Chiropractic care is focused on the integrity of joint movements. When your joints can move as they should, neural stress throughout the body is reduced, nerve flow is improved and your body can function at a higher level.
At Spine Body Collective, our care is movement-based and incorporates soft tissue work along with chiropractic adjustments. Dr. Ryan has over a decade of experience and offers gentle, low-tension adjustments that are less stressful on the body than higher-force techniques.
Soft Tissue Work
Chiropractic adjustments restore alignment and motion in a joint. But if we don’t address the muscles in the area, muscular tension and inflammation can keep the joint from working correctly. Dr. Ryan addresses the muscular stress, adhesions and inflammation and helps to improve blood flow to the area. When we combine soft tissue work with your adjustments, it helps your body hold your adjustments and helps improve the health of the whole area, not just the joint itself.
Dr. Ryan’s soft tissue techniques are Graston Technique and Muscle Activation Technique.
Frequently Asked Questions
What conditions do chiropractors treat?
Doctors of Chiropractic work with patients of all ages, with a variety of health conditions. Chiropractors are most known for their expertise in treating patients with back pain, neck pain and headaches. However, chiropractors also treat a wide variety of other musculoskeletal and stress related conditions. Chiropractic care has been shown to be effective in treating common conditions such as shoulder pain, knee pain, insomnia, and vertigo. At our office, we also counsel clients on diet, nutrition, exercise, healthy habits, and occupational and lifestyle modification.
Is chiropractic treatment safe?
Chiropractic is recognized as one of the safest drug-free, non-invasive therapies available for the treatment of musculoskeletal complaints. Despite an established track record for safety, no health treatment is completely free of potential adverse effects. However, the risks associated with chiropractic are quite minimal. Clients often feel immediate relief following a chiropractic treatment, but some may experience mild soreness, stiffness or aching, similar to what you often experience after a difficult workout. Current research shows that minor discomfort or soreness following spinal manipulation typically fades within 24 hours.
Neck pain and some types of headaches are treated through precise cervical manipulation. Cervical manipulation, often called a neck adjustment, works to improve joint mobility in the neck. Neck manipulation, when performed by a skilled and well-educated professional such as a doctor of chiropractic, is a remarkably safe procedure.
Various reports have associated upper neck manipulations with a certain rare kind of stroke, or vertebral artery dissection. However, evidence suggests that this type of arterial injury often takes place spontaneously in patients who have pre-existing arterial disease. These dissections have been associated with everyday activities such as turning the head while driving, swimming, or having a shampoo in a hair salon. Evidence indicates that arterial injuries are exceedingly rare. Reports show that approximately one to three cases in 100,000 patients who get treated suffer artery injuries associated with upper neck manipulations is extremely rare. If you are visiting our office with upper-neck pain or headaches, be sure to be very specific about your symptoms and identify and potential risk factors in your medical history. This will allow us to fully analyze your condition and determine the safest and most effective treatments for you.
What type of education and training do chiropractors have?
Doctors of chiropractic care are educated as primary-contact health care providers, with an emphasis on diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to the musculoskeletal system (the muscles, ligaments and joints of the spine and extremities) and the nerves that supply them. Educational requirements for doctors of chiropractic are among the most stringent of any of the health care professions. The typical applicant for chiropractic college has already acquired nearly four years of pre-medical undergraduate college education, including courses in biology, inorganic and organic chemistry, physics, psychology and related lab work. Once accepted into an accredited chiropractic college, four to five academic years of professional study are the standard. Because chiropractic care includes highly skilled manipulation/adjusting techniques, a significant portion of time is spent in clinical technique training to master these important manipulative procedures.
How is a chiropractic adjustment performed?
A Chiropractic adjustment or manipulation is a specific, controlled force applied to a specific direction to restore proper movement into a joint space. Restoring proper movement will facilitate improved nerve flow in the area of dysfunction and reduces tissue inflammation and pain in the joint. A chiropractor typically uses his or her hands, or an instrument, to create this controlled force. At Spine Body Collective we take pride in personalizing our service and adapting the adjusting procedures to meet the specific needs of each client. Occasionally, a person may experience muscle soreness after adjustment. This is typically due to changes in the chemical environment and the tissues of the body responding to increased joint mobility. Drinking plenty of water, using an ice pack, and engaging in light stretching after your first visit can help ease any discomfort promote healing.
Is chiropractic treatment ongoing?
The hands-on nature of the chiropractic treatment is essentially what requires patients to visit the chiropractor a number of times. When you first come into the office, we will assess your current condition and the goals that you have for your overall health. Based on this information, we will discuss a treatment strategy that will allow these goals to be achieved. Receiving regular chiropractic care is an excellent way to reduce stress and maintain proper body function. For this reason, many clients choose to make chiropractic adjustments part of their normal wellness routine. However, if your goal is simply to get out of pain you are welcome to stop seeking regular care when your issue has resolved. Our office wants you to feel comfortable with your treatment and for you to understand that you are always in charge of your treatment frequency.
Why is there a popping sound when a joint is adjusted?
The Adjustment (or manipulation) of a joint may result in the release of a gas bubble between the bones that make up a joints. The release with often result in a popping sound. The sound does not indicate any damage to the bone structure or surrounding tissues, and there is usually minimal, if any, discomfort involved.
Is it safe to see a chiropractor if I am pregnant?
Yes, many pregnant women find that chiropractic adjustments improve the pregnancy experience and make delivery easier. Adjustments are adapted to accommodate the stage of pregnancy and the unique needs of each patient.
Will I be required to remove my clothing at my appointment?
Some procedures may require you to remove some pieces of clothing, however most do not. If you have any questions or concerns, bring them up immediately with your chiropractor.
Do I need a referral from my medical doctor to receive chiropractic care?
A referral is usually not needed to see a doctor of chiropractic. In some cases, your health plan may have specific referral requirements. You may want to contact your employer’s human resources department, or your insurance plan directly to find out if there are any referral requirements.
