Spinal Care VT

Spinal Manipulation: Spinal manipulation has been used for centuries for enhancing health. In this country the majority of manipulative care is given by licensed chiropractic physicians. The theory of how manipulation works is based in the relationship of the nervous system and the mechanical integrity of the musculoskeletal system. For back and neck pain spinal manipulation can often be a highly effective treatment to restore normal mechanics of the joints. Here’s how it works: Every joint in the body has a certain way it should move. There are muscles attached to bones to move the joints. When a joint has lost its motion, it can be painful, causing the muscles that relate to that joint to overwork and overload. This leads to muscle spasm and tightness. This muscle tightness restricts normal joint movement. A vicious cycle of joint dysfunction and muscle tightness results.

When we are evaluating musculoskeletal complaints, it is this relationship that makes it important to thoroughly evaluate and treat the whole system. The interdependence on structure and function is precisely why we, at the Spinal Care and Decompression Center, take the time to understand the nature of your complaint and design a treatment plan that best serves your pain. We are proud to be the only interdisciplinary team that takes advantage of each of our practitioners area of expertise and experience.

Physical Therapy: Physical therapists are expertly trained in designing and implementing comprehensive rehabilitative programs. Heather Berg, PT and Lone Barlous, PT have been treating and overseeing the rehabilitative portion of our unique approach to spinal decompression. While it may be helpful to only perform exercises or only perform spinal decompression it is even better when we incorporate both. They have treated over 900 patients undergoing non-surgical spinal decompression and offer their expertise in this approach. Their experience in treating spinal decompression patients is surpassed by none in this region. They offer this in a compassionate, individual and completely professional manner.

Massage Therapy: Our trained massage therapists participate in our team approach to facilitate patient progress and to address challenges. They give hands-on therapy to the part of the vicious cycle that may be feeding joint dysfunction. Using techniques of deep tissue muscle stripping, trigger point treatment and various myofascial release techniques the sessions are concentrated and focused for a patient’s particular problem. We offer 1/2 hour sessions that may be utilized as a stand alone modality or as a compliment to spinal manipulation, spinal decompression and physical therapy.

Spinal Decompression: Spinal decompression is achieved by using a specialized table that stretches spinal elements. A patient is fitted with harnesses that attach to the table. The treatment is determined for the individual patient, programmed by a supervising practitioner and the table then proceeds to stretch the lumbar spine. When spinal decompression is achieved, a negative pressure is created in the disc space. This acts like a vacuum and the pressure allows bulging disc material to centralize. When this happens, pressure is taken off the nerves and pain is relieved. Disc issues can be addressed using spinal decompression because other structures are affected as well. Facet joints are decompressed and the space that nerves exit the spine are widened. The effect of this can be relief of pain caused by narrowing or stenosis.

Our spinal decompression protocol includes modalities such as heat, ice, electrical muscle stimulation, and rehabilitative exercise. It is a comprehensive four to six week plan. Our team meets every week to discuss each patient and their progress.