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The Office Built With You in Mind

by Dr. Willemin

At Align Chiropractic we do a lot of things differently; our current patients already know this. We built our office procedures with our patients in mind. We are truly a family business, and we know that most offices don’t seem to actually consider what patients want, but rather force them into office routines that make receiving quality care a challenge. We have never wanted to be ‘just another doctor’s office,’ but rather we built Align Chiropractic to feel like a family friendly hangout.

What is the first thing you do in most offices? Yep – wait. And the second? You got it – wait some more. Newsflash – no one likes waiting! At our office, the goal is zero waiting time. Really. Zero. In fact, our waiting room isn’t so much a place to wait as it is for children to enjoy some play time. The only people who really use the waiting room are the children who tag along with their parents. Don’t worry, they don’t mind. In the morning they will have instant playmates with my own kids or an afternoon visit complete with kid friendly entertainment. We have a large collection of toys, games, and activities, including: a variety of toys, board games, coloring books, puzzles, and if all of that still isn’t enough we have streaming services on TV and are happy to put on a favorite show or movie. You won’t have to battle or feel stressed with your children at our office, except maybe when it’s time to leave! On the rare occasion you do have to wait, we will keep that wait time to an absolute minimum. We know that your time is important, and so we do everything we can to let you keep as much of it as you can.

Another way that we try to make you and your family comfortable is our free beverage and snack station. Did you book one of our 7:30 am appointments or want an afternoon pick me up? We’ve got you covered with both coffee and tea. We also have more kid friendly options like hot chocolate and water. More than just thirsty? We have an array of healthy snacks ready to go too. All drinks and snacks can be enjoyed in the office and are also easy to grab for the road. Between no wait time, and our free beverages, you could sub out your morning coffee stop for an adjustment and still be to work on time.

While our office is very kid friendly, we also know that not everyone is looking for the noise and chaos that tends to follow wherever kids go. Don’t worry, we are open until 7pm three nights a week. These later hours seem to be ideal for patients who are looking for a quieter, kid free experience.

Okay, we get it, time isn’t the only thing you have in limited supply. Money also has to be managed. Health insurance costs a lot, and so most people want to utilize theirs. To help patients get the most of their insurance, we participate with most insurances and even take the time to verify and explain your benefits to you. We then will explore your options to make sure our care is as cost effective as possible for you. If you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t provide a lot of beneficial coverage, we offer several affordable cash options. If your whole family is looking for care, we even have family plans available to help keep your family and wallet healthy.

Our office was set up with family in mind. We wanted to create an office environment that ditches the uptight feeling of most offices and instead feels more like visiting family. So whether the appointment is for you, your entire clan, or some combination in between, our office is setup to get you what you really want – back to your life.

Neuro-Structural Chiropractic is a Golfer’s Best Friend

by Dr. Willemin

TL;DR: Golf requires your body to be able to coordinate complex movements and puts stress on your body. Neuro-Structural Chiropractic helps with that.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I’m a research guy. I read a lot of it. I belong to a research group and I’ve even published research (you can read the summary here). Something I find gets supported more and more with every piece of research I read is that, a better spinal structure will facilitate better function. Now what does all this have to do with golf? Everything.

First we will start with the more obvious – injuries. According to Dr. Tom LaFountain, director of chiropractic services for the PGA, about 80% of the golf related injuries involve the lower back. (1) Golfing requires complex movements that put a lot of strain on the lower back due to the rapid rotation of the trunk and the force generated by swinging the club. This means if your back is operating less than optimally it has a good chance to become injured. It’s not just backs that get hurt either. Based on compiled statistics 19% of the injuries for the PGA were associated with the neck, 7% the shoulder and 6% the elbow, wrist, or forearm. (1) If handled properly, these injuries don’t have to sideline you for an entire season, or worse yet, permanently. Additionally, chiropractic patients have been shown to have better long term results. Follow-ups for patients 1 year after receiving either chiropractic care, medication, or acupuncture showed that those who received chiropractic care showed sustained improvement in 5 of 7 criteria compared to 1 of 7 criteria for acupuncture or medication. (2) Neuro-Structural Chiropractic often involves special equipment such as laser therapy, spinal decompression, traction, and/or repetitive motion therapy.  This allows all aspects of an injury – soft tissue, bony structures, and affected nerves to be addressed for maximum healing.

