CHIROPRACTIC

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Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches. Chiropractic works by restoring your own ability to be healthy. When under the proper control of your nervous system, all the cells, tissues, and organs of your body are designed to resist disease and ill health. The chiropractic approach to better health is to locate and help remove interferences to your natural state of being healthy.  After a thorough examination and a review of your health history, your Chiropractic Doctor will recommend a specific care program. 

The manual adjustment is a safe, natural, noninvasive procedure used by the Chiropractor to restore and improve health. A chiropractic adjustment is the use of a manual application of force in a precise direction, applied to a joint that is fixated, "locked up", or not moving properly. Adjustments help return the bones to a more normal position or motion, relieving pain and ill health. Adjustments help normalize spinal function and avoid bone and soft tissue degeneration. When nervous system function improves in this way, the body can begin the natural healing process.  Adjustments correct spinal subluxations. Correcting subluxation removes nerve interference and improves the brains ability to communicate with the body. Improved brain to body nerve communication is essential for optimal health and healing. When nerve interference is removed, the body is able to reduce pain and inflammation, reduce muscle spasm and tension, improve function of all organ systems, and improve overall health and wellness.

In addition to the manual Chiropractic adjustment, Dr. Pasquale also uses non-force techniques of adjusting. Chiropractic technological advancements allow for instrument based chiropractic adjustments. The impulse device was specifically designed to deliver gentle, precise chiropractic adjustments to the joints of the spine and extremities, to not only relieve pain, but to restore neurological function. This technique is not only great for those who may not like manual adjustments, but for the elderly or pediatric patient. 

Since significant spinal trauma can occur at birth, many parents have their newborns checked for the Vertebral Subluxation Complex. Many childhood health complaints that are brushed off as "growing pains" can often be traced to the spine. Regular chiropractic checkups can identify these problems and help avoid many of the health complaints seen later in adults. Naturally, chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to a child’s spine. Most parents report that their children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and seem healthier than other children.

Chiropractic has an excellent safety record. A thorough case history and examination help reveal areas of the spine that may be causing nervous system malfunction. This information will be used to determine the best course of care for each patient. Chiropractic care is a natural approach to better health that is proven safe and effective.

In addition to the Chiropractic adjustment, Dr. Pasquale utilizes soft tissue release techniques to enhance healing.  Dr. Pasquale believes the combination of muscle release and the Chiropractic adjustment leads to greater results, longer lasting results, and not needing to be treated as often.  Active Release Technique is a hands-on soft tissue treatment used to correct problems from various kinds of soft tissue injuries. ART restores the normal function of your muscles and related structures, allowing full and free ranges of motion. ART breaks down scar tissue that builds up within muscles and between muscles, and it helps to restore your nervous system’s control of the muscles.

Another form of muscle therapy used in our office is called Graston Therapy or Gua Sha Therapy.  It is a technique where an instrument is used to detect soft tissue adhesions and scars and then by applying specific patterns of release it breaks down these adhesions.  Soft tissue mobilization breaks up inelastic or fibrous muscle tissue such as scar tissue and it relaxes muscle tension. This procedure consists of rhythmic stretching and deep pressure.

Applied Kinesiology (AK) is a system that evaluates structural, chemical and mental aspects of health using manual muscle testing with other standard methods of diagnosis. The doctor using AK finds a muscle that is unbalanced and then attempts to determine why that muscle is not functioning properly. The doctor works out the treatment that will best balance the patient's muscles. Treatments may involve specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial therapies, cranial techniques, meridian and acupuncture skills, clinical nutrition, dietary management, counselling skills, evaluating environmental irritants and various reflex procedures.