Chiropractic Care | Extremity Care | Acupuncture
Electronic Muscle Stimulation | Ultrasound | Biomechanical Training
Cold Laser Therapy | Orthotics Casting | Nutritional Counseling
Exercise Consulting | Doula Services | Pregnancy Massage
Swedish Massage | Hot Stone Massage | Deep Tissue Massage
Pregnancy and Pediatric Chiropractic Care
Chiropractic care at Chiropractic Performance Center is very patient specific. Dr. Sara specializes in the "Diversified Technique", which is the classic techniques developed by DD Palmer, the father of chiropractic. We realize that the same techniques are not perfect for everyone, so we tailor your care to meet your specific needs. Chiropractic adjusting should be very specific to the segments of the spine that are not working properly. An adjustment should not be painful and you should always feel better leaving our office than when you walked in.
Dr. Sara is a sports specialist and has had extra training in techniques to adjust the extremities. The focus is on restoration to normal biomechanical function and the correction of any motion restrictions. This can be applied to any joint in the body including shoulders, elbows, wrist/hand, hips, knees and ankles.
A Chinese system of natural healing (no drugs-no surgery) which is concerned with restoring proper energy flow to the various organs, glands and tissues of the body on the premise that most diseases are the result of malfunction due to disrupted energetics.
Electronic Muscle Stimulation is a form of muscle therapy that improves circulation, reduces muscle pain and spasm, inflammation and enhances soft tissue healing. Small pads are placed on the area of pain/muscle spasms. Small electrical impulses are sent through these pads. The impulses cause a contraction of the muscle while it's at rest, which helps decrease spasms and increase healing and strength.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound transmits high frequency sound waves and comforting heat that is continuously passed over a specific area. The vibrations and heat penetrate through several layers of the soft tissue, which massages the muscle, encouraging blood flow and reduced tension in a muscle or group of muscles.
Biomechanical Training
Biomechanical training can increase power, efficiency, comfort and safety in sports and activities. Biomechanics is the study of human movements and the forces acting on the muscle and skeletal systems. Our biomechanical training improves proprioception and balance, improving the brain's awareness of movement and body position. Balance and biomechanical training activities will integrate the visual, auditory, kinesthetic, tactile and vestibular senses that have the effect of improving the proprioceptive processes that help to reduce injuries and improve performance.
The Cold Laser is a low powered, non-thermal, monochromatic light. It normalizes cellular function by stimulating your cellular energy and enzyme production. It also stimulates your immune system and increases the communication among your cells. Most obvious to you will be a decrease in pain and a feeling of "lightness". This "lightness" is a result of the restoration of coordination between your muscles, nerves and circulation. When your body's systems are balances, you use less energy compensating for any lack of coordination. Benefits of Cold Laser Therapy include pain relief, balanced muscles and neurology, improved athletic performance, stimulating cellular energy metabolism, faster wound healing, stimulating your immune system and a decrease in inflammation.
We will custom fit orthotics for you if we feel it would be an asset to your treatment program. All of our orthotics are custom made for each patient by Marathon Orthotics in Bloomington, MN. Marathon Orthotics customers include many of the professional athletic teams in the state of Minnesota.
Nutritional Counseling
We will work with you to improve your health and quality of life naturally. Dr. Sara has extensive knowledge in nutritional therapies for specific health conditions. If you are looking for alternatives to traditional medicine and drugs, we would be happy to work with you. Health comes from within, so we need to take care of the inside as well. There is a lot of information available about vitamins and supplements. We can help you sort out what you should and shouldn't be taking.
Dr. Sara is a Certified Athletic Trainer and has worked as a Personal Trainer in the past. She can help you perfect your workout routine or guide you in the right direction if you are just starting out. There may be exercises you should or shouldn't be doing, bases on your health condition, and we will advise you on the best workout for your most complete and quickest recovery.
The Greek word Doula means woman caregiver. We now use the word to describe a trained and experienced labor companion who provides the woman and her husband or partner continuous emotional support, physical comfort and assistance in obtaining information before, during and just after childbirth.
The doula is emerging as a positive contribution to the care of women in labor. By attending to the woman's emotional needs, some obstetric outcomes are improved. Just as importantly, early mother-infant relationships and breastfeeding are enhanced. Women's satisfaction with their birth experiences and even their self-esteem appears to improve when a doula has assisted them through childbirth. Given the clear benefits and no known risks associated with intrapartum support, every effort should be made to ensure that all laboring women receive support, not only from those close to them, but also from specially trained caregivers. This support should include continuous presence, the provision of hand-on comfort and encouragement.
