The spine has an important function in the body. It protects the spinal cord, which is the central highway between your nervous system and every cell, organ, and tissue of the body. A healthy and aligned spine gives you the ability to walk, run, jump, lift, and feel every sensation in your body.

When one of the spinal bones shifts out of its normal position, there may be pressure on surrounding, joints, muscles, discs, or nerves. This can interfere with the communication between your brain and your body, and ultimately affect how your body functions. When left untreated, these little changes and dysfunctions can potentially turn into more serious problems such as:

Chiropractic is safe, non-invasive, and effective in treating these musculoskeletal and spinal pain or injury from sports, auto accidents, or physical and repetitive activities of daily living. Our doctors of chiropractic analyze the human frame and the nervous system, detect spinal subluxations (spinal bones that misalign and irritate the surrounding nerves) by using manual muscle testing, then alleviate these misalignments by applying gentle, low force adjustments. These techniques include manual diversified adjustment, Thompson drops, activator, and low force impulse. The adjustment resets the joint motion to release the compression on the pain producing structures. It is often not painful and can provide immediate pain relief.

Chiropractic is also helpful for improving body function and movement, optimizing athletic performance, preventing pain, and increasing overall health. Our chiropractors are well versed in prescribing therapeutic exercises, providing nutritional counseling, and recommending lifestyle changes and injury prevention strategies to help you maintain optimal health.

Certification
In the state of Colorado, only licensed veterinarians and licensed chiropractors can perform animal chiropractic. Certification is awarded after the practitioner has completed the 215 hour course of study for the Animal Chiropractic post-graduate program and passed the clinical competency and comprehensive written examinations provided by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. Dr. Montano is proud to have earned her certification from the AVCA in January 2019.

About a chiropractic adjustment
We commonly get asked how an animal could benefit from a chiropractic adjustment. And our answer is that any creature with a spine can benefit from chiropractic care!
A chiropractic adjustment is defined as a high velocity, low amplitude thrust applied manually or with an instrument to a specific joint in order to correct a subluxation. In other words, we find area of restricted motion and apply a force in order to introduce correct movement back in to the joint. This not only helps with pain and inflammation, but also works to remove interference in our nervous systems.

What to expect
At your pet's initial visit, there will be a thorough history taken and an examination performed by the Chiropractor. The exam will look for any pain on palpation, assess range of motion of the neck, back, pelvis and extremities, look for asymmetry in the vertebra of the spine, and evaluate muscle tone and gait.

How do I know if my pet needs care?
Your animal cannot verbalize to you when something is wrong, but there are some signs and symptoms that could indicate that your pet needs to be checked by a chiropractor. Some of these may include:

• Neck, back, tail, or hip pain
• Trouble getting up or down or jumping
• Abnormal gait
• Lameness
• Change in behavior
• Excessive panting/shaking
• Neurological disorders
• Muscle spasms
• Difficulty eating/jaw pain
• Slowing down with age
• Recent performance injury/issue

Pets also do great with maintenance care of joints and spine to keep them moving and pain free!

Thus, the explanation that is easiest for most people to understand is: needling acupuncture points has a direct effect on increasing blood circulation locally and in areas that are distal to (far from) the actual needle insertion. The needles additionally activate and stimulate the nervous system to release healing chemicals, such as natural endorphins, immune components, analgesics and anti-inflammatories carried in the blood, into specific areas.

Acupuncture works synergistically very well with chiropractic. Chiropractic helps to realign joints that are out of place, while acupuncture helps to reduce local inflammation and increase blood flow for an overall accelerated healing time.

Acupuncture is recognized by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to be effective in the treatment of:

• Muscle, Bone and Nerve Pain and Disease
• Joint Pain and Arthritis
• Digestive Disorders, such as IBS, colitis, and reflux
• Respiratory Disorders, such as asthma, sinus infection, cough
• Immune Disorders, such as flu/cold symptoms, allergies, and lowered immunity
• Circulatory Disorders
• Dermatological Disorders, such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis
• Gynecological Disorders, such as PMS symptoms, fertility problems, menstrual
• pain, and menopausal syndrome
• Emotional and Sleep Disorders, including anxiety and depression
• Men’s Health
• Addictions
• Preventive Health

Other services provided include:

• Cupping
• Auricular (ear) acupuncture
• Health and Lifestyle Coaching
• Classes

This negative intra-discal pressure may induce the retraction of the herniated or bulging disc into the inside of the disc and off the nerve root, thecal sac, or both. The cycles of decompression and partial relaxation, over a series of visits, promote the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids into the vertebral discs. These nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal. It happens only microscopically each time, but cumulatively, over eight to ten weeks, the results are quite dramatic.

