The Spine Center

Decompression Therapy

Soren LaRue — Tue, 17 Oct 2023 20:26:16 +0000

Spinal Decompression Therapy can be a great option to reduce back and neck pain associated with many different conditions affecting the spine. Here are some simple facts about this treatment method which may help you to determine if this is the right option for you.

Spinal Decompression is a non-surgical treatment which stretches the spine and works just a bit differently to traditional traction methods. Traction methods work by stretching the spine. When this occurs, the muscles can spasm or respond by tightening, closing the spaces between the vertebra. The decompression method works by stretching the spine in ways that trick the paraspinal muscles (muscles within the spine) so they do not tighten or spasm during the process. The computerized decompression table does this by recording the body’s response to the stretching process and adapting the stretching process before muscle tightening occurs. The stretching process increases the spaces between the vertebra, allowing herniated discs to return to their original position. This releases pressure from the spinal nerves that are responsible for pain. It also allows the blood supply to return to the discs as well as nutrients and encourages the body’s natural healing process.

The long-term benefits that can be achieved with non-surgical decompression methods make it a more viable option than medications alone and are safer and more cost effective than surgical options.

Although this treatment is often used to treat back and neck pain caused by conditions such as herniated or bulging discs, it can also be used to treat a wide range of back, neck, and even body pain. For example, it can be used to treat conditions such as spinal arthritis and stenosis, sciatica, degenerative disc disease and leg pain amongst many others.

The process itself is not typically painful. In fact, some people describe feeling immediate relief after the first session. Repeated sessions are required for long-term effects to be seen, typically between 18-20 sessions. The treatment may be used in conjunction with home exercises, adjustments, and other interventional therapies such as cold or heat therapies. These all help reduce pain and strengthening will help to prevent future damage.

Spinal decompression may reduce the need for more invasive therapies such as spinal surgery as well as prescription medications. Surgery is not only a costly option but also has many side effects. Similarly prescription medications may only mask the pain and are associated with a laundry list of side effects. Although there may be some tenderness to the area after the session, many people report relief in comparison to the pain they were experiencing prior to treatment. In terms of cost, non-surgical decompression often proves to be much less costly than surgical options.

Vibration Therapy

thespinecenter.net — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 19:46:53 +0000

UNDERSTANDING VIBRATION TRACTION

Vibration therapy for the neck involves the use of vibrating devices or equipment to provide therapeutic benefits to the neck region. This form of therapy aims to relieve neck pain, reduce muscle tension, and improve circulation in the neck area. Here's how vibration therapy for the neck works:

Vibrating Devices: Specialized neck massagers or vibrational devices are used for neck vibration therapy. These devices are designed to emit controlled vibrations that can be applied directly to the neck.
Muscle Relaxation: The vibrations from these devices can help relax the muscles in the neck. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals who experience neck stiffness, tension, or discomfort, often due to factors like poor posture, stress, or overuse.
Pain Relief: Vibration therapy can provide pain relief for conditions such as neck pain, muscle strains, or tension headaches. The vibrations may help reduce pain perception by stimulating sensory nerves in the skin and muscles.
Improved Circulation: Vibration therapy can increase blood circulation in the neck area. Improved circulation can enhance the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the muscles and tissues, potentially promoting healing and reducing inflammation.
Increased Range of Motion: For individuals with limited neck mobility, such as those recovering from injuries or surgery, vibration therapy may help improve range of motion by loosening tight muscles and promoting flexibility.
Stress Reduction: The relaxing effect of the vibrations can also help reduce stress and promote a sense of relaxation and well-being.

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This is our vibration traction.

So this is a vibration roll which will produce vibration which will help elongate or stretch out these anterior muscles.

As our society we are into the computer and into the iPhone which shorten these muscles.

So with this technique it makes it go faster as far as stretching out those muscles.

