Functional Rehabilitation
Functional rehabilitation is not only strengthening muscles around a joint that has pain, but is looking at the “big picture” of how your body functions as a single unit. I begin with an in depth look into your pains location, onset, aggravating and ameliorating factors, and how those relate to your repetitive lifestyle strains. Following this interview is an examination including palpation and inspection of your neurologic system, posture, muscle lengths and strengths, and joint function. I then inspect how your body performs certain movements to identify any biomechanical deficits. This information allows me to make a connection between your pain and your biomechanical imbalances and find your major functional disturbance and then formulate a method of restoring your body to its optimal function.
Chiropractice Manipulative Therapy
Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy/Spinal Manipulation or “adjustment” refers to gentle pressure or a high-velocity low-amplitude thrust to help restore function and motion to a joint that has become restricted. The manipulation also stimulates the nervous system to help reduce pain and relax local musculature. The noise that can be heard with an adjustment is that of release of nitrogen gas from a joint capsule. It has been researched and documented that motion is restored following an adjustment but no bones are moved for this to happen. There have been many studies that have proven its effectiveness, safety, and high levels of patient satisfaction. As a result, in 1994 the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy and Research published this technique as a gold standard for low back pain. Since then more research has been done on neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, infantile colic and rehabilitation, all supporting the role of Chiropractic and its manipulative procedures.
Myofascial Release/RockBlades®
When tissues are injured, adhesions or scar tissue can build up causing restrictions in normal movement. Myofascial release is a blend of stretching and massage using traction and positioning of the body to relieve muscle spasm and “release” adhesions or scar tissue allowing them to regain full range of motion. Rockblades are round edged instruments to assist in this process and aid in faster recovery. This therapy is used for many different conditions and is effective for people of all ages. It is often referred to as "tooling" or "Graston".
McKenzie Therapy
The McKenzie Method, also known as Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) is an approach that is trusted and used by practitioners and patients worldwide for common problems of the back and neck. Each distinct syndrome is addressed according to its unique nature with mechanical procedures utilizing movement and positions.
Unique to the McKenzie Method is a comprehensive and logical step-by-step process to evaluate the patient’s problem quickly.
Research has shown the initial McKenzie assessment procedures to be as reliable as costly diagnostic imaging (i.e., x-rays, MRIs) to determine the source of the problem and quickly identify responders and non-responders.
Patients gain an experiential education learning to self-treat their present problem. By implementing this self-care regime and modifying behaviors, patients can minimize the risk of recurrence as well as rapidly manage themselves when symptoms occur.
For more information on McKenzie Method, please refer to the website:www.mckenziemdt.org
Foot Orthotic Therapy
The feet are the foundation of the body. They provide for shock absorption, propulsion, balance, and aid in posture. Abnormalities and dysfunction in the foot can cause significant pain in the back, knee, hip, leg and foot. The common misconception is that foot orthotics are a “one-time fix” for your feet, ankle, knee, hip or low back. You get casted, fork over some money, the orthotic is built and put in your shoes and you’re good to go. However, if your foot becomes dependant on the orthotic the muscles in your feet just become weaker. A correct use of an orthotic device should be to allow you (the patient) to have a better foot position while working to strengthen the muscles of the foot, gain coordination, strength and endurance in hopes of eventually restoring the normal, proper function of the foot so that you can be active without pain and dysfunction.
Xtreme Footwerks is a small orthotic fabrication company in Colorado that builds orthotics for my patients. Xtreme Footwerks has produced the most biomechanically sound and effective orthotics I’ve seen through the years of working with several orthotic companies. For more information, please check out http://www.xtremefootwerks.com.
Pre-Natal Care
During pregnancy a woman's center of gravity shifts towards the front of her pelvis. This additional weight in front causes stress to the joints of the pelvis and the lower back. As the baby's weight increases the curvature of the lower back is also affected compounding the problem.
Approximately 50% of all expectant mothers develop low back pain at some point during their pregnancy. This is especially true during the third trimester.
Chiropractic care throughout pregnancy can relieve and even prevent the pain and discomfort frequently experience and create an environment for an easier, safer delivery. Alignment of the pelvis is extremely important for the health and comfort of mom and baby. Dr. Handschin has helped many soon to be mothers and would love to help you. If you or someone you know is pregnant and experiencing back pain or discomfort please contact us.
Gait Analysis
Gait analysis is the systematic, clinical study of how a person moves through the swing and stance phases of walking and running. It's often used to assess and treat individuals with conditions that affect their ability to walk or run. In sports biomechanics, it can be used to identify an athlete's strengths and weaknesses to help improve their performance. I may also be used to determine what type of shoe is best suited for the individual or why an individual is having recurrent bouts of pain during athletics. At Pro-Motion Chiropractic, I look intensely at every aspects of a patients movement to give them the best information possible so that they can make well educated decision or so that we can create a customized treatment plan to help them acheive their goals.
Personal Training
I regularly prescribe rehabilitative exercises for patients when they come in suffering from some pain. These exercises often focus on some movement problem or strength and stability issue and I recommend patient continue these exerices in one form or another to maintain the movement pattern or strength they have developed. This is why I enjoy personal training, because I am able to take a clients imbalances, movement problems and problem history and incorporate those into a training program that employs their personal fitness goals. These goals could be increased strength, speed or endurance, weight loss or just maintaining their fitness. If you would like to learn more about the training progams please contact us.
Insurance Billing
Pro-Motion Chiropractic and Rehabilitation will bill your insurance as a service to you. If you've ever had to bill your own insurance you know what a head-ache it can sometimes be. Pro-Motion is "in-network" with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming and the First Choice Health Network (including Mountain Health Co-op) and will bill and submit documentation for any insurance carrier and work with you to make sure your services are covered if your plan allows.