A type of technique that our San Jose chiropractor uses for back pain, foot pain, and other types of pain is Active Release Technique. Since our patients have been asking our chiropractic staff about what Active Release Technique is and how it works, we decided to make it our newest blog entry!

ART: Helping with Back Pain, Sports Medicine, and Rehabilitation

The Active Release Techniques, or ART, is a type of soft tissue system massage that is targeted at helping resolve pain issues with the muscles, tendons, ligament tissues, and nerves. Our chiropractor, Dr. Jennifer L. Forster, has been certified as an Active Release Techniques Practitioner since 2001 and is experienced at treating our chiropractic patients and sports medicine patients with this effective and gentle method of rehabilitation.

ART for Healing and Wellness

ART is an excellent treatment for both healing and for total wellness. During the initial phases of ART treatment, Dr. Forster will use gentle manipulation with her hands to evaluate the extent of the injury. She will then gently work the tissue using movements that will eliminate the scar tissue buildup, restore blood flow, and help restore range of motion.

In the later stages of treatment, the patient will become a very active participant in their own rehab process. Dr. Forster will guide patients through a series of prescribed exercises as she applies gentle pressure to the area being treated. This is a method of lengthening and strengthening the muscles and soft tissues of the body, but it does require the patient to be fully active in their own treatment.

We at Insight Chiropractic are very pleased to offer the best and most up-to-date chiropractic and wellness care treatments to our patients, and we are proud to have an ART practitioner here on staff to help deliver that to you. Do you have any further questions about ART? Please ask here!

You might think that a chiropractor only concentrates on back or neck pain. However, chiropractors across the country, including Insight Chiropractic in San Jose, don't limit their treatment to only back pain. Instead, they take a whole health approach to treating their patients to increase wellness and promote long-term healthy living.

Patients come to chiropractors for a number of reasons. Some do come for the traditional reasons, back pain or neck pain. But others come because they're having trouble sleeping or are suffering from frequent headaches. Others are struggling to deal with stress. A talented chiropractor knows that there are several ways to treat these health issues; and one of the most important ways is to develop a healthy nutrition plan for their patients.

Nutrition Matters to Maintain Wellness

What you eat plays a big role in your health. It also plays a major role in the health of your back, neck and even pressure on your feet due to the different strains being overweight and unhealthy may cause. Simply put, if you eat unhealthy, fatty foods, you're more likely to suffer from back pain, fatigue, or put yourself at risk for other health issues including diabetes are heart disease.

If you're struggling with weight, consider moving to a diet filled with lean meats, fish, green vegetables, fruits and grains. Avoid that daily stop for a fast food drive-thru lunch or that late-night snack of ice cream.

Avoid foods that are high in fat or sugars. Replace them with equally tasty but far more nutritious greens, fish, lean poultry, fruits and nuts. You'll be amazed at how much more energy you have once you make the switch to a healthier diet.

If you're struggling with your diet or want help in reaching your wellness goals, make an appointment with our San Jose chiropractor. We serve residents in Los Gatos, Saratoga, Cupertino and Campbell and, of course, San Jose. Our wellness professionals will work closely with you to develop a nutrition plan that fits your lifestyle and needs. And if you follow this plan carefully, you'll be surprised at how much better you feel. You'll be amazed, too, at how quickly this change takes place.

Look at your diet from the past week. What could you have done differently to have consumed less fat and fewer calories?

LivingSocial: Featured Oct 21 & Oct 22 2011

One-Hour Deep Tissue Massage, Initial Chiropractic Exam and Foot Scan for $36.

(This is a $230 Savings)

 In this one-hour visit you will receive an Initial Chiropractic Exam, Foot Scan and a 20 minute Active Release Techniques (ART) massage.  The visit is designed to begin your chiropractic journey to overall better health.  Chiropractic adjustments coupled with ART massage can often alleviates chronic pain areas that may have existed in your life for many months or years.  This care usually takes 4-8 visits (occasionally, significant changes can occur after 1-2 visits) for you to begin noticing an overall change in how your body feels and is designed to "fix" most long-term chronic pain patterns that may exist for you.  It's not surprising to hear from patients: "I thought my pain was simply due to getting older.... I have come to accept that I would always have this pain; but since I got chiropractic care at Insight I rarely experience the pain anymore." (See our reviews on our website and Yelp.)

Insight Chiropractic's approach to relieving your pains or discomforts begins with a foot scan, a digital read out of your foot and a foot evaluation.  Your feet play a large role in how your body is balanced and can often be a culprit of knee, hip or low back pain.  Secondly, your initial chiropractic examination will be preformed for your spine and your exam findings will reveal detailed health information for the doctor to provide you with a diagnosis of your condition.  Lastly, you will receive a 20 minute introductory ART massage that will focus on your specific area of pain or discomfort.  This massage requires movement by the patient and this movement is often why results occur.  ART massage cannot be compared to therapeutic massage, it is designed to provide a re-habilitative increase in range of motion; which ultimately improves overall function, decreases pain and produces long-term results. On your second visit, your follow up visit, you will receive your report of findings and your first chiropractic adjustment again coupled with ART massage. 

Thank you for making your choice to begin your chiropractic care here at Insight Chiropractic!

One of the more common causes of foot pain we see at Insight Chiropractic is plantar fasciitis. This debilitating condition can cause excruciating pain in the heel area, which is typically most intense during the early morning’s first steps. Although the pain can gradually decrease the more you walk on your affected foot throughout the day, the condition will not heal itself unless you seek some type of treatment. Our San Jose chiropractic care includes a strong foot care philosophy, and we are here with several sports medicine and rehabilitation techniques to treat your feet.

End Foot Pain and Aid Healing with Foot Rehabilitation Programs
from San Jose Clinic

Plantar fasciitis is caused by the swelling of the plantar fascia, which is the band across the bottom of your foot connecting your heel bone to your toes. Being overweight, pregnant, or wearing unsupportive shoes can often lead to the condition, as can athletic activities such as running.

Our plantar fasciitis treatment programs vary for each individual situation, but generally include a combination of rehabilitation techniques to alleviate the pain and help heal the condition. Individualized chiropractic adjustments and active release techniques, as well as massage therapy are our primary treatment protocols for plantar fasciitis. Our physical therapy programs for foot pain consist of a series of exercises you can do in our office and at home.

We can suggest and demonstrate a series of stretching exercises for both your plantar fascia and our Achilles tendon. As the band and tendon become stronger and more flexible, the swelling and pain can subside. Depending on the severity of your condition, we may also recommend supporting your foot with athletic tape or even wearing a splint while sleeping, two practices not uncommon in our sports medicine programs for injured athletes.

The first step is to have your foot examined by our San Jose chiropractor to determine the cause of your foot pain. The second step is a personalized rehabilitation treatment that can have you back on your feet and pain-free as rapidly as possible.

Have you suffered from plantar fasciitis? What steps do you take to prevent it from recurring?