How We Treat - Chiropractic Techniques
At La Costa Chiropractic & Wellness, chiropractic care begins with a detailed understanding of each patient’s health history, symptoms, posture, movement, and spinal function.
Our team uses a combination of chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue therapies, spinal traction, Cox flexion-distraction, drop table technique, Activator technique, cold laser therapy, ultrasound, muscle stimulation, exercise guidance, and wellness recommendations based on each patient’s examination findings.
Every care plan is designed around the patient’s condition, physical needs, lifestyle, and response to care.
Spinal adjustments are the foundation of chiropractic care, designed to restore proper alignment and improve nervous system function. When joints in the spine become restricted or misaligned, they can cause pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility. Through precise, controlled techniques, chiropractors gently correct these misalignments to relieve pressure, reduce inflammation, and enhance overall body performance. Many patients notice improved posture and better flexibility after consistent care. Spinal adjustments are safe, effective, and tailored to your comfort level and condition.
Spinal traction may be used for patients with disc-related concerns, degenerative changes, or nerve pressure findings.
La Costa Chiropractic & Wellness uses Cox flexion-distraction for the lumbar spine and cervical traction for the neck. These traction-based techniques are used to create controlled spinal movement and reduce stress on affected areas.
Care may also include chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work, muscle stimulation, cold laser therapy, ultrasound, and prescribed exercises based on the patient’s needs.
Chiropractic care at La Costa Chiropractic & Wellness focuses on identifying spinal dysfunction, restricted movement, and alignment changes that may contribute to musculoskeletal symptoms.
A new patient evaluation may include a detailed history, posture and alignment assessment, mobility and range of motion testing, orthopedic examination, neurological examination, surface electromyography, spinal thermal scanning, and X-rays if needed.
Care may include chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work, heat, percussive massage, muscle stimulation, traction, drop table technique, Activator technique, Cox flexion-distraction, ultrasound, cold laser therapy, prescribed exercises, ergonomic guidance, and nutritional recommendations.
Pediatric chiropractic care is adapted to the child’s age, size, and stage of development.
For babies and younger children, care may involve very light hands-on pressure or the Activator instrument. For older children, adjustments may be similar to adult care but are performed with a lighter approach.
Pediatric visits may focus on posture, spinal alignment, movement restrictions, and physical stress from play, falls, or youth sports.
Massage therapy supports chiropractic care by addressing muscle tension, soft tissue restriction, and movement limitations.
Depending on the patient’s condition, care may include light massage, percussive massage, deep tissue massage, or soft tissue work. Massage therapy may be used before adjustments to help the surrounding muscles relax and allow the spine and joints to move more effectively.
Massage therapy may also support patients with neck concerns, back concerns, shoulder issues, sports-related strain, and general mobility limitations.
Prenatal chiropractic care is modified for comfort, safety, and the physical changes that occur during pregnancy.
Pregnant patients may visit for lower back discomfort, sciatic nerve-related symptoms, pelvic pressure, or general alignment concerns. Care may include light heat, light massage, soft tissue work, spinal and pelvic assessment, and chiropractic adjustments.
The goal is to support spinal and pelvic alignment, mobility, and comfort throughout pregnancy.
Wellness care focuses on maintaining spinal function, movement, and alignment over time.
Patients may receive exercise recommendations, prescribed do’s and don’ts, ergonomic guidance, nutritional recommendations, progress assessments, and progress X-rays if needed. The clinic may also use computerized measurements and a functional score to help patients better understand their spinal health.
Ongoing care may include periodic chiropractic adjustments, traction, soft tissue work, posture guidance, mobility exercises, and lifestyle recommendations.
Activator technique is a light instrument-assisted chiropractic method used for specific areas of spinal misalignment or restricted movement.
The Activator applies small, controlled impulses to targeted points of the spine. This technique may be used for patients who prefer a lighter approach or need a more gentle adjustment method.
Activator care may be combined with other chiropractic techniques, soft tissue therapy, posture assessment, and exercise guidance.
Drop table technique is used to support chiropractic adjustments for the neck, mid back, low back, and pelvis.
The clinic’s chiropractic tables include drop function, which allows the doctor to apply a controlled adjustment while the table section gently drops. This technique may help address restricted movement and alignment changes in a comfortable way.
Drop table care may be combined with heat, massage, muscle stimulation, traction, exercise recommendations, or other supportive therapies.
Cox flexion-distraction is a traction-based chiropractic technique used for the lower back.
This technique uses a specialized table to create controlled movement and separation in the lumbar spine. It may be used for patients with disc-related findings, degenerative changes, or sciatic nerve-related symptoms.
Care may also include chiropractic adjustments, muscle stimulation, soft tissue work, cold laser therapy, and prescribed exercises.
Cold laser therapy is used as a supportive therapy for certain soft tissue, joint, neck, shoulder, sports-related, and disc-related concerns.
Cold laser may be included with chiropractic adjustments, soft tissue work, muscle stimulation, ultrasound, traction, and home exercises based on the patient’s findings and care plan.
This therapy is used as part of a broader approach to support tissue function, movement, and recovery.