Spinal Adjustments
Reasons to Choose Our Chiropractic & Physiotherapy Expertise
If you’ve been to a chiropractor before and prefer to be adjusted in a particular way, let Dr. Lee Echelbarger know. We want you to relax, enjoy and fully benefit from your chiropractic care.
Palmer Package
The Palmer Package is a variety of techniques taught at the Palmer College of Chiropractic in Davenport, Iowa, the birthplace of chiropractic in 1895.
The Palmer Package is a set of adjusting tools that equip chiropractors with what they need to help just about any spinal problem. The main techniques include:
Thompson: This technique is both a system of chiropractic analysis and a way to minimize the amount of energy needed to adjust the spine using a special table with drop-away sections.
Diversified: First, an analysis of your spine is performed. With the malposition of one or more spinal bones identified, a specific manual thrust is administered, based on experience, practice and a thorough understanding of spinal mechanics.
Gonstead: A small heat-sensing instrument and full spine X-rays may be used to reveal subluxation patterns in the spine. To adjust your lower spine and pelvis, we’ll have you lie on your side. Subluxations in the middle back are corrected as you assume a comfortable kneeling position. When you’re seated, we can restore the integrity of your spine without twisting or rotating your neck.
Toggle Recoil: While you’re in a totally relaxed state, usually lying on your side, a high-speed, low-force thrust is delivered to the upper bones of your spine and the hands are quickly withdrawn. This allows the body to use the energy as it sees fit to “reset” the spinal joints.
Thompson
The Thompson Technique, developed by Dr. J. Clay Thompson, has evolved into a system of analysis and a way of adjusting the full spine. The combination produces precise adjustments and high levels of patient comfort.
A System of Analysis
Early chiropractors noticed that subluxations would produce the appearance of a short, or contracted leg. Using a protocol of comparing leg lengths while the patient turned their head, helped determine whether the subluxation was in the upper, middle or lower back.
After gently lowering you to a prone position, individual drop pieces give way, reducing the amount of energy needed to adjust your spine.
Terminal Point Table
What patients often notice first is our segmental “drop” table. After stepping onto the platform, the table gently lowers you into a horizontal position. This helps preserve any leg length inequality.
Individual cushions or “drop pieces” located along our table surface, support each area of your spine until the thrust is delivered. Then, each drop-piece gently gives way, reducing the amount of energy needed to move a specific spinal segment.
Popular and Patented
So unique is this approach, Dr. Thompson was granted a patent in 1955. Since then, because of its precision and patient results, it is a technique used around the world.
Diversified Technique
At Back In Line Chiropractic, we use an adjusting style commonly referred to as “Diversified.”
First, an analysis of your spine is performed. This can initially involve a case history and X-ray pictures of your spine.
Diversified Technique
A special hand arrangement called a “pisiform contact” is used to deliver a specific thrust at the right place and the right time.
Subsequent visits may include motion palpation, with the chiropractor feeling the spinal joints move as you turn and bend. Or, a leg check may be performed, to uncover an imbalance in the neck or lower spine.
With the malposition of one or more spinal bones identified, a specific manual thrust is administered. The direction, speed, depth and angle that are used is the result of years of experience, practice and a thorough understanding of spinal mechanics.
The energy delivered during the thrust may produce a slight “popping” sound from the shifting of gas and fluids in the joint. This sound may be interesting, but is not a guide as to the value or effectiveness of the adjustment.
While improving spinal biomechanics can reduce nervous system interferences, virtually all joints of the body can be adjusted to help restore proper range of motion.
Pettibon System for Scoliosis conditions
Created and named after its developer, Dr. Burl Pettibon, this analytical approach to chiropractic is based on one of the most relentless forces we encounter: gravity.
High Level of Accountability
We’ll take pictures of your spine with you seated. You’ll see your X-rays and learn what they tell us.
We start with a complete radiographic analysis of your spine. This gives us a clear picture of how your spine has adapted to the stress of gravity. (We’ll compare these initial views with what we see later as your care progresses.)
Turns out that sitting puts more stress on your spine than standing. So we always take your X-rays… seated. And we take them the same way each time. This way we can accurately compare how your body is adapting to our care without the influence of uneven leg lengths.
Three Types of Care
The first phase of care lasts two to three weeks. Since most people begin chiropractic care with an ache or pain, we start there. During this acute stage, we’ll show you specific home care procedures to accelerate your results.
