What We Do:
We strive to provide the highest quality chiropractic care in a safe, comfortable and relaxed atmosphere where patients feel free to ask questions and engage in their own wellbeing. Being healthy is something that we all have to strive for and we are here to help you reach your health goals.
We believe in the DREAM.
Diet/Nutrition
Rest
Exercise
Adjustments (Chiropractic)
Mindset/Mental Health
Our chiropractic care follows a salutogenic model which includes checking the spine for subluxations, or misalignments, that prevent the body from functioning at it's best. Salutogenesis refers to focusing on factors that contribute to health, as opposed to the pathogenic model which focuses on disease. We believe that every patient is unique and we utilize different chiropractic techniques, depending on what each patient needs. See the information below about our different styles of chiropractic!
Subluxations can be caused by THREE things:
1. Thoughts: Your mental health, stress, emotions, outlook on life, relationships, etc. all play a role!
2. Traumas: Injuries from sports, falls or accidents are all stressors that contribute to subluxations. Our bodies also endure microtraumas such as sitting for too long, computer work and doing repetitive tasks.
3. Toxins: This includes things you're putting into your body, such as food you shouldn't be eating (processed foods, sugar, etc.) Other toxins include stuff you come into contact with on a daily basis, such as household chemicals and environmental toxins.
What is Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is a natural, safe, effective and gentle form of healthcare that works WITH the body, rather than against it. Chiropractors look at the spine and check for subluxations, or misalignments. These subluxations cause bad information to go from the body to the brain, and vice versa. They can change your proprioception, or orientation in space, cause muscle tension and sometimes even pain. This means you can have subluxations without having any symptoms. These subluxations put pressure on your brain and the nervous system, which is located inside the spine. Your nervous system is incredibly important considering it controls EVERY organ, tissue and cell in the body. By getting your spine assessed for subluxations you can help relieve that pressure and make sure your nervous system is working optimally.
Pediatric Chiropractic
The birthing process can be traumatic for the newborn. Often times spinal misalignments occur from the birthing process. Making sure the spine is in alignment, the newborn's nervous system will be able to function at its best, allowing proper growth and development throughout life.
Newborns aren't the only pediatric patients we see; Children of all ages can benefit from regular chiropractic care. Typically, getting routine spinal checks for children helps their bodies to function optimally.
Regardless of the age of the child, we use effective and gentle chiropractic techniques. The chiropractic adjustment requires the same amount of force as checking a tomato for ripeness. Dr. Dodge has a certification from the Academy Council of Chiropractic Pediatrics (CACCP) in the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association’s (ICPA) renowned Certification Program. Her youngest patient was 2 days old!
For more information and resources on how chiropractic care is beneficial for pediatric patients: https://icpa4kids.com/parent-portal/
To find an ICPA chiropractor near you: https://icpa4kids.com/find-a-pediatric-chiropractor
Pregnancy Chiropractic / Webster Technique
Dr. Dodge has been certified in Webster Technique since 2018. This gentle, safe and effective technique not only helps with the aches and pains of pregnancy, but also helps with the alignment of the pelvis, muscles and ligaments providing the optimal environment for the growing baby. Often pregnant patients report reduced time in labor, decreased morning sickness or nausea, and a healthier pregnancy overall.
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic sacral analysis and diversified adjustment. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/ SI joint dysfunction. In doing so, neuro-biomechanical function in the pelvis is facilitated.
Sacral subluxation may contribute to difficult labor for the mother (i.e., dystocia), caused by inadequate uterine function, pelvic contraction, and baby mal-presentation. Correction of sacral subluxation may have a positive effect on all of these causes of dystocia.
For more information on Webster Technique: https://icpa4kids.com/training/webster-certification/webster-technique/
To find a Webster certified chiropractor near you: https://icpa4kids.com/training/webster-certification/webster-technique/
Muscle Testing / Applied Kinesiology / Nutrition
Dr. Johnson has additional training in applied kinesiology and nutrition and is working towards his certification through Quintessential Applications. Dr. Johnson uses nutritional supplements through Standard Process and MediHerb to help his patients.
Standard Process believes that the best source of nutrients is in whole organic foods. That is why all of their supplements are made from whole food ingredients. This is important because vitamins and minerals are most effective when combined with the phytonutrients and other organic compounds found in the plants that are essential for availability in the body. Most other supplement companies isolate out the vitamins and minerals believed to be effective, however, isolating only the known vitamins and minerals reduces the effect the nutrients have on the body. That why some "experts" say supplements are ineffective. For more information check out https://www.standardprocess.com/.
MediHerb is an Australian company with a passion for herbal therapy. They source the highest quality ingredients and process their herbs to ensure maximum effectiveness, quality and consistency in the phytochemical profile. The preparations are available in liquid or tablet form. For more information check out https://mediherb.com/.
