Adjusting Styles

& Treatment Philosophy

My style of adjusting is formally and professionally known as “Diversified”. This is the primary style taught by all of the chiropractic colleges in the United States and which is required by the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners. My focus is primarily upon Chiropractic Orthopedics, but I also do chronic pain and wellness care, do a lot of physical therapies and exercise, prescribe natural medicines, herbal supplement remedies, and use traditional and combination homeopathics.

I am primarily a manual (hands-on) adjuster. I also utilize an Impulse^TM adjusting instrument  for chiropractic instrument adjusting, typically as a follow up to manual therapies.  I do use an Activator^TM impulse adjusting instrument to reinforce some of my work, to move very small joints, or to do subtle work with someone who is sensitive, arthritic or osteoporotic.

I also utilize other styles to round out my treatments, which allows me to tailor my adjustments to a patient’s needs and preference.  This practice often is referred to as being a “Mixer”.

The multiple styles I draw from include:
– Diversified Technique (Certified trained by WSCC).
– Sacral-Occipital Technique (“SOT”)
– Gonstead (Limited)
– Myofascial Release and Massage Therapy.
– Cranio Sacral Therapy (Certified – but not Somato-Emotional Release ^TM ) and Strain/Counterstrain Release Techniques
– Activator^TM – Style Impulse Adjusting Instrument (But not Activator Methods^TM technique) (We have Impulse instruments by Neuromechanical Innovations, Inc).
– Muscle Energy techniques
– Low Force / Non-Force Release techniques, Acupressure
– Leander^TM Motorized Flexion-Distraction
– Drop-Table (Advanced, highly specialized)
– Zenith High-Low Thompson Terminal-Point Drops
– Manual, Mechanical, and Pneumatic Traction.
– Low-Tech Rehab (PT-Balls, Theraband Resistance Bands, Medicine-Balls, Trampoline/Rebounder, Plyometrics, BodyBlade^TM , Free Weights)
– Graston Myofascial Release Technique (Certified)
– Rapid Release Technique
– Kinesiotaping
– Cold Laser and Low Level Light Therapy “LLLT”
– Physiotherapy, Physical Therapy and Exercise (concepts and practical applications)
– Lifting Techniques, Ergononmics, Gait training.
– Orthopedics

IMPORTANT NOTE: All of these valuable technigues make up the “mix” of what I may apply – if it the best thing for you. To that extent, many of these techniques also exist as “Pure Form” or “Stand Alone” or “Mono-Style” techniques. Many of them are also “franchises” which a clinic pays money every year to advertise for them.  Many of those franchise styles are also what we might call old-school, without new research or innovation updated in decades.

I consider myself a “broad scope” provider – and as above, I am a Chiropractic Orthopedist – and those high guidelines require me to use only the best elements of many of these styles. I don’t choose to buy into a franchise or limit your therapy to only one way of thinking.  (It is true, however, that I am “certified” in a few of the above.)  At the same time, if you call and ask me to perform a “Pure Form” technique on you, I may decline because it is then too limiting and may even not meet your expectations if I don’t do something you are used to.  At the same time – the way I use my palette of techniques typically gets the results that have gotten my patients doing well.  And – if you let it work for you – it usually will.

Physical Therapy:
I am trained in Physiotherapy, exercise fitness and rehabilitation as well as in massage and bodywork (having been a licensed massage therapist). I believe in using soft tissue techniques to assist with chiropractic adjusting. I believe in prescribing therapeutic exercise in order to support the recovery. I also utilize the following adjunctive Physical Therapy modalities to support my work: Hot Packs, Hydrotherapy, Ultrasound, Electrical Stim, Diathermy, Microcurrent, TENs, Graston, Rapid Release, and Cold Laser. We believe in having state-of-the-art equipment. I like to use low-tech rehab exercise plans that my patients can use at home after some supervision in the clinic; this way therapeutic exercise can be incorporated into their lifestyle. I like to get my patients moving as soon as possible and not focusing on symptom relief alone. We try to have a little fun and keep it light, while still doing serious work and not compromising on quality.

I like to see a patient several times at the onset of their treatment plan in order to determine how the treatment plan is working for them. I usually treat on the same day that I examine, if it is clinically indicated. I only order X-rays or MRIs if clinically indicated. I like to see a “well patient” at least once a season (four times a year); this is my ideal.