Treatments

Our Techniques

Throughout the 4 years of training at university and by attending various post-graduate courses throughout their career, a chiropractor learns many different treatment techniques. This enables the chiropractor to ‘tailor-make’ a treatment plan specific to each patient. Nothing is set in stone, so as a matter of course, the treatment plan is continually reviewed by the chiropractor with the patient, and if required can be modified to best suit each individual case. At Cheltenham Chiropractic Clinic the treatment techniques below are the most commonly used by our Chiropractor Catherine Owers  although others are available.

Diversified technique

This is the classic form of chiropractic treatment. Patients are assessed in order to locate restrictions in the various joints of the spine and in association with other techniques, these “fixations” are released using gentle, yet specific, manipulative movements.

Trigger point therapy and Deep Tissue Massage

The primary purpose of trigger point therapy is to reduce the pain that results from hypersensitive muscles – Trigger points are identified by gently pressing on the surface of the skin, sensing the texture of the underlying muscle. These Trigger points are more commonly known as “knots”- tight areas buried deep in the muscle tissue. They are caused by the release of  lactic acid, a normal by-product of muscle damage which causes the healthy muscle tissue around the torn section to contract forming a solid lump. It is then difficult for the body to supply normal blood flow to this highly contracted area of muscle tissue and it does not heal easily by itself. The aim of Trigger Point Therapy and Deep Tissue Massage is to break down the contracted area of muscle tissue and restore normal blood flow allowing the damaged tissue to heal.

Drop table

This technique makes use of specialised drop piece mechanisms in the table to assist the adjustment. Individual cushions or “drop pieces” located along the table support each area of the spine until the thrust is given. Each drop piece then gently gives way, reducing the pressure needed to move a specific spinal segment.

Activator

The Activator technique is a gentle, low-force program of chiropractic care using an activator instrument or “mallet” to administer a gentle thrust to an individual spinal segment. There is no “cracking” with this technique of spinal adjusting. The Activator instrument is designed to resonate at the same frequency as bone in order to stimulate proprioceptive nerve endings and encourage the joint to regain it’s normal range of movement.