Got Back Pain?

Chiropractors are not all created equal. In fact, there is likely no other healthcare field where the gap between one practitioner and the next is as wide as it is in chiropractic. And, as many of our patients are aware, the outcomes vary as much as the adjusting techniques used by each chiropractor.

There’s a good reason we were recently named the Best of the Best Chiropractor in Southeastern Wisconsin by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel for 2022. So the question is, what are other chiropractors, physical therapists, and primary care doctors doing that are failing you (and how are we different at Ascent Chiropractic)?

1. Treatment Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

We’ve been to high-volume chiropractic and physiotherapy clinics where you’re treated like a number and scheduled for dozens of appointments where the same adjustment is given repeatedly with no noticeable effects.

At Ascent Chiropractic we’re different; we’re not salespeople pushing a one-size-fits-all treatment at our office. We believe your doctor should be your teammate, and work with you to specifically address what’s going on in your body.

Additionally, the fewer adjustments a person requires, the healthier their spine and nervous system are. So the goal of treatment should be to align and stabilize your spine so that you eventually need to see us less, not more.

2. We Utilize X-Ray Imaging

Diagnostics is one of the most important aspects of developing a treatment plan in any healthcare field. We use a variety of diagnostic techniques to fully understand what is going on in the patient’s body and how treatment will affect their condition.

Digital x-ray imaging is the most commonly used diagnostic technique in our office because it allows us to see exactly what is going on in the body in terms of alignment and structure. X-rays can also reveal the presence of scar tissue or arthritis in a specific area, both of which must be considered when determining the best treatment plan.

3. We’re Not Just Looking For A “Pop”

Contrary to popular belief, the ultimate goal of treatment at Ascent is not to hear a ‘crack’ or ‘pop’ from a Joint. The goal should be to restore normal motion in a joint while also changing the shape, size, and tone of the surrounding soft tissues to provide proper joint support. In a sense, we’re ‘re-educating‘ your joints and the muscles that surround them to restore proper position and movement.

There are two issues with aggressive, high-force adjusting. First, when you stretch muscles quickly and aggressively, structures called muscle spindles within those muscles send an impulse to the spinal cord. This impulse activates motor neurons in the spinal cord, which sends an impulse back to the muscle, causing it to contract and return to its original position.

Using low-force adjusting techniques, on the other hand, we can prevent muscles from reacting to the adjustment. The correction lasts longer and allows the joints and muscles to adjust to their new position and function, resulting in better long-term outcomes.

The second issue is that changing the position and motion of joints will always result in some swelling and inflammation; it’s an unavoidable side effect. Sometimes it’s noticeable, sometimes it’s not, but we prefer less force because it’s less traumatic to the joint and reduces inflammation and soreness after an adjustment.

To be clear, sometimes high-force adjustments are required because joints are so’stuck’ that low-force adjustments are insufficient to restore movement. However, this should only be done to get the joint moving so that we can transition to gentler adjusting techniques that work with your muscles and soft tissues rather than against them.

4. We Fix Joint Alignment And Muscle Imbalances

Again, correcting a musculoskeletal problem is a two-step process that includes restoring joint motion and correcting muscle imbalances. If you only address joint motion (chiropractic adjustments) while ignoring the muscles that control and support that joint with specific active rehab therapy, you’ll never get long-term correction and will have to be adjusted multiple times per week for the rest of your life.

Conversely, if you only do muscle rehab – stretching tight/shortened muscles and strengthening weak/lengthened muscles – without correcting the joint dysfunction that’s causing problems, you’ll be stuck with low-level chronic inflammation for the rest of your life because the joint is still not working properly.

We make it a point at Ascent Chiropractic to address both.

The Ascent Chiropractic Difference

If you’re reading this, you’re probably aware that what we do and the results we achieve at Ascent Chiropractic are unparalleled. If you have friends or family members who could benefit from what we do, it’s time they gave us a call! To make an appointment with Ascent Chiropractic, call 262-345-4166 or use our online scheduling app.