• Active Release Technique (ART) |
• Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (CMT) |Low-Intensity Laser Therapy | 
• Spinal Stability Exercise |
• Functional Rehabilitation |
• Custom Orthotics |
• Education / Advice |
• Massage Therapy

Note: the following are some of the techniques we commonly use in our office. Specific treatments applied to individual patients are individualized to their presenting condition. Any treatment will be fully discussed with the patient prior to its application.

Active Release Techniques (ART)

What is ART?

ART stands for Active Release Techniques. It is a new and highly successful hands-on treatment method to address problems in the soft tissues in the body, including the muscles, ligaments, fascia, and nerves.

How does ART work?

When soft tissue becomes injured the healing process involves the formation of scar tissue. This scar tissue is a necessary part of healing, but unfortunately this scar tissue can accumulate and affect the health and function of the surrounding soft-tissues leading to pain, stiffness, restricted joint movement, and altered blood flow. Additionally it can entrap nerves and result in symptoms of numbness, weakness, and tingling. This process will follow both traumatic injuries and overuse injuries such as tendonitis, fascitis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. ART works to locate and treat this scar tissue formation. Treatment of scar tissue is essential to fully resolve soft-tissue injuries and restore proper health and function to the body.

What is an ART Treatment like?

An ART practitioner will use their hands to locate the presence of scar tissue adhesions within the soft-tissue of the body. Once located, the ART provider will shorten the structure to be treated and then use active patient movements to lengthen the structure. Through the application of specific pressure and tension on the scar tissue the doctor will be able to breakdown the problematic scar tissue, thereby restoring the proper flexibility and motion to the area.

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Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (CMT)

Chiropractic manipulative therapy is also known as a chiropractic adjustment or joint manipulation. The purpose of an adjustment is to restore motion to a dysfunctional joint � meaning the joint has lost some or all of its normal and necessary movement. Proper joint movement is essential to maintain the health and function of the body. Joints may become restricted from a number of factors, including trauma, poor posture, muscle or soft-tissue tightness, and overuse. When joints lose their normal motion several problems will occur including:

• pain and stiffness
• muscle tightness / muscle imbalance
• loss of joint health leading to joint breakdown and degeneration
• movement compensations leading to undue stress on other areas of the body

Joint manipulation involves applying a very specific, shallow impulse to the affected joint in the direction of fixation in an effort to mechanically restore the normal motion to the joint. This process is generally painless and the patient typically finds the process relieving.

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Low intensity laser therapy 

WHAT DOES A LASER TREATMENT FEEL LIKE? 

Low intensity laser treatments are completely painless. There are two general types of lasers- high power lasers that cut through tissues and low intensity lasers which stimulate tissue repair. Low intensity lasers have a non-thermal effect, which means that the laser does not increase in temperature and is therefore not perceived by the person receiving the treatment.

IS LOW-INTENSITY LASER THERAPY SAFE?

Yes. The treatments are non-traumatic, non-invasive and non-toxic. There are no known side effects from this form of laser therapy. The lasers themselves are not strong enough to cause cell damage. Low intensity laser treatments are even safe for use in children and the elderly.

IS LASER THERAPY COVERED BY INSURANCE?

If your insurance coverage includes chiropractic, then laser therapy is covered for treatments performed in our office. All laser therapy sessions are provided by a Doctor of Chiropractic, who is certified to perform this form of treatment. The cost per session is equal to a chiropractic treatment. Please call our office to inquire about our fee schedule.

HOW LONG IS A LASER THERAPY SESSION?

Treatment times will vary from as little as two minutes to as long as twenty minutes. The total number of treatments depends on the severity of the condition and the patient's natural healing rate.

Spinal Stability Exercise

As is discussed above, joint movement is vital to health and proper function, but this joint motion also needs to be controlled adequately. When the muscles responsible for moving and controlling specific joints are weak or fatigue too quickly, the joint is not supported properly � this concept is clinically referred to as joint instability. This instability results in excessive and/or uncontrolled motion in that joint. This excessive motion can result in strain of the joint and muscles, and facilitate breakdown of the joint cartilage.

Support and control of the spine is particularly important and many studies now report that insufficient support of the spinal joints correlate with back and neck pain. When instability exists the muscles must be re-trained to provide the needed support and control to the unstable region. This can be done by identifying which specific muscles are dysfunctional, and developing a progressive training program that the patient can do at home to re-train the area and stabilize the joint.

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Functional Rehabilitation

It is important to realize that all the muscles and joints of the body must work together in a coordinated manner to achieve our specific activities of daily living. As dysfunction develops in one region, it can have an ill effect on other regions, resulting if further problems and the spread of pain and discomfort. Functional Rehabilitation acts to help re-establish normal coordination and integration of spinal and extremity function that has become altered and is preventing or interfering with daily activities. This comprehensive approach begins with identification of dysfunctional movement patterns - such as walking, running, bending, lifting, pushing/pulling, balance, or sport specific motions - and works to restore proper coordination and movement. This approach often utilizes other manual therapy techniques such as joint manipulation and ART to treat local joint and muscle dysfunction, and incorporates a sequence of home simple home based exercises to re-train proper movement patterns.

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Custom Orthotics

Orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts that act to correct abnormal foot motion by changing the manner in which the foot contacts the ground. This provides the proper support needed to stabilize the foot and reduce mechanical strain to the entire musculoskeletal system.

The feet represent an important link in the body, as they form the contact point between our body and the ground. When the foot is in contact with the ground, the foot and the entire lower extremity form what is know as a "closed-kinetic chain" � meaning motion at the foot will also affect the movement of the rest of the body, particularly the knee, hip, pelvis, and low back. As a result of this relationship, problems occurring at the foot will often result in excessive strain to be transferred up the leg. In this sense, foot dysfunction can be a significant factor in pain and dysfunction of not only the foot, but in the leg, pelvis, and spine as well. Therefore, when foot dysfunction is present it often needs to be addressed.

Some types of foot dysfunction can be treated by manual therapy, such as joint manipulation or ART. Unfortunately, in many cases foot dysfunction often results from the way in which the bones of the lower leg or foot were formed, or from injury to the supporting ligaments of the foot and ankle. This is known as a structural problem and cannot be fully addressed solely by manual methods. When this is the case orthotics are indicated.

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Education / Advice

Proper resolution of pain and the prevention of future recurrence requires that the patient has a thorough understanding of how their tissues became injured in the first place. Part of every patient treatment plan is to educate the patient on how their specific injury process occurred. By understanding their mechanism of injury it provides a better understanding of both their in office and home treatment program, and greatly helps to prevent future recurrences of the condition.

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Massage Therapy

Massage Therapy is defined as the manual manipulation of soft tissues of the body in order to achieve a therapeutic response. In addition to tension and stress relief, Registered Massage Therapists in Nova Scotia are effective in treating and providing relief for a wide variety of conditions relative to tissue and joint dysfunction including:

• Low back pain
• Whiplash
• Repetitive strain injuries and general muscle soreness
• TMJ and other joint dysfunctions (including arthritis)
• Headaches and migraines
• Tendonitis (golfer's and tennis elbow)
• Thoracic outlet and carpal tunnel syndrome
• Stress and insomnia

Whether it is to improve or maintain physical function, encourage body healing, rehabilitation or simply preventive health care, Massage Therapy may be an option for you! The therapeutic effects of massage therapy benefit men and women of all ages, infants, children, pregnant women and the elderly. We look forward to hearing your questions and discussing a possible treatment plan customized to your needs.

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