Upper Cervical chiropractic has been effectively used to help eliminate pain and discomfort for many patients. An initial consultation and examination are performed by your doctor prior to receiving care. The purpose of this first visit is to determine if Upper Cervical care will be the most appropriate option for your health concerns. The doctor will discuss the findings and explain what they see as the problem. Once it is determined that Upper Cervical care may be able to help you, specific digital x-rays of the head and neck will be taken. These will guide the doctor in accurately addressing your specific needs. Because of the time needed to effectively analyze your x-rays, a second visit is required before the doctor is able to perform your first correction. Such steps help to ensure the best results in the least amount of time.

During your second visit, the doctor will review the x-ray findings with you, informing you of the state of your spinal health and the best course of care moving forward. Your first correction will then be performed. The energy generated from the percussion-wave instrument is transferred in such a precise fashion that no popping, twisting, or cracking of the neck is needed to correct the misalignment. Many patients are surprised by the lightness and effectiveness of the procedure. The degree of accuracy that is achieved by this technique leads to better and longer-lasting results.

As we restore the balance to the body and spine, most patients see an immediate improvement in their symptoms. We are starting the shift from pain and discomfort towards health.  As your upper spine stabilizes, your body begins to heal. This allows your body to better maintain proper alignment on its own, requiring less treatment. The benefit of care is not the correction itself, but rather maintaining proper spinal alignment that enables the body to heal. We strongly believe that a properly aligned spine is the base for optimal health.

Upper cervical care is unique. It’s much different than what comes to mind for most people when they think of chiropractic. While not as well known as traditional full-spine chiropractic, it is a highly effective corrective procedure that has been developed and refined for nearly 100 years.

The procedure is designed to bring the entire spine back to a balanced, unstressed position in order to reactivate the transmission of healing messages from the brain to the affected part of the body (via the nervous system) allowing the body’s natural self-healing process to begin. The procedure begins with state-of-the-art digital x-ray equipment that is laser-aligned to ensure accuracy and to decrease image distortion. Utilizing advanced imaging software,  the doctor is able to attain precise images of the angle and degree of vertebral misalignment in the upper cervical spine in relation to the skull. An analysis is performed to determine the proper vectors necessary to correct the misalignment. After performing the initial correction, two post x-rays are obtained to verify that an appropriate reduction of the misalignment has been achieved. The restoration of the skull, spine and pelvis to the vertical axis (corrected position) can provide relief for symptoms such as: neck pain, headaches/migraines, low back pain, numbness/tingling into the arms or legs. Patients with conditions like multiple sclerosis, trigeminal neuralgia, fibromyalgia, high blood pressure, and many others conditions have reported feeling significant improvement from upper cervical care.

INTRODUCING THE VIBRACUSSOR™ THERAPY

The VibraCussor™ percussive therapy is an exciting and revolutionary treatment for a variety of muscle, ligament, and related myofascial conditions. The deep effects of the VibraCussor™ therapy is strongly indicated for conditions such as joint fixation, postural distortions, trigger points, frozen shoulder, chronic muscle spasm, and more.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The VibraCussor™ instrument delivers waves of percussive impulses deep into the tissues of the body. The Vibracussor™ is unique in that unlike other ‘vibration’ or ‘massage’ instruments that provide a ‘back and forth’ motion, the VibraCussor™ produces a piston-like ‘up and down’ motion. This motion creates comfortable compression waves that travel through to the body’s deepest connective tissues to release chronic adhesions – all without applying heavy forces.

The VibraCussor™ instrument’s waves promote and provide a variety of effects including an increase in circulation and lymphatic flow and a decrease in muscle spasms. The resultant effect is enhanced restorative tissue healing and integrity. The patient feels pain relief as well as improved mobility and function.

It should be noted that the VibraCussor™ is used by many professional sports teams to ‘warm-up’ muscle and help set proper tonus prior to a physical exercise or event. The VibraCussor™ percussions are particularly effective post-exercise to enhance rehabilitation and flush the muscles thereby minimizing stiffness and soreness.

