Chiropractic Care Houston

Chiropractic Care Today Reaches Beyond Spinal Adjustments to Tap into Health and Well Being from Head to Toe

From Reducing High Blood Pressure and Stress-Related Pain, to Rehabilitation and Improved Muscle Function, Chiropractic Medicine is Blurring Boundaries of Traditional and Therapeutic Medicines

Although Chiropractors are most commonly known for using spinal manipulation or spinal adjustments to address everything from chronic back pain and nerve conditions, to stress-related headaches and muscle fatigue, many other non-manipulative therapies are also used to effectively treat their patients.

This article will discuss a variety of non-manipulative chiropractic treatments used including; soft tissue therapies, physiotherapy modalities, therapeutic exercise, as well as diet and nutrition counseling – for a complete whole body approach used in today’s chiropractic care.

Soft Tissue Therapies
Soft tissue therapy is the assessment, treatment and management of soft tissue injury, pain and dysfunction primarily of the neuromusculosketal system. Soft tissue therapy is designed to help patients that have sustained injury to their muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues overcome the pain and stiffness that often accompanies these injuries.

One common soft tissue technique used today in Chiropractic medicine is called myofascial or trigger point therapy. Myofascial or trigger point therapy is a technique that applies pressure to tender muscle tissues in order to relieve pain and dysfunction in other parts of the body. The two types of trigger points are active and latent.

An active trigger point causes pain at rest. Active trigger points cause muscular pain and will refer pain to another area of the body when pressure is applied. A latent trigger point does not cause spontaneous pain, but may restrict movement or cause muscle weakness - pain is only exhibited when compressed. This can occur when major trauma has impacted the body such as that of a car accident.

Physiotherapy Modalities
Physiotherapy modalities include the use of ultrasound and electrical stimulation. Therapeutic ultrasound creates a form of deep heat therapy through sound waves. When sound waves are applied to the soft tissue and joints, they create a type of micro-massage that reduces swelling, increases blood flow and decreases pain, spasms and stiffness. This is beneficial in both the recovery of an injury and the prevention of a more severe condition resulting from ongoing inflammation and stressed joint environment.

Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation uses an electrical current to cause a single muscle or group of muscles to contract. The contraction helps strengthen injured muscles and promote healing. There are many different types of electrical stimulation, some for muscle spasms, some that cause the muscle to contract, some to reduce pain or inflammation and some employing a combination of all. This can expedite the healing and restrengthening of injured limbs.

Therapeutic Exercises
Therapeutic exercises are commonly prescribed to decrease pain, promote joint health, prevent muscle deterioration, increase stability, strength and range of motion, as well as protect the muscles against new or recurring injuries.

And like exercise, proper diet and nutrition play an essential part of preventative health care. Today’s Chiropractic medicine encompasses complete whole body health. It strives to help patients reach balanced mind and body strength.

Many studies have shown that a poor diet contributes to a number of serious illnesses including cancer, diabetes, heart disease and strokes. An experienced chiropractor will counsel their patient and design a nutritional program tailored to each person’s individual needs, helping them maintain a healthy lifestyle in addition to minimizing the risk of developing serious health conditions requiring more invasive treatment.

To learn more about these and other chiropractic techniques that can help you start feeling better today, log onto www.1960westchiropractic.com or call 281-580-1961.