The overall goals of treatment may vary depending upon the type and severity of the condition. In a traumatic injury, the initial goals of treatment are to help reduce swelling, inflammation, reduce pain, and reduce muscle spasm. As healing progresses, the goals of treatment are to help restore proper motion and function to the spinal joints, restore and maintain flexibility of the muscles and ligaments, and generally help facilitate the healing process. With chronic conditions such as headaches or chronic back pain which has occurred for years or conditions such as asthma, the primary goals of treatment are to help restore the area to more normal function by correcting the subluxation and help restore normal nerve function.

The amount of time and length of treatment necessary for each individual condition depends upon the type of condition, the severity of the condition, and what the patient hopes to accomplish with the treatment program. Generally, our treatment programs are tailored made to suit each individuals needs. There are different phases of care and types of care depending upon the goals of the patient.

RELIEF CARE is the care that is necessary to help get rid of the symptoms or pain but not necessarily the cause of the problem. It is similar to drying a floor that was getting wet from a leak but not fixing the leak. Relief care offers temporary relief of the pain or symptoms.

CORRECTIVE CARE differs from relief care in that its goal is to not only get rid of the symptoms or pain but also help correct the cause of the problem as much as possible. Corrective care takes a longer amount of time depending upon the condition but is more lasting. This phase of care helps promote stabilization of the spine, thereby greatly improving function.

MAINTENANCE CARE is treatment necessary to maintain the current level of maximum chiropractic improvement and to help maintain optimum spinal function. Maintenance care generally helps to minimize and prevent aggravations of a chronic or permanent condition.

Our office is equipped with the finest modern equipment which allows us to offer our patients a wide variety of treatment modalities to treat their various conditions.

EXAMINATION:
In order to determine the cause of a person's condition and to help determine what treatment program is necessary as well as

what the patients goals of treatment would be, each patient undergoes a careful patient history followed by a complete chiropractic/orthopedic physical evaluation. Depending upon the findings of the physical evaluation further tests may be performed in our office including x-ray evaluation to help determine the structural status and stage of degeneration of your spine.

Another important test, which may be performed, is a computerized surface EMG. This test helps determine imbalances and tissue damage to the supporting muscles of the spine. Both the x-rays and the surface EMG are important tools in determining not only the nature of the patients problems but also helps to determine what treatment is best suited for each patient.

Once we have all the information necessary to determine what's wrong with an individual patient, we will fully explain to the patient, in terms that they can understand, the cause of their health problem, and will customize an individual treatment plan to help return them to health.

ADJUSTMENTS:
We offer a variety of different adjusting techniques that are gentle, and safe for all age groups. The purpose of the chiropractic adjustment is to help restore the subluxated vertebra, (a minor misalignment or fixation of a spinal segment) to a more normal position which will improve mobility, and flexibility to the spinal joints and will help to remove the pressure off the nerve and restore the area to more normal function.

In addition to many of the treatment modalities listed below, we have a Certified Massage Therapist on staff. Working together with Chiropractic nutrition, and exercise, massage is another valuable tool to help speed your recovery. Massage helps to improve circulation and promote better nutrition to the muscles that support the spine. Massage therapy helps to reduce the formation of scar tissue, prevent adhesions and reduce muscle spasm.