our clinic
active release techniques®
graston®
kinesio® taping
acupuncturechiropractic
rehabilitation
x-ray
active release techniques®
What is Active Release Techniques® (ART)?
ART is a patented, revolutionary, soft tissue management system that treats problems that occur with:
- Muscles
- Tendons
- Ligaments
- Fascia
- Nerves
Carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common. They are all repetitive stress injuries due to overused muscles.
How do overuse injuries occur?
Overused muscles (and other traumatized soft tissues) can cause changes to your body in three important ways:
- Cause acute injuries (pulls, tears, collisions, etc.).
- Accumulate small tears (micro-trauma).
- Reduce oxygen flow to cells (hypoxia).
Each of these changes causes your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up:
- Muscles become shorter and weaker.
- Tension on tendons causes tendonitis.
- Nerves can become entrapped.
This can result in reduced ranges of motion, loss of strength, and pain. With entrapped nerves, you may also feel tingling, numbness, shooting pains, burning sensations, weakness, muscle atrophy and circulatory changes.
What happens during an ART treatment?
Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tension, movement and function of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.
These treatment protocols--over 500 of them--are unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART is not a "cookie-cutter" approach.
Treatments take about 5-15 minutes for each area being treated. A condition may require 2-8 treatments before full function is restored. Cases that involve muscle wasting or degeneration take longer to resolve. Chiropractic manipulation is frequently carried out in conjunction with ART to increase treatment effectiveness.
Whenever possible we have our patients perform active movements during the treatment process. Active motions stimulate neurological pathways in the spinal cord that help to reduce pain during treatment. Motion also helps to reproduce the stresses the patient will actually be under during normal active motion.
Ensuring you get the right touch!
Strength, speed and endurance are expected to improve within the first few treatments. We will often have our patients test these factors after two or three visits. If no improvement is seen, we know that either we have not found the source of the problem, or the area affected needs to be strengthened further.
Active Release Techniques® is non-invasive, very safe, has virtually no side effects, and has a record of producing very good results. When a soft tissue problem has resolved the symptoms will not return unless the injury happens again. To avoid future injuries we instruct our patients in specific exercises, give postural recommendations and explain to our patients the mechanism of injury so that it may be avoided in the future.
How does an ART treatment feel?
Treatments can feel uncomfortable during the movement phases as the scar tissue or adhesions "break-up." This discomfort is temporary and subsides almost immediately after the treatment.
It is common to feel a duplication of your pain symptoms during the treatment (a good indication that the problem has been identified).
Active Release Techniques® are fast becoming a favored treatment approach throughout the country by Doctors of Chiropractic, Physical Therapists, and Medical Doctors.
graston technique®
Graston® Technique breaks down and releases scar tissue by utilizing patented stainless steel instruments uniquely shaped to treat different areas of the body. This technique allows the practitioner to get deep enough into the tissues to facilitate change, while being sensitive to the patient’s pain tolerance. When the instruments are making contact with the scar tissue adhesions, the patient and practitioner will notice a feeling of going over pebble-like grittiness. This process generally will reduce or significantly eliminate the adhered fibers, restoring function and eliminating the pain associated with it.
kinesio® taping
Kinesio® Tape took the international stage at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
The Kinesio® Taping Method has taken the Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine world by storm. This amazing taping method was developed by Dr. Kenzo Kase over 25 years ago in Japan. Since then, Kinesio® Taping has become the gold, or should we say "platinum," standard for therapeutic and rehabilitative taping. This proprietary method of taping uses a uniquely designed and patented tape for treatment of muscular disorders and lymphedema reduction, among other things.
The Kinesio® Taping Method involves taping over and around muscles in order to assist and give support or to prevent over-contraction. The first technique gives the practitioner the opportunity to give support while still maintaining full range of motion. This enables the individual to participate in his/her normal physical activities with functional assistance. The second technique, which is most commonly used in the acute stage of rehabilitation, helps prevent overuse or over-contraction and helps provide facilitation of lymph flow. Correctional techniques include mechanical, lymphatic, ligament/tendon, fascia, space and functional. Kinesio® Tex Tape can be used in conjunction with other therapies, including soft tissue therapy and electrical stimulation.
Kinesio® Taping affects the activation of the neurological system and the circulatory system. Muscles are not only attributed to the movements of the body, they also control the circulation of venous and lymph flows, body temperature, etc. Therefore, the failure of the muscles to function properly induces various kinds of symptoms. Consequently, more attention was given to the importance of muscle function in order to activate the body's own healing process. Using an elastic tape, such as Kinesio® Tex Tape, it was discovered that muscles and other tissues could be helped by outside assistance. Kinesio® Taping is an innovative approach to treating nerves, muscles and organs.
