Therapies
Chiropractic
The basic premise of chiropractic is to remove pressure from the nerves that exit the spine by “adjusting” the vertebra. The communication between the nervous system and the other systems of the body direct the body on how it should operate, brain to nerve, nerve to organ or muscle etc. It is the purpose of your brain, spinal cord and all the nerves of your body to direct and control the function of every cell, tissue and organ.
When there is interference with this complex orchestra of controlling nerve impulses there is a breakdown in the basic communication of the body.
A chiropractic adjustment is the use of a specific force in a precise direction to a joint that is fixated or not moving properly to help normalize spinal function.
There are hundreds of ways to adjust the spine. In this office we utilize whatever is appropriate and to the patient’s tolerance such as Diversified Technique, (SOT) Sacral Occipital Technique, Drop Table and a specially designed instrument called an “adjuster” or an activator (a small hand held instrument) or the doctor will use her hands for what is called an osseous adjustment.
By utilizing nutrition with chiropractic we can profoundly increase the efficacy of both and reduce the number of office visits commonly seen with conventional chiropractic treatment.
Nutrition
Clinical nutrition is the practice of analyzing if a person is consuming an adequate amount of nutrients for good health. A clinical nutritionist is concerned with how nutrients in food are processed, stored and discarded by your body, along with how what you eat affects your overall well-being. Professionals in this field assess your nutritional needs based on your family and medical history, lifestyle and laboratory tests in order to make recommendations on your diet and individual nutritional needs. A clinical nutritionist may provide advice on changes to your diet that may help prevent disease.
Nutrition Response Testing
Chronically Recurring Subluxation Stops Here with Dr. Kartch’s Nutrition Response Testing(SM)
Preventing Recurring Subluxations with Nutrition:
- Determines the cause of ineffective adjustments.
- Corrects and prevents recurring subluxations.
- Properly checks the body’s “innate intelligence” by assessing the status of the body’s autonomic nervous system.
- Prevent Recurring Subluxations with Nutrition.
More often than you might imagine, the chronically recurring subluxation is simply the effect of the organ referring to the vertebra and causing a subluxation complex.
With the addition of NR Testing, Dr. Kartch has discovered more fulfillment in her role as a healer, and as a “whole body natural health expert.”
What is Nutrition Response Testing?
Nutrition Response Testing is a non-invasive system of analyzing the body to determine the underlying causes of ill or non-optimum health.
A normal, healthy body naturally heals from most types of conditions – whether illness or injury. If a person has a health condition that is not healing, there must be a barrier to healing. That’s what has to be identified. Then the body has to be supported to overcome that barrier to healing. No matter what supplements you take, or healing methods you try, if you don’t identify and remove the barriers to healing, you can’t reach your health potential.
Typical barriers to healing include a weak immune system, allergies, and the effects of toxic chemicals and metals on the body. There are others, too, in our office we identify these and remove them. People are usually amazed at how fast the healing starts with just a few key changes in their lives.
WHAT IS GRASTON TECHNIQUE?
Graston Technique® (GT) is a unique, evidence-based form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively and efficiently address soft tissue lesions and fascial restrictions resulting in improved patient outcomes.GT uses specially designed stainless-steel instruments with unique treatment edges and angles to deliver an effective means of manual therapy. The use of GT instruments, when combined with appropriate therapeutic exercise, leads to the restoration of pain-free movement and function. The instruments also are used diagnostically to assess the kinetic chain, in an efficient manner using the principles of regional interdependence.
IS GRASTON TECHNIQUE AN EVIDENCE-BASED FORM OF MANUAL THERAPY?
Empirical and anecdotal evidence exists for the following physiological effects of GT:
- Separates and breaks down collagen cross-links, and splays and stretches connective tissue and muscle fibers
- Facilitates reflex changes in the chronic muscle holding pattern (inhibition of abnormal tone/guarding leading to pain reduction via improved sensory input)
- Alters/inhibits spinal reflex activity (facilitated segment)
- Increases the rate and amount of blood flow to and from the area (angiogenesis vs. immediate local increases in blood flow)
- Increases cellular activity in the region, including fibroblasts and mast cells
- Increases histamine response secondary to mast cell activity
IS SCAR TISSUE A PROBLEM?
