Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy
Chiropractic Manipulation and Manual Techniques
The Techniques We Use
As a Doctor of Chiropractic, David Fields has over a decade of training and experience employing a combination of treatments for maximum outcomes. Each Method alone is very beneficial, but utilizing a combination of different the techniques gains a synergistic effect more powerful than one type of treatment alone. Below are the main three methods of therapeutic manipulation utilized at our clinic.
Chiropractic Manipulation
Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy, also known as an adjustment, utilizes short controlled thrusts delivered into the joints or gentle repetitive mobilizations of the joints. These specific manipulations are designed to free up restrictions in motion and improve the balance and position of joints. The maneuvers can be delivered by hand, or with an instrument. Dr. Fields utilizes many different techniques in joint manipulation including: Motorized Flexion-Distraction (Leander), Thompson, Drop Technique, Diversified, Gonstead, Activator, Arthrostim, and more. These techniques are applied according to your comfort level and each patient is treated individually depending on their needs.
Passive Stretching
Stretching tight tissues is also important to improving biomechanics in the affected regions. While some stretches can be taught during rehab or physical therapy sessions, sometimes you just can’t quite stretch those muscles by yourself and you need somebody to get in there and move you in ways you can’t do alone. Our doctor will take the time to assess which muscle groups are tight and contracted, then target these areas with gentle repeated stretch techniques to release tension and improve mobility.
Soft Tissue Manipulation
Our Doctor also employs a variety of soft tissue techniques to break up adhesions created by scar tissue and release tension resulting from knots and trigger points. Muscles, tendons, fascia, ligaments, and other connective tissue can all be specifically targeted and worked to regain normal functionality. Our Tulsa Doctor utilizes a variety of different techniques including trigger point therapy, Positional Release Technique, Active Release Technique, Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Manipulation (Scraping), Myofascial Release, and other manual therapies. These techniques are carefully applied to your tolerance from very gentle to more aggressive depending on your feedback.
The Evidence Behind Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy
Does Chiropractic Help?
Absolutely, and studies have shown it! Never in the history of Chiropractic have we been able to provide the level of help and expertise that now exists. These methods are safe, comfortable, and effective. The evidence is so overwhelmingly clear that Chiropractic helps, that even the medical profession is recommending Chiropractic in it’s guidelines for managing pain. Here are some things you might not know…
In 2007, an all-medical panel jointly formed by the American Pain Society and the American College of Physicians published guidelines in the Annals of Internal Medicine recommending spinal manipulation for acute, subacute, and chronic low back pain.
The World Health Organization’s Bone and Joint Taskforce Committee of 2000-2010 (a 10 year study!) composed of members representing 19 different clinical and scientific disciplines (including DC, MD, and PhD) with 8 collaborating universities and research institutes in 4 countries found that active treatments such as manipulation, mobilization, and exercise were more beneficial than customary medical care in the treatment of neck pain.
A Northwestern Health Sciences University study showed that Chiropractic outperformed drugs for neck pain. The study was published in the New York times in January of 2012. Of the Chiropractic group, 30% had no neck pain at the end of 12 weeks while the medical group only had 13% with use of NSAIDs (like Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, etc.).
In 2001, Duke University Center for Health Policy Research completed their evidence report on treatments for tension-type and cervicogenic headaches. They concluded that Chiropractic care had markedly superior long term results compared to traditional medical treatment, and that Chiropractic manipulation sustained improvement longer in headache frequency and severity compared to other treatments. The Cochrane Collaboration, a systematic review of evidence, reached a similar conclusion to the Duke study in 2004.
In 2003, a study published in the scientific journal Spine concluded: In patients with chronic spinal pain, manipulation resulted in greater short-term improvement than acupuncture or medication. Improvement in the Manipulation group was 27.3%, Acupuncture 9.4%, and Medication 5%.
Similar evidence exists for manipulation of conditions of the shoulder, hip, knee and ankle being published in the British Medical Journal, Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of American Chiropractic Association, Military Medical Centers, and other scientific literature.
Long story short… Yes, It works!