Bee Caves Chiropractic & Scoliosis Center

We’ve all probably seen an ultrasound image at some point in our lives and some of us (women especially) may have had gone through their own ultrasound diagnostic test. Ultrasound, simply enough, is a process by which sound waves are sent throughout the body. As the sound bounces off part of the body images are produced of the structures within and beamed to a video screen.

This is an extremely popular method used to look at developing babies in the womb and examining the heart for possible abnormalities as well, but can this burgeoning technology diagnose back pain?

As an Austin Chiropractic care provider myself, I pride myself on keeping up with new technologies—especially technologies that can help me more quickly identify problem areas of my patients and treat these issues.  With this in mind, I decided to take a closer look at the claims of diagnostic ultrasound equipment to see if it was really possible to “see” pain using these machines.

First of all, any equipment that would allow a doctor to see pain that a patient was experiencing would be a blessing indeed. Chiropractic care especially often deals with pain centers based on minute areas of inflammation or nerve damage.

Standards of chiropractic care in the Austin area, as well as in other areas of the US, follows the basic, but proven, procedures of listening to the patient. This includes performing a variety of biomechanical tests on the body to test range of motion and pain centers, and then administering gentle manipulation to help guide the spinal column to its normal positioning. If a piece of equipment could provide an EXACT diagnosis, this process would be much more targeted as the doctor would have an exacting picture of the problem area and know the best way to alleviate the pain. The problem is the claims made by the manufacturers of these machines have, thus far, much outweighed the chiropractic benefits.

First of all, the makers of Ultrasound equipment have attested to its effectiveness in using it to specifically identify problems in the spines of adults. The fact is, little or NO medical research exists to support the ultrasound manufacturer’s statements, and so, while the makers of this equipment may think this is POSSIBLE, it is certainly not proven.

In addition, because the tiny impingements that can occur in the spinal region are, well–TINY–modern day ultrasound imaging is simply not effective in providing pictures with enough detail to make accurate diagnosis.

Of all the evidence that exists to downplay the effectiveness of this equipment perhaps the greatest of all lies in the skill of the user. The training provided is offered by the manufacturer is less than comprehensive at just under 12 hours of instruction. From a medical perspective, 12 hours of training using a brand new piece of equipment may not be enough to a base serious medical opinion.

One crucial fact of the effectiveness of ultrasound equipment in ANY application relates directly to the skill and experience of the user.  In my opinion 12 hours does not equal enough training for running an ultrasound device.

Now, please keep in mind, ultrasound ABSOLUTELY has many valid uses. My point is not to downplay the use of the technology, but simply to question its effectiveness in the field of chiropractic care. I am dedicated to my patients and providing them the best care possible with the techniques and equipment available today. If there is something new on the horizon that is more effective, I will certainly give it a try.

Unfortunately, I don’t believe that ultrasound equipment does meet my criteria for chiropractic patient care at this time. As the technology improves, this may change in time. As for now, my Austin chiropractic team will continue to diagnose and treat patients using the most advanced and effective chiropractic treatments available, and you can be sure we will always be on the lookout for better and more effective methods of pain relief.

Hey all, Dr Zeke here again, hope you all are well!

I just had to post something about a new therapy addition to my Austin chiropractic practice called the ATM2 which stands for Active Therapeutic Movements.  Sounds interesting, I’m sure, but the fact is, this piece of equipment has absolutely made an incredible difference in the lives of my patients already and is one of the coolest (and most effective) advancements to come along in the field of chiropractic care in a long time.

What the ATM is, is a wall mounted device that helps to support you while you are doing specific active or static exercises. I know, sounds boring, but trust me, if you have ever suffered pain and had to do some rehab work, you know how painful it can be.

If a certain body part is in pain, and you are supposed to perform some exercises to help strengthen the area, it can be painful to just stand and support yourself while you are doing the exercises. The ATM machine provides the support so you ONLY move the body part you need to thereby reducing the pain associated with any of the movements.

All you do is place the comfortable support straps around your body to hold you in place. These straps are like gentle but secure “seatbelts” that help keep your body stabilized while you are performing either neck, upper back, or lower back movements. You will be comfortably held in place throughout the process and can perform the exercises prescribed in comfort.

I have to say, the people who have tried it so far have been AMAZED! Many of my chiropractic patients here in Austin, Texas absolutely DREAD doing physical therapy because of the pain associated with just supporting their frame while doing the exercises. With the Active Therapeutic Movement system, this is no longer an issue. It really is like receiving a gentle hug while getting your body back on the road to recovery.

For anyone who wants to check it out feel free to stop by my Austin chiropractic office anytime for a quick demo. If you are suffering from any type of back or neck pain currently then you should definitely chat with me about how the ATM system can possibly help.  Here’s to a healthy and active lifestyle, Dr Zeke, signing off!

Because nutrition plays such a key role in your continued wellness, we offer nutritional supplements to our Austin chiropractic patients based on thorough patient health assessments. All the product lines we endorse are available through our office.

Metagenics is a renowned provider of medical food products, and Transformation Enzymes Corp. offers digestive enzymes to facilitate the digestive process and improve the body’s ability to maintain balanced metabolism.

A balanced diet is important for a healthy lifestyle, and we recommend the Zone Diet to many of our patients. Also, LifeGuard’s Omega-3 products are sold in their natural form, which is more easily absorbed by the body and mirrors what is derived from actually consuming fish without the potentially harmful toxins.