Chiropractors are the health care professionals who diagnose and treat neuromuscular disorders of the spinal column and its associated nerves, muscles, and connective tissue. Often working in concert with traditional medicine, chiropractic care uses special treatments and tools to optimize the body’s natural healing abilities.
Let’s talk about the techniques your chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO, uses to improve the lives of his patients.
Manual Adjustments and Manipulations
As the patient lies on the examination table with the back facing the doctor, the chiropractor uses high-speed manual thrusts in various areas up and down the spine. These adjustments release pent-up air and toxins, causing popping sounds.
Though startling, these sounds indicate that the doctor is correcting painful subluxations, or misalignments, of the spinal vertebrae. Further, these manipulations release muscular tension, improve oxygenation, and facilitate the delivery of key nutrients to the nerves, muscles, and other connective tissues associated with the spine.
Finally, chiropractors use the lumbar roll to adjust the lower spine. The patient starts in a prone position. The chiropractors apply spinal pressure and then rotate the individual onto the side.
Use of Chiropractic Instruments
Small handheld tools deliver quick and pulsating forces to the painful, stiff, and less flexible spinal areas. Also called the activator technique, these spinal adjustments work well for the very elderly and people with severe pain.
Besides the activator technique, the chiropractor may employ the Graston technique. Mostly effective with the soft tissues at the neck and shoulder level – this technique uses a concave/convex metal tool to massage the tight and injured muscles to release tension and deliver healing factors, blood circulation, and oxygen.
Finally, the Sacro-occipital technique involves low-energy thrusts as the patient lies on a wedge placed beneath the pelvis. This is a form of spinal mobilization and re-alignment which helps people with hip and lower back pain.
Use of Chiropractic Tables
As the patient lies prone on the table, the chiropractor applies gentle pressure to the selected areas of the spine. As he does this, the chiropractic table actually drops down a few inches, amplifying the pressure and correcting subluxations in the spinal column.
Other Treatment Modalities Used by Your Chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO
Besides hands-on, table, or instrument-activated techniques, your chiropractor shows patients at-home ways to improve spinal and musculoskeletal function and comfort. These techniques include:
- Heat and cold therapy
- Proper ergonomics and posture
- Good nutrition and hydration
- Electrical muscle stimulation
- Stretching
- Conditioning and strengthening exercises
Most importantly, your chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO, helps people of all ages with treatment plans which are truly individualized and modified for the best results.
Your Chiropractor in Grand Junction, CO
At WorkPartners Occupational Health in Grand Junction, CO, we provide numerous preventive and rehabilitative services for workers, including pre-employment and DOT physicals, physical therapy, vaccinations, drug, and alcohol testing, Workers’ compensation, and injury care services, etc. Our care is truly comprehensive, and we desire to get all our patients back to work and back to life. It’s the motto that drives all we do, including our state-of-the-art chiropractic services from Dr. Christopher Angello, our onsite chiropractor.
To know more, call us today at (970) 241-5585, or request your personalized consultation online by completing an appointment request form.