Understanding Our Chiropractic Techniques
Our Bozeman chiropractors Dr. Ali Schweitzer & Dr. Katrina Wyant use a variety of chiropractic methods to treat and heal the body through specialized adjustments.
Diversified
Diversified Technique is the classic chiropractic technique, developed by D.D. Palmer, DC. and taught in all chiropractic colleges. Diversified Technique was refined and developed by the late Otto Reinert, DC, to address biomechanical failure in each section of the spine, as it relates to specific subluxation. The focus is on restoration to normal biomechanical function, and correction of subluxation. In addition, Diversified methods have been developed to adjust extremity joints, allowing for beneficial applications in treating sports injuries and other injuries. Diversified adjusting of the spine uses specific lines of drives for all manual thrusts, allowing for specificity in correcting mechanical distortions of the spine. X-rays and case histories are used in analysis and diagnosis. No instruments are used in the adjusting procedure. Motion palpatation and full spine, hands-on techniques are used to deliver a deeper thrust, which makes an osseous (popping) sound as the adjustment is given.
Logan Basic Chiropractic Technique
This technique treats the muscles that control spinal balance in order to release this tension. The proper leverage, applied ever so lightly at the right spot, will cause the entire spine to move towards balance. This method is similar in principle to that used to change a flat tire. The proper leverage of a car jack will allow a comparatively small person to elevate a heavy car right off the ground.
Before treatment begins, the doctor analyzes the patient’s spine while he or she stands in front of a plumb line. Further examination may also be made with the patient lying face up and/or face down on the table. Then, with the patient lying face down, the doctor places a very light pressure on a pre-determined "leverage spot" on the sacral bone in the low back, employing the same principle described in using a car jack. This spot is held for 10 to 15 minutes while the doctor lightly rubs the back muscles with his other hand, coaxing them to release tension.
The Webster Technique
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral misalignment. In doing so, neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is facilitated.
Sacral misalignment or misalignment may contribute to difficult labor for the mother (i.e., dystocia), caused by inadequate uterine function, pelvic contraction, and baby mal-presentation. Correction of sacral misalignment may have a positive effect on all of these causes of dystocia.
Created by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic adjustment for pregnant mothers that can help to correct sacral misalignment.
Formerly known as Webster’s "In-Utero Constraint Technique,” the Webster Technique was developed by Dr. Larry Webster, founder of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA), in 1978.
Performance of the Webster Technique involves analysis of the relationship of the bones of the pelvis, and correction of aberrant biomechanics through the use of a light force chiropractic adjustment of the sacrum (Step 1). It also involves analysis and relief of specific abdominal muscle tension or spasm (Step 2).
It is important to stress that the Webster Technique is not part of the practice of obstetrics. The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic technique intended to relieve a specific musculoskeletal condition, and is well within the chiropractor’s scope of practice. At no time does the chiropractor attempt to change the position of the fetus as is done in external cephalic version (ECV). Untrained individuals should not attempt the Webster Technique.
In addition, the Webster Technique should not be confused with other unproven or unsafe "chiropractic breech turning" techniques.
The ICPA, founded by Dr. Webster, maintains the only database of chiropractors certified in the proper performance of the Webster Technique. In addition, the ICPA currently offers the only courses to certify chiropractors in the proper performance of it.
Growing awareness of the Webster Technique is demonstrating the increased demand for doctors of chiropractic trained to perform it. Because of its ability to facilitate easier, safer deliveries for both mother and baby, many birth care providers are actively seeking doctors of chiropractic with the skills in this technique. Daily, the ICPA receives many requests for referrals.
Drs. Ali & Katrina both have their Webster Certification. For more information on Chiropractic Care during pregnancy, visit icpa4kids.org.
Thompson Technique
Developed by Clay Thompson, DC, Thompson Technique uses an adjusting table with a pneumatically driven, segmented drop system, which quickly lowers the section of the patient’s body corresponding with the spinal region being adjusted. The doctor thrusts at high speed, using minimal force, because while the thrust initiates movement, the fast drop carries the joint through the remainder of its range of motion.
Leg length checks, palpation, X-rays and other appropriate tests are used by the Thompson practitioner in determining where to adjust.
IASTM: Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
What is IASTM and how is it beneficial?
IASTM stands for Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization, or you can simply call it soft tissue therapy. The technique is designed to produce a healing response by many different ways to the body area being treated. One way that IASTM accomplishes this is by introducing a mechanical change at a cellular level in a muscle to help normalize scar tissue. Scar tissue is laid down in your body in response to injured tissues. With the help of ergonomically designed instruments we are able to treat these fascial restrictions to allow your body to reach its full functional potential. Soft tissue therapy works greats when in conjunction with mobilization of joints with a chiropractic adjustment in the area being affected. Some Indications that you might benefit from IASTM are limited motion, pain during motions, tightness in muscles, or recent injuries or surgeries
IASTM can help with:
Epicondylitis
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Plantar fasciitis
Neck, shoulder, and back pain
Tendinitis
Post-surgical scars
Sprains/strains
Shin splints
Hip pain/IT band tightness
Cesarean scars
Neurolink
What is Neurolink?
