The first step in assessing your health is to take a thorough health history. Typically when you first arrive, we will ask you to fill in a questionaire about your medical history. You can save yourself time by downloading the new patient form and completing prior to your inital consulation.
Click to download New Patient Health History form >>
The doctors at chiropractic solutions will examine the spine and nervous system with a detailed "hands on" assessment of the vertebral column and its contiguous structures for the diagnosis of subluxation. This diagnosis can only be made by functional examination of the spine to determine specific areas of hypomobility (loss of normal movement).
History
|
|
Your doctor will ask you number of specific questions regarding you condition. He will gather information on all you health issues as your problem/ discomfort you experience maybe attributed to a number of factors such as accidents, surgeries, sporting injuries, RSI (repeated stress injuries), posture, medication, emotional stress, ADLs eg sleep, exercise and diet. A through history will help determine where the problem exists and what activities aggrevate and relive it. Further it will help determine your overall health.
|
|
|
Visualization
|
|
Observation of the spine for changes in the curves as the spine. Levels of head, shoulders and hips can assist determining spinal health. Postural assessment whilst walking and sitting will give a clue as to where the subluxation is.
|
|
|
Instrumentation
|
|
The nervoscope is an instrument that measures skin temperature changes that result as improper nerve control to blood flow of the skin.
|
|
|
Static Palpation
|
|
Method for feeling your spine and surrounding tissues for swelling and tenderness. Misalignment of a vertebra causes slight injury to ligaments that attach to the bone. The damage to the ligament produces inflammation. Your chiropractor is trained to find such a problem.
|
|
|
Motion Palpation
|
|
Your chiropractor will check for movement in EACH joint of the spine. This is done in the weightbearing (sitting postion).The vertebral joint complex are put through three axes (directions) of normal movemement to determine if there is a deficiency in any or all directions. A comparison is made between individual spinal segments. Reduced movement between each segment will help locate subluxations
|
|
|
Neurological/ orthopaedic tests
|
|
Various tests maybe conducted such as tests for balance, eye movement, smell, vision, hearing etc. and such routine things as your arm and leg reflexes. Since the chiropractor works with the nervous system via the spinal column, these baseline assessments maybe made.
|
|
|
Radiographic Analysis
|
|
X-rays are a form of energy similar to radiowaves and sunshine. Commonly, they are used to view the bony structures of the body to rule out any pathology, and in particular to Chiropractors, a means of biomechanical analysis.
Click for MORE INFO on X-Rays >>
|
|
|
The adjustment is the correction of the subluxation. It is a light force applied via the use of your hands. Its very quick thrust to adjust the bone in a specific direction to get pressure off the nerve.
Innate Intelligence
Once the subluxation is corrected via the adjustment. The nerve is no longer under pressure. The NORMAL flow of that nerve is restored and the body has an ability to heal itself. It always want to work at 100%. This is known as innate intelligence.
The Gonstead Adjustment
After a complete evaluation your chiropractor will have a through understanding of your problem. It is then possible to provide a SPECIFIC, ACCURATE and PRECISE correction. The focus is to adjust the segments that are the cause of the problem. The Gonstead system of analysis and correction allows the adjustment to be safe and effective in restoration of the spine and nervous system. It is important to have you spine checked on a regular basis and not left until you experience a symptom or pain. This will help maintain optimum health via proper spinal function. The conditions used in the Gonstead system of analysis help determine if certain adjustments are required. There maybe times where your Gonstead chiropractor, once they have examined you, decide that an adjustment is not required.
Gonstead Chiropractic involves a specific correction of the subluxation this is known as an adjustment. The adjustment is very different from a manipulation. Below is a table that highlights the major difference.
|
Manipulation
|
Adjustment
|
|
Non specific "global" movement to multiple vertebral joints in multiple directions
|
Specific Contact point with a specific angle to restore normal mechanics and ONE joint
|
|
Performed to increase mobility
|
Performed to reduce irritation to a specific nerve
|
|
Contacts several joints
|
One joint
|
|
Long leaver contacts
|
Short leaver
|
|
Performed at end range of movement
|
Performed in normal/ neutral range of motion
|
|
Short Term relief
|
Long term relief
|