What is Chiropractic?

This is a great question, especially because there are so many things out there called chiropractic. In short, chiropractic is an all-natural health care approach utilizing the hands (chiropractic is derived from Greek, for “done by hand”) to correct misalignments or subluxations of joints. The American Chiropractic Association defines chiropractic as “a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health.  Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.”  At Barnes Chiropractic, we evaluate your neuromusculoskeletal system, meaning your nerves, muscles, and joints.  We take a whole-body approach and take the time to be thorough, communicate, and recognize that each patient is unique.

What is Graston Technique?

Graston Technique is a soft tissue myofascial technique focusing on breaking up adhesions or connections between your muscles and the fascia. Fascia is a structure of connective tissue that surrounds muscles and other structures. One of the functions of fascia is to allow structures to slide smoothly over each other (1). Therefore, if there are adhesions present, this smooth sliding does not occur as effectively. Adhesions can cause dysfunctions such as inflammation, irritation, restriction in muscle movement, and pain. The tools used to gently but effectively break up adhesions are most often stainless steel tools with rounded edges. This material allows the practitioner, and often the recipient as well, to feel the adhesions and then treat the area. Graston treatment makes a difference that can be felt immediately by almost all persons.

What does Graston treat?

Graston technique can be used to treat almost any condition that has a musculoskeletal component. Some of the most common conditions treated in our office are Plantar Fasciitis, Iliotibial Band Syndrome, knee pain, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Golfer’s Elbow, Tennis Elbow, Achilles Tendonitis and headaches. Dr. Matt personally utilized Graston to treat his Achilles Tendonitis (on both sides) when he was training for his first ultramarathon with great success.

How effective is it? Will it work for me?

Graston technique has an abundance of clinical successes and, while no treatment will work for everyone, there are many peer-reviewed studies supporting it. The following link provides some statistics regarding effectiveness: Click Here

We offer only those treatments or therapies we feel are the most effective and beneficial for the majority of patients and are proud to offer Graston Technique. Please feel free to contact us at 720-985-0056 with any questions.

1. Marieb, Elaine Nicpon; Hoehn, Katja (2007). Human anatomy & physiology. Pearson Education. p. 133. ISBN978-0-321-37294-9.

What does the nervous system have to do with chiropractic?

What we do is examine your spine to evaluate its structure and function. In so doing, we can actually glimpse into the function of your whole body. It all comes back to the master system that coordinates all other systems, your Nervous System–your brain and spinal cord. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves that extend down the spine from the brain and exit through a series of openings, which then leave and form a complicated network that influences every living tissue in your body. Vertebral (spinal joint) misalignments can cause irritation to spinal nerve roots, and these irritations are often what cause malfunctions in the human body. Chiropractic care may reduce or eliminate this irritation to spinal nerves, allowing your body to operate more efficiently and more comfortably. Chiropractic emphasizes the idea that the cause of many disease processes begins with the body’s inability to adapt to its environment.  So by locating and adjusting a musculoskeletal area of the body which is functioning improperly, processes throughout the entire body can be affected.  Chiropractic care seeks to normalize the nervous system–the master control system–by correcting subluxations, or misalignments.

What is the sound sometimes heard during an adjustment?

The technical term is cavitation, but some describe it as a pop and little ones like to call it popcorn. Essentially, this sound is a result of a change in joint pressure. Between your joints, there is fluid, which is for lubrication and protection, and within this fluid there is nitrogen and carbon dioxide. When joint pressure changes during an adjustment, bubbles of the nitrogen and carbon dioxide can pop, or make noise. Sometimes this happens during an adjustment but not always. While some have come to like this sound, it is important to realize there can be movement without noise and also noise without movement. Therefore, we do not go by what sounds are or are not made but by what we feel.

How do you adjust?

This question usually comes from those who have been to more than one chiropractor and know there are a lot of different approaches, or techniques, and a lot of things called chiropractic itself. We offer a variety of techniques, from traditional prone adjusting (face down) to side-lying for the low back or simply drops (utilizing an adjusting table that has a section that drops half an inch). A special low force (think, gentle) approach is often utilized for the neck. We even offer an instrument called an Activator for very sensitive or small patients. An Activator is a spring loaded tool that produces a gentle amount of force over a very precise area.  We use our hands most often, though, to bring healing, or rather, to help the body to heal itself.  And for those with low back problems, we now have a Flexion Distraction table, yet another way of treating each unique patient, uniquely.

What about chiropractic care during pregnancy?

Yes and yes! Yes, it’s great for the mom and yes, it’s also great for the baby. A balanced pelvis helps create the most room for your little one to grow and move. This alone can offer relief to a pregnant mama, which is oh-so-important! We also offer Webster Technique, a soft tissue approach addressing the ligaments and muscles of the front of the abdomen, which can greatly reduce anterior (front) abdominal pain and even help correct a mal-positioned baby. It’s gentle and comfortable, uses only light pressure, and incredibly effective. By balancing the pelvis and soft tissues, we aim to help create utmost comfort for mom and baby during a most blessed time in life.  In fact, a recent study reported decreased labor and delivery times for women under chiropractic care during pregnancy.

What about chiropractic care for babies and children?

Again, yes and yes!  From colic to ear infections, from trouble concentrating to allergies and asthma, chiropractic has been shown to work wonders for a variety of conditions.  By balancing the nervous system through chiropractic adjustments, the body’s healing abilities can be restored.  The body is made to be healthy, and we look forward to helping persons of all ages achieve their optimum state of health.

How long will treatment take?

Your first visit will be the longest, for we do a history, exam, and communicate with you regarding your care and how chiropractic can help. Expect the first visit to take up to an hour. Subsequent visits are much shorter but are still thorough. We also perform re-exams periodically, as a comparison to evaluate our treatment plan and see the progress you’ve made. Typically, though, expect to spend about 15 minutes with us, which will cover your responses to care, current condition, adjustment, and soft tissue therapy, if needed. We have developed our protocol to be both efficient and thorough, for we understand busy schedules and respect your time.

How much does chiropractic care cost?

At Barnes Chiropractic, we proudly offer our Practice Member Plans, bringing affordable chiropractic care to our community.

Do I need a referral?

No. Chiropractors are Primary Care Physicians, meaning you can come straight to us. We welcome your questions and look forward to meeting you!