They're going to provide a weight to bring back his natural curve of his cervical spine so we're going to pull this back, drop the shoulders that round on a lot of us and then the vibration

Here you'll see helps elongate these muscles

Text Neck Syndrome

thespinecenter.net — Sun, 10 Sep 2023 18:24:10 +0000

photo courtesy of www.AcupunctureProducts.com

UNDERSTANDING TEXT NECK SYNDROME

Text Neck Syndrome, also known as "Tech Neck," is a term used to describe a set of symptoms and musculoskeletal problems that can occur due to the overuse of smartphones, tablets, and other handheld devices. It is characterized by neck pain, stiffness, and discomfort, often caused by prolonged and frequent tilting of the head downward to look at a screen. This posture places excessive strain on the neck and upper back muscles and can lead to various health issues, including:

Neck pain: The most common symptom is pain and discomfort in the neck region.
Shoulder pain: The posture associated with using handheld devices can also lead to shoulder pain and tension.
Upper back pain: Text Neck Syndrome can cause pain and tightness in the upper back and between the shoulder blades.
Headaches: Poor posture can contribute to tension headaches.
Forward head posture: Prolonged use of devices without proper ergonomics can result in a forward head posture, where the head juts forward from the shoulders.
Reduced mobility: Over time, the neck and upper back can become less flexible.

Preventing Text Neck Syndrome involves maintaining good posture while using handheld devices. This includes holding devices at eye level, taking regular breaks, and performing neck and shoulder stretches to relieve tension. Additionally, strengthening exercises for the neck and upper back can help mitigate the effects of prolonged device use.

It's important to be mindful of your posture when using devices to reduce the risk of developing Text Neck Syndrome and to seek medical attention if you experience persistent pain or discomfort.

Texting can be done safely, helping prevent long-term syndrome symptoms simply by reading your phone at eye-level with proper head position

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Understanding Your Spine

thespinecenter.net — Tue, 05 Sep 2023 20:26:07 +0000

Your Spine in 3D Understanding Subluxations Understanding Herniations Understanding You Pain

3D videos that reveal the effects of the spine over time

Subluxations because of Whiplash

During a collision your body goes through violent forces that can injure the tissues of your neck:

1. Normal position
2. 50 ms – spine straightens
3. 75 ms – necks forms an S-shape and ligaments are stretched and torn
4. 100 ms – head finally bends backward injuring ligaments
5. 175 ms – head whips forward forcefully

Stages of disc degeneration

Dysfunction Stage (Stage 1)
Dehydration Stage (Stage 2)
Stabilization Stage (Stage 3)
Collapsing Stage (Stage 4)

Nerves affect the entire body

Pinched nerves affect the body in ways you might not know are possible. Its important to understand which body parts are affected if you have a subluxation in a particular area.

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Lightforce Laser Therapy

thespinecenter.net — Tue, 22 Aug 2023 19:14:00 +0000

UNDERSTANDING LIGHTFORCE LASER THERAPY

PBM laser therapy stands for Photobiomodulation laser therapy, which is also known as low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or cold laser therapy. It is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses low-level lasers or light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to stimulate cellular processes and promote tissue healing and pain relief. Here's how PBM laser therapy works:

Light Application: A low-level laser or LED device is applied directly to the skin over the area of the body being treated. The device emits specific wavelengths of light, typically in the red or near-infrared range. These wavelengths penetrate the skin and are absorbed by the cells.
Cellular Effects: The absorbed light energy is believed to have several effects on cells. It can stimulate the production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is a molecule that provides energy to cells. It can also enhance cellular metabolism and increase the production of certain growth factors.
Tissue Healing: PBM laser therapy is used to promote tissue healing and reduce inflammation. It is often used in the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions, such as sports injuries, arthritis, and chronic pain. It can help accelerate the healing of wounds, reduce pain and swelling, and improve range of motion.
Pain Relief: PBM laser therapy can have analgesic (pain-relieving) effects. It is often used to manage pain associated with conditions like osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, and neuropathy.
Non-Thermal and Non-Invasive: One of the key advantages of PBM laser therapy is that it is non-thermal, meaning it doesn't produce heat and is considered safe and painless. It's also non-invasive, as it doesn't require incisions or injections.
Multiple Sessions: PBM laser therapy is typically administered in a series of sessions over several weeks. The specific treatment plan may vary depending on the condition being treated and the individual's response to the therapy.