Another reason a lot of golfers use chiropractic care is to improve performance. Most people don’t really think about the fact that just because their body isn’t actively hurting doesn’t mean that it’s working very well either. Pain is only one type of response to an injury. Lost flexibility, reduced balance, lost muscle strength, among many other things, are common problems often chalked up to aging, but they don’t have to be. The real reason we have these issues is that our body simply isn’t coordinating optimally. An example of this is that a properly aligned thoracic spine is associated with better lung function (3). The brain and the body coordinate function via the spinal cord, which is housed in the spinal column. Spinal alignment isn’t associated with just pain, it is relevant to all body functions. Nearly three-quarters of all PGA tour golfers use chiropractic. (1) The reason the number is so high is because they rely on their body to be operating at a peak level all year round. Chiropractic care has also been demonstrated to have a significant impact on range of motion (4) an essential part of being a top level golfer.

The last reason so many golfers are seeing chiropractors is longevity. Changes to the spinal structure affect normal physiology. One study demonstrated that different types of compressive loads caused different types of degeneration. (5) This indicates that if you put a repetitive type stress, like say oh swinging a golf club 1000+ times a day, you can cause parts of your spine to wear down faster. A structurally sound joint will reduce the stresses created by these activities. Less friction and inflammation, as well as more normal spinal loading, helps to prevent the degenerative changes which can sideline golf careers permanently.

Why should I care if I’m not a profession golfer, or what if you aren’t a golfer at all? Well, the benefits still apply. We all put repetitive stresses on our body. Whether it is sitting in the same chair at work, carrying the same heavy purse, or just a product of our normal habits, our body is constantly undergoing and adapting to stress. Neuro-Structural Correction reduces the impact of that stress on your body and promotes healthy long term function as well.

Even if you are already seeing a chiropractor, our office has additional services that could help you and your game. We offer massage therapy and personal stretching sessions which can help to reduce muscle tension, increase blood flow, reduce tendon and ligament tension, while increasing range of motion. Our stretching sessions also include instruction to improve the effectiveness of home stretches and provide quick relief between office visits. Other services like laser therapy can also be utilized to help reduce inflammation in acute injuries, or even chronic ones, by utilizing your body’s natural physiology to speed up healing.

Call today to set up a consultation and see what type(s) of care might be able to help you get on the greens faster!

  1. http://www.chiroweb.com/archives/26/15/02.html
  2. http://www.chiro.org/research/ABSTRACTS/Medication_Acupuncture_and_Spinal_Manipulation_Follow_up.shtml
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27341855
  4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28731832
  5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29770581/

What are Secondary Conditions?

by Dr. Willemin 0 Comments

Symptoms, or as we refer to them, Secondary Conditions can be an indicator of a more serious underlying problem in your body. Your body uses these to warn you that your body is not functioning ideally. Some of the Secondary Conditions that present to our office:

  • Pain – Neck, Mid Back, Low Back, Hip, etc.
  • Numbness & Tingling – Arms, Hands, Fingers, Legs, Feet, Toes, etc.
  • Disc Injury – Bulging, Herniated, “Slipped”, etc
  • Radiculopathy – Sciactica, Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, etc.
  • Muscular Spasms & Tension
  • Headaches – Tension, Migraines, etc.
  • Dizziness, Vertigo, and Balance Issues
  • Degenerative Disc Disease
  • Degenerative Joint Disease
  • Stiff and Restricted Motion
  • Spinal Canal Stenosis
  • Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Pain
  • Wrist Pain & Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Poor Posture
  • Muscular Imbalance

These Secondary Conditions are just some of the examples of what presents to our of office. If you have are currently experiencing a Secondary Condition, you may want to have us explore whether or not you have an underlying Neuro-Structural Shift. The first step in that process is to schedule a Complimentary Consultation with the doctor and have a conversation, which at our office, is not a commitment.

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What do I need to know before my examination?

by Dr. Willemin 0 Comments

After being introduced to our office via a consultation with the doctor, when a prospective patient elects to proceed, the next step is to undergo our Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Correction examination. There is no pressure to move forward immediately. If you feel that you need time to consider what has been discussed during the consultation, our examination can be scheduled for a later time and date. In order to thoroughly evaluate your condition our Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Correction examination is comprehensive. Thus, you should plan on designating at least 60 minutes of your time for us during this portion of your visit.