Pregnancy massage is the prenatal use of massage therapy to support the physiologic, structural, and emotional well-being of both mother and fetus. Various forms of massage, including stretching, Swedish massage, and deep tissue massage, may be applied throughout pregnancy.
Massage therapy can help a woman approach her due date with less anxiety as well as less physical discomfort. Even apart from easing specific aches, massage can act as an overall tonic and increase the expectant mother's body awareness.
The term "Swedish Massage" refers to a variety of techniques specifically designed to relax muscles by applying pressure to them against deeper muscles and bones, and rubbing in the same direction as the flow of blood returning to the heart. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles.
Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain. It increases circulation and stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them flexible. Swedish Massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system and reduces stress. Swedish massage is relaxing and invigorating. It affects the nerves, muscles, glands, and circulation, while promoting health and well-being.
Hot stone massage is a form of bodywork that involves the application of heated stones to the body during deep tissue massage. The deep penetrating heat of these hot stones prepares the body for deeper work, allowing trigger points to dissolve and fade with minimal effort. The weight and feel of the stones also provide a physical and mental comfort. Hot Stone Massage stimulates the circulatory system and promotes self-healing. It softens and relaxes the muscles and helps to release toxins from the muscles. Hot stone massage induces a state of deep relaxation that washes away stress. It helps relieve pain and muscle spasms.
Deep Tissue Massage
Deep Tissue Massage is a massage technique that focuses on the deeper layers of muscle tissue. It aims to release the chronic patterns of tension in the body. It is both corrective and therapeutic. Deep tissue massage is used to release chronic muscle tension through slower strokes and more direct deep pressure or friction applied across the grain of the muscles. Deep tissue massage helps to break up and eliminate scar tissue. Deep Tissue Massage is beneficial to your health. When muscles are stressed, they block oxygen and nutrients, leading to inflammation that builds up toxins in the muscle tissue. A deep tissue massage helps loosen muscle tissues, release toxins from muscles and get blood and oxygen circulating properly. Because many toxins are released, it's important to drink plenty of water after a deep tissue session to help eliminate these toxins from the body.
Pregnancy and Pediatric Chiropractic Care
Pregnancy and Birth as a Natural Process with Chiropractic Care
supporting this Process
Chiropractic Care in pregnancy is vital to the normal physiological function of both the mother and the baby in pregnancy and birth.
For the mother:
• Prepares the pelvis for an easier pregnancy and birth by creating a state
of balance in pelvic bony structures, muscles, and ligaments.
• Removes tension on the ligaments that support the uterus thus reducing
torsion (intrauterine constraint) to the woman's uterus.
• Reduces interference to the mother's vital nervous system which controls
and coordinates all of her systems and functions.
• Allows for a safer easier birth for the mother, decreasing the potential
for intervention.
For the infant:
• Removes interference to the mother's nervous system allowing for better
baby development.
• Allows the baby the room to develop without restrictions to its forming
cranium, spine, and other skeletal structures.
• Offers the baby the room to move into the best possible position for birth.
• With proper fetal positioning, there is a significant decrease in dystocia
and the resulting birth trauma caused by intervention.
Webster Technique
The Webster Technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and adjustment that reduces interference to the nervous system and balances pelvic muscles and ligaments. This in turn reduces the cause of intra-uterine constraint and allows the baby to get into the best possible position for birth.
Pediatric Chiropractic Care
"As the twig is bent, the tree inclines." Virgil (19-70BC)
The research community suggests that spinal micro and macro trauma may be detected as early as the fetus within the uterus or even during the normal delivery procedures. There are three causes of vertebral subluxation - physical, chemical and mental/emotional. The largest window to influence the spine within the first 5 years of life. Chiropractic care can help with a number of pediatric conditions including: falls/injuries, asthma, ear infections, bed-wetting, allergies, colic and digestive issues, ADD/ADHD, and scoliosis. This information is not meant to imply that a Doctor of Chiropractic treats, cures, or prevents any disease. Chiropractic care is gentle and safe for children of all ages. Spinal problems that go undetected or neglected in kids may become more serious as adults. Contact our office, where we specialize in Family Wellness Care and act now for you and your children.