MERCADO CHIROPRACTIC

WHAT IS SPORTS CHIROPRACTIC?

Sports Chiropractic: A path of restorative care that takes the athletes from injured status to a state of healthy functioning by way of assessing imbalances that occur throughout the body. These imbalances may be muscular, skeletal, nutritional, or a combination thereof. We take into consideration age, growth factors, activity levels, gender, and a variety of other variables when assessing how these imbalances may have occurred. Our goal is to implement an approach that works to improve the health of our patients in order to take their “Health to the Next Level.”

Chiropractic is restorative care through means of joint mobilization techniques, muscle lengthening, muscle strengthening, and nutrition in order to provide the body the ability to reacquire a stable equilibrium.

Dr. MERCADO’S APPROACH

To acquire a HIGHER level of functioning by way of:

CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTING

Chiropractic adjusting is a method used to release joint restriction. Joint (space formed between two bones when they join together) restriction (lack of movement in a joint) can cause pain and limit an individual from performing their normal activities of daily living. A chiropractic spinal/extremity adjustment helps relieve pain patterns caused by joint tension. It also may relieve pain patterns caused by tension placed on muscles, tendons, and nerves.

LASER THERAPY (AVICENNA LASER)

High Level laser therapy is a form of therapy that helps speed recovery by increasing molecular activity within injured tissue. Laser light, penetrating much deeper than other light wave forms, activates increased mitochondrial ATP synthesis, produces increased mast cell inflammatory mitigation and stimulates increased Ca2+ ion presence and beneficial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

Damaged skeletal, connective and neurological tissues and structures react with enhanced healing in the presence of low level laser irradiation as collagen synthesis and production, satellite cell presence and cellular metabolism are increased as a result of the light stimulation and improved vascular, lymphatic and enzymatic activity.

INTERX-PRO SPORT
Dynamically Different Technology

The InterX® technology is unique in the way it engages the body’s natural resources to assist the processes of pain management and rehabilitation. The way in which it introduces electrical impulses into the body, is very different to conventional neurostimulation in three aspects:

“Interactive” stimulation - The electrical properties of the skin and the underlying tissue change in response to injury, pain and trauma as well as stimulation. InterX® is sensitive to these changes and immediately adapts to provide an appropriate level of stimulation. As the body responds to the stimulation, the impulse adjusts dynamically to the feedback from the electrodes in contact with the skin; engaging in a process of contact interaction that provides optimal treatment and also avoids the body’s natural tendency to accommodate to the stimulation.

Scan and locate optimal treatment points - InterX® technology uses its ability to identify changes in tissue properties to provide feedback to the therapist that is valuable in the identification of optimal treatment locations. The concentric electrodes are moved across the skin, without the need for gel of any kind, scanning for areas of low impedance. Feedback is provided in a number of ways, such as changes in the way the device moves across the skin, or through readings displayed on the screen that relate to the condition of the tissue immediately under the electrodes.

Specific and targeted treatment - Once optimal treatment locations are identified, very targeted, high density stimulation is provided to specific nerve endings that are affected by trauma, pain or injury. The ability to be able to deliver treatment to tissues that have been neurologically disrupted by injury, in such a specific manner greatly enhances the effectiveness of stimulation. The Interx-Pro Sport helps initiate the healing process and removes pain generating mechanisms at a very rapid rate. This therapy unit is utilized in conjunction with all of the other methods employed at Launch Sports Chiropractic and is utilized on a case by case basis.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE-ACTIVE RELEASE TECHNIQUE(ART)

A method used to release tension in muscles, fascia, and tendons that may be caused by muscle imbalances, scar tissue and/or adhesions that develop between adjacent muscles. Can be used as a supplement to stretching or may be combined with stretching. Helpful for strained muscles, plantar fascitis/foot pain, achilles pain, neck and shoulder pain, and much more…

ATHLETIC PREPARATION

Once athletes are ready to get back on the playing field again there are certain steps that need to be taken to ensure that they are 100% protected. Taping an ankle, wrapping a hamstring, or bracing a knee are some of the injury prevention strategies that need to be employed to keep athletes healthy and on the playing field. At the same time it’s not necessary for these injury prevention methods to be used permanently. An appropriate sports specific strength program should be administered with every athlete to ensure that these injury prevention techniques can eventually be discarded.

FUNCTIONAL TAPING (KINESIOTAPING)

Functional taping is a modern taping method that acts to provide continued support of the injured area with less restriction compared to conventional taping. The properties of the kinesiotape, as well as the actual taping method help the athletes who use it maintain proper movement. It’s a more biomechanical approach to taping, and it also improves blood and lymph flow within the area being taped. The kinesiotape can be used on any muscle at any particular area of the body, whereas there are limitations with conventional taping methods with regards to anatomical locations. Article below discusses the utilization of the tape by Olympians in 2008 Beijing Olympics.
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/19/a-quirky-athletic-tape-gets-its-olympic-moment/

CONVENTIONAL TAPING

A conventional taping method is utilized in order to stabilize an area that has been recently injured. The area that is taped is typically a joint, such as an ankle or wrist. This improved stabilization decreases the range of motion in the joint enough to provide a more supportive framework surrounding the taped area. Ideally the area is taped only for a short period of time in order to allow the athlete to fully function on the playing surface upon his/her immediate return.