Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic is the third largest primary health care profession in the world, (The first two are traditional medicine and dentistry.) It offers a non-invasive, non-drug alternative for treating some of the most significant health problems we face today.

In essence, Chiropractic helps align the bones of the spinal column—the 24 vertebrae—so that spinal nerves can function properly. This lets nerve impulses flow correctly back and forth between the brain and other parts of the body. In this way, chiropractic care can relieve pain, improve mobility and correct many different types of health problems.

Chiropractic is not only for people who move for a living: athletes, contractors, musicians, and so on. Nor is it only for the legions of people who suffer with low back pain because they spend all day on their feet or sitting in a chair. Actually, I believe Chiropractic can offer benefits for nearly everyone. Babies can benefit when their mothers receive chiropractic care during pregnancy, because this often leads to an easier birth. Children can benefit as well. Common childhood conditions such as colic, ear infections, allergies and asthma have all responded favorably to chiropractic care.

If you have any doubts about the legitimacy of Chiropractic as a form of medical treatment, you should know that it is licensed and regulated in all 50 states and in over 30 countries. In the US, state licensing boards regulate many aspects of the field, including the education, experience and moral character of candidates for licensure. These boards have a mission to protect the public health, safety and welfare, and they do a very good job.

Because Chiropractic is divided into a number of schools of thought, it would be fair for you to ask, “Doctor Ostroff, what kind of chiropractor are you?” Here’s the answer. I’m an eclectic, evidence-based practitioner, and my therapy is founded on the same study of anatomy, physiology and neurology as the MD you visit when you get the flu. The main difference is that with Chiropractic I focus on the spine and other major joints, particularly the knee, shoulder and hip. I try to figure out what’s wrong, how the problem is affecting other parts of the body, and how I can fix it.

That aching back

Low back pain affects 8 out of 10 Americans. But most have not experienced any trauma, accidents or major injuries prior to the onset of their problem. So what’s going on?

Most back pain results from a combination of improper sitting posture, incorrect lifting, a lack of proper exercise and other lifestyle-related factors. They all create physical stresses that can cause slight misalignment of the vertebra, known as subluxation. This misalignment begins to place unnatural pressure on spinal nerves, which eventually causes pain. If the misalignment is severe enough, just the simple act of bending over can be agonizing. (You’ve probably heard the term pinched nerve, which describes a similar problem. Did you ever have a foot “fall asleep?” That numbness is one possible result of a pinched nerve.)

Lower back pain is often the reason a patient first seeks out Chiropractic, and I have treated thousands for this condition. The success of this approach has been documented in major peer reviewed journals. (NOTE: one such journal article should be linked here, if possible.) By being under my care, many of my patients have been able avoid the risks of surgery and lost time away from work.

Chiropractic Methods

I always begin with an assessment, to identify specific bio-mechanical problems and determine if chiropractic treatment is appropriate. If I conclude that it is, I will recommend one or more of the approaches below. In all cases, the goal is to relieve pain and restore normal position of the affected bones.

Activator Methods Chiropractic Technique (AMCT)

The Activator Method is my preferred approach to Chiropractic care. It has been refined through nearly 50 years of empirical study and 20 years of clinical research. It draws upon the latest advances in orthopedic, neurological and chiropractic examination to assess and treat joint problems in the spine and extremities.

AMCT uses a simple, hand-held device called the Activator Adjusting Instrument. It delivers a consistent, low-force "tap" to specific points on the body. Each tap is a chiropractic adjustment, delivered as part of the overall session designed by the practitioner to treat a particular patient. A typical session involves 20 to 40 adjustments, and takes 10 to 15 minutes.

Benefits of the Activator Method include:

• A safe, gentle, comfortable experience for the patient
• An absence of all twisting and “cracking” of joints
• Over 300 separate isolation tests for almost every bone in the body

Commenting on the Activator Method, Andrew Weil, MD, wrote: "Chiropractic sessions using this technique are safer and less painful than those employing dynamic thrust manipulations because the head is kept in a neutral position, not turned or twisted. There is no risk of injury. The Activator method has undergone clinical trials that demonstrate its efficacy. I have found low-force treatments like this one to be reliable and safe, and I recommend them in my clinical practice. I find the Activator method particularly useful for pediatric and geriatric patients."

Today, over 35,000 doctors have been trained in AMCT; 2,100 are Proficiency Rated. This makes AMCT the most widely used chiropractic technique worldwide.

I highly recommend this video on Activator Methods Chiropractic. It will answer most of your questions.

SacroOccipital Technique (SOT)

SOT was developed in the early 20th century by Major Bertrand DeJarnette, an inventor, engineer, osteopath and chiropractor who refined this technique throughout his life. Like the Activator Method, SOT seeks to correct spinal misalignments, but it is more geared toward uncovering broader misalignment patterns and removing them.

In both evaluation and treatment, SOT uses brick-sized, padded wedges called DeJarnette blocks, which are placed at specific angles under the patient’s pelvis. This technique for evaluating and adjusting the spine is gentle, non-invasive, and very effective for certain types of problems.

Craniosacral Therapy (CST)

CST was developed by Osteopathic Physician John E. Upledger. His work involved years of clinical research and testing at Michigan State University, where he served as professor of biomechanics.

CST is a gentle, hands-on approach that has some similarities to acupressure therapy. Using a soft touch (usually no greater than 5 grams, about the weight of a nickel) practitioners release tensions in the soft tissues surrounding the central nervous system. This helps to relieve pain, restore proper function, and improve whole-body health and performance. Because of its ability to bolster resistance to disease, CST is also finding greater use as a preventive health measure.