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The primary treatment used by the chiropractor
is the adjustment. This treatment usually results in a "pop"
or "crack" and a relief of symptoms through correction of subluxated
joints. The
doctor of chiropractic spends many years mastering these precise
movements to ensure patient safety, as well as optimum
results. There are many techniques which address the movement
of the vertebrae, such as Gonstead, Diversified, Thompson Drop, Blair,
SOT, Logan, Cox, etc... The typical chiropractor
will specialize in one particular technique or incorporate various
techniques into his/her own unique style.
Applied Kinesiology (AK) is primarily a
diagnostic technique which uses muscle tests to evaluate normal and
abnormal body function. “Muscle
tests are applied to different areas of the body in a manner that
evaluates a specific muscle.”1
In an ideal situation all muscles of the
body should respond by locking against resistance, or testing “strong.” This is rarely the case. When most people go to see
their doctor something is usually bothering them.
So, most people will discover that some of
their muscles appear extremely “weak.”
Often times, the same muscle will function
well on one side and poorly on the other.
This “weakness” does not mean
that you need to go to the gym and work out that muscle. It is simply a sign
that your body is not communicating properly with that muscle. Improper communication can
be caused by several problems, such as, a subluxation causing suboptimal
neurological or vascular flow, nutritional deficiencies, stress, or
a deficient organ or organ meridian.
A skilled doctor will be able to determine
which controlling factor might be at fault using AK diagnostic
techniques. Upon
successful correction , there will often be a dramatic improvement in
the muscle function. You
will have “strength” where once there was “weakness.”
The
medical profession is the primary discipline that attempts to control
body dysfunction using this aspect of the Triad of Health,
typically via drugs. Although
poor health can result from involvement of the triangle’s chemical
side, the effects may not be immediate, or easily found. Nutritionists and health
care providers have increased their interest in the chemical side of
the triangle over the past century.
This is because of increasing nutritional
deficiencies in the US sure to refining of foods, dietary indiscretion,
and the depletion of the soil in which our foods are grown. The slow effects of these
deficiencies do not typically result in a classic malnutrition disease,
but will cause a general loss of health.
Sometimes too much of a nutritional
supplement can cause a chemical imbalance, or a supplement may no
longer be absorbed as well as it once was.
The AK
doctor may have you chew or taste certain nutritional complexes and
then test you to determine its effects on your body.
Also
known as Qi, this is a form of energy that is brought into the body at
birth and remains until death. Chi flows through the body as
we breathe and is simultaneously synergized via several acupuncture
points and travels throughout the body on pathways known as meridians.
This
refers to a discussion between you and your doctor regarding the
treatment frequency and your requirements during treatment.
If your doctor deems it appropriate to refer you to another doctor for
co-treatment or transfer you to another doctor for care, this is
typically the time it is done.
Emotions
See Below. (Mental)
This
is a physical examination of your bodily functions and
conditions. More specifically, this screening will include
such assessments as blood pressure, pulse, temperature, orthopedic
tests, muscle tests, motion palpation for subluxation and other general
measurements of the body. The examination does not include a
standard genital or rectal examination (however, Doctors of
Chiropractic are educated in performing these examinations when deemed
necessary for treatment and/or referral).
Functional Metabolic Treatment
Functional
treatments involve using your body's symptoms and responses to
treatment to determine the best course of care for each patient.
Functional Metabolic Treatments are specific dietary and
lifestyle recommendations based on your blood, saliva, and/or stool
laboratory analysis. These lab results guide the direction of
treatment and allow the doctor to customize a treatment plan for your
body. This care is individualized to your body's needs and
that is one of the reasons why we get results where others fail.
Functional Neurologic Treatment
Functional
treatments involve using your body's symptoms and responses
to treatment to determine the best course of care for each patient.
Functional Neurologic Treatments are different types of
stimulation designed to activate specific areas of the brain which have
improper firing patterns. We may see that certain parts of
the left brain are understimulated and the doctor will design exercises
to be done in the office as well as at home to optimize function of
your brain and nervous system. Functional Neurologic
Treatment can aid in better recovery from strokes, help with learning
disabilities, help restore balance problems, help fix attention
defecits (ADD, ADHD), and many other brain symptoms. This
care is
individualized to your body's needs and that is one of the reasons why
we get results where others fail.
This
aspect of the Triad
of Health is typically dealt with by psychologists,
psychiatrists, and therapists. Like
the other sides of the triangle, imbalance of the mental side can cause
a deterioration of your general health.
