There are many TECHNIQUES which chiropractors can specialize in and employ in spinal adjustments. Here at Lake Michigan Chiropractic, Dr. Kraig uses a variety of different methods depending on each patient and his or her condition.
The Diversified Technique derives from the work of Dr. D.D. Palmer and is taught in most chiropractic colleges across the world. It involves a gentle but quick thrust or other movement of the spine to restore healthy alignment, mobility, and normal biomechanical function. The Diversified technique has also been developed to adjust extremity joints as well, allowing for beneficial applications in treating sports injuries and other injuries.
The Gonstead Technique is based on the work of Dr. Clarence Gonstead in the 1920s. A graduate of the famous Palmer School of Chiropractic, he explored principles of mechanics to working with the spine. The Gonstead technique of chiropractic is a method of chiropractic assessment and adjustments that is very methodical, precise, and scientific. The Gonstead adjustments themselves are more precise than a typical chiropractic adjustment, which allows the doctor to use a more gentle thrust, while still moving the bone. The Gonstead technique is characterized by its specific hands-on adjusting of only the offending segments of the spine and extremities. Accuracy is all important to the Gonstead chiropractor. Gonsteaders take enough time with each patient on each visit to find the specific problem and correct it with the most biomechanically sound system available. We find the problem on the patient, we accept it where we find it, we adjust it using as little force as necessary, and finally, we leave it alone to heal. The goal of the Gonstead doctor is to get you to a better place as quickly as possible with as few adjustments as necessary. The results speak for themselves. Many people are amazed by the results obtained by Gonstead doctors from all over the world.
The Thompson Drop-Table Technique is based on the work of Dr. Clay Thompson, who applied his engineering background to the process of adjusting patients’ spines. Clay Thompson’s technique utilized methods such as moving parts of adjusting tables which drop when pressure is applied, imparting gentle but firm force to precise places on a given patient’s body, especially spinal areas. Dr. Kraig’s chiropractic table has a pelvic drop piece that he utilizes in adjusting pelvic, sacrum, and lumbar spine misalignments.
Next to the Diversified technique, the Activator Adjusting Instrument is reported to be the most common therapeutic intervention used by chiropractors. A spring-loaded, hand-held mechanical instrument called the Activator Adjusting Instrument provides a quick, gentle, low-force impulse at specific points to the spine with the goal of restoring motion to the targeted spinal vertebra or joint. There are two theoretical advantages of an Activator instrument-assisted treatment. The first is based on the speed of the device. The instrument is so quick that the body’s muscles are less likely to tense in response, and resist the treatment. The lack of muscle resistance may facilitate the treatment effectiveness. The second is that the applied force is localized and does not add any additional torque or bending movement to the joint.
RockTape is a kinesiology tape engineered to meet the demands of endurance athletes and but is great for the average person as well. RockTape gently lifts the skin, which accelerates blood flow to promote healing as well as increases the amount of oxygen available to the muscles. The stimulus to the skin also reduces pain signals sent by injured areas and speeds up recovery. RockTape has a wide variety of applications including: pain relief, healing, improving athletic performance, posture correction training, pregnancy support, and many others. Dr. Kraig is a certified RockTape Rock Doc.
If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (269) 408-8729.