Our SW Portland Chiropractor Provides Functional and Adaptable Care

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Chiropractic is a health system that focuses on the joints, nerves, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. These same cells, tissues, and organs create your body’s hormones and cellular physiology. This means any impairment of the nervous system will directly impact proper body physiology and chemistry.

Using whole body and spinal structural assessment, chiropractic strives to identify and remove barriers to fluid movement in order to enhance function and decrease pain. Although perhaps best known for effective treatment of neck and back pain, chiropractic care is also a potent intervention in the treatment of headache, hip, knee, and shoulder pain and dysfunction, as well as other joint and muscle complaints.

Adjustments are utilized in a joint that has restricted movements to return normal motion to the vertebrae. Decreased motion can happen for a number of reasons ranging from normal daily activity to trauma such as a car accident or fall. This has an overall systemic effect from the muscular to the central nervous system.

Overview: What to Expect at our SW Portland Clinic

Therapia Clinic Appointments Initial Appointments include an interview (going over what brings you in today) an examination (looking for dysfunction and diagnosis) and treatment (often including manual therapy and adjustments). Recommendations and resources are often given to help you continue your healing journey. Follow ups are typically recommended within 1-2 weeks and then continued care is based upon your specific treatment plan. End goal of treatment is to be able to get you seen on an as needed basis or for maintenance.

Adjustments are performed on the spine (vertebrae), extremities (shoulders, wrists, hips, ankles) to reduce built up pressure that causes restriction of movements. There is more than one way to accomplish this task.

  • MANUAL / DIVERSIFIED: A manual adjustment is a pressure from the chiropractor utilizing the hands to effectively move joints and correct misalignment. This can happen with a quick movement or as an assisted maneuver and is often without discomfort and many times accompanied by a joint cavitation (that “pop” sound), however, they are not needed for an effective adjustment. Overall, adjustments are an excellent way to keep the body functioning at its highest level. When the body is in alignment, it is able to respond and perform optimally as it was designed.
  • INSTRUMENT ASSISTED:  An activator is a small handheld spring-loaded instrument which delivers a quick, low force impulse and is regarded as a softer chiropractic technique. Due to the speed of the device, the body’s muscles are less likely to tense as a response. The applied force is localized and does not add any additional torque to the joint and can be very effective for the spine and in extremities where multiple joints along the chain can be injured. This adjustment is great for patients that dislike manual adjusting or are anxious about diversified adjusting. Drop Table is another instrument where sections of the table can raise up and drop down with pressure applied. This technique is effective especially for the long thin sacroiliac joints and can be very effective in the reduction of hip and low back pain.

Manual Adjustments

Chiropractors perform more than just Spinal Manipulation. In addition, they also perform manual therapy techniques including, but not limited to: myofascial release, stretches, IASTM, and cupping.  Manual therapy is a technique used to help reduce muscle tension and adhesions that may be restricting movement and causing pain.

  • MYOFASCIAL RELEASE: This is similar to massage techniques used to help release tension from muscles and the fascia. It can be applying pressure and working out trigger points, or more gentle techniques such as craniosacral therapy to help reduce restriction in movement. 
  • GRASTON: Graston therapy (IASTM) is instrument assisted soft tissue manipulation such as Gua Sha. There is a special tool utilized to massage and gently “scrape” the skin to identify and treat areas of restriction in your body by stretching tissue and increasing blood flow.
  • SUCTION CUPPING: suction cupping is performed using a suction device or silicone cups and is placed on the skin to create a lifting effect by separating, loosening, and stretching the fascia and connective tissues. With the lift effect you do get increased blood flow which causes the “octopus shaped circles”.
  • PERCUSSIVE MASSAGE: use of a tool such as a “massage gun” to help release tension, reduce sensitivity and increase blood flow. A quick and efficient way to aid in adjustments.
  • IFC/Ultrasound: Interferential current therapy (IFC)  is an effective therapy option used by many physiotherapy clinics to relieve pain and accelerate the self-healing process, getting your body back to a healthy, pain-free state. The high frequency signals of an IFC penetrate through the skin into deeper lying muscle tissues and help relieve tension through vibration and use of energy from the muscles causing a relaxation effect. Ultrasound is a therapy that creates a deep heat through the use of soundwaves. It helps break down deep bindings of tissue and promote blood flow to aid in the healing process.

