Chiropractic care is health maintenance of the spinal column, discs, related nerves and bone geometry without drugs or surgery. It involves the art and science of adjusting misaligned joints of the body, especially of the spine, which reduces spinal nerve stress and therefore promotes health throughout the body.
Doctors of Chiropractic are licensed primary health care professionals, who specialize in diagnosing and treating neuro-musculoskeletal disorders (conditions involving the nerves, muscles and joints) within their scope of practice.
At our Edmonton chiropractic office, Dr. Sarah Wu strives to provide an accurate diagnosis in order to provide the most time- and cost-effective treatment possible. A thorough review of your specific problem will be conducted and appropriate orthopedic tests (a variety of physical movements) to determine if chiropractic is appropriate for your condition. In certain situations, you will be advised as to the need diagnostic imaging such as x-rays. At the completion of the initial assessment, we will discuss the findings of your exam and suggest an appropriate course of therapy.
Treatments usually involve a chiropractic adjustment, which is a gentle, directed pressure to a joint of limited motion or through the use of an Activator (an adjusting instrument). A spinal adjustment can restore normal movement, relieve pain and stimulate higher function of your nervous system.
Depending on the condition being treated, the following therapeutic options may be integrated into treatments:
Muscle and Soft Tissue Therapy – Integrated into the treatment may be the use of soft tissue therapies including trigger point therapy and myofascial release therapy.
Physiotherapy Modalities – To complement treatment, therapeutic equipment may be recommended to speed recovery or to reduce pain perception. These include therapeutic ultrasound and interferential current.
Therapeutic ultrasound: A therapeutic device that transmits sound waves into the tissue, through the creation of a thermal effect in the tissue, or a mechanical stimulation effect from the vibration of the sound waves to improve circulation to the injured tissue and promote healing.
Interferential current: The application of low voltage current to the tissues to provide symptomatic reduction in pain and inflammation.
Exercise Prescription – Edmonton chiropractor, Dr. Sarah Wu’s philosophy as a health and fitness professional involves not simply treating a condition, but also providing you with tools to maximize the therapeutic benefit of your chiropractic treatments received in the clinic. Active participation from the patient outside of the clinic is crucial for enhancing recovery rate. Depending on your health goals, you may be provided with an active plan ranging from simple stretches to comprehensive rehabilitation exercises in order to encourage healing, prevent recurrences or restore balance to the surrounding muscle and joint framework.