Scar tissue limits range of motion due to its negative impact on sensory-motor firing rates and frequencies. Abnormal sensory inputs perpetuate a dysfunctional cycle of nervous system sensitization, pain and dysfunctional movement/motor output. GT offers a positive method of manual therapy that interrupts and breaks this cycle of pain and dysfunctional movement.
HOW IS SCAR TISSUE DIFFERENT FROM OTHER TISSUE?
When viewed under a microscope, normal tissue can be organized in a couple of different fashions: dense, regular elongated fibers running in the same direction, such as tendons and ligaments; or dense and loose, irregular with fibers running in multiple directions. In either instance, when tissue is damaged, it will often heal in a fibrotic, haphazard manner and may appear radio-dense under diagnostic ultrasound. The tissue may show thickening, irregular organization or less precise margins as compared to non-injured tissues, which results in a restricted range of motion and, very often, pain and functional limitations.
IS GRASTON TECHNIQUE SOMETHING NEW?
The concept of cross fiber massage is not new. Graston Technique® is grounded in the works of Dr. James Cyriax, a British orthopedic surgeon.
WHAT KINDS OF RESULTS DOES GT PRODUCE?
Historically, the Graston Technique® has had positive outcomes in 75-90 percent of all conditions treated. It is equally effective in restoring function to acute and chronic injuries, pre- and post-surgical patients and maintaining optimal range of motion.
WHAT CONDITIONS CAN BE TREATED BY GT?
GT-trained clinicians use GT instruments to effectively and efficiently address soft tissue lesions and fascial restrictions while treating acute and chronic conditions, including:
- Achilles Tendinitis/osis (ankle pain)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (wrist pain)
- Cervicothoracic Sprain/Strain (neck pain)
- Fibromyalgia
- Lateral Epicondylitis/osis (tennis elbow)
- Lumbosacral Sprain/Strain (back pain)
- Medial Epicondylitis/osis (golfer’s elbow)
- Myofascial Pain Syndromes
- Patellofemoral Disorders (knee pain)
- Plantar Fasciitis/osis (foot pain)
- Post surgeries such as joint replacements, RTC repairs (once post-surgical protocol allows for soft tissue mobilization/manual therapy)
- Rotator Cuff Tendinitis/osis (shoulder pain)
- Scar Tissue/post-surgical scars (once completely closed)
- Patients demonstrating central and/or peripheral sensitization (only used in light stroking/brushing mode to desensitize)
- Shin Splints
- Trigger Finger
- Women’s Health (post-mastectomy and Caesarean scarring)
Graston Technique® can be used to treat any movement system dysfunction that has been determined to have a soft tissue component.
For more Demonstrations of Graston
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Holistic Rehabilitation
Holistic Rehabilitation looks at the whole body by diagnosing the recurring musculo-skeletal problems and treating their primary causes. The human body is a healing machine, but it may need a new guidance system after an injury or an illness. Holistic rehabilitation finds the right combination of treatments that allow the quickest healing. Dr. Kartch uses a variety of gentle and effective treatments to decrease pain and restore function. Her patents get better quickly and their adjustments hold longer.
Chiropractic: The bones in the spine are crucial, not only to joint flexibility, but also to the health and strength of the entire body. The vertebrae are designed to move as well as to protect the spinal cord. Sometimes these bones get “stuck” – they don’t move enough or they move too much. Tension imbalances in the spinal muscles must be corrected before a manipulation can “hold”.
Trigenics
Injuries create new imbalances in the muscle-nerve and spinal habits. As a result some muscles get chronically tight and/or weak. Trigenics can retrain the nerve-muscle communication by lengthening the tight muscles and strengthening the weak muscles.
Orthotics
Since perfect feet are rare, custom-made STEP FORWARD orthotics will correct the feet as well as some foot-related abnormalities affecting the knees, hips, and upper body.
CONTACT US
Dr. Karen Kartch P.C.
3661 Grand Ave. Suite 101
Oakland, CA 94610
CLINIC HOURS
Tuesday 9.00 – 2.30 pm
Wednesday 10.00 – 2.30 pm
Thursday 10.00 – 2.30 pm
Friday 9.00 – 12.30 pm