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Here we got a class IV laser this helps with healing

We use this on extremities we'll use this around the spine. Really good for healing, really good for getting rid of inflammation, really good of stimulating healing. So the way that so the way that we dial this up is we tell the software how big the surface area is that we're treating...tell it how much power we wanted to use...so this is a 40 watt laser so we're going to use 40 on that on this one. We tell it how how thick the tissue is. So in this region we're about intermediate, so I'm gonna use a intermediate number for this all right. So it spits out a protocol two minutes here. This knows the area we're treating, how deep we're going, how big the surface area is. Now the patient is going to feel warmth. While we do this we're just going to move this over the skin and she will feel a warming sensation in that area. This is one of the best ways to promote healing at the cellular level (inaudible)

So we'll keep this head moving. This whole area that I'm moving this around is being treated. There's different attachments we can use for different parts of the body. So for this one...this is an off contact piece there's a rollerball attachment where we can touch the skin different areas. There's smaller attachments where you can use on the knee and the wrist the shoulder. Still feeling okay? And all she's feeling is warmth here...it's a nice warming sensation. This technique is really really good for any chronic issues any acute issues. Think ankle sprains, rotator cuff tears, knee issues, and we can also use it around the spine, as well to promote healing and speed up what we're doing. So this protocol that I did in this region only takes about two minutes done

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LIGHTFORCE XLi THERAPY LASER

GOOD FOR TREATING THE FOLLOWING AREAS

TMJ^6,7
Neck Pain⁸
Shoulder Pain^9,10,11
Elbow & Joint Pain¹²
Fibromyalgia¹³
Low Back Pain^14,15
Sciatica^16,17
Arthritis¹⁸
Sports Injuries^19,20
Soft Tissue Damage²¹
Plantar Fasciitis^22,23

Radial Pulse Wave Therapy

thespinecenter.net — Sat, 22 Jul 2023 20:58:00 +0000

RPW laser therapy, also known as Radial Pulse Wave (RPW) therapy or Radial Shockwave Therapy, is a non-invasive medical treatment that uses high-energy acoustic waves to stimulate healing in various musculoskeletal and soft tissue conditions. It is primarily used in physiotherapy, orthopedics, and sports medicine.

Here’s how RPW laser therapy works:

Generation of Radial Pulse Waves: A device generates high-energy radial pulse waves, which are acoustic waves that travel through the body tissues.
Application to the Affected Area: These waves are focused and applied to the area of the body that requires treatment. The waves travel deep into the tissues without causing damage to the skin or surrounding structures.
Stimulation of Healing: RPW laser therapy stimulates the body’s natural healing processes by increasing blood circulation, promoting tissue regeneration, and reducing pain and inflammation. It can also break down calcifications and scar tissue in some cases.
Various Applications: RPW laser therapy is commonly used to treat conditions such as plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, tennis elbow, rotator cuff injuries, and other musculoskeletal issues. It is often used when other conservative treatments have failed to provide relief.
Non-Invasive and Outpatient: One of the advantages of RPW laser therapy is that it is a non-invasive procedure and typically does not require anesthesia. Patients can usually receive treatment on an outpatient basis and may experience minimal downtime.

It’s important to note that RPW laser therapy should be administered by trained healthcare professionals who can properly assess the patient’s condition and determine if this treatment is appropriate. The number of sessions required can vary depending on the specific condition and the patient’s response to therapy.

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On-Site Digital X-Rays

thespinecenter.net — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 20:48:56 +0000

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So here at The Spine Center we have state of the art amenities for all of our patients and part of that is we have on-site digital x-rays. So that every new patient every new injury anything like that we are able to take new images up to date to see what's going on. We bring you into this lovely room with this big screen and we're able to go in and say hey look at this Disc Generation, look at these bone spurs, look at what's going on. So we know exactly what we need to be treating

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High Heels, Big Problems

thespinecenter.net — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 20:57:16 +0000

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Be sure to take the necessary steps to keep your body in good working order. Your feet are the foundation for your body's posture

St. Baldrick’s Head Shave Event

thespinecenter.net — Tue, 22 Sep 2015 21:15:22 +0000

ST. BALDRICK'S HEAD SHAVE EVENT

IN THE U.S. 1 IN 5 CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER WILL NOT SURVIVE. Since St. Baldrick's began, the 5-year survival rate has risen from above 79% to 85%. But there are still cancers no child survives. And 5-year survival isn’t the same as a cure. Many kids are still in treatment 5 years after diagnosis, or die after that milestone. Kids with cancer need your help more than ever.

Be part of St. Baldrick's next HEAD SHAVE event.

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The Spine Center Chiropractic was proud to support the annual drive for childhood cancer awareness. We thank all of those who participated!