The second stage of care is designed for those who want more lasting correction. This often takes up to three visits a week for three months or longer, depending upon the damage to your spine. This, combined with the at-home procedures, can produce extraordinary results.
The third stage of care is designed to maintain and enhance your postural correction, muscle strength and endurance. At this stage, visit frequency can usually be reduced.
A True Partnership
The truth is, we can’t “fix” you if you’re not willing to participate. Those who are truly interested in the lasting correction that is possible and do their homework, seem to get the best results. Simple as that.
Motion Palpation
The bones, nerves and muscles of the body allow us to move. When spinal joints (or other joints of the body) aren’t moving correctly, it’s a sign that something else is going on. We use a helpful diagnostic procedure call Motion Palpation
Spine and Extremities
We’ll use our hands to feel how your joints react as you turn and bend.
Motion Palpation is a fancy way of saying, “feeling with the hands and fingers.” It’s simple. We’ll have you turn and bend and go through the range of motion of various joints of your body, both local and peripheral to your spine. As you do, we’ll apply a light pressure to the joint being tested to feel how things are moving.
Not only will we feel the joint, but we’ll also listen as you move. Long-standing problems can often produce grinding sounds or other noises. These can often give us a clue about what’s going on in the affected joint, directing the care we will be recommending.
Mainstream Diagnostic Procedure
Motion palpation is a popular diagnostic technique used by chiropractors since 1981. It quickly gained acceptance and is taught at chiropractic colleges throughout the world.
SOT
SOT stands for Sacro Occipital Technique, a chiropractic technique designed to help normalize the relationship between the pelvis and the head.
We are especially interested in the “tone” of your body, which is reflected in the tightness of your spinal cord.
The integrity of the spine, and the function of the nervous system it protects, begins with the pelvis. This foundation is constantly subjected to the pull of gravity. When stability is lost, it produces effects throughout your body.
Proper control of every cell and tissue of your body is affected by bones of the skull and tension on your spinal cord. Think of your spinal cord as a string on a harp. Is it flexible and healthy? Or stretched and drawn tight?
Blocking the Spine
We use wedge-shaped devices known as “blocks” to help correct your spine and properly “tune” your nervous system. By knowing exactly where to position these blocks, we use the weight of your body to make corrections, naturally.
Safe and Comfortable
By using gravity and your own body to effect correction, new healthier patterns of spinal function can result. Along with safe, consistent results, SOT is known for emphasizing patient comfort.
Gonstead Technique
Named after its developer, Dr. Clarence Gonstead, this approach came from his engineering background. His “foundation principle” explains how a subluxation pattern in one area of the spine can produce compensatory changes in another.
After studying your health history, we conduct a complete examination. This generally includes full spine X-rays and precise analysis. Using a small heat-sensing instrument, subluxation patterns are revealed by slight differences in temperature. Finally, we use our fingertips to “palpate” or feel the location of individual bones and how they may differ from their normal position.
With a complete picture of your spine it’s time to make the needed corrections.
To adjust your lower spine and pelvis, we’ll have you lie on your side. Subluxations in the middle back are corrected as you assume a comfortable kneeling position. When you are seated, we can restore the integrity of your spine without twisting or rotating your neck.
Sometimes you’ll hear a slight “popping” sound that we call cavitation . Sometimes you won’t. Either way, better health is on the way!
The Gonstead Technique is acknowledged as one of the safest systems of evaluating and caring for the spine.
Logan Basic
We use this popular adjusting technique because of the results it produces and the delighted patient response we see. This is largely due to its focus on the “foundation” of the spine and our non-force delivery style.
The Foundation of Your Spine
The sacrum is the “foundation” of your spine, so we start there.
Like your house, if you notice hairline cracks in your walls or ceiling, or doors and windows that don’t open properly, a settling foundation could be the culprit. Same with your spine.
Situated at the base of your spine, the 24 moving segments of your spinal column are supported by a triangular-shaped bone called the sacrum. The sacrum rests between the two bones that form your right- and left-hip. Naturally, problems down here can cause compensatory problems higher up in the spine.
Low Force Contact
After a thorough examination, I’ll have a clear visualization of how your sacrum is malpositioned.
