What modalities do LMMT Chiropractors use?
LMMT Chiropractors are trained in a variety of modalities and adjust the session based on the patient’s needs and preferences. Diversified Technique is the most commonly used manual adjustment technique involving high velocity, low amplitude thrusts delivered by hand. Manual Traction allows the doctors to gently decompress a joint, often relieving nerve compression and decreasing pain. Heat and cold applications may be used to increase circulation and/or decrease inflammation. A Chiropractic Adjusting Tool may be utilized when Diversified Technique is contraindicated or when clients prefer no cracking or popping.
LMMT Chiropractors also utilize muscle testing, orthopedic assessment, stretching, therapeutic exercise, and gentle movement throughout the session for better assessment and more effective treatment.
What is the popping sound?
The popping sounds associated with adjustments come from gasses released as a joint is decompressed or from soft-tissue movement. It is normal for the sound to be louder to the client in cervical (neck) adjustments since the area is closer to your ears. It is also normal to have more popping sounds (primarily soft-tissue) when clients receive their first adjustment, or when they go for long periods in between adjustments.
How often should I be adjusted?
The most common adjustment model for patients starting chiropractic care for the first time, or after an extended period of time, is 2-3 visits per week, working toward once per week, and eventually once every 2 weeks for the healthiest bodies. We don’t believe in such a cookie-cutter approach. Thanks to the way we interlace targeted massage work throughout the session, we find our patients can go longer in between sessions without compromising their well-being. Each body is different, and we will discuss expected frequency based on your assessment and goals. To give you an idea of how it may look, here are some common frequency scenarios:
A new patient in severe pain due to injury such as a herniated disc may need adjustment weekly at the start of care.
A new patient who has never received chiropractic care and is experiencing some pain issues will likely benefit from two chiropractic sessions in the first month along with any massage sessions needed for additional soft-tissue work before moving to one adjustment every 3-4 weeks.
New patients who are switching chiropractic providers and have been under regular care often need adjustment every 3-4 weeks to experience the same level of well-being. For most patients, the doctors also recommend 1 massage session per month to address additional soft-tissue needs and to experience optimal wellness.
Highly active patients typically come in for 2-3 sessions (combination of standard adjustments and standard massage therapy sessions) each month to experience faster recovery and reduce the risk of injury.
Our pro-level athlete patients who train 5 or more days each week (did you brag about doing a double the other day?) often prefer one session per week to maximize quick recovery and maintain their most accurate and powerful performance levels.
Will I receive the same adjustment every visit?
No. At the beginning of each session, you will complete a brief check-in form letting us know how your body is doing that day. Life stressors, sleeping and eating habits, and activity levels can all impact how your session should most ideally be conducted. Our team will take into account your long-term goals, recent activity, and how your body is doing when you come in, in order to provide the most appropriate treatment each visit.
Do the doctors try to adjust every joint?
LMMT Chiropractors DO provide full spine and extremity adjustments. LMMT Chiropractors DO NOT adjust every joint every session. It is important that our team of doctors are specific in their adjustments, often with the goal of adjusting one segment at a time. By providing specific adjustments each session and requiring less frequent adjustment sessions, LMMT Chiropractors greatly reduce the risk of over adjustment—the process by which ligaments are overstretched, creating a less stable joint.
I twist my neck and back, hear a pop and feel better. Is that the same?
No. Self-adjustment may provide some relief, but as a non-professional, the outcome will not be the same.
First, it is very difficult for even a professional to properly self-diagnose and self-treat. Why? Because where someone is feeling pain or discomfort is often not the only contributing area. Adjusting yourself will typically not fully address the issue and will result in much more temporary relief.
Second, because that relief is more temporary, you may be inclined to self-adjust more often, which risks creating joint laxity and destabilizing the joint. This happens frequently when individuals self-adjust their necks.
Third, Chiropractors are trained to adjust using techniques which allow movement without grinding the joints. When you self-adjust by wrenching your back or neck, you may be accumulating minor damage to the joint, which increases the likelihood for damaging inflammation, including osteoarthritis. LMMT Chiropractors do note that self-adjustment which results from gentle, not-pulling movement is generally not harmful in this way.
After the first couple of sessions, I don’t feel as different after the adjustment. Why?
The body will typically experience the most change in a session early on in treatment, during periods of prolonged stress, and after injuries or longer than usual stretches between appointments. As the body processes the change, you may feel disoriented, energized, or even euphoric. All of these states are temporary, but most importantly, they signal that a lot of change was needed. As the body maintains a healthier state, it is normal to experience a significantly milder response.
Do you take insurance?
We do not process insurance in our clinic. Doing so would generally limit our ability to treat holistically. We recognize that root causes for pain issues in a body are often too far away from the location of the pain for insurance to permit treatment. We don’t want to be limited in this way. We are able to provide a superbill upon request. This is the form needed by insurance companies for you to request reimbursement if they provide out-of-network coverage, however please note that reimbursement is at the discretion of your insurance company. We do accept HSA and FSA accounts.