Sometimes these supplements are more expensive than the ones you can get at the grocery store, since many supplement companies buy bulk ingredients from China. These ingredients are poor quality and many are synthetic compounds that are difficult for the body to utilize. On top of this, most of the ingredients are extracted from plants to isolate singular compounds (Vit. C, D, E etc.). This is flawed for several reasons, chiefly that when vitamins are isolated in this way many of the other molecules (flavonoids, terpenes, phytonutrients, etc.) in the plants that work with the vitamins to heal the body are discarded. Standard Process and MediHerb are formulated from the highest quality whole plant ingredients that ensure maximum potency while still retaining all of the key elements. This means that while some of the products may be more expensive per bottle, they are less expensive when you compare taking the correct ingredients that have been carefully refined for maximum utilization.
Sacro-Occipital Technique (SOT)
SOT is a gentle, low-force technique developed by Dr. Major DeJarnette D.C. The basis for the technique is alignment of the bottom of the spine (sacrum/pelvis area) with the top of the spine (occiput/skull area). Hence the term "sacro-occipital." The reason these two areas are targeted is because of their relationship to the dura. The dura is the casing that surrounds the spinal cord and contains the cerebral spinal fluid which bathes the spinal cord. This area is extremely important because the sacrum and the occiput are the only two attachments to the dura. Similar to how stagnant water can form bacteria, the cerebral spinal fluid, if not constantly flowing around the spinal cord, can also become stagnant. Ideally, if the top and bottom of the spine are in alignment, the cerebral spinal fluid is constantly bathing the spinal cord and allowing the nerves to be functioning properly. To adjust the bottom of the spine (sacrum/pelvis area), chiropractic physicians use pelvic blocks. These blocks are wedge shape and are placed under the patient's hips. The blocks serve as a fulcrum to allow the body to do the adjustment, rather than a thrust from the chiropractic physician. The top of the spine is analyzed based off of muscle fibers located on the occiput bone (bottom of the skull). These fibers are the body's defense against a problem with an organ system (heart, kidney, liver, etc.) For more information about this technique you can refer to SORSI or SOTOUSA.
Activator
This technique uses an instrument called the activator. The activator instrument is a spring-loaded device that delivers a small impulse. This technique is considered low force and utilizes leg length changes to determine a vertebral misalignment. It is a great tool for elderly patients and people who prefer not to have their necks twisted. It is also a great technique for patients in wheel chairs since they can be adjusted without having to get out of their chair.
Extremity Adjustments
Extremities include shoulders, elbows, wrists, hands, fingers, hips, knees, ankles, feet and toes. All of these joints have several bones that need to move and articulate with other bones in order to allow for proper motion and function. Just as with the spine, these areas can become misaligned too. Adjusting an extremity involves a quick thrust done by the chiropractic physician.
Palmer Package
A common term referring to the combination of Gonstead, Diversified and Thompson Drop Techniques.
Gonstead
This technique was developed by Dr. Clearance Gonstead D.C. and is considered the biomechanical analysis of the spine. This full spine technique includes visualization, instrumentation, static palpation, motion palpation and x-ray analysis. Visualization means the chiropractic physician can pick up on subtle postural differences or problems with movement. Instrumentation involves uneven heat distribution along the spine, indicating a spinal nerve dysfunction due to inability of the body to regulate blood supply. Static palpation is the tactile detection of muscle tension and/or swelling of areas in the spine. Motion palpation involves moving and bending the patient into various positions while the chiropractic physician palpates to determine if an area of the spine is not moving properly. Once the chiropractic physician determines the area of misalignment (or subluxation), a high velocity, low amplitude adjustment is given.
Diversified
Diversified technique is used as a “catch all” term. The definition also differs from school to school, and chiropractor to chiropractor.
Similar to the Gonstead technique, the purpose is to consider biomechanical function of the spine in order to ensure a fully functioning nervous system. Areas of the spine found to be not as moveable, can be detected by the chiropractic physician. These areas are called subluxations and can be corrected with chiropractic adjustments. The adjustment is a high velocity, low amplitude thrust often accompanied by a cavitation or “pop” sound. The sound is created by the release of gases within the joint being adjusted and has little to do with the effectiveness of the adjustment.
Thompson Drop
The Thompson technique is also similar to the Gonstead and Diversified techniques in the subluxation complex. The difference with this technique, is the way the adjustment is performed. The Thompson Drop technique was founded by Dr. Clay Thompson D.C. and utilizes a dropping mechanism in the chiropractic adjusting table. There are four drop pieces: cervical, thoracic, lumbar and pelvic. The chiropractic physician determines the area of subluxation in the spine, then applies a high velocity, low amplitude adjustment to the subluxated vertebra during which the drop piece descends or falls approximately one inch. The dropping motion occurs faster than the muscles can respond which helps to facilitate the misaligned vertebrae back into its proper place.
Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger point therapy is particularly useful for patients with soft tissue injuries. With this technique the doctor locates areas in the muscle that demonstrate tenderness and muscle spasms because these contain muscle fibers that are not functioning properly. Applying pressure to the trigger points helps flush stagnant blood and helps reset the receptors which send signals to the brain to help reset motor control. Trigger point therapy can be combined with chiropractic care to enhance the effectiveness of care.
