Activator Method
The Activator is the most widely used chiropractic instrument. Studies show improvement with the Activator Method. It also has been compared to other techniques and proven to be just as effective. This means that for many patients an Activator adjustment could very well lead to the same outcome as a manual adjustment. This offers chiropractors and patients an alternative to manual adjusting when it is preferred for clinical reasons.
Chiropractic Care
The unique aspect of chiropractic care is that it looks at the entire person and not just the area that hurts. We’re conscientious and understand the importance of evaluating the whole nervous system. We do this because the nervous system is the master controller of the body. No other system in the body can even survive without this all-encompassing organizing force.
Chiropractic helps the nervous system to heal and flourish. It opens up neural pathways and reinstates good communication between the brain and the rest of the body. This form of natural health care helps you to function at an optimal level. Proper function leads to a long, healthy and happy life!
Benefits of Chiropractic Care
Here’s just a small representation of what chiropractic care can accomplish:
- Better sleep
- Decreased pain
- Increased mobility
- Maximized energy
- Optimization of focus, concentration and overall mental status
- Revitalization of the immune system
Our Popular Techniques
At Ottawa Chiropractic Clinic our approach to care is primarily hands-on. We use research-based techniques that have stood the test of time and are highly regarded.
Some of these popular techniques include Diversified, Gonstead and Activator Methods®. Our approach is gentle and customized to the needs of the individual patient.
Common Conditions That We Can Address
Although we can help with a multitude of unique issues, here are some of the symptoms that respond well to our advanced care:
- Extremity pain
- Headaches and migraines
- Low back pain and sciatica
- Neck and shoulder pain
- Numbness and tingling
- Pregnancy-related discomfort
Corrective Exercises
Corrective exercises are the use of bodily movements and/or postures to restore desirable changes in diseased or injured tissues. The corrective exercises are movement strategies that minimize or eliminate compensation. Corrective exercises should precede more integrated exercises, because they can cue the patient’s motor system to respond in a more desirable way and assist in removing or improving biomechanical constraints.
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is a pain treatment that uses the method of localized freezing temperatures to kill irritated nerves. Cryotherapy is used to also treat some cancer areas as well as abnormal skin cells by dermatologists. Cryotherapy works by climbing into a specialized chamber that harnesses the power of liquid nitrogen and refrigerated cold air. It will rapidly cool off your entire body and will stimulate your sympathetic nervous system through your skin’s cold receptors.
Diversified Technique
The goal of the Diversified Technique is to reduce nerve interference. There are no special or unique procedures needed. Patients are assessed using these various mechanisms: history and basic examination (orthopedic and neurologic), palpation, x-ray, leg checks and reflex procedures as well as others.
The procedure involves analyzing the full spine and extremities. The majority of adjustments used in Diversified are manual adjustments, HVLA (high velocity, low amplitude), or long lever manipulations aimed at cavitating the joint and creating an audible release. This sound is known by patients as the “popping” or “cracking” sound associated with adjustments. Some chiropractors utilize specialized equipment such as drop tables or pelvic blocks.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrotherapy is an alternative pain management treatment option that involves the use of mild electromagnetic pulses to provide relief for the patient. This treatment option can dull pain, repair tissue, strengthen muscles, and even improve your blood circulation.
Nutritional Consultations
Here at Ottawa Chiropractic Clinic we want to help you on your journey towards health and wellness. Our goal is to help you achieve total health and balance with your body. In order to achieve that goal, we are here to offer specific recommendations on nutritional supplements and healthy food choices to help you maintain a healthy weight.
Pediatric Chiropractic
Chiropractic care is not just for adults. In fact, more and more parents are seeing the many benefits of their children seeing a chiropractor every single day. Some of the benefits are improved sleep, improved behavior and attitude, and improved immune system function. Children encounter many physical stresses in their life that you may not realize. These stresses can cause your child’s spine to have issues in growth and development.
Physiotherapy
It is important to understand that often times where the pain presents is not the area that needs to be treated. The pain may be due to that area compensating and being over-worked from another area not pulling its weight. Our rehabilitation program includes strength, flexibility and agility training as well as training focused on coordination of body parts and motion to prepare the individual to return to full participation.
Pre/Postnatal Chiropractic
Here at Ottawa Chiropractic Clinic, we offer a conservative approach to treating pregnant women. Our prenatal care is gentle and safe. We aim to alleviate the stress and strains of pregnancy while improving comfort for both the mother and baby. We understand the physical changes that come with pregnancy, and we offer relief without using any drugs.
Spinal Decompression
Spinal decompression is a non-invasive mechanical procedure performed within our office to help alleviate back pain. It involves gently stretching the spine to take pressure off the spinal discs (the cushions that separate the vertebrae in the spine). By relieving this pressure, bulging discs can retract back into place which takes pressure off the nerves in the spine. By decompressing the spine, it permits water, oxygen and other fluids to work their way back into the discs allowing them to heal naturally. Spinal decompression is an excellent option for anyone with chronic back pain who wants to get back to living a pain-free life as quickly as possible.
Spinal Screenings
Sometimes all that stands between your daily pain and a happier, healthier you, is a chiropractic adjustment. Your body naturally wants to be in alignment, and our daily activities can throw what is naturally aligned out of balance. Also known as chiropractic manipulation, manual manipulation, or spinal manipulation, chiropractic adjustment refers to the manipulation of the vertebrae that have abnormal movements and are not functioning properly. Here at Ottawa Chiropractic Clinic, we can help you achieve balance and proper alignment, giving you relief and improving your health.
Our goal in treating your joint and spinal issues is to reduce subluxation, increase range of motion, reduce nerve irritability, and improve mobility. Our highly skilled chiropractor will work with you to relieve your pain and get you back to living a pain free and healthy lifestyle.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound therapy is a chiropractic treatment used to help reduce muscle pain and increase range of motion. By using sound waves, we are able to stimulate deep inside the tissue. This minimizes stiffness, swelling, and pain while also promoting circulation, and pain-free movement.
Weight Loss
Weight loss is something with which millions of people struggle. As you know, your weight doesn’t just contribute to your physical appearance. Your weight and the amount of fat in your body can help or hurt your body by contributing to either a healthy physique or lead to medical issues such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease. Weight loss is not just about restricting calories, which is what most people try to do. Weight loss is really about correcting your nutrition, managing your stress, and for some, working with or around chronic diseases and medical conditions.
Worker’s Compensation
Worker’s compensation is a form of insurance that replaces lost wages and pays for medical and chiropractic care for people injured on the job. It typically covers a number of injuries that can happen to nearly any worker. These injuries may occur as a result of a slip and fall accident, tripping over a hazard or on an unsafe surface, or falling off a ladder. For some workers, workers’ compensation will cover injuries that happen while the worker is driving or traveling as part of his or her work duties.
Musculoskeletal disorders affect a person’s muscles, bones, joints and connective tissue, such as tendons and ligaments.
A number of musculoskeletal disorders can keep a worker off the job, including:
- Sprains, strains, and tears
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome and other repetitive stress injuries
- Headaches and migraines
X-Rays
One of the most important elements of chiropractic care is diagnostics. Chiropractic radiology is a tool utilized in care as a diagnostic practice to rule out pathology (such as possible tumor or fracture) and/or an additional aid to determine where to adjust the spine. Chiropractors rely on a variety of diagnostic techniques in order to fully understand what is occurring in the patient’s musculoskeletal system, and how a given treatment intervention could bring about positive results in each patient.