Services

Chiropractic Adjustment

A chiropractic adjustment, or spinal manipulation, is a procedure in which a specific force is applied at a precise location and direction to a joint that is restricted, or not moving properly. The purpose is to restore normal joint motion, which often results in decreased pain through improved spinal function, improved nervous system function, and improved health. See FAQ’s for more information. Ask about our $40 routine adjustment cost for existing patients not utilizing insurance.

McKenzie Method

Dr. Waldo is only 1 of approximately 150 chiropractors in the world fully credentialed in McKenzie Method. The McKenzie Method or MDT is a reliable assessment process intended for all musculoskeletal problems, including pain in the back, neck and extremities (i.e., shoulder, knee, ankle etc.), as well as issues associated with sciatica, sacroiliac joint pain, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, muscle spasms and intermittent numbness in hands or feet. If you are suffering from any such issues, then a MDT assessment may be right for you!

Developed by world-renowned expert physiotherapist Robin McKenzie in the 1950s, this well-researched, exercise based approach of assessment, diagnosis and treatment uses a comprehensive and clinically reasoned evaluation of patients without the use of expensive diagnostic imaging (e.g. x-rays and MRIs). The treatment principles of the McKenzie Method promote the body's potential to repair itself and do not involve the use of medication, heat, cold, ultrasound, needles, or surgery. McKenzie allows patients to learn the principles and empowers them to be in control of their own symptom management, which can reduce dependency on medical intervention.

If utilized correctly, the achievable goals of the McKenzie Method in a cost- and time-effective manner are to:

• Accurately understand the patient's presentation and behaviour of symptoms.
• Determine the most appropriate and effective treatment plan.
• Eliminate symptoms and restore full function.
• Help inform patients if other medical advice or testing is needed.

MDT works in three steps: assessment, treatment and prevention.

Most musculoskeletal pain is "mechanical" in origin, which means it is not due to a serious pathology like cancer or infection but a result of abnormal or unusual forces or mechanics occurring in the tissue. Further, it means that a position, movement or activity caused the pain to start. If a mechanical force caused the problem then it is logical that a mechanical force may be part of the solution. The MDT system is designed to identify the mechanical problem and develop a plan to correct or improve the mechanics and thus decrease or eliminate the pain and functional problems.

In the simplest and most common instance, this may mean that moving in one direction may provoke and worsen the pain, and moving in the opposite direction may eliminate the pain and restore function. This is known as Directional Preference. Other patients may have pain just at the end of movement or with certain functional movements like throwing or stair climbing. The McKenzie assessment explores these different positions and movements, how the patient performs them, and the response to these movements. Interpreting this information, the clinician determines which of the movements and posture becomes the treatment as well as the necessary exercise dosage.

Assessment

The McKenzie assessment process begins with the trained clinician taking a detailed history about your symptoms and how they behave. You will be asked how the problem began and how it interferes with your function. You will then be asked to perform certain movements and rest in certain postures and tell the clinician how this influences your symptoms. A key component of the McKenzie system is the examination of repeated movements, which means that the clinician may ask you to repeat certain movements even though that movement may hurt when you do it. This enables the clinician to identify specific pain patterns, which then helps the clinician develop a treatment plan specific to your pattern of presentation.

Treatment

The valuable information gleaned from the assessment process leads the clinician to recommend the most appropriate treatment for you. The clinician will prescribe specific exercises and advice regarding appropriate postures and ergonomics. If your problem has a more difficult mechanical presentation, a certified McKenzie clinician can provide advanced hands-on techniques to help manage the problem until you can self-manage.

The aim is to be as effective as possible in the least number of treatment sessions. Treatment that you can perform five or six times a day is more likely to be effective in a shorter period of time than treatment administered by the clinician once or twice per week. The emphasis is on you, the patient, being actively involved. This can minimize the number of visits to the clinic. Ultimately, most patients can successfully continue treating themselves when provided with the necessary knowledge and tools.

