Pain Management & Optimal Health - Our Integrative Approach
At The American Back Center, we utilize a variety of services to maximize pain reduction and optimize overall health:
- Physical Therapy
- VAX-D
- Chiropractic
- Acupuncture
- Functional Medicine
- Nutritional Coaching
- FirstLine Therapy (FLT)
- Massage
- Pressure Point Therapy
Physical Therapy
Our Physical Therapy (PT) program provides services that help restore
function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent
physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease.
Those who undergo PT at The American Back Center learn and perfect effective
pain management and injury prevention techniques. Professional athletes
and frequent exercisers who complete our PT program learn the skills
necessary to restore, maintain, and advance their overall fitness and
health.
Our comprehensive program begins with an extensive patient
examination, testing and measuring a patient’s strength, range of motion,
balance and coordination, posture, muscle performance, respiration,
and motor function. These tests enable our physical therapist to develop
and execute a customized treatment plan.
The treatment plan put
together by our physical therapist may include
VAXD.
Arthritis.
Arthritis, a group of conditions that cause damage to the body’s
joints, is the leading cause of long-term disability in people over
age 55.
Fortunately, studies show regimented therapeutic exercise
combined with relevant supplementation and monitored nutrition reduces
the common discomforts associated with arthritis. Plus, research shows
making a prolonged commitment to following an anti-inflammatory diet
supplemented with joint-health-promoting nutrients can aid significantly
in long-term pain relief from arthritis.
The American Back Center’s
integrative approach towards treating arthritis is designed to help
patients both alleviate pain quickly, and continue to successfully manage
their symptoms down the road.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
(CTS).
Caused by compression of the median nerve
in the wrist, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome causes numbness and muscle weakness
in the hands. Long term affects include wasting of the muscles in the
hands and wrist, and loss of mobility in the fingers and thumbs.
At The American Back Center, our PTs, massage therapists, and physicians
work together to develop customized, effective treatment plans for sufferers
of CTS. Orthotics, acupuncture, and PT modalities designed to stimulate
circulation while reducing inflammation, are all examples of methods
used successfully by our service providers to alleviate CTS symptoms.
Fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by muscular, ligament,
tendon and tender-points pain coupled with unexplained fatigue, occurs
in approximately 2 percent of the U.S. population and is diagnosed disproportionately
in women.
In many instances, the symptoms of Fibromyalgia are
described as having “appeared out of nowhere”—a frightening scenario
that can create emotional stress and exacerbates symptoms further.
The good news is, treatment methods shown to be successful in
reducing fatigue and relieving the widespread pain associated with Fibromyalgia
include acupuncture, yoga, chiropractic techniques, physical therapy,
massage therapy, and traditional herbal remedies for pain.
As
explained by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), movement therapies
like yoga, pilates, physical therapy, and Tai Chi stimulate circulation
and muscle movement while simultaneously encouraging mental relaxation,
and deep breathing—an ideal setting for balanced energy and a heightened
sense of well-being.
The American Back Center utilizes all of
the methods mentioned in treating rheumatic conditions like Arthritis
and Fibromyalgia. Click here to learn more about the benefits of
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
in treating rheumatism.
Back & neck pain.
Back and neck pain, while
one of the most common medical problems, can also be one of the most
exasperating and difficult concerns for the person experiencing it.
While, if generally mild, your back or neck pain may seem harmless,
the root cause could be something much more serious.
Being that
it’s our specialty, we offer a wide variety of treatment options for
back and neck pain. We’ll work with you to determine which treatments
best suit your condition and are most feasible for your lifestyle.
The McKenzie Method.
The
McKenzie Method is a comprehensive approach to the spine
emphasizing active patient involvement and education. McKenzie practitioners
– or Certified Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) clinicians – use
sound principles and fundamentals to accurately assess and treat back,
neck, and extremity problems. Treatment objectives include efficient
pain reduction, restoration of function, and patient independence (which
minimizes the number of “trips to the clinic” patients must make). Click
here to learn more about the highly successful McKenzie Method.
VAX-D
Chiropractic
Chiropractic is a natural system of health care shown effective
in the reduction of spine-related pain and in the restoration of optimal
bodily function.
Although the body innately maintains optimal
function under normal circumstances, this natural ability is wildly
disrupted when sickness, stress, and injury occur.
Much of the
body’s ability to heal itself and stay healthy is based on the optimal
functioning of the body’s various nervous systems. Not just the muscles
and joints, but every organ and gland in the body is controlled by an
aspect of the nervous system. Therefore, anything that interferes with
the optimal function of the nervous system interferes with the body’s
ability to heal, stay healthy, and function optimally.
To understand
how this interference might occur, it is important to know a little
about the anatomy of your spine. The spine is composed of 24 vertebrae.
There is normally movement between each of the vertebra. If there were
not, we wouldn’t be able to bend, twist, or move.