Kinesio® Tape is a hypoallergenic, latex free, highly elastic form of sports tape. It is used to give support and stability to the muscles without restricting circulation or movement. Muscles are constantly contracting and extending within a normal range. However, when a muscle over-extends or over-contracts (such as with heavy lifting) it can become inflamed. Healthy muscles have natural spacing between the skin and the muscle allowing for the circulation of bodily fluids. When a muscle is inflamed, stiff, or swollen, the space between it and the skin lessens and the muscle becomes compressed. This pressure causes the person to experience pain. Normal sports taping of an affected joint or muscle supports the area, but also further compresses it causing a decrease in circulation.
Kinesio® tape is unique in the way it both supports an affected area while also rehabilitating it. It is very light and comfortable on the skin causing no compression or alteration of normal circulatory flow. Kinesio® tape has an elasticity of about 140% of its original length thus allowing full motion, but preventing over stretching of the muscles. Its water resistance allows it to be worn for 3-5 days while bathing normally.
Since the introduction of Kinesio® Taping in the United States, medical practitioners such as PTs, ATCs, OTs, DCs, MTs and MDs have recognized and embraced this effective, safe and best of all, easy-to-use modality. The method and tape allow the individual to receive the therapeutic benefits 24 hours a day with both comfort and ease because it can be worn for several days per application. Currently, Kinesio® Taping is used in hospitals, clinics, high schools, colleges, and by even by professional sports teams.
acupuncture
The theory and practice of acupuncture is based on Oriental medicine (also known as traditional Chinese medicine), a comprehensive natural health care system that has been used in Asian countries for thousands of years to preserve health and diagnose, treat and prevent illness.
The general theory of acupuncture is that proper physiological function and health depend on the circulation of nutrients, substances and energy called Qi (pronounced "chee") through a network of "channels" or "meridians". This network connects every organ and part of the body, providing balance, regulation and coordination of physiological processes. Pain and ill-health result when the flow of Qi through the body is disrupted or blocked by many things, including disease, pathogens, trauma/injuries and medication side-effects, as well as lifestyle factors such as overwork, poor diet, lack of rest and stress.
Acupuncture treats health conditions by stimulating "acu-points" found at specific locations on the surface of the body. Physicians stimulate the acu-points by inserting very thin needles through the skin to produce physiological effects. Stimulation helps to restore sufficient, continuous and even flow of Qi and other nutrients throughout the body, thereby restoring health and balance to the body, while relieving pain and other symptoms. Other methods are also used to stimulate acu-points, such as heat or electrical stimulation.
chiropractic
What Is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a health care discipline that emphasizes the inherent recuperative power of the body to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. The practice of chiropractic focuses on the relationship between structure (primarily of the spine) and function (as coordinated by the nervous system) and how that relationship affects the preservation and restoration of health. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic recognize the value and responsibility of working in cooperation with other health care practitioners when in the best interest of the patient. Chiropractic is concerned with the preservation and restoration of health, and focuses particular attention on the subluxation. A subluxation is a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health. A subluxation is evaluated, diagnosed and managed through the use of chiropractic procedures based on the best available rational and empirical evidence.
How does chiropractic work?
Chiropractic works by restoring normal joint function through soft tissue and joint manipulation. Restoration of normal biomechanical function affects other systems of the body as well thus improving your state of health in many ways.
What does a Doctor of Chiropractic do?
A Doctor of Chiropractic is a health care provider who considers the human an integrated being but gives special attention to spinal mechanics, musculoskeletal, neurological, vascular and nutritional relationships. A Doctor of Chiropractic must be able to carefully diagnose, evaluate and deliver the proper care so that the body regains and maintains health.
What type of education do Doctors of Chiropractic receive?
After receiving a Bachelor's Degree, Doctors of Chiropractic receive five academic years of education in three and a half calendar years. This education provides the chiropractic physician with expert knowledge of the body through the study of basic sciences, clinical sciences, body mechanics, and chiropractic manipulative techniques. The study of chiropractic emphasizes anatomy, physiology, pathology, neurology, biomechanics, x-ray, and spinal adjusting techniques.
What chiropractic techniques does Dr. Lipp use?
Dr. Lipp uses Gonstead, Diversified, Flexion-Distraction, Thompson, Logan, and Activator techniques. Dr. Lipp's philosophy is that he likes to play golf with a full set of clubs because it's just too difficult to drive with a putter!
rehabilitation
Dr. Lipp will personally teach you the proper way to perform exercises, so you can be on your way back to your active lifestyle. These exercises focus on stretching the affected musculature and strengthening your core musculature.
We offer electrical muscular stimulation, as well as the state-of-the-art cold laser.
x-ray
Active Performance Care has a high frequency x-ray machine on site.