Chiropractic

What Is Chiropractic?

Chiropractic is the field of physical medicine that emphasizes the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal and nervous systems, especially complaints in the back, neck, joints of the arms and legs, and headaches.

A chiropractic physician utilizes various soft tissue therapies and chiropractic manipulative therapy, CMT, to treat these conditions, which can be caused by trauma or injury, prolonged improper postures, lack of exercise, and predisposition to muscular hyper- and hypo-tonicity.

The purpose of the chiropractic adjustment is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile, or restricted in their movement. The adjustment restores mobility, thereby alleviating inflammation, pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.

Additional therapies aimed at treating the soft tissues of the body - muscles, ligaments, tendons and fascia – include therapeutic ultrasound, manual deep tissue therapy, and electrical muscle stimulation. EMS is the administration of a low intensity electrical current to the affected tissues to cause a desired effect, such as muscle relaxation.

Do Adjustments Hurt?

Many patients associate chiropractic adjustments, or CMT, with getting their “back cracked”. The pop or crack frequently heard with an adjustment is simply the release of fluid in the joint space and not a cracking of the bones that make up the joint. The adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment, similar to beginning a new workout, and usually resolving within 12 to 48 hours.

Should I Do Anything Before or After Treatment?

During the acute and subacute phases of an injury or during a flare-up of a chronic condition, follow these suggestions to improve the effectiveness of your chiropractic treatment:

  • Avoid inflammatory foods, such as alcohol, red meat, foods that have been processed and those high in saturated fats.
  • Eat foods that aid tissue healing and decrease inflammation, such as fish with omega-3 fatty acids (salmon and tuna). During the acute and subacute phases, you can also increase lean protein intake to 1 gram protein/kg body weight.
  • Increase water intake. Although no scientific evidence supports the claim that adults should drink 8-10 8-oz glasses of water daily, clinical evidence shows that maintaining hydration can aid in tissue repair and decrease healing times.
  • Do the exercises your doctor of chiropractic prescribes. They will strengthen weak muscles, increase joint range of motion and speed up healing.

What Patients Are Saying

I went to Dr. Laurel Johnson for chiropractic treatments and was very pleased. She was very in tune to my specific problems. I have been to several different chiropractors and the only one comparable to Dr. J. had over 30 years of experience, and has retired. I felt like Dr.J. got to know my individual issues and treated that rather than giving general back adjustments. I would recommend her to anybody, because I think she will get to know you and find out what is really causing your problems.

~M.D.

I sought chiropractic care from Dr. Laurel Johnson at ACE Chiropractic in Las Vegas, Nevada. She was the best chiropractor that I have ever had. She was more than willing to go the extra mile in treatment. She was friendly, knowledgeable, caring, and very professional. I recommend her to anyone who needs chiropractic care, massage, or acupuncture.

~J.H.

I injured my shoulder on a Friday night, and Dr. Johnson was the only chiropractor I could find taking patients on a Saturday here in Las Vegas, NV. She is truly dedicated! It ended up, I had mildly torn my rotator cuff, and Dr. Johnson helped me go from not being able to dress myself with my right arm, to regular full motion. Along the way she taught me strengthening exercises and was always cheerful and knowledgeable. I truly miss her here in Vegas and recommend her to anyone in the Beaverton area!!

~C.S.

 

Click Here To Download New Patient Forms