Then, as you lie face down, I’ll use my thumb to apply a light pressure to the muscles that attach to the sacrum. (Knowing exactly where to deliver this light contact requires years of training and experience.) I’ll hold this contact for about 10 minutes or however long is needed to relax the muscles. With repeated visits, as muscle spasms are reduced, the sacrum is able to assume a more normal position.
Patient Satisfaction
Understandably, many are surprised that we focus our attention on the base of their spine when their symptoms may be in their upper back or even neck! But they love our low force approach and the excellent results we produce.
B.E.S.T.
We use a fascinating, “cutting-edge” healing system called Bio-Energetic Synchronization Technique (B.E.S.T.). It’s a physical, yet non-forceful, energy-balancing procedure that helps restore the full healing potential of your body. Simply put, an imbalance in your electromagnetic field causes unequal leg length. We correct that by applying the appropriate electromagnetic energy to proper points on the body.
The Basic Procedure
Testing the strength of your arm in the Face-up position provides a feedback mechanism to measure your response.
Most of us use our past experiences to adapt, protect and advance our lives. Inappropriate responses in the past can get “locked” into our bodies, producing ill-health.
This Face-down Procedure identifies the relevant “pressure points” that need to be addressed to allow you to update your response based on your needs today, rather than a past experience. You’ll lay face down and we’ll lightly hold the appropriate pressure points along the spine. It feels great!
The Advanced Procedure
The Face-up Procedure is designed to remove higher brain interference from expression in the physical body. Stored emotional patterns are identified, followed by specific instructions about what to think about, eye position and a breathing pattern that helps your body “re-time” itself and discard patterns from the past. Sometimes we’ll test the strength of your arm, length of your legs or lightly tap points on your head and neck.
Perhaps this procedure sounds a bit strange! But rest assured it produces incredible results and delighted patients around the world.
Extra-spinal Adjustments
Extremities
Dr. Echelbarger has taken over 200 hours of continuing education in the field or extremity adjusting and has secured the Certified Chiropractic Extremity Practitioner (C.C.E.P.) degree from Palmer College of Chiropractic.
The chiropractic approach that works so well with the spine can be applied to other joints of your body. Virtually every articulation of your skeletal system is susceptible to fixations that can impair function and range of motion:
Carpal Tunnel issues.
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a common result of repetitive motions to abnormally functioning joints of the spine, arm and wrist. Chiropractic can be helpful.
Wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome is usually due to compression of the median nerve as it passes through the band of ligaments in your wrist. In many cases, the underlying cause is a misalignment of one or more joints of your neck, shoulder, elbow or wrist. Identifying the involved joint(s) and a program of chiropractic care can often avoid surgery.
Jaw
Stress, teeth grinding and spinal problems can cause TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders where your jaw connects to your skull. (You can feel the joint move by placing your fingers in front of your ears and opening your mouth.) Skilled chiropractic care can restore proper nervous system control of involved muscles and ligaments, reducing pain, stiffness, clicking sounds or locked jaw.
Shoulder
Many shoulder problems originate in the area where the nerves branch from the spinal cord and exit the neck. Shoulder pain or pain radiating down the arm can be accompanied by weakness, numbness or tingling in the wrists or hands. Many patients report dramatic improvement with chiropractic care.
Elbow
Classic tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) is a repetitive strain injury that often afflicts the dominant arm. It is seen among carpenters, mechanics, office workers, cashiers and those who perform repeated hammering, grasping and rotary forearm motions. A thorough examination followed by appropriate chiropractic care can produce excellent results.
Hip
The hips and sacrum, considered the “pelvic girdle,” is the foundation of your spine. These sacroiliac joints can affect nerves exiting the spine. While the chiropractic adjustment of the hips can produce excellent results, many hip problems can be caused from malfunctioning joints above or below the pelvis.
Ankle
The ankle is the most frequently injured joint in the body. “Pronation,” in which the feet flare outward and kneecaps rotate inward, is the most common foot problem. When weak arches cause the bones of the foot to drop to an unstable position, stress on the foot increases. Adjusting malfunctioning joints of the feet, combined with custom shoe orthotics, can reduce tenderness, improve your gait and stabilize the entire skeletal system.
While many health problems can be traced to the spine, other joints of the body can be involved. When chiropractic techniques are applied, range of motion can be improved and painful inflammation reduced. Without drugs or surgery!