Apex Health Chiropractic
Trung Tang, D.C.
Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME)
Certified Strength Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
Certified Chiropractic Sport Practitioner (CCSP)
NRCME certified
The skill set of any individual in any given profession will undoubtedly vary. Although they may all have achieved the minimum standards of proficiency set by the state's credentialing boards to allow them to engage in their chosen profession, sometimes the minimum is not enough. This holds true especially when choosing a Chiropractor given that manipulation of the joints of your body is a skill that cannot acquired from reading but developed through practice and varies greatly between individuals just as certain artists or athletes have varying skills. The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) and California Chronic Pain Medical Treatment Guidelines indicate that manipulation is manual therapy that moves a joint beyond the physiologic range-of-motion but not beyond the anatomic range-of-motion. Although there is a myriad of manipulative techniques that have been incorporated in practice among Chiropractors, if the technique does not move the joint beyond the physiologic range of motion then a manipulation has not been performed. Manipulation is the foundation of the Chiropractic profession. Generally, the Chiropractor will place the patient in the proper position and apply a thrust with their hands to achieve this movement. The thrust should not be forceful as to cause immediate pain however enough to move the joint. Chiropractors may also incorporate therapeutic modalities such as electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, etc. however the use of these modalities without manipulation is in essence physiotherapy and not per se chiropractic care. The isolated use of physiotherapy modalities may or may not be sufficient for a given condition. Setting aside the philosophy and techniques of manipulation, doctors of chiropractic (DC), physical therapists (PT), and osteopathic medical doctors (DO) have ALL applied this therapeutic procedure to achieve functional improvement in patients. Given that various healthcare professions incorporate manipulation in their treatment regimen; randomized clinical trials have shown manipulation to be more effective when compared to other therapies; various authoritative guidelines have recommended it as an option for musculoskeletal conditions; and insurance companies cannot deny this procedure if used when warranted, there should be no questions as to whether manipulation is effective. It's your health so please do your own research and do not rely on the advise of biased or jaded individuals who themselves may only be passing on the unfounded belief of others or had never undergone manipulation at all or a proper manipulation. As with any treatment therapy such as medication, acupuncture, and physical therapy, manipulation is not 100% effective for any given condition. If a treatment therapy was 100% effective then there would not be a need for any of the other therapies. As they say, there not many things in life that are guaranteed. Each of the therapies mentioned has its merits and limits. Whether the treatment is from a DC, PT, DO, or LAc, it does not take a magic number of visits to suddenly be effective. Generally a trial of six sessions have been recommended to produce an improvement in function or pain and additional treatment is only warranted if there is evidence of improvement. In addition Chiropractic manipulation is not a solution to all ailments as some Chiropractors may claim. The scope of the Chiropractic profession is limited to the treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Musculoskeletal disorders are those that affect the muscles, bones, and joints. Finding the right healthcare provider absolutely makes a difference. Any healthcare provider who is unable to demonstrate their effectiveness in the first six visits should refer the patient out to another provider or different type of provider.