What will the Neuro-Structural Correction Examination consist of?

  • Orthopedic and Neurological Tests and Checks
  • Complete series of Structural Corrective Radiography with Specialized Analysis
  • Proprioception and Functional Movement Assessment
  • Bilateral Weight Distribution Test

The Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Correction Examination, while essential for detecting Neuro-Structural Shifts, also allows for a complete understanding of the underlying cause of your condition, and will allow for an improved understanding of “normal”. A conference will be scheduled following your examination where our findings will be explained, how we can help you, and what the approach will be if you decide to move forward with care at our practice.

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What are my treatment options?

by Dr. Willemin 0 Comments

A vital part of our mission is to provide you with objective information regarding your treatment options. We aim to empower you to make the best decision regarding your healthcare needs.

In order to achieve this, we will do our best to explain to you how other chiropractors and and other healthcare professionals traditionally address your condition. We will not be rendering an opinion specific to any other chiropractic or non-chiropractic treatments for your specific health challenge, but we will try and help you understand the various approaches available for your condition.  Even if you choose to look elsewhere for a solution, we want you to know you can rely on us to act as an objective health and wellness resource.

We will also explore the best course of action to achieve a Neuro-Structural Correction. We will discuss what services we recommend, as well as the details of the time and financial aspects of care. We don’t want anything to be a surprise while you are a patient at our office, and so we will do our best to share with you the whole picture of what Neuro-Structural Correction involves.

Not surprisingly, this approach has led us to getting calls from relatives and friends of patients asking us questions pertaining to their health challenges. It is more important to us that people know they can get straightforward and trustworthy information from us, than to have them under our care. To us that is simply doing what is right.

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What can Align Chiropractic do for me?

by Dr. Willemin 0 Comments

After discussing the various options that are available for your particular health challenges, we will then go into an explanation of the specifics of our approach in a detailed and easy to understand way. This will help you to understand the dramatic positive impact our approach can have on your health issues.

 

Our office is specially equipped to focus on Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Correction. As a result of investing in the additional training and technology required to give complete Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Correction, we are able to address all of the components of a Neuro-Structural Shift that may occur. We are able put our training and equipment to work for you to address the shifted spinal segments, the muscles, the intervertebral discs, and even the nerves which are being affected by the Neuro-Structural Shift.

 

Based on your individual needs we can implement some, or all of the following treatments to achieve the best possible outcome:

 

Chiropractic Adjustment:

While most people assume that all chiropractors adjust the spine, that is actually not true. We frequently will have patients seek our care that report to us that their previous chiropractor never adjusted them, but rather elected to use nutritional supplements or muscle therapy to try to correct their problem. Additionally, we are not a “one-size fits all” sort of office. Our adjustments are truly tailored to the needs and wants of our patients. We have trained in a wide variety of adjusting techniques and have then honed those approaches based on the most effective per research and clinical outcome. Our office is equipped, and Dr. Willemin is trained, to use neuro-structural techniques that range from instrument assisted adjustments, specialized table assisted adjustments, and manual adjustments based on the needs and wants of the patient. We even have special equipment that qualifies under the American Disability Act to help provide access to care, regardless of your physical limitations.

 

Spinal Decompression Rehabilitation:

One component frequently involved in Neuro-Structural Shifts are changes to the intervertebral discs. People will frequently report that they have “slipped discs”, “bulging discs” or “herniated discs” in their back or neck, but no one has taken the time to give them the full clinical picture. Injuries to the intervertebral discs are complex and can involve a variety of presentations and structures. We are, to our knowledge, the only office with a specialized Spinal Decompression Table in Rochester. We have helped many of our patients avoid unnecessary surgery with our ability to retract disc herniations and address the underlying Neuro-Structural Shifts.

 

Flexion and Extension Spinal Rehabilitation:

  Our office is equipped with multiple other specialized tables and equipment to provide Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Correction which address both flexion AND extension. Neuro-Structural Shifts are not limited to presenting in only one direction, and so we are prepared for any of those presentations. We have the necessary equipment to address the spine completely – whether it requires isolated rehabilitation of one region of the spine or broad rehabilitation of multiple regions of the spine.

