Chiropractic Care

Laura Miller, D.C.

Chiropractor located in Portland, OR

Chiropractic care is a powerful approach to individual health and wellness, and Dr. Laura Miller at Sellwood Chiropractic Clinic has built a career around helping people live their lives to the fullest. Chiropractic care has the ability to improve far more than musculoskeletal issues, and many patients find chiropractic care to be life-altering.

Chiropractic Care Q & A

What is the foundation of chiropractic care?

Chiropractic care is built around the belief that many problems in the human body stem from alignment problems that have a negative impact on the central nervous system. As the structure that both supports the body and protects the spinal cord, the spine plays a central role in a person’s health. When the structures of the spine are not properly aligned or are placing undue pressure on the spinal cord, then the effects can manifest in virtually every part of the body, not just the back and neck. Chiropractic care is focused on reaching and maintaining proper spinal alignment.

What are diversified technique adjustments?

This term is used to describe the type of chiropractic manipulation or adjustment that most people associate with chiropractic care. This is the practice of delivering a high velocity, low amplitude thrusting motion to the joints. That targeted pressure often results in joint cavitation, which is the “popping” sounds that many people associate with chiropractic treatment. Diversified technique is often called the “classic” chiropractic approach, and is always done using precisely targeted motion. All chiropractors are trained in diversified technique, although many practitioners incorporate multiple other approaches into their daily chiropractic practice.

What is the activator technique?

The activator technique is a chiropractic approach that makes use of a special instrument to assist in chiropractic care. The instrument is a small, hand-held device that delivers a gentle, low-force impulse at specific points along the spine. The force is delivered very rapidly by virtue of a spring housed within the device. The speed of the pulsed force prohibits the muscles from having a chance to tense up and resist the treatment. The area that receives the force is very small, which avoids the need to bend or torque any nearby joints. In general, the activator technique is considered to be a more gentle and “soft” chiropractic treatment, as compared to traditional diversified technique adjustments. Chiropractic practitioners who use the activator technique receive additional training on how to use the device to assist patients with a number of different chiropractic concerns.