About Chiropractic

Chiropractic is a Philosophy, Science, and Art of things natural.  The complete Chiropractor uses all three parts of Chiropractic to achieve a common goal between the patient and the doctor.  Our office is unique in that both doctors have the same philosophy and scientific principles, but the art of Chiropractic, the technique, is different and unique to each doctor.  The following is a list of common terms used in Chiropractic followed by the techniques and services available in our office with brief descriptions of each and which doctor to choose if you are looking for a specific kind of Chiropractor.  In most cases, the doctors will use a combination of these techniques which are appropriate for your body and comfort level.  Please note that this is not a comprehensive list of techniques available in Chiropractic, only the ones these doctors perform.

Common Terms

Subluxation - basically a bone out of place to a degree less than a dislocation which puts pressure on a nerve.  This is what a Chiropractor is looking for when analyzing your spine.  Chiropractors use things such as instrumentation, x-rays, movement, and touch to determine specific levels of subluxation within the spine.  While there are many problems that subluxations can cause (such as low back pain, neck pain, headaches, and even such things as stomach ulcers, infertility, irritable bowel syndrome, etc.), a Chiropractor only diagnoses and corrects subluxations.

Adjustment - a specific correction of a subluxation given by a Chiropractor.  The adjustment can be performed in many different ways as described below, but it is always specific.

Innate - the power within the body that allows it to heal, adapt, grow, and change.  Chiropractors use this innate ability from within to heal.  Although the Chiropractic adjustment is very powerful and allows healing to take place without interruption or interference, it is truly the body itself that does most of the work.  A Chiropractic adjustment, in most cases, takes only a few seconds to perform.  Once the adjustment has been completed, the body takes over and goes to work repairing, healing, and (over time) restructuring.  Chiropractic is a unique type of health care that allows the body to heal itself over time.

Chiropractic Techniques

Gonstead Technique
The Gonstead method of Chiropractic was created by Dr. Clarence Gonstead of Mt. Horeb, WI.  Dr. Gonstead's clinic was way out in the country and he had to build his own landing strip and hotels close by to manage the numbers of patients who flocked to receive an adjustment by this incredible man.  The late, great Dr. Fred Barge, a pupil of Gonstead's, was Dr. Heather's mentor in school although both Doctors use this style of adjusting in various forms.  The adjustment itself is a hands on "manual" type of adjustment and very often the patient will hear the "pop" sound as many have come to expect from Chiropractic.  For those who do not like this type of adjustment or are a little timid about Chiropractic in general, however, other less invasive techniques are also available.

Diversified Technique
This is the most common technique used in Chiropractic today.  Again, this is a manual type of adjustment and, again, both doctors are familiar with and use this technique

Toggle Recoil Technique
This was the technique developed by BJ Palmer himself.  Also known as HIO (or Hole In One) this technique is a specific adjustment to the atlas (or top bone in the spine) only.  The adjustment itself is somewhat gentler than the previous two mentioned as this technique uses the "drop"  mechanism on the adjusting table meaning that the table actually does the work.

Thompson Technique
Thompson, again, uses the "drop" mechanism on the table.  It is, however, a technique that works with the entire spine as opposed to only one segment.  Thompson technique uses a very light, specific, adjustment as the table below drops slightly allowing the bone to very gently move back into place.  This technique is appropriate for all ages of patients and, again, is done by both doctors.

Activator Technique
The activator is a small hand-held gun-type mechanism that delivers a sharp percussive thrust upon triggering. The activator instrument controls the force and speed of the adjustment and helps the line of drive to be more specific.  Developed by W.C. Lee D.C. and A.W. Fuhr D.C., the activator allows Chiropractors the ability to analyze the body and produce consistent changes using a light non-force specific chiropractic adjustment. Lee and Fuhr understood that force was not necessary to correct subluxations in the body. There are, however, two components that are necessary for fast, effective reduction of nerve pressure caused by subluxations. They are speed and line of drive. Speed and line of drive are what make chiropractic the distinct and dynamic art and science that it is. The activator instrument was designed to deliver this specific dynamic thrust.  For patients who are timid to Chiropractic, the activator is a controlled adjustment and many patients report that it is lighter than manual adjustments too. You will not hear any bones popping with this technique, only the slight "click" of the instrument.

Webster Technique
A Chiropractic technique used for pregnant mothers.  The actual definition is a specific Chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nerve system and balances maternal pelvic muscles and ligaments.  This in turn reduces torsion in the uterus, a cause of intra-uterine constraint of the baby and allows for optimal fetal positioning in preparation for birth.  Dr. Heather is certified in Webster Technique as well as in handling other issues that may arise associated with pregnancy.

Applied Kinesiology
An interdisciplinary approach to health care which draws together core elements of complementary therapies, creating a more unified approach to the diagnosis and treatment of functional illness. The origin of contemporary Applied Kinesiology is traced to 1964 when George G. Goodheart, Jr., D.C., first observed that in the absence of congenital or pathologic anomaly, postural distortion is often associated with muscles that fail to meet the demands of muscle tests designed to maximally isolate specific muscles. He observed that tender nodules were frequently palpable within the origin and/or insertion of the tested muscle. Digital manipulation of these areas of apparent muscle dysfunction improved both postural balance and the outcome of manual muscle tests. Goodheart and others have since observed that many conservative treatment methods improve neuromuscular function as perceived by manual muscle testing. These treatment methods have become the fundamental Applied Kinesiology approach to therapy. Included in the AK approach are specific joint manipulation or mobilization, various myofascial techniques, cranial techniques, meridian therapy, clinical nutrition, dietary management, and various reflex procedures.  The AK exam is designed to enhance standard diagnosis procedures, not replace them. The Applied Kinesiologist finds a muscle that tests weak and then attempts to determine why that muscle is not functioning properly. The practitioner will then evaluate and apply the therapy that will best eliminate the muscle weakness and help the patient.  If you are looking for a doctor who uses these integrated approaches to your health care, Dr. Jason is probably your best choice.  Dr. Jason is one of the only doctors in this area who uses this AK technique in it's pure form.