The Many Ways a Portland Chiropractic Professional Can Help Manage Your Pain

Many people who have been through some kind of trauma, like a car accident, fall, or sports injury, may be experiencing pain in their spine and neck. While visiting a doctor might be your first thought, there is sometimes little solution that they can offer. Medication is most frequently prescribed to help with the pain and to relieve swelling and inflammation. Chiropractors, on the other hand, are able to offer tailored treatment plans, which will seek to eliminate pain, and improve your long-term spine and neck health.

There are several methods used by chiropractors to help deal with neck and spine injuries as a result of trauma.

Muscle Relaxation

This method focuses on stimulation and reducing inflammation in the muscles that have excessive tension. It involves applying gentle stretches to trigger points to relieve pain within tight muscles.

McKenzie Exercises

McKenzie exercises are designed to reduce disc derangement that result from major trauma. These are simple movements that are designed to correct faulty movement patterns in everyday life. These exercises are intended to be started at your chiropractor’s office, but can be easily continued at home.

Chiropractic Manipulation

There are three methods that can be used for chiropractic manipulation: manual manipulation, the use of an arthrostim and of an activator.

Manual manipulation is the most commonly used technique and probably the one that most people associate with chiropractors. This type of manipulation involves a high-velocity, low amplitude thrust that is delivered by hand. It can be teamed with a chiropractic adjustment table or block. Manual manipulation results in a cavitation of a joint, which is usually accompanied by a popping noise.

An arthrostim is a special tool that is used by some chiropractors. It produces a very similar motion to manual manipulation, delivering a very fast thrust and recoil motion that can be targeted to a very small area. The force produced by the rapid-fire motion radiates into the joint and surrounding tissues that are often the cause of muscle spasms.

An activator is a spring-loaded tool that delivers a lighter but quicker thrust than manual manipulation. This tool is more often used as an alternative for patients that don’t want the manual manipulation method.

If you’ve suffered from a trauma, such as a car accident, and are in pain, then it is highly recommended that you book an appointment with a Portland chiropractic professional. Your chiropractor will advise you on the best method to relieve your pain and improve your overall spine and neck health.

Sources:
Chiropractic Treatments for Whiplash, Spine-health.com
Questions to Ask About Chiropractic Techniques, Spine-health.com

Dr. Darren Faherty D.C.

In 2004, Dr. Darren Faherty graduated with a Bachelors of Science degree in Biology from UWEC - University of Wisconsin Eau Claire. Dr. Darren continued education at the highly esteemed University of Western States (formerly Western States Chiropractic College) where he obtained his chiropractic degree in 2007. He has been helping people recover from injuries and return to their normal lifestyles ever since.