It is obvious that someone’s mental attitude
affects his/her health, but the extent is truly amazing. Many psychiatric
conditions are the result of physiological involvement.
For example, some cases of continued
depression can be the result of low blood sugar or hyperactivity in
some children can result from disorganization of the nervous system. There are also many
physical ailments that are the result of an imbalance to the mental
side of the triangle. Stomach
ulcers in an emotionally stressed individual, emotional low back pain,
or tension headaches. The
effects of your emotions on your nervous system can be evaluated using AK techniques,
as well as TBM
and NET.
One
of the fourteen pathways that Chi
travels through on it's cycle through the body. Additionally,
each meridian consists of several points commonly referred to as
acupuncture points. The Chi flows through the fourteen
meridians as follows: Chi enters the body at birth at the
umbilicus (belly button), then as we breathe it flows into the
diaphragm, to the lungs, and makes it's way to the Lung meridian where
it begins it's travel through the meridians. The order of
travel goes like this: Large Intestine, Stomach, Spleen, Heart, Small
Intestine, Bladder, Kidney, Circulation Sex, Triple Heater, Gall
Bladder, and then Liver. This cycle repeats until the Chi
leaves the body after death.
Imbalance
of flow or the distribution of Chi throughout the body is a common
cause of dysfunction. This disrupts the balance of the Triad of
Health and disease occurs. Imbalances of Chi can be
discovered at acupuncture points, which will show a change in
electrical energy and sometimes be tender. Imbalanced points
on a meridian
cause a meridian imbalance, and vice versa. Treatment of
these imbalances without the use of needles has become known as
meridian therapy. The typical treatment of the meridians
without needles can include lasers, tsuma-shin, rubbing, tapping,
adjustments, or smoke, just to name a few.
Emotional Stress
can affect our bodies in several ways. It is important to
recognize the value of treating emotional stress of the mind and of the
body. Typically, people will seek treatment for their mind,
but neglect to seek treatment for their body. Chiropractors
trained in NET are capable of releasing the physical effects of
emotional stress that are stored in the body. The general
principle is: Stagnation of emotional stress in specific areas of the
body can perpetuate disease. Release of this stagnant
emotional stress allows for healing of the body as well as the
mind. NET blends meridian therapy with the use of specific
homeopathic remedies to stabilize the mental aspect of the Triad of
Health.
Chiropractic
is the major healing profession that deals with the Triad of
Health's structural base.
In addition to structural injuries, such as
a sprained ankle or whiplash, the structural side of the triangle more
importantly, deals with the structural instability and joint
involvement. This
includes osteoarthritis, and joint strain and irritation to the nerve
roots as they exit the spinal column.
Nerves control much of our body’s function,
therefore irritating the nerves can cause a variety of health problems.
Lack
or loss of proper motion or function in a joint, primarily the
vertebrae of the spine, which causes disruption of the nervous
system. Combination of the prefix Sub-
meaning under or less than, and luxation referring
to dislocation of an anatomical part, subluxation translates directly
to less than dislocated. So, a subluxation describes a
slightly out of place bone that articulates with another bone that can
cause symptoms immediately or that can lead to chronic problems later
in life. The cause of a subluxation can be structural,
chemical,
or mental.
This depends on which aspect of the Triad of Health is
deficient. The correction of a subluxation is done via an adjustment
of the affected joint/area.
This
unique technique is designed to blend the physical modalities of
chiropractic with energetic techniques derived from meridian
therapy. This system treats the body through accessing the
body's bio-computer and restoring dysfunctional systems. This
technique has been clinically successful with numerous dysfunctions
such as neck pain, allergies, emotional stress, autoimmune
diseases, and the list goes on and on.
Triad of
Health
Natural
Healthcare is designed to treat the three basic health factors that are
responsible for health problems. Like
a triangle with equal sides, each of these factors are important to
maintaining the balance of our health. The Triad of Health,
or triangle, includes the three basic causes of all health problems,
namely structural,
chemical,
or mental
dysfunctions.
Examination
using X rays to photograph internal structures of the body.
Chiropractors use this technology to assess the anatomic structure of
the body, as well as static joint alignment, and general health (as far
as can be determined by x-ray procedures). Some of the things
we look for are subluxations,
fractures, dislocations, bone density, bone and soft tissue
abnormalities, abnormal or excessive joint swelling, and signs of
internal organ dysfunction or obstruction.
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