Techniques

There are literally dozens and dozens of different techniques that chiropractors employ in treatment.  There are those that use instruments to adjust the spine, there are those who don’t even touch the spine.  Based on the success I’ve had personally with chiropractic care over many years of abuse through college football and weight lifting I tend to gravitate towards treatments  that stress the importance of joint and soft tissue mobilization.  Here are just a few of the treatments I use in patient care.

 

FAKTR is a dynamic concept in which instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization, rehab, and myofascial release  are all intertwined.  The concept was created by Greg Doerr DC and Tom Hyde DC and was once referred to as “Graston Module 3.”  This concept is a unique way of addressing pain through five unique ways.  The patient is treated:  in the position of pain,  with a painful movement, with resistance of a muscle or muscle groups, during a functional movement of everyday living, or with proprioception (balance/awareness activities).  This combination is highly effective against nearly any time of soft tissue injury.  FAKTR also addresses nerve entrapments like Carpal Tunnel Syndrome.  When all other techniques fail, I continually look to FAKTR as the answer.  It is my “buck stops here” treatment!

 

Active Release Techniques  is a patented, movement-based soft-tissue treatment system that treats pain and dysfunction in muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves. Active Release Techniques can be used to quickly and effectively treat a wide variety of conditions, but they are extremely effective in breaking down adhesions, fibrosis, contractures, and trigger points in soft tissues. This makes ART invaluable in treating overuse injuries, biomechanical dysfunction, scar tissue accumulation, and nerve entrapments.  ART is used within most professional sports organizations and is the official treatment of the IRONMAN triathlon.  ART is most valuable within the sports world with it’s ability to dramatically reduce time off the competition field.  Besides athletes,  people who struggle with repetitive stress disorders such as carpal tunnel syndrome can also see tremendous results with ART.

Dr. Michael Leahy, founder of Active Release Techniques

 

 

Graston Technique Graston Technique is a therapeutic method for diagnosing and treating disorders of the skeletal muscles and related connective tissue. The method employs a collection of six stainless steel tools of particular shape and size, which are used by practitioners to palpate patients’ bodies in order to detect and resolve adhesions in the muscles and tendons.  The technique is popular with chiropractors, physical therapists, and athletic trainers across the world and is used to maintain some of the world’s most competitive athletes.    (Video coming soon)


Motion Palpation Institute Motion Palpation is a diagnostic technique used by the doctor of chiropractic to locate joint dysfunction within the spinal column and extremities.  This technique was brought to the United States in 1981 and quickly gained acceptance as a standard diagnostic tool for the chiropractic profession.  The Motion Palpation institute also uses manual techniques from a variety of disciplines in order to offer the chiropractor a well-balanced approach to patient care.  For example, an MPI doctor may use joint manipulation from many chiropractic disciplines as his or her primary tool however, he or she may also include rehabilitative protocols from the physical therapy world, functional analysis from the Eastern manual medicine giants, soft tissue work from massage therapists, and nutrition from world renowned clinical nutritionists and registered dietitians.    (Video coming soon)

Gary Gray Function & Rehab Exercises

The Gray Institute is internationally acclaimed for its innovation, development, mastery, and delivery of Applied Functional Science. They are recruited to consult, analyze, assess, rehabilitate, restore, train, and condition individuals of all levels and abilities, including professional sports. The Gray Institute is the foremost leader of functional prevention, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement in our industry.  The founder, Gary Gray, is most well known for his role in developing the TrueStretch system which focuses on stretching the human body in all three planes of motion: Saggital, Frontal, and Transverse.


Spinal Decompression Therapy

The DRX9000 and DRX9500 were designed by a specialized team of engineers at Axiom Worldwide to meet the needs of today’s patient, offering physicians the clinical outcome they desire and patients the quality of life they deserve. With our focus on innovation, Axiom is committed to utilizing the latest cutting-edge technology to improve the quality of life for those suffering from herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, and other back ailments.  I’ve held a spinal decompression certification from Axiom Worldwide since January of 2006.  I have treated hundred and hundreds of patients and continue to be amazed by the results I see.  I myself underwent treatment on the DRX 9000 and it completely relieved the burning leg pain I had experienced for six years prior.  This treatment is available at my future office Peterson Chiropractic in Tulsa, OK.

Mckenzie Method Diagnosis and Treatments

Also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy, the McKenzie Method is a philosophy of active patient involvement and education for back, neck and extremity problems. The key distinction is its initial assessment component—a safe and reliable means to accurately reach a diagnosis and only then make the appropriate treatment plan. Rarely are expensive tests required, Certified MDT clinicians have a valid indicator to know right away whether—and how—the method will work for each patient.  Mckenzie diagnosis and treatment protocols have a high reliability in detecting disc injuries as well as a high success in treating disc-related pain.

This is a small working list of some of the treatments I implement in patient care.  I also implement muscle energy techniques such as: Post-Isometric Relaxation, Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation, Neuromuscular Reeducation, Reflex Locomotion, functional analysis according to Janda, as well as many others.

*I practice within the facility of Peterson Chiropractic at 68th and Memorial behind Gold’s Gym

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