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Dr. Kevin HandcockActive Health Center &
1713A South Mays St. |
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Massage is a hands-on therapy in which muscles and other soft tissues of the body are manipulated to improve health and well-being. Massage therapies range from gentle stroking and kneading of muscles and other soft tissues to deeper manual techniques in order to relieve muscle tension and reduce stress. While massage affects the body as a whole, it particularly influences the musculoskeletal, circulatory, lymphatic, and nervous systems.
Chiropractic ultrasound, also known as therapeutic ultrasonography, uses very high frequency sound waves that penetrate deep into muscle tissues.
When applied with a special warm gel, the heat and vibrations of the ultrasound work together below the skin's surface to reduce swelling and increase blood flow while decreasing pain, stiffness, and spasms. This help muscles to relax and improve the healing process.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) therapy involves low levels of electrical impulses delivered to injured tissue to reduce pain and speed healing.
Often described by patients as a pleasant, tingling sensation, or electrical massage, these impulses help stimulate the body to release natural pain relievers, called endorphins, to reduce pain and inflammation, thereby promoting faster healing of the injured tissues. This therapy is often used to treat acute or chronic pain, as well as strains or sprains of the muscles, joints, and soft tissues of the spine and extremities.
Intersegmental Traction is a method of placing movement onto the spine in order to stretch spinal joints, thereby increasing mobility.
Since the cartilage discs between the vertebra of the spine receive poor blood circulation, they get the majority of their nutrients from the fluids around the spinal joints. Intersegmental traction works to improve this circulation, while also increasing flexibility of the spine. Together these help slow degenerative diseases and improve the healing process.
Chiropractic adjustments involve applying a specific force in a precise direction to a vertebra that is out of its correct position (subluxated). Once the location of the subluxation is identified, the direction and best way to correct the positioning can be determined.
The result is a movement of the spine that is performed either by hand or with an instrument. This movement may be quick or undetectable with low force techniques. The adjustment relocates the vertebra back into normal alignment and restores proper motion. Since there are many ways to analyze and adjust the spine, adjustments will vary from patient to patient.
A well defined chiropractic exercise plan is essential to rebuilding strength in the muscles of the spine and is an important phase of the recovery process that ensures your muscles will support the benefits of the chiropractic treatment.
Patients are taught special exercises designed specifically to help strengthen and correct their unique conditions. These exercises can be performed in the comfort of your own home and can improve the effectiveness of your spinal correction by as much as 40%. Exercise helps maintain healing benefits and enhances the treatment process while reducing the likelihood of further issues in the future.
