentially interfering with the baby assuming the normal head-down position in preparation for delivery, it can produce a variety of symptoms in mothers preparing for the culmination of their pregnancy.

The Sacral Vertebral Subluxation Complex

Developed by the late Larry Webster, D.C., the chiropractic technique he developed and taught chiropractors around the world, helps release stress on the pelvis, relaxing surrounding ligaments and reducing the sacral vertebral subluxation complex to help restore more normal function.

Sacral vertebral subluxation complexes may cause the tightening and twisting of pelvic muscles and ligaments, constraining the uterus. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of vertebral subluxation complex and the associated dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint. The result? Neurobiomechanical function in the sacral/pelvic region is improved, benefiting pregnant mothers or others with sacral vertebral subluxation complexes.

High Success Rate

The July/August 2002 issue of the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics reports that 82% of chiropractors using the Webster Technique reported success in reducing the sacral vertebral subluxation complex.

Sometimes when using the Webster Technique, the associated dysfunction of the sacroiliac joint can be reduced with just one adjustment. But usually it takes between three to 10 visits over a several week period.

Because the Webster Technique relies on the inborn intelligence of the mother and baby, there is little risk. The Webster Technique is based on the positive experiences of pregnant patients, the clinical experience of its many practitioners, academic studies on the subject of sacral vertebral subluxation complex and its consequences to proper pelvic function.

Get Started Today

If you’ve been to a chiropractor before and prefer to be adjusted in a particular way, let us know. We want you to relax, enjoy and fully benefit from your chiropractic care. Call our Erie chiropractic office to get started with chiropractic care today!
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Chiropractic Solutions Techniques & Therapies | (814) 825-1102