 

Laser Assisted Soft Tissue Rehabilitation:

 While all tissue healing takes time we have committed our office to getting the best results as fast as possible. We know that a major component of a Neuro-Structural Shift are the soft tissues (things like muscles, tendons, and ligaments). Injuries to soft tissues have to go through 4 distinct stages, and frequently, these injuries are pain generating. We offer safe and effective Class IV Low Level Laser Therapy to help speed up soft tissue recovery.

 

Neuro-Structural Massage Therapy:

  While most massages feel great while you’re receiving them, our goal is to use coordinated care between our highly skilled Licensed Massage Therapists to provide the right care to facilitate great outcomes when Neuro-Structural Shifts have occurred. Additionally, our massage therapists use only high quality professional grade massage lotions. Many massage oils and creams use harsh compounds which can cause skin irritation, inflammation, and have even been associated with certain types of cancer. Our massage lotion is made using natural oils and is paraben free to make sure you aren’t left with new issues for your body to cope with. We also offer essential oil boosts to our massages to improve the relaxation and stress reducing effects of the massage.

 

Vibration Therapy and Balance Training:

Whether you are looking to improve athletic performance, trying to restore your ability to perform your daily routine, or hoping to prevent falls and injuries, your body’s ability to know where it is and move is essential to your daily life. Neuro-Structural Shifts can result in losses in these areas. As we correct the underlying Neuro-Structural Shifts we will also be re-training your body in these essential functions to make sure your body performs at top level.

 

There are not a lot of chiropractors that focus on Neuro-Structural Correction, and even fewer that have all the special equipment we have to help address all the components of a Neuro-Structural Shift. We will take the time to share with you exactly what makes our approach unique, and how a Neuro-Structural Shift (if detected during your examination) is associated with your Secondary Condition.

 

Lastly, we will present a customized care plan that is carefully designed to take you from where you are to where you need to be, by addressing all aspects of the presentation of your specific Neuro-Structural Shift (once again – if detected during your examination). We want you to get to enjoy your life, so we will help establish a sound structural foundation, and then train your nervous system to appropriately activate and move those structures. We will also explain how to maintain your correction, while protecting your spine and nervous system after your Neuro-Structural Correction has been achieved.

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How do I work with Align Chiropractic?

by Dr. Willemin 0 Comments

The people referred to our office typically come from other patients, their medical doctor, or their current traditional chiropractor. The reason people feel so comfortable referring to us is because our process  is simple and transparent.

Here is the how it works:

Step 1: Schedule a complimentary consultation

Step 2: If you think we sound like the place for you, then schedule a Neuro-Structural Chiropractic Correction examination

Step 3: After your exam, we’ll schedule a conference where you will learn all about what we found and how we can help.

At this point you will know all about your condition, all about us, and how it feels to be treated by us. This will make you as informed as you can be to make your decision about undergoing treatment with us. We won’t be offering you a new TV or a free dinner for signing up. We also won’t be endlessly soliciting you for care; at this point if and when you are ready to improve your health we are ready to help you.

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I just want to talk to the Doctor!

by Dr. Willemin 0 Comments

Our consultation gets such rave reviews because it offers an opportunity to discover if Align Chiropractic is right for you BEFORE you commit to us. No pressure, no tricks, just a simple conversation to help you decide.

We start this friendly conversation with you telling us about your health concerns. Once we know what brought you in, then we will provide as much insight as we can pertaining to your issue. The third and final part of the consultation is where we will tell you what separates us from the community of chiropractors in the area, by telling you what we do.

Our Complimentary Consultation requires no commitment by you. You may have heard of chiropractors that have you in the exam room before you’ve even had a chance to introduce yourself. That isn’t how we would want to be treated, so that isn’t how we will treat you.

All we need is about twenty minutes of your time, after that it is your decision if you would like to move forward with an examination. There is no obligation, but for your convenience we always have a block of time for an exam available immediately following a consultation.

Maybe you’re just curious about chiropractic, the different types of chiropractic care available, or you want to find out what makes us different, but you aren’t ready to do a face-to-face sit down with the doctor. We’ve got you covered. Our office does periodic 20-30 minute workshops that will teach you the ins and outs of chiropractic care. At the conclusion of the presentation, we allow time for a question and answer session to let you ask anything you might have missed, including duration of care, insurance and finances, plus just about anything else you want. If you plan on attending a workshop, please call our office at 248-601-6100 to let us know.