Moist Heat Hydrotherapy

In comparison with dry heat, such as microwave heat packs and most electrical heat pads, moist heat can penetrate the skin faster and deeper and patients report a greater relief of symptoms. Heat is very effective in treating common problems such as stiffness, pain, trigger points, reduced range of motion, and cramps.

Kinesiotaping

Kinesiotaping is different from regular white athletic tape in that the elastic quality of kinesiology tape allows skin and fascia to be lifted, which facilitates blood flow and speeds healing. The increased awareness from the tape creates greater feedback and adds stability while maintaining, and even increasing, range of motion. Kinesiology tape can also be used to mechanically block unwanted movement and facilitate proper firing sequences of the muscles through neurological stimulation.

CRANIOSACRAL 

Craniosacral Therapy is a light touch modality that focuses on the central nervous system by creating space, reducing adhesions and allowing proper movement and flow to help your body function. With this technique you can experience alleviation of pain, relaxation, reduced muscle tension, and improved mobility.

 

JAW WORK

This type of work can be very beneficial in the treatment of TMJD, jaw tension, popping, grinding of teeth, and clenching. It is an effective way to relieve tension in the jaw by applying pressure to tight ligaments within the mouth. Can also aid in the reduction of headaches and neck tension.

Rehabilitative and Functional Training

Restoring movement through chiropractic care and myofascial release is a temporary solution to any orthopedic issue. Strength must be restored to break the habitual patterns of movement and obtain long lasting results. By providing an ever-changing environment for you to adapt to, and in conjunction with manual therapy through chiropractic and myofascial release, dominant movement is broken, creating pain-free efficient movement and greater performance.

Noncovered Charge: Our chiropractor’s sessions include a form of manual therapy, CPT code 97140, which may or may not be covered by your plan. Manual therapy often falls within your physical therapy benefit. In the case it is not covered by your insurance, an additional charge of $35 dollars will be collected at the time of service. Manual therapy may be subject to your deductible as well. Manual therapy may include, but is not limited to, cupping, myofacial release, stretches, and cranial sacral therapy. Please contact your insurance to find out whether this therapy is covered under your plan or if it will be an out of pocket charge and patient responsibility.

Chiropractic Testimonials From SW Portland and Beyond

“Dr Rachel is amazing. She is a great listener, and I really appreciate her gentler approach.”

“I love seeing Dr. Rachel for adjustments and cranial sacral therapy. She is very knowledgeable and willing to explain the process so you aren’t surprised.”

“I saw Dr.Rachel after I was involved in a serious car accident. Her treatment has helped me considerably in the recovery. She always takes time to evaluate where I am at on any given day and track my progress. I highly recommend her and the care received at Therapia!”

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Our SW Portland Chiropractor Answers Your Frequently Asked Questions

We view chiropractic as one component of a holistic treatment plan. Many of our patients will also benefit from acupuncture and massage therapy – which we also offer at our SW Portland wellness center.

Whether you are seeking relief from an acute injury due to physical trauma or wish to establish long-term chiropractic maintenance, we are here to help develop a personalized plan to meet your goals.

Typically a patient in SW Portland will approach us with some form of injury or pain. Your care journey will begin with an initial intake and thorough exam that can last from 45-60 minutes.

Unlike other chiropractic care providers, we always include treatment at your first appointment. This initial treatment may not completely resolve your pain or discomfort, but you should feel some relief after your first visit.

We’ll then develop an individualized plan to begin your healing process and may suggest incorporating other modalities of care to address your injury and prevent reoccurrence.

Yes. Our providers are contracted with most major insurance providers.

Absolutely. With a combination of care modalities, we frequently treat injuries associated with auto accidents, including whiplash. 

It is important to know that, in the state of Oregon, if you are in any way involved in an auto accident your treatment will be covered by Personal Injury Protection (PIP) insurance.