My Approach (to health and Chiropractic)
Functional - Gentle - Holistic
I’m often asked by patients about what “type” of chiropractic I practice, or what style of techniques I use and my answer is generally to the effect of “nervous system focused chiropractic”. It is a bit of an ambiguous response due to the enormity of what our nervous system actually consists of and controls, but it is a valid response none the less.
All chiropractic approaches have an impact on a patient’s nervous system; however this is not always the doctor’s primary goal. Some doctors are more focused on the structural mechanical system of the spine where treatment is directed at moving a bone, joint, vertebrae, etc. Other doctors are more concerned with the soft tissue of the body; what can we change with the muscle, tendons and fascia? And other still are more inclined to directly create a neurological change in the body through the stimulation of nerves and receptors with an instrument or light touch.
Fundamentally, all these approaches are designed to create change within the body to remove stress, facilitate healing, and normalized and even improve function. This is where my “type” of chiropractic fits and the methods I use incorporate a bit of all the above. The key is who the person is seeking my care and how I best feel they will respond to the varied techniques I employ.
- Do I utilize manual manipulative style adjustment? Yes when appropriate.
- Do I use an instrument such as an activator? Yes, when appropriate.
- Do I use muscle and soft tissue procedures such as active release? Yes, when appropriate.
I’m sure you get it.
Fundamentally, the approach must be gentle, and directed to create the maximum amount of change with the least amount of force. This is why I see many pediatric patients. It does not take much force to significantly impact an infant, or child’s nervous system due to the tremendous amount of neurological activity and growth that is already there.
Any treatment must be holistic and consider more than just the symptomatic area of concern. My approach is not strictly about pain reduction, rather function improvement. My care of a person is not just about what I can do for them, but about self care how they can improve themselves with my advice about stretching, exercise, and diet. I’ll get you working better, it’s up to you to take that change and make it better.