The purpose of Joint Clearing Technique (JCT) is to increase joint mobility of the upper and lower extremities. When a joint is injured it often becomes inflamed. Inflammation is part of the normal healing process. When inflammation persists however, arthrofibrosis (scar tissue) in the joint occurs.

Arthrofibrosis is defined as a complication of injury or trauma where an excessive scar tissue response leads to painful restriction of joint motion, with scar tissue forming within the joint and surrounding soft tissue spaces and persisting despite exercises and stretches. Scarring adhesions have been described in most major joints, including knees, shoulders, hips, ankles, wrists, hands, and feet. Excessive scar tissue is a serious medical condition that can occur from a number of causes and can affect a variety of places in the human body.

Scar tissue consists of contracted, tangled connective tissue that is fibrous and dense. When someone suffers from an excess buildup of scar tissue, they can experience extreme pain, immobility, and arthritis in the joints. Excessive scar tissue can cause limping, heat, swelling, popping, grating, or weakness. Sometimes the scar tissue only occurs in part of the joint, so pain and stiffness may only be felt during certain activities. This condition which is still a large mystery to the medical community can cause silent problems and no pain at all, which complicate matters even more.

JCT utilizes short, calculated movements of the joints within the normal range of motion to shear scar tissue adhesions. This often leads to improved joint mobility, flexibility, movement, and decreased pain.

If you’ve recently learned you’re pregnant, you may be both delighted to welcome a new member of your family and apprehensive about the physical changes to come.  Chiropractic care during pregnancy is a safe, effective way to maintain proper physical function while relieving many of the discomforts that accompany this period.  A balanced body is also better able to distribute weight evenly, lessening muscle stresses and strains and the chronic pains associated with them.

One of the most important factors in a healthy delivery is the alignment of the sacral spine. Misalignments in this area can prevent the baby from rotating into the correct position for a normal, head-first trip through the birth canal. This problem, known as dystocia, could make all the difference between an easy natural delivery and a Cesarean section. Many times, chiropractic care can help a woman avoid an unnecessary Cesarean section due to a breech baby position. Also the need for medical intervention during labor greatly decreases in women who have had prenatal chiropractic care.

A chiropractic procedure called the Webster technique can prove highly beneficial in correcting sacral spinal misalignments gently and non-invasively. The technique balances the supporting muscles and ligaments in the pelvis and frees the baby to experience an easier natural birth. This not only eases labor for you, but it can also reduce the amount of stress your baby’s musculoskeletal system must endure during delivery.

This is a wonderful, easy, and gentle way to help your body cope with all of this change, keep you feeling good, and allow you to carry and deliver your baby with more ease and comfort.

Dr. Forest is happy to help expectant mothers experience greater comfort and better overall wellness through our gentle, corrective techniques.

Are you struggling with food, weight, or health issues?

Help is here.

Our unique approach has roots in integrative and functional medicine to help assess nutritional issues that may be contributing to physical complaints. We specialize in designing supplement and meal plans for both the serious athlete and the everyday person who just wants to drop a few pounds, get into better shape, or heal from a health complaint.

Our strategies are geared towards each individual and his or her own specific fitness or health goals. Conditions which have responded favorably in our clinic include:

Though an integrative and functional nutrition approach does not claim to be a cure for disease, improving diet and supporting body systems through proper supplementation, may decrease a patient’s symptoms and make them easier to manage. Dr. Forest uses a combination of dietary advice and appropriate supplementation to improve the overall quality of life for his patients and help them achieve their health and lifestyle goals.

-Why is nutritional consulting important?

The average American diet today has become what is known as an “inflammatory diet”. This is because the average American eats a lot of food that promotes inflammation in the body. Unfortunately, inflammation is also the root cause of many diseases and an inflammatory diet will only further support the disease progression. Nutritional consulting focuses on educating patients toward a healthier lifestyle, improving their current condition, and preventing the progression of future diseases.

-What supplements do you recommend?

High-quality supplements are a vital part of any nutrition plan. We source most of our supplements from Standard Process and MediHerb; two of the industry leaders in whole food dietary supplements.