Chiropractic adjustments are used to induce movement to tight and restricted joints in both the spine and the extremities.

Joints often become restricted due to postural habits, improper biomechanics and as a response to injury. Ultimately, certain joints become stiff when we don’t move them. A restricted joint causes nearby joints to have to move more to make up for what the restricted one cannot do. Excessive motion leads to hastened wear and tear of joints. Therefore, restoring movement and function in all joints is preventative for future muscle on joint problems.

Yes, we’re chiropractors, but chiropractic adjustments are not an absolute necessity! Chiropractic is a profession, not a treatment.

For those individuals preferring not to be adjusted, we use gentle mobilization (does not provide the audible cracking/popping sound) to a specific region to help restore movement and function. Mobilizations are targeted and specific based on a thorough biomechanical movement assessment.

A chiropractic adjustment will make your body feel amazing. Other terminology for chiropractic adjustments are as follows: chiropractic manipulation, manual manipulation, or spinal manipulation. The adjustment refers to the manipulation of the vertebrae that has abnormal movements and are not functioning properly. A chiropractic adjustment will assist in alleviating these issues.

Functional Performance Rehab consists of a variety of corrective and performance exercises with the goal of improving your movement, function, and performance. Exercises are custom-tailored based upon the findings of your movement screen.

Once movement dysfunction(s) have been identified from our thorough evaluation and movement assessment, a custom-tailored corrective and performance exercise program will be implemented with the goal of returning the patient/client to their regular activities of daily living while maintaining a pain-free state.

When a particular muscle is not doing its job correctly (inhibition), other structures have to pick up the slack causing them to become over-stressed. This is called altered motor control and can be due to many factors including frequent sitting, sedentary lifestyle, poor postural habits, and previous injury. This causes undue tension in the aforementioned over-stressed muscles, ultimately leading to pain and injury. Corrective exercises are designed to curb altered motor control by stimulating the inhibited muscle(s) in functional patterns which translates to more efficient movement in sport and everyday activities; thus, increasing performance while decreasing the risk for injury.

Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is an advanced manual technique where the therapist is able to effectively address myofacial or soft tissue dysfunctions (i.e. tight, stringy muscles) with the assistance of a contoured instrument.

The instruments give clinicians a mechanical advantage by reducing stress on the hands, magnifying abnormalities (e.g. restrictions, scars, adhesions), and focusing forces through a small area with less friction than using the thumb or fingers.

The goal of treatment is to stimulate an inflammatory healing response – increasing blood flow and stimulating collagen production promotes adequate remodeling and healing of soft tissue structures. Ultimately, reducing overall treatment time and allowing faster recovery.

Dry Needling is a technique used by practitioners to treat muscular pain and movement dysfunction. The technique uses a “dry” needle — a very thin filament without medication or injection — inserted through the skin and into the targeted muscle(s). Typically, the needle is inserted into an area of soft tissue dysfunction called a, “trigger point.” Thus, dry needling is often referred to as trigger point dry needling and intramuscular manual therapy.

A trigger point is a taut band of skeletal muscle tissue within a muscle. Trigger points are often identified by touch, sensitive to the touch, and cause pain in other parts of the body, i.e., pain referral.

Dry needling is not acupuncture. Acupuncture, like dry needling, is a practice associated with inserting needles into the body; however, it’s based on Chinese medicine. Dry needling is based on modern Western medicine principles and administered primarily as a musculoskeletal therapy supported by research.

Dry needling is used most effectively as an adjunct therapy to a treatment and rehabilitation plan, not a standalone therapy.

Dr. Matt Cichowicz administers the Integrative Dry Needling (IDN) approach based on a thorough assessment and Physician supervision.