Services
Chiropractic Adjustments
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Rehabilitation
Pregnancy & Postpartum Care
Chiropractic Adjustments
Adjustment (Manipulation)
Chiropractic manipulation involves applying force to joints, primarily in the spine and extremities, to restore motion and alleviate pain. This practice aims to address joint restrictions stemming from factors like postural habits, repetitive movements, or injuries. By doing so, chiropractors seek to temporarily enhance joint mobility, diminish pain, and prevent overuse and injury in adjacent joints.
The essence of spinal manipulation is to offer a manual intervention that can revive motion in restricted areas or segments, fostering confidence and fluidity of movement. This method often produces an audible release, commonly described as a cracking or popping sound, though it's not universally present in all manipulations.
Rehabilitation
Exercise Rehab
Exercise rehabilitation serves as a vital link between manual therapy and everyday activities. Exercise rehabilitation is structured and progressive programing aimed at improving physical function, mobility, strength, flexibility, and overall well-being through therapeutic exercises. It is commonly used in the management and treatment of various musculoskeletal conditions, injuries, and chronic health conditions.
Exercise rehabilitation often includes functional training exercises that simulate activities of daily living or specific movements relevant to the individual's occupation, sport, or recreational activities. This helps to improve functional capacity and enhance overall quality of life.
Selective Function Movement Assessment (SFMS)
SFMA is a comprehensive assessment tool used by healthcare professionals, particularly in the fields of physical therapy, chiropractic, and sports medicine, to evaluate and analyze movement patterns in patients with musculoskeletal pain or dysfunction. SFMA is designed to identify areas of movement dysfunction and limitations by assessing seven fundamental movement patterns, known as the “Top Tier” assessment.
Based on the findings from the Top Tier assessments, the evaluator can then delve deeper into the specific impairments found in each pattern through a series of "Regional Interdependence" assessments. These assessments aim to identify any underlying dysfunctions or compensations contributing to the observed movement limitations.
The SFMA approach emphasizes a holistic understanding of movement dysfunction, recognizing that limitations in one area of the body can lead to compensatory patterns and dysfunction elsewhere. By identifying these dysfunctions, healthcare professionals can develop targeted treatment plans to address the root causes of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, rather than just treating symptoms.
The SFMA approach emphasizes a holistic understanding of movement dysfunction, recognizing that limitations in one area of the body can lead to compensatory patterns and dysfunction elsewhere. By identifying these dysfunctions, healthcare professionals can develop targeted treatment plans to address the root causes of musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction, rather than just treating symptoms.
It's worth noting that the SFMA is primarily a diagnostic tool and is often used in conjunction with other assessment methods and treatment modalities to provide a comprehensive approach to patient care. Additionally, proper training and certification are typically required for healthcare professionals to administer and interpret SFMA assessments effectively.
Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy (McKenzie)
Mechanical Diagnosis & Therapy (MDT), commonly referred to as the McKenzie Method, is a specialized system of assessment and treatment for musculoskeletal conditions, particularly those related to the spine.
The McKenzie Method is based on the principle of patient empowerment through education and self-management. It involves a systematic assessment process aimed at identifying movement and postural patterns that exacerbate or alleviate a patient's symptoms. The assessment process typically involves a thorough history-taking and a series of standardized movement tests and repeated movements to classify the patient's condition into specific mechanical subgroups.
Specific therapeutic strategies are employed to address the mechanical dysfunction. These strategies typically involve a series of exercises and movements prescribed by the therapist aimed at centralizing or abolishing the patient's symptoms and restoring normal movement patterns. Patients are often given exercises to perform independently at home to reinforce the effects of treatment and promote self-management.
Neurodynamics
Neurodynamics focuses on understanding and managing the dynamic interactions of the nervous system, particularly in relation to movement and musculoskeletal function.
The goal is to improve nerve mobility, reduce nerve sensitivity, and relieve symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness. These interventions are often tailored to the individual patient based on their specific symptoms, limitations, and goals.
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Active Release Technique
ART focuses on identifying and treating adhesions or scar tissue that may form within muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other soft tissues as a result of overuse, trauma, or repetitive stress. These adhesions can restrict movement, cause pain, and contribute to dysfunction in the affected area.
This approach aims to restore proper function and mobility, while reducing discomfort. At Momentum Spine and Sport, passive therapy such as ART is often combined with active therapy approaches, such as therapeutic exercises and movement-based interventions, to optimize outcomes and facilitate the patient's return to function.
Cupping Therapy
Cupping therapy is a traditional healing practice that involves placing cups on the skin to create suction. The suction is typically generated by heating the air within the cup or by using a vacuum pump. Once the cups are placed on the skin, the suction creates a negative pressure, which draws the skin and underlying tissues upward into the cup.
Cupping therapy is believed to promote blood flow, reduce muscle tension, and encourage healing by stimulating the body's natural healing processes. It is often used to treat various conditions, including musculoskeletal pain, inflammation, respiratory conditions, and stress-related disorders.
Pregnancy & Postpartum Care
Pre/Postnatal Fitness
Within our healthcare system there is a notable absence of support and guidance for expecting moms on how to care for and maintain their physical well-being during pregnancy. As women progress through pregnancy, their pelvis undergoes a state of laxity in preparation for childbirth. However, this physiological change can result in instability and expose muscle imbalances, ultimately leading to discomfort. It's crucial to recognize that pain during pregnancy should not be considered a norm, despite its societal normalization.
Childbirth can lead to a range of musculoskeletal challenges, including diastasis recti, pelvic floor dysfunction, and changes in biomechanics. These issues often result in discomfort, pain, and difficulty in regaining pre-pregnancy levels of physical activity.
At Momentum Spine and Sport, we design rehabilitation and strength training programs to help mommas optimize their physical function throughout pregnancy and also addressing any musculoskeletal issues postpartum. Our approach to pregnancy and postpartum rehabilitation is to educate and empower mommas to build strength, resilience, and confidence in their ever-changing bodies.
Webster Technique
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic adjustment technique primarily used in the care of pregnant individuals. The technique aims to restore proper function to the sacrum, a triangular bone at the base of the spine that connects to the pelvis. Sacral problems can be due to various factors, including hormonal changes, postural adaptations, and the growing weight of the uterus during pregnancy. When the sacrum isn’t functioning properly, it can create tension and imbalance in the pelvis, potentially leading to discomfort, restricted movement, and even complications during labor and delivery.
The Webster Technique involves a series of gentle adjustments and mobilizations performed by a trained chiropractor. These adjustments aim to improve sacral and pelvic alignment, thereby relieving tension and restoring optimal function to the pelvis and surrounding structures.
It's important to note that the Webster Technique is not intended to manually turn a breech baby into the proper position for delivery, as is sometimes mistakenly believed. Rather, by addressing pelvic and sacral alignment, the technique may help create a more favorable environment for the baby to assume the optimal position for birth, which is typically head-down. The Webster Technique is considered safe and gentle for both the pregnant individual and the developing baby when performed by a qualified chiropractor trained in prenatal care. Many pregnant individuals find it helpful in alleviating pelvic discomfort and promoting a smoother pregnancy and delivery experience.