The spinal
cord—an extension of the brain—is housed in a canal that runs through
the vertebra from the neck to the tailbone.
The nerves that
come off of the spine run through small openings between the vertebrae
and go to all of the different parts of the body.
Back & neck pain
Sometimes, because of accidents, stress, poor posture, or falls,
these vertebrae get jammed and the normal movement between them is lost.
This can lead to an irritation of the nerves and is called a subluxation.
Subluxations can interfere with the normal function of the nerves.
When nerves become irritated, pain and discomfort commonly ensue.
A subluxation can also interfere with the ability of the nervous
system to keep the body healthy and pain free.
The primary task
of a chiropractor is to free up subluxations with a very gentle procedure
called “an adjustment.” An adjustment restores the normal position and
movement of the bones of the spine, and helps reduce irritation to the
nervous system.
Generally, your first experience from an adjustment
is pain relief (because the nerve is no longer irritated, so it stops
hurting). Low back pain, neck pain, headaches, and many other aches
and pains often clear up quickly after an adjustment.
However,
the benefits of chiropractic extend beyond pain relief; patients who
commit to long-term chiropractic care commonly report less fatigue,
more energy, better sleep patterns, and increased athletic performance.
Sports medicine
In addition to severe pain and frustration, sports-related injuries
– such as sprains, fractures, muscle-tears and joint-pain – can cause
long-term mobility issues if not comprehensively treated.
Many
sports injuries are soft tissue types, brought about by improper biomechanics,
incongruent conditioning and incorrect sporting techniques. To effectively
address and treat the underlying imbalances and deficiencies that cause
these injuries, The American Back Center’s team of specialists develop
customized, integrative treatment programs that utilize any one or combination
of the following methods: chiropractic techniques, VAXD, massage therapy
and pressure point therapy, PT applications, acupuncture, and nutritional
coaching.
Many patients who undergo our Sports Medicine programs
report long-term relief and enhanced performance.
Pre & post natal care
The American Back Center’s staff moms have experienced themselves
the numerous, remarkable benefits associated with natural healthcare
during pregnancy. The center’s caring, maternal atmosphere and our staff’s
wealth of firsthand knowledge enables expectant and new mothers to get
the most out of their “preparing for two” experience(s).
Our pre & post natal Services include:
- Pre and Post Partum Rehabilitation
We make “getting back in pre-baby shape” easy and fun. Our new-mom-focused, individualized exercise and physical therapy programs help you get in shape and stay in shape –while staying with your baby! - Preeclampsia Prevention
Preeclampsia, or pregnancy-induced hypertension, occurs in approximately 6 percent of pregnant women. It can be asymptomatic and, if not addressed, fatal. Protect yourself and your baby by safeguarding yourself against maternal hypertension. Our comprehensive Preeclampsia Prevention program gives you a step-by-step defense plan and more. - Pain Management for Pregnant Women
Low-back pain and swelling be gone! We help you combat the undesirable side-effects of pregnancy— including headaches, cramps, acute muscular discomfort and fatigue. - Post Partum Stress Management
When your hormone levels fluctuate, so do your emotions. Used for centuries in Asia to enhance mood, our natural herbal remedies for hormonal imbalances help you safely and effectively cope with the challenges of pregnancy and new motherhood.
Webster Technique
In correcting specific pregnancy complications, the gentle, non-invasive
Webster Technique
is remarkably successful. The Webster In Utero Constraint Technique
is designed to relieve the musculoskeletal causes of intrauterine constraint,
which lead to cesarean section. Clinical studies show this technique
to be highly effective in correcting breech malpositions, and—by correcting
mothers’ subluxations, allowing for babies to turn in-utero and get
into vertex position for birth.
Acupuncture
A well-known
complementary medicine technique, acupuncture is a component of ancient
Chinese medicine that originated more than 5,000 years ago.
Chronic pain reduction
Acupuncture has been recognized by the FDA as a legitimate medical
therapy since 1997, and is endorsed by the
National Institutes of Health as an
effective pain management method.
Acupuncture has been shown
to alleviate the symptoms associated with a variety of chronic conditions—including
migraine headaches, sciatica, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and pre-menstrual
cramps.
Energy channeling
To restore balance of the body’s vital energy, acupuncturists locate
specific points—of which there are over 1000—and insert tiny needles
through the skin, into those points. This process stimulates the release
of pain-relieving endorphins and influences neurotransmitter activity,
regulating the way nerve impulses get transmitted to the brain.
Functional
Medicine
Functional Medicine (FM) is a science-based
field of health care dedicated to the examination and treatment of complex
illness at its root. A thorough understanding of the clinical imbalances—changeable
precursors to sickness—that influence disease onset and progression
in varying individuals is the key to prevention and restoration.