Prevention

The key distinction from other approaches is McKenzie’s initial assessment component that provides a reliable pathway to accurately reach a mechanical diagnosis and produce an appropriate treatment plan. Understanding the mechanical behavior of the presenting complaint is critical to putting together a treatment strategy with the patient that is logical, easy to understand and has a consistent beneficial effect on the patient’s symptoms. Many patients spend years in therapy or going from provider to provider just because they were never assessed properly and the treatment provided did not effectively manage their condition. The McKenzie Method teaches clinicians how to thoroughly assess and to continue to reassess through clinical reasoning until meaningful results are achieved.

Laser Therapy

Cold Laser for Tissue Healing, Inflammation & Pain Relief

In order to understand how Laser works I am going to take the time to fully explain the history, physics, and its benefits. First off lets explain the history of Laser therapy:

Niels Ryberg Finsen won a Nobel price in 1903 for his work on phototherapy regarding lupus when he found that certain levels of concentrated chemical rays from the sun could create beneficial effects.

• 1916 - Einstein first proposed the phenomenon of stimulated emission (from light)
• 1960 - Theodore Maiman built the first working laser
• 1967 - Professor Mester discovers that the working laser could create biostimulation, aka create therapeutic qualities
• 1983 - UK physiotherapists first use low level power lasers for sports injuries with positive results
• 1988 - Guys Hospital in London began performing eye opening fact producing research on how laser therapy works
• 1998 - NASA conducts LED (light emitting diodes) therapy wound healing studies for astronauts
• 1999 - US Military begins nerve regeneration research with THOR lasers (the ones we use at Health in Balance)
• 2003 - THOR lasers achieve FDA clearance
• 2005 - US Military attains positive effects in spinal cord regeneration via laser therapy
• 2006-2009 - Laser Therapy attains published articles in prestigious journals like Lancet, Pain, Nature, Bone & Joint Task Force, and more

All of this to say that Laser Therapy has been used on humans since 1983 proving that it is incredibly safe with no known side effects, non-invasive, non-toxic, easily applied, remarkable results, and used by our best scientists. In science most everything takes 40 years to reach world wide acceptance and 1967 was truly the kick off. Obviously it is not a fad, like cell phones in 1999 that were scoffed at, Laser therapy will be an everyday service soon.

“Photobiomodulation” utilizes a specific amount of power, certain parameter of wavelength, at a precise time in order to provide the desired results. Those results being:

1. Tissue Repair: Improved speed and quality of regeneration of skin, muscle, tendon, ligament, bone and neural tissue. By utilizing light at a certain wavelength we can stimulate tissue to HEAL itself.
2. Inflammation: Resolution of inflammation at least equal to NSAIDS (Tylenol, A dvil, etc.) but without the side effects.
3. Analgesia: By blocking the pathways of pain via the spinal nerves and producing endorphins, dopamine and other feel good chemicals.

A gentle beam of laser light can stimulate cells to repair tissues, reduce inflammation and inhibit pain fibers to reduce pain. The application of specific wavelengths of red or near infrared laser or LED light on acute injuries and degenerative conditions at the correct anatomical location for the right amount of time relieves pain and improves healing. Picture a one hill roller coaster. A lower powered laser is required in order to “stay” in the range of the uphill slope in order to achieve a response of tissue repair or to heal. A stronger powered laser is utilized in order to go past the uphill slope into the downhill slope in order to achieve the response of pain relief and release trigger points.

Laser therapy can be used for just about every situation, for the young and the old alike. Acute or chronic pain, neck and back pain, joint pain, sports injuries, tendonitis or tendonosis, plantar fasciitis, carpal tunnel or pinched nerves, arthritis, sinus issues, lymphatic drainage, open wounds, diabetic ulcers, post surgical areas, and MORE. Laser therapy is even utilized for smoking cessation and beauty treatments.

Treatment only takes about 15-20 minutes, normally takes anywhere from 3-15 sessions, and results tend to be long lasting. Some patients will not need to return for additional treatments; however chronic conditions may have to return for “maintenance” dosages when stiffness returns. Patient’s typically experience improvement immediately after the first visit; usually require 2-3 visits per week the first 2 weeks and than depends on response and condition from there. The cost is $25-45 per session however insurance will normally cover the treatment. As always, we have no contracts, no gimmicks, just quality healthcare. Laser therapy is one adjunct of treatment we utilize to help the whole individual.