Spinal Decompression can:

• Reduce pressure on the vertebral joints and nerves.
• Reduce muscle spasm.
• Promote retraction of herniated discs.
• Promote healing and rehabilitation of damaged discs.
• Relieve back and neck pain.

What is Spinal Decompression Therapy?

Spinal decompression therapy reduces pain from degenerative disc disease or herniated disc by enlarging the space between the discs and areas that surround the nerve roots. The gentle separation of the vertebrae from each other can create a vacuum inside the targeted disc. This vacuum effect, also called “negative intra-discal pressure” may induce the retraction of the herniated or bulging disc into the inside of the disc and off the nerve root, thecal sac, or both. The cycles of decompression and partial relaxation, over a series of visits, promote the diffusion of water, oxygen, and nutrient-rich fluids into the vertebral discs. These nutrients enable the torn and degenerated disc fibers to begin to heal. It happens only microscopically each time, but cumulatively, over eight to ten weeks, the results are quite dramatic.

Decompression Therapy Sessions

In most cases, the treatments are completely painless. In fact, some people fall asleep during a 30 minute spinal decompression session.

The number of sessions needed and your specific treatment plan will be determined by the doctor after your examination. The typical protocol is 2x a week for 8 to 10 weeks. Closely scheduled uninterrupted treatment sessions are recommended to create momentum that stimulates physiological changes to the injured tissues. Afterward, a patient is evaluated to determine if another series of treatment would be helpful.

To reduce inflammation and assist the healing process, supporting structures maybe treated with therapy, chiropractic adjustments if indicated, and/or rehabilitation.

Non-Surgical Spinal Decompression is very effective in treating:

• Bulging/herniated discs
• Pinched nerves
• Sciatica
• Radiating arm/leg pain
• Degenerative disc disease
• Facet syndromes

The cold laser enters the body tissues, alters the cell membranes permeability, and at the cellular level is absorbed by the mitochondria. The mitochondria are the powerhouse of each cell and like an engine, they make energy. Energy is needed for all body processes.

Specifically, the Erchonia PL5000 laser we use promotes the following:

1. Rapid cell growth and repair of damaged tissue
2. Faster wound healing by stimulating the fibroblasts repair process
3. Increased metabolic activity by increasing output of specific enzymes and increasing oxygen to blood cells for more effective immune response
4. Reduced fibrous scar tissue after cuts, scratches, burns or surgery
5. Reduced swelling from bruises and inflammatory process so improves mobility
6. Increased vascular activity and lymph flow for best circulation
7. Stimulation of nerve function and nerve cell reconnection

Basically, low level laser therapy increases communication between cells and thus enhances all the body’s normal functions.

What can low level therapy treat?

• Sprains/strains -Tendonitis -Bursitis
• Bruises -Chronic neck/back pain -Trigger points
• Osteoarthritis -Rheumatoid Arthritis -Inflammation
• Burns -Post-Surgical Healing -Diabetic Ulcerations
• Eczema -Shingles -Dermatitis
• Non-union fractures -Metasaralgia -Trigeminal Neuralgia
• Plantar Fasciitis -Frozen Shoulder -Carpal Tunnel
• Headaches -Nervous System Calming -Tooth Pain
• Cold sores -Neuropathy -Parathesia/Numbness
• Pain/loss of motions with joint replacement

We treat by working with the involved system of the body or the nerve that goes to the area of pain or symptoms. The analysis is key to getting good results with laser therapy.

Everyone has seen this tape on the Olympians the last few years. It has been become more and more prevalent as athletes, as well as the general population,realize the benefits of taping. Kinesiology tape does multiple things. It provides neuromuscular re-education to the muscles. . It reduces pain, decreases inflammation, changes the way the muscle responds to stimulus, and distributes the function of the area involved in injury.

How does it do all these things? Kinesiology tape is flexible in nature. The grooves /elastic property allow the tape to stimulate the area it is applied to. It helps elongates the muscle fibers, retrains them, and prevent them from spasming. Research has shown that it can affect the way the muscle fatigues, as well as its function. By constantly sending sensational stimuli and drawing attention to the muscle, joint, and fascia; kinesiology tape can affectively decrease patients pain and help stabilize chiropractic adjustments!