Chiropractic care is unique in its assessment and application. The job of the Chiropractor is to identify the cause of your musculoskeletal condition and formulate an individualized treatment plan so that you can recover as quickly as possible. Treatments include any and all of the following: chiropractic manipulation, soft tissue treatment, and rehabilitative/stabilization exercises.
The chiropractic adjustment is traditionally the foundation of chiropractic care. Manipulations are applied to joint complexes that have been identified as being restricted or not moving properly. Allowing joints to remain in a restricted state will ultimately likely lead to degenerative changes, soft tissue imbalances, dysfunction, and pain. Chiropractic manipulation involves applying a conservative and specific low amplitude force to a joint complex to allow for better movement. This allows for more function and less pain. The type(s) of adjustment techniques that are administered depends on individual patient needs.
Soft tissue treatment involves forms of manual therapy and modalities that are aimed at helping the muscles and ligaments work better so that they can best adapt to properly functioning joints.
Some forms of soft tissue treatments include ultrasound, electrical stimulation, traction, trigger point therapy, Sound Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (SASTM) and Active Release Techniques (ART). Combined with chiropractic manipulation, soft tissue treatment helps ensure a fast recovery.
Rehabilitative/Stabilization exercises are often necessary to help the patient "hold" the effects of chiropractic manipulation and soft tissue treatment. Whereas chiropractic manipulation in conjunction with soft tissue treatment will help to eliminate pain and restore proper function, rehabilitative/stabilization exercises will allow the patient to hold the corrections. Involving the patient in the care plan is important as chiropractic care should not be administered indefinitely. The patient should ultimately be reliant upon him/herself to maintain their progress, and a transition will occur from passive to active care.