Z Spine and Joint Center - Treatment Methods

Z Spine and Joint Center

www.zspineandjoint.com

Within Solimar Wellness Spa

(651) 686-6686

Better, Faster, Stronger, Resolution For Joint and Soft Tissue Injuries

Treatment Methods

People that seek care from a chiropractic physician are not treated for a joint that is out of place. Rather, what often happens is that a joint becomes fixated or restricted in motion. This loss of motion causes degenerative changes in other joints that are compensating for the restriction. To find these restrictions, Dr. Zupancich utilizes the Motion Palpation technique, a dynamic yet gentle way of assessing joint dysfunction to determine where (or if) there are movement restrictions in the spine or other joints of the body. Doctors that utilize Motion Palpation often examine patients’ movements during walking, running, working or other activities of daily living to identify fixations. Once a restricted joint is identified, the doctor works to mobilize the fixated areas, helping restore function to these joints.

For patients, the Motion Palpation technique allows our doctors to effectively diagnose the source of discomfort and design a treatment program that will bring fast and long-lasting results. Motion Palpation also helps Dr. Zupancich determine when a patient's irritation stems from too much movement instead of fixation. It is a crucial skill to possess because an adjustment in a hyper-mobile joint could not only prove ineffective, but it could also further aggravate the patient's condition.

In order to create better motion and function in a joint that is fixated, the doctor utilizes chiropractic manipulation or an adjustment. Generally, this technique utilizes gentle pressure or a shallow thrust to restore optimal motion. An adjustment is sometimes accompanied by a pop or cracking noise, which results from the joint's release of nitrogen gas.

To date, many studies of the chiropractic adjustment have proven its effectiveness, safety and high levels of patient satisfaction. In 1994, the U.S. Agency for Health Care Policy deemed this technique as the gold standard for treating low back pain. Since the agency's initial findings, more research has been conducted on neck pain, headaches, carpal tunnel syndrome, infantile colic and rehabilitation. Each of the study's findings supports the role of chiropractic care and its manipulative procedures.

Patients benefit from the manipulative therapy techniques utilized by Dr. Zupancich, which are based on current medical research. Meaning, the seated neck adjustments administered to our patients (no head spinning) and evidence-based spinal and extremity manipulation have been clinically proven as the preferred adjusting technique, achieving long-term results with fewer treatments.

The Graston Technique, originally developed by athletes, is changing the way clinicians and patients view treatment of acute and chronic soft tissue injuries.

The Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The Technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation.

For the patient, Graston Technique has brought a decrease in the overall time of treatment , faster rehabilitation/recovery, reduction in the need for anti-inflammatory medication, and also helped to resolve chronic conditions thought to be permanent. Graston Technique has also shown promise in treating a variety of other conditions and injuries.

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Functional rehabilitation consists of clinical lifestyle recommendations, manual treatments, and functional exercises to help patients regain normal function of their spine and extremities. In order to determine the proper functional rehabilitation program, faulty patterns of movement are identified such as poor posture, improper lifting mechanics, fitness training errors or injury. Over time, these improper movements may load certain joints in the body more than others. Early on, the subtle changes in movement or muscle activation can go unnoticed by the patient. However over time, the increased stresses placed on the joints and surrounding soft-tissues can produce pain in muscles or joints and/or cause areas of restricted movement and a loss of proper joint function.

To effectively treat these dysfunctions, which often stem from patient's daily activities, doctors may offer joint manipulation in conjunction with specific exercises patients can use do at home. This comprehensive and combined approach works to retrain muscles, restore joint function and prevent recurring injuries and subsequent doctor visits. The effectiveness of this treatment method depends on the patient's commitment to their therapeutic exercises and doctor’s recommendations.

The TMJ is the joint between the jaw or mandible and the skull, specifically the temporal bone (hence temporomandibular joint). It is a very mobile joint, not only providing rotation but also gliding motion during mouth opening and closing. It is used every time we chew, talk, or even swallow. Its anatomy as well as movements are very complex and very often become dysfunctional. This dysfunction can cause pain in the jaw or face, popping or clicking during chewing, limitation of jaw movement, or even headaches/migraines.

Z Spine and Joint Center provides evaluation and treatment of this orofacial condition. Some cases of TMJ dysfunction may require a consultation with a dentist for fitting of an orthopedic appliance, and still some cases may require surgery if joint derangement or pathology is present. The doctors specifically test each patient to rule in or out the need for non-conservative treatment. The current literature suggests that a brief trial of conservative care should be tried before arthroscopic surgery or microsurgery.

Our conservative approach to temporomandibular dysfunction consists of a detailed examination of the joint and its function, as well as function of the upper cervical (neck) spine and head/neck posture. Treatment focuses on first releasing the tension of the proper soft tissues, in some cases mobilizing the jaw or manipulating the neck, and then teaching the patient how to retrain proper jaw motion with rehabilitation exercises. Following treatment, very small lifestyle changes must be implemented to avoid further injury to this joint. The goal of this treatment is to restore proper function of the joint and stabilize its motion. Many times, there is hope for a clicking jaw, painful joint, or headaches even if a patient has been dealing with the problem for years.

A crucial part of each patient’s treatment is recognition of eating habits to determine nutritional deficiencies and potentially harmful food sources. A majority of the foods present in a typical American’s diet lack many of the essential nutrients and minerals not only needed to increase the efficiency with which the human body might normally have to heal but also affect the patient’s ability to live a more energetic, vibrant, and youthful life.

At Z Spine and Joint Center you may receive dietary recommendations as part of your treatment plan. These recommendations may include dietary restrictions, education on healthy eating tips, and nutritional supplementation. These recommendations applied to the diet subsequent to treatment help equip the patient with some basic principles that can further contribute to the enhancement of daily life.