For more information, photos and treatment videos you can also visit our manufacturer's website at www.thorlaser.com.

Graston Technique

The Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively isolate soft tissue adhesions and fascial restrictions. Just as a stethoscope amplifies what the human ear can hear, so do the instruments increase significantly what the human hands can feel.

For more information go to www.grastontechnique.com.

Rehabilitation

Our anatomy teacher at school always began his lecture with a recipe: “First you have the bones, than some ligaments to hold them together, slap some muscles and tendons on them for movement, provide some arteries and veins for nutrition, and than the nerves to tell them what to do.” In this section we will be focusing on the muscular component. As a fetus we are wound up in the womb in a flexed position, and we spend our life trying to attain extension. Our body’s muscular connection is a teeter totter trying to find balance. Our sedentary jobs, video games, poor posture, and weakened core facilitate the hunched over or flexed posture. This repetitive situation sets the stage for weakened muscle groups, chronic neck and shoulder aches and pains, headaches, carpal tunnel, chronic nagging low back pain, and other kinetic chain complications. Dr. Waldo will explain the concepts of plasticity, Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes, why they occur, and how to correct the “stretch weak” and “stretch tight” areas through rehabilitation, neuromuscular re-education (retraining the mind muscle connection to overcome their deficits), and the use of Graston Technique.

This principle is why so many people leave care after they are out of pain and than suffer a relapse a few months later. Pain is only a symptom and the cause usually has many layers. Proper spinal mechanics through adjustments and muscle re-patterning is pivotal. Spinal rehab takes time for change just as braces take awhile to realign your teeth. Always remember that if you are here for pain relief only we will welcome you back without any judgment or I told you so.

Supplements

Supplements are in addition to a healthy nutritional program. The old adage of “you are what you eat” is correct. Every time you go to the doctor they ask you about your family history. Your genes are more apt to express their limitations when disposed to more inflammation in your body. Ads on the TV, radio, magazines, try to inspire more healthy habits: lose weight, aerobic and/or anaerobic exercise 3-4x’s per week, increase your fruit and vegetables, eat complex carbohydrates, increase omega 3 by eating fresh fish, drink water, moderate alcohol consumption, get your rest, reduce stress, take a multi-vitamin and mineral, etc. All of these reduce inflammation and make you BETTER. In our Westernized civilization it is especially important to supplement our nutritional habits with vitamins, minerals, herbs, and other supplements to promote a healthier you.

Supplements are nutritional support that will aid in decreasing inflammation, obesity, diabetes type 2, high blood pressure, cancer risk, heart disease, stroke, cholesterol, etc. Supplements also help in many things that we do not think of until they are symptomatic or causing us grief. They aid in reducing cold’s and flu’s, stress, anxiety, depression, allergies; promote healthy sleep, everyday performance, and better skin; and will accelerate you body’s ability to heal whether it is from soft tissue strain/sprain, disc herniation, spinal degeneration (DJD or osteoarthritis), sinus congestion, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, etc. It is important to remind you that supplements are NOT designed to cure or treat disease; they are designed to provide support for your body.

Health in Balance Chiropractic Center, Ltd. mainly uses products from Metagenics, Pure Encapsulations, and MigreLief, but might advise other products to aid in maximizing your body’s well being. You do not need a doctor's visit once you run out. You can return to purchase more or ask for them to be delivered. Please call/email ahead of time to make sure your supplement is available and we will have it ready for you when you arrive.

For more info:

www.numedica.com

www.metagenics.com

www.emersonecologics.com

Custom Foot Orthotics

In the last section we briefly described the kinetic chain. “You are as strong as your weakest link” is the motto we have all heard. Foot orthotics are inserts for your shoes that allow proper biomechanics during your walking, running, or athletic movements. Your foot is comprised of 26 bones functioning to absorb every step of every day. Improper weight distribution, “flat feet” will not only give you localized blisters, bunions, plantar fasciitis, heel pain but can also cause shin splints, knee pain, hip pain, low back pain, and even shoulder pain. It could be a weak link in your kinetic chain that could be corrected with orthotics or even a good pair of shoes.

Visit www.footlevelers.com for more information.