When working with a patient who has high risk factors for, or already
experiences symptoms of, a particular disease, The American Back Center’s
team of nutritional experts and FM specialists utilize the Functional
Medicine approach to determine the clinical imbalances causing or worsening
the patient’s condition.
"Functional medicine emphasizes a definable and
teachable process of integrating multiple knowledge bases within a pragmatic
intellectual matrix that focuses on functionality at many levels, rather
than a single treatment for a single diagnosis.
Functional medicine
uses the patient’s story as a key tool for integrating diagnosis, signs
and symptoms, and evidence of clinical imbalances into a comprehensive
approach to improve both the patient’s environmental inputs and his
or her physiological function. It is a clinician’s discipline, and it
directly addresses the need to transform the practice of primary care."
~The
Institute for Functional Medicine
Nutritional
Coaching
The American
Back Center has worked with industry-leader
Metagenics
for over 10 years, which has enabled us to provide our patients with
the most advanced tools and knowledge in functional medicine, as well
as the highest-quality medical food products and supplements.
Metagenics, an innovative nutraceuticals company, provides qualified
physicians extensive support in implementing nutrition-based treatment
and prevention protocols.
The American Back Center, one of few
clinics selected by Metagenics as a First Line Therapy (FLT) Center
for Excellence, provides comprehensive therapeutic lifestyle changes
(TLC) coaching. Our team of nutritional experts and FM specialists emphasize
education and positive reinforcement models in helping patients meet
there health and weight loss goals.
It has been our experience
that those who truly embrace TLC do so once they’ve grasped the science
behind it.
Those who are successful in making permanent behavioral
and dietary modifications are able to see, feel and explain the
causes of their incredible results.
Patients who follow our
experts’ strategic nutritional advice, learn what proper nutrition does
for human health and longevity, and commit to making positive lifestyle
changes achieve life-changing results.
Firstline Therapy (FLT)
Created and owned by Metagenics,
FirstLine Therapy (FLT) emphasizes
personalized lifestyle modification as the "first line of therapy" in
treating and reducing the risk of disease development. The basic overview
of any FLT program calls for the adjustment of several common bad habits…
Monitoring food choices, for example, ensuring low Glycemic
Index (GI) foods replace sugars and simple carbohydrates is a crucial
first step towards improving diet and reducing risk factors for debilitating
conditions—like Type 2 diabetes, chronic fatigue, and depression.
Replacing fats — substituting heart-health-promoting oils for
artery-clogging lards—is essential in safeguarding against everything
from cardiovascular disease to obesity. Eating frequent small meals
and snacks that are nutrient-rich and low GI will keep your blood
sugar stable, boost your mood, energy levels, and metabolism.
Frequent,
conscious eating is essential for healthy weight loss.
Also essential for healthy weight loss—and vital in maintaining long-term
wellness--is steadfast commitment to adequate daily exercise. Exercise
reduces stress, fights fatigue and depression, and alleviates symptoms
associated with hormonal imbalances. (Plus, regular moderate exercise—such
as jogging, swimming and biking—is shown to dramatically boost self-esteem,
motivation, your body, and your sex drive. What’s not to love?)
So, if you’ve decided to take the FLT challenge and commit to modifying
your food choices, getting sufficient exercise, finding ways of reducing
your daily stress levels and boosting your intake of the nutrients and
vitamins necessary for optimal function, congratulations! You’re
now standing on the road to recovery…shall we start walking?
TLC is recommended for managing chronic illness by leading health
organizations, including:
- National Institutes of Health
- American Heart Association
- American Cancer Society
- American Diabetes Association
- Arthritis Foundation
- North American Menopause Society
Massage
Massage has been shown to improve and increase: Blood circulation;
the immune system; joint flexibility; range of motion; depth of breath;
athletic performance; mental focus; clarity of skin; and posture.
It has been shown to decrease: Stress and anxiety; high-blood
pressure, and symptoms of both depression and post-traumatic stress
disorder.
Whether you love massage for its medical benefits—or
because it’s the ultimate lunch-hour treat—our massage therapists
are waiting to connect with you over a fully satisfying massage!
Pressure
point therapy
Pressure points are areas of concentrated
nerve tension, or "excess stress" located throughout the body. Most
of the major pressure points are located near the spine.
Often
characterized as "knots," pressure points can be quite painful when
compressed—at times restricting movement and mobility. Pressure points
can build to the point that they disrupt the body’s natural functioning
abilities. They can negatively impact your health, causing or contributing
to existing anxiety, mood disorders and insomnia.
When a person
has many pressure points, a chain reaction can occur, causing nerves
from other parts of the body to tighten up, resulting in many other
issues.
Pressure point therapy at The American Back Center is
an effective manual solution to muscle-tension build-up. Our accommodating
massage therapists, who have extensive experience treating myofascial
trigger points and referred pain in muscles and joints, work gently
and effectively to sooth compressed nerves and reduce tightness in pressure
point areas.
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(312) 939-4121