Pain Treatments: NO matter what your pains are, Active Life Chiropractic starts with a careful diagnosis that helps Dr. Ly develop patient-specific treatment programs that may include a unique combination of modalities.
Neck
Neck problems are not always imply spinal. Vertebrae, nerves, muscles, tendons, along with other extremities and soft tissue can interact and create “radiating” pain _ sometimes called “referred” pain _ that you may also experience in your upper extremities. While it may “refer” pain to other extremities, neck pain may also have its roots in shoulder or even lower spine problems. Far more frequently than most people realize, neck problems can simply be caused by posture, stress or trauma. (The advent of the computer age has created a whole new generation of neck problems.) Don’t feel helpless, Let us help you make healthful changes in your body and lifestyle.
Back
Back problems are caused by a variety of sources. Some are from trauma or poor lifting mechanics, while others are postural or Gait Biomechanics (feet movements during walking) that cause lower leg muscles imbalance and leg muscles weakness. An effective back treatment MUST include: a) a careful analysis of the lifestyle issues that caused the condition; b) Gait Biomechanics analysis and correction; c) treatment of subluxation (joints misalignment); d) therapeutic modalities; and e) stretching, strengthening and posture modification education.
Upper extremities
Shoulder, arm, elbow, wrist and hand problems can be cased by poor sleeping posture and pillow supports, stress, poor posture, trauma, overuse/ repetitive syndromes, weakened muscles, misalignment of the joints, and sometimes spinal conditions. These anomalies must be treated uniquely to identify and treat the originating stressor to heal the upper extremity.
Lower extremities
Hip, leg, knee, ankle and foot problems can be the result of Faulty Gait Biomechanics (the way a person walks and habitual bodily movements), stress, poor posture and trauma, but can also be “chain reaction” pains caused by other joint structures. Your feet and calves are bearing the weight load of your whole body on them. If there is any Faulty Movement in your Gait Biomechanics, this will put extra load upward from the feet up to your knees, up to your hips, and up through your pelvic and lower back. The surrounding supporting muscles have to bear the extra burden of the weight loading until they could not bear anymore and will become painful and spasm and refer pain to other areas of your body. These problems are treated with inter-relational strategies in mind and can often require treatment of multiple joints and muscle groups (including the spine) to “beak the chain.”
Rotator cuffs
Rotator cuff issues are a combination of muscles imbalance and spinal and shoulder joints restrictions. Rotator cuff issues could effect your neck pain and headaches, and could refer pain down your arms or refer pain up your neck and head. Common causes for rotator cuff issues could be the way you sleep improper pillow support, repetitive motions, or dramatic injuries. The most effective treatment for rotator cuff issues consists of pressure point/ trigger point therapies to the shoulders, neck and arms; spinal joints and shoulder joints manipulation; and corrective exercises to balance out the rotator cuff muscles and strengthening the neck muscles. In most cases, we have to address and correct the legs length disruptency ( one leg is shorter then the other leg) to reduce the weight loading upward and effects the rotator cuff and neck issues.
Sciatica
There are two forms of sciatica: Functional Sciatica and Structural Sciatica. These are cause by muscular imbalance and spasm that squeezing on the sciatic nerve or by the impingement of the lumbar disc or joints degeneration pressing onto the sciatic nerve. Functional sciatica is usually caused by Faulty Gait Biomechanics (improper walking gait) and muscles imbalance in your legs that effects the pelvic muscles to squeeze on your sciatic nerve. Structural sciatica is usually caused by the impingement of the lumbar discs onto the sciatic nerve or intrusion of the lower back bones and pelvic from the degeneration and arthritis joints and bones. Treatments for Functional Sciatica and Structural Sciatica are similar since they both irritate by muscles imbalance and muscles spasm in the lower legs. The treatment is consisted of pressure points/ trigger points to the lower legs, pelvic and lower back, spinal manipulation, leg joints manipulation, pelvic manipulation, correct the leg length disruptency, correct the muscles imbalance in the lower legs, and strengthening the lower back and spinal structures and the lumbar disc. Both of these forms of sciatica could effect by faulty gait (the way you walk) jor improper shoe wears. Hence, wearing stable shoes is a must to further reduce the improper weight loading upward that irritates your sciatica conditions.
Treatment Modalities:
Spinal adjustment
Chiropractic approaches to health car are unique to our profession and go beyond what medical doctors are taught. Spinal adjustment to reduce subluxation – spinal misalignment – starts with a deep understanding of the skeletal system, correct alignment and precise techniques to restore strength, mobility and reduced pain. With short, precise movements of joint structures, the spine is aligned, taking pressure off of nerves, muscles and other soft tissues. [Note: One of the mysteries of chiropractic that many people ask about surrounds the soft “pop or cracking” sound during adjustment. This is merely the release of a gas vacuum in the joint structure as it is manipulated. Bones don’t “crack.”]
Accu-pressure point therapy
Accu-pressure point therapy focuses direct pressure on the muscles and tendons to release tension and promote better flexibility and strength This modality is helpful with many painful conditions in the body, and usually combines with spinal adjustment to release further stress and pressure to those supporting structures of muscles and tendons and ligaments.
Physical therapeutic modalities
Other physical therapeutic modalities that are critical to treatment and recovery from problems include heat/cold, ultrasound and electro-muscular stimulator, as well as others, depending on the condition being treated.
Corrective exercises
Many pain and mobility problems are caused and/or perpetuated by muscles imbalanced, weakened muscles, incorrect biomechanics movement and poor posture. Properly designed exercises to quickly bring the body back to optimal body biomechanics is essential to long-term healing. Our approach always includes at least some corrective exercises to balance out the muscles and ensure future health.
Therapeutic massage
Although not required in all treatments, therapeutic massage can often be helpful: It promotes release of tension, increase flexibility of tendons and muscles, increase of blood circulation and general awareness of extremities.