Stacks Image 34436
Stacks Image 22578
Doctors of Chiropractic
Often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians, our Portland Maine chiropractors practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

Although we are a multidisciplinary chiropractic clinic offering a variety of non-invasive treatments, one of the most common therapeutic treatments we provide for our Southern Maine patients is known as a ”spinal manipulation," also called "chiropractic adjustment." The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile or restricted in their movement as a result of a tissue injury.

Tissue injury can be caused by a single traumatic event, such as improper lifting of a heavy object, or through repetitive stresses, such as sitting in an awkward position with poor spinal posture for an extended period of time. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished function for the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and allowing tissues to heal.

If you are interested in obtaining more information regarding chiropractic care in Portland Maine, please contact our Mend Health and Wellness team in Scarborough Maine.
Stacks Image 22581
Graston Technique

What is Graston Technique?
Graston Technique is an innovative and proven approach to the diagnosis and treatment acute and chronic soft-tissue injuries. It is performed with patented stainless-steel instruments designed to detect and treat soft-tissue fibrosis (scar tissue) in order to reduce pain and restore function. Our chiropractors at Mend Health of Maine have been certified in the application of Graston Technique to help correct scar tissue.

How is Scar Tissue Treated?
Just as a stethoscope amplifies what the human ear can hear, the Graston instruments amplify what the human hand can feel. Our Mend Health of Maine certified providers of the Graston Technique are trained in how to scan the tissue for areas of scar tissue build-up, allowing previously undetected areas of fibrosis to be treated effectively. Once the dysfunctional tissue has been identified, the practitioner can use the appropriate tool to focus on the area of adhesion and break down the scar tissue for the body to absorb. The small amount of inflammation created by the treatment process “re-starts” the healing process, this time with specific instructions for the patient to help promote the development of healthy, properly aligned tissue in the same area.

How Can I Benefit?
Graston Technique® protocols include a thorough medical history—to include a focused mechanical history and to rule out contraindications, as well as to identify the effects of activity (type, frequency, duration, intensity, range of motion, loaded vs. unloaded)—before treatment starts to determine response to care. A physical examination is performed that may also include active and passive range of motion, orthopedic, neurological and functional tests.

If you are interested in obtaining more information regarding our many soft tissue mobilization techniques near Portland Maine, please contact our Mend Health of Maine team in Scarborough.
Stacks Image 22584
Myofascial Release

Our doctors have been trained in a very specialized form of hands-on soft tissue therapy unique to our office called Instrumented Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASM) and Myofascial Release Technique protocols (MRT). Soft tissue mobilization is a manual method of treatment. The thumbs, fingers, hands and elbows of the provider may be used to apply pressure to the various muscles. This often occurs with the patient actively involved in some form of motion.

With most soft tissue and joint-related injuries there is inflammation, scar tissue formation and a resulting loss in range of motion. Our treatments, encourages the joints and soft tissue structures of the body to reach there complete end-range position. This eliminates adhesions and blockages in the soft tissue structures and joints and returns the body to a pain-free status. Soft tissue therapy helps restore normal joint range of motion, relieves painful trigger points and improves muscle strength and function.

By applying hand pressure into and around damaged soft tissue, your Southern Maine chiropractor can release restrictions created by scar tissue formation. This soft tissue therapy also brings oxygen and other healing nutrients to the scar tissue site.The amount of pressure that is provided varies with the diagnosis, age of the patient, overall health of the patient, and consideration of the patient’s goals and the provider’s goals. The method of treatment performed at Mend Health of Maine addresses all the soft tissues surrounding the involved joint or region.

If you are interested in obtaining more information regarding our many soft tissue mobilization techniques in Maine, please contact our Mend Health and Wellness team in Scarborough Maine.
Stacks Image 22589
Kinesiotape

Kinesio taping in Portland Maine is becoming very popular after gaining notoriety at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Kinesio tape is a hypoallergenic, latex free, highly elastic form of sports tape. First used by acupuncturists and chiropractors in Japan, today kinesiology tape is used by practitioners throughout the world to treat injuries and improve sports performance.

The primary purpose of kinesio taping is to give support and stability to the muscles and joints without restricting circulation or movement. In addition to providing support for joints and muscles, it also aids in the elimination of pain and encourages lymphatic drainage and blood flow throughout the tissues.

Kinesio tape is unique in the way it both supports an affected area while also rehabilitating it. It is very light and comfortable on the skin causing no compression or alteration of normal circulatory flow. Kinesio tape has an elasticity of about 140% of its original length thus allowing full motion, while preventing over stretching of the muscles. Muscles are constantly contracting and extending within a normal range of motion. Healthy muscles have natural spacing between the skin and the muscle allowing for the normal circulation. When a muscle is inflamed, injured, or swollen, the space between it and the skin lessens and the muscle becomes compressed. This pressure causes the person to experience pain.

Normal sports taping of an affected joint or muscle supports the area, but also further compresses it causing a decrease in circulation. Through the alleviation of compression affecting the musculature, pressure is relived from nearby nerves, blood, and lymph vessels. As these systems begin to function properly, inflammation and pain begin to decrease, and the restoration of full range of motion is accomplished. While the use of kinesiology tape is often associated with athletes, medical professionals have been using kinesiology tape to alleviate a wide variety of ailments, not just sports injuries. It can be used to treat sports and non-sports injuries, including shin splints, plantar fasciitis, runner’s knee and back pain.

Our chiropractors at Mend Health and Wellness have been properly trained in the application of kinesio tape to help correct abnormal muscle function. If you are suffering from any of these conditions or are interested in obtaining more information regarding kinesio taping, please contact our team in Southern Maine.
Stacks Image 29081
Functional Rehabilitation

What is Functional Rehabilitation and how does it differ from traditional physical therapy? Functional rehabilitation is a philosophical shift from treating the area of pain to treating the area of dysfunction. In other words, instead of treating what hurts, we treat what’s causing the pain. In any treatment plan, once the underlying cause of the pain is identified and corrected, rehabilitation is the next logical step.

Studies have shown that without rehabilitation of injured areas, recovery from an acute injury or chronic condition takes longer and the potential for re-injury remains high. That’s why our approach utilizes a test, treat, and retest approach, ensuring patients receive the highest standard of care possible.

After a thorough assessment, we can prescribe a functional exercise program designed to address all the limitations and thus decrease pain and improve function. Our active care consists of treatment therapy that involves sequenced exercises and stretching for maximum healing. Functional Rehabilitation therapy can help improve flexibility, increase muscle strength, and enhance balance and co-cordination. For each patient, a rehabilitation program will be custom-designed for you with the goal of expediting the recovery process and prevention of re-injury.

Strengthening our bodies is the key element of injury prevention. The exercises prescribed will be performed using positions and activities that closely resemble the movements that we wish to perform. For instance, if you wish to return to golfing, your stretches will look a lot like the backswing and follow-through. Your strengthening exercises will be performed in an upright position and require rotating in a pain-free manner.

Our chiropractors at Mend Health and Wellness have pursued additional post graduate certificates in strength and conditioning. If you are interested in obtaining more information regarding our rehabilitation, please contact chiropractors in Scarborough Maine.