Neurolink is a treatment technique which uses your brain’s autonomic nervous system (not x-rays, blood tests, etc.) to determine why you are experiencing health symptoms. Doctors can use Neurolink to determine what your brain knows about your complaint, then feed information back so your brain can make the correction. Your brain, not your mind, controls the function of all your body systems. Things you don’t think about such as organ function, blinking and breathing. Utilizing this part of your brain through a system of “checks”, your body can tell us what is not working efficiently to heal itself. With that said, Neurolink is similar to servicing your car, it checks all your body systems to restore them to optimum function thus the symptoms of pain/ill health can resolve.
What does this mean?
Neurolink, as the name implies, is the linking of brain pathways, similar to electrical circuits in your home. When the amount of power to a specific circuit exceeds its threshold, a fuse will blow. While power to that particular circuit is lost, the rest of the house is still protected. Similarly, our bodies also have maximum tolerances and the brain will recognize when these have been exceeded. Each of us has our own maximum threshold. When our body functions pastthose parameters, it means we are physically, pathologically, chemically, or emotionally unbalanced and exceeding our own maximum capacity. This is when our bodies start giving us symptoms of pain and/or feeling unwell.
What should you expect from treatment?
Neurolink includes gentle contact with anatomical points that represent neurological circuits. The goal is to determine if the brain is controlling all body systems at their full potential. Care with Neurolink is tailor-made for you. Corrections can only be made in those areas your brain indicates need correcting. Utilizing the brain to diagnose ad correct your complaint/symptom will show you its profound ability to restore your body to its optimum potential.
Nutritional Response Testing
Nutrition Response Testing is a non-invasive and precise method of analyzing the body in order to determine the underlying causes of ill health using your body’s own neurological reflexes. When these are corrected through safe, natural, and nutritional means, the body can repair itself in order to maintain more optimum health. Imagine that your body could tell you exactly what it needs and the most effective sequence in which you should address those needs – that’s what Nutrition Response Testing allows your body to do. Often people will have deficiencies or imbalances that lead to a breakdown in resistance or immunity, and a loss of the ability to cope with a stressor. These can display themselves as fatigue, loss of sleep, indigestion, gas, bloating, weight gain/loss, frequent colds/infections, depression/anxiety, behavioral issues/ADD and we could go on and on. This can happen from past personal eating habits or it can largely be from the lack of quality foods that are commercially available.
The Process
In a conventional medical approach, there are two key parts: the diagnosis (identifying and/or naming the disease or syndrome) and the treatment (which usually consists of drugs, surgery, or radiation, to attack or suppress the symptom, or to remove or destroy the offending organ or part). In Nutrition Response Testing we do not diagnose or treat disease – but we also have two parts: the analysis (the assessment of your body’s current health status) and designed clinical nutrition (a personalized natural health improvement program). The analysis tests your body’s own neurological reflexes and acupuncture points. The neurological reflexes are part of the nervous system that regulates the functions of every organ. Through our analysis we can find the specific nutritional supplementation that your body needs to regain its balance and optimal functioning. For the assessment, we use a standardized form of applied kinesiology, commonly known as muscle testing. This is all done painlessly, with the practitioner lightly pressing on different acupuncture points or reflex locations on the body associated with specific organs or glands, while simultaneously checking a strong muscle group. In the hands of thoroughly trained health professionals, this highly effective method of evaluation gives the practitioner essential information about your body’s requirements for a return to health. What separates Nutrition Response Testing from most other treatment strategies is the critical information obtained from the body’s Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). Your autonomic nervous system includes two parts-sympathetic and parasympathetic. When our bodies are healthy these two systems are in balance, when they are not balanced, this can impact our ability to heal and we can experience symptoms. When undergoing Nutrition Response Testing you will be tested for common stressors that can and will prevent your body from healing. Many of you have experienced this already without perhaps realizing it. Have you ever failed to respond to perfectly good treatment? Have you ever experienced the opposite result of perfectly good treatment? Has your condition “plateaued” or gotten better and then worse? Nutrition Response Testing allows the practitioner to test you using the “stressors” to reveal and then remove these barriers. Next, specific organ reflexes are tested (such as liver, heart and bowel) as well as glandular reflexes (like prostate, thyroid and adrenals). Then the priority reflex is determined. This step is critical to Nutrition Response Testing because pinpointing the priority results in having to take fewer supplements, achieving a lowered pill count and a phenomenon called “whole-body healing.” Have you ever gotten temporary relief or relief of some but not all of your symptoms? If so, then you haven’t achieved whole-body healing. In the second part of our system, we design a specific plan for you to follow to achieve your optimal health. The plan will help you adapt to specific stressors and secondly, nourish weakened body systems. This may involve adjusting which foods you are eating that may be affecting your body. You may need to avoid certain foods while your body heals itself. We may ask you to increase the consumption of vitamin rich foods or we may also encourage you to use whole food nutritional supplements to bridge the gaps of any missing nutrients. We are here to help you, but ultimately you are in charge of your own health. The more closely you follow the recommendations, the greater your chances are of achieving your goals.