TECHNIQUES

If after a thorough examination your pain has been located to restriction and stiffness in the joints of your body your chiropractor may use adjustments or mobilisation to restore mobility and reduce pain in those areas.

Adjustments
To encourage the joint to move properly a targeted, quick, firm pressure is applied directly to the affected area. This has two benefits: firstly, to free the joint restriction and secondly, to reinstate proper nerve signalling to the brain. At Aligned For Life we typically use either the diversified technique, Thompson drop technique or activator to do this.
Adjusting requires a high degree of skill and is one of the primary techniques that differentiate chiropractors from other practitioners.

Mobilisation
In the situations where adjusting may not be appropriate, a manipulation is performed. These provide a gentler and more generalised stretch of the joint and surrounding muscles. When treating elderly or young people and/or the joints in the arms and legs mobilisation is often used over adjustments.

Exercise rehabilitation is about restoration of health through exercise and training; this is an essential part of treatment for all patients, not just the performance athlete.

This aspect of treatment helps to rebuild weak muscles and improve balance (proprioception) providing you with a long term solution to your problems. It also empowers you to input into your own treatment giving you the tools to help yourself.
All exercises are specifically tailored to the needs of the patient, whether this is dealing with a chronic long term problem, or optimising the athlete to gain maximum performance.

Muscle release techniques are soft tissue manipulative methods that stretch tight muscles, ligaments and tendons and are often used in conjunction with trigger point therapy, the Graston myofascial release technique and dry needling.

Trigger points ‘knots’ are believed to occur from sustained muscle tension that causes reduced circulation most likely from postural strain, cold, trauma, and overuse or overstrain injuries. These small ‘knots’ in the muscle are often associated with taut bands of muscle fibres that run the length of the muscle.

Trigger points are often the cause of much of the pain felt by patients and it is important to treat them. This is achieved with a combination of: firm finger pressure over the tight area, massage, muscle stretch techniques and/or heat. Dry needling (acupuncture) may also be recommended.

The Graston Technique is an innovative form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that effectively breaks down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. These issues are commonly seen in athletes or patients with chronic conditions.

The technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to detect and treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. By breaking down the areas of scar tissue we can reduce the likelihood of potential re-occurrence and improve movement and flexibility to the injured area.

This technique will often be used in conjunction with other treatments such as joint manipulation, exercise rehabilitation and kinesiology taping.

Kinesiology tape is a generic term used for elasticated tape that is made for cotton and nylon fibers that often has an intricate wave like pattern on its underside. In conjunction with other treatments it is used to reduce pain, aid recovery and improve movement.

Some of these tapes have been around since the late 1970’s but have come to prominence more recently with many elite athletes now wearing it, and it has become more common place in chiropractic and physical therapy practices.

The myths and facts surrounding kinesiology tape are quite extensive, but the underlying theme is kinesiology taping appears to be effective as an aid to reduce pain, and improve recovery times and improve movement.

So firstly, the myths:

Colour – the colour of the tape DOES NOT make a difference, having your countries flag on the tape may make you feel more motivated but it certainly doesn’t make the tape more effective.
There’s no research evidence – the research overall is positive and there are a large number of trials that show the tape to be effective. Where the evidence is poor is for ‘performance enhancement’. It would appear that the tape is only really effective if you currently have an injury.
It’s just a placebo – there are many studies that demonstrate the effects of kinesiology tape that cannot be replicated by placebo taping so there is definitely more going on than just placebo. However, is there some placebo effect from taping, undoubtedly, do we need to learn more about how it works, yes. Do I think it aids in recovery, definitely.

The facts:
There are very few reliable studies to suggest that kinesiology tape provides an athletic performance enhancement and consequently it should not be considered as a way to gain the edge over the competition. To my mind its effectiveness comes from its rehabilitation potential.
Kinesiology tape is a safe, effective, low-risk way to give your body a nudge in the right direction toward less pain and better function. It is not magic and it is not a replacement for chiropractic treatment, rehabilitation exercises and sensible injury management but it does work.

Sacro-occipital technique (SOT) is a subtly different form of chiropractic technique that attempts to restore balance between the occiput (base of skull) and the sacrum (pelvis). It is a complete holistic system that relies more on gentle mobilisation and correction techniques which makes it particularly good for pregnant patients, the elderly particularly if they are osteoporotic, infants or those who are in considerable pain.

SOT also encompasses cranial chiropractic which is a very gentle technique designed to restore normal function to the nervous system, meningeal structures and associated vascular and lymphatic system through treating the osseous structures around the cranium.

Cranial work will often only be used towards the end of a patients treatment program to provide the ‘finishing touches’ and in many patients is not required at all.

11 Bridge St. Leatherhead KT22 8BL

FIND US

Car parks are located around the town centre and cost £1.10 p/h. Limited 30 min on-street parking can be found outside the clinic.

01372 383 050

TECHNIQUES

11 Bridge St. Leatherhead KT22 8BL

FIND US

OPENING HOURS

Mon 8:00am – 7:00pm
Tues 8:00am – 6:00pm
Wed 8:00am – 1:00pm
Thur 8:00am – 7:00pm
Fri 8:00am – 6:00pm
Sat Call for appointment

01372 383 050

paul@alignedforlife.co.uk

01372 383 050

TECHNIQUES

11 Bridge St. Leatherhead KT22 8BL

FIND US

OPENING HOURS

Mon 8:00am – 7:00pm Tues 8:00am – 6:00pm Wed 8:00am – 1:00pm Thur 8:00am – 7:00pm Fri 8:00am – 6:00pm Sat Call for appointment

01372 383 050

paul@alignedforlife.co.uk

Mon 8:00am – 7:00pm
Tues 8:00am – 6:00pm
Wed 8:00am – 1:00pm
Thur 8:00am – 7:00pm
Fri 8:00am – 6:00pm
Sat Call for appointment