The doctors at Martin & Schrage Chiropractic offer a wide array of services to help you in your journey towards wellness.  Both Dr. Jennifer Howard and Dr. Leslie Martin are trained in treating patients of all ages and for an array of conditions.  

What is a Doctor of Chiropractic?

Doctors of Chiropractic practice a hands-on, drug-free approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment.  Chiropractors have the ability to diagnose and are trained to treat with physiotherapy modalities as well as rehabilitative exercises, in addition to providing nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.

Chiropractors may assess patients through clinical examination, laboratory testing, diagnostic imaging and other diagnostic interventions to determine when chiropractic treatment is appropriate or when it is not appropriate. Chiropractors are able to refer patients to other health care providers when chiropractic care is not suitable for the patient’s condition, or the condition warrants co-management in conjunction with other health care providers.

 

In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be a patient’s primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic services may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.  Like other medical professionals, doctors of chiropractic are subject to the boundaries established in state practice acts and are regulated by state licensing boards.

What is Spinal Manipulation or a chiropractic adjustment?

One of the most common and well-known therapeutic procedures performed by doctors of chiropractic is spinal manipulation (referred to as a “chiropractic adjustment”). The purpose of spinal manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become 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 an individual. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, allowing tissues to heal.

Chiropractic adjustment rarely causes discomfort. However, patients may sometimes experience mild soreness or aching following treatment (as with some forms of exercise) that usually resolves within 12 to 48 hours. Compared to other common treatments for pain, such as over the counter and prescription pain medications, chiropractic’s conservative approach offers a safe and effective option.

Dr. Jennifer Howard offers acupuncture in Omaha NE using advanced technology in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with acupuncture by using AcuGraph as a part of an integrated approach to your healthcare!  The AcuGraph Digital Meridian Imaging is a computerized tool used to analyze and document the energetic status of the acupuncture meridians.  The AcuGraph system allows Dr. Jennifer Howard to measure and analyze the energy balance of each acupuncture meridian.  Armed with this information, Dr. Jennifer Howard can make better-informed decisions about your condition, and provide the best treatment possible.  

acupuncture in Omaha NE

Within the AcuGraph system each patient will be given a P.I.E. or Personal Integrated Energetics chart.  Each wedge of the circle represents one meridian or pathway.  Those show in green are balanced and functioning properly.  Colors that do not extend to the edge of the circle identify and classify your meridian energy imbalances.  Your P.I.E. score includes a complete analysis of all of your meridian pathways and reflects the overall health of  your meridian energy system.  A perfect score of 100 reflects complete balance and unimpeded flow of your Qi or energy.  A lower score means there are various imbalances that you and Dr. Howard should address. 

 

The practice of acupuncture is the stimulation of certain acupuncture points on the human body for the purpose of controlling and regulating the flow and balance of energy in the body.  The practice includes the techniques of piercing the skin by inserting needles and point stimulation by the use of acupressure, electrical, mechanical, thermal or traditional therapeutic means.

 

Chinese medicine views the human body as a complete organic entity that interconnects the external phenomenal world and the physical bodily structure through a series of natural laws.  Chinese medicine focuses attention on the patient rather than on the disease, grouping together signs and symptoms of a disease and synthesizing them, until a clear picture appears that provides a diagnosis of the person as a whole.

Dr. Leslie Martin maintains a full body and advanced certifications in Active Release Techniques, the gold standard in soft tissue care. The combination of Active Release Techniques and chiropractic care allows Dr. Martin to treat a variety of conditions including the spine, hands, feet, knees, and shoulders just to name a few.

Active Release Technique (A.R.T.) treatment is a hands-on procedure that allows the chiropractor to diagnose and treat soft tissue injuries related to muscle, tendon, fascia, and nerves. Specific injuries include: repetitive strains, adhesions, tissue hypoxia, and joint dysfunction.

There are many places where muscles, tendons, nerves, and fascia can be stressed. These restrictions can occur by themselves or along with the subluxation complex or other joint fixations. A subluxation is a minor misalignment of the vertebrae, causing an irritation to a nerve, and usually causes the loss of normal function. The results are an interruption of communication from the brain to any cell, tissue, or organ in the body. When trauma or injury occurs, from surgery, accidents, postural distortion or repetitive strain, the body’s natural response is to form scar tissue. Scarring has a detrimental effect, causing tissues to change and adhere to themselves as well as to other related structures. These Adhesions occur as a result of the injuries and are responsible for multiple pains and discomfort.

Active Release Techniques are specific treatment methods used to remove these adhesions brought on by the injuries at virtually every part of the musculoskeletal system. In the past, soft-tissue care has meant drugs, heat, cold, rest and massage. These treatments usually do not effectively solve the problem long-term. ART treatment protocols effectively solve these problems by treating the injury at the root cause and effectively alleviating the problem.

WHAT IS AN ART® TREATMENT LIKE?

Every ART® session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART® provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

These treatment protocols – over 500 specific moves – are unique to ART®. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART® is not a cookie-cutter approach.

The Webster technique is a specific chiropractic analysis and diversified adjustment designed with the expecting mom in mind. The goal of the adjustment is to reduce the effects of sacral subluxation/ SI joint dysfunction. In so doing the function in the pelvis is improved.  The Webster technique is gentle, safe and effective in addressing discomforts in the expecting mother.  The adjustment works on the structure and soft tissues of the pelvis.  This treatment helps prepare the expecting moms in three ways:  Power to the Uterus by allowing proper nervous system communication, Passageway that the baby travels through, and allows the Passenger or baby to live and grow in a more optimal position during development.  

 

Dr. Jennifer Howard is Certified from the Academy Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics in Pediatrics as well as Webster’s Perinatal Technique Certification from the ICPA.  Dr. Jennifer Howard has found her passion in treating women and children through her own struggles. Dr. Howard and her husband experienced multiple miscarriages, if anyone knows how fertility struggles can affect you it’s Dr. Howard!  She can help you take natural steps to help your body function better and relax, keeping those hormones in check.  Dr. Howard frequently treats women that desire to get pregnant or have been “trying” for a period of time.  With natural methods, such as chiropractic and acupuncture along with proper pre-natal diet and supplementation many have had successful pregnancies without other interventions.

 

Safe & Gentle Care

Going to see a Chiropractor while being pregnant is safe and gentle for yourself and the baby. There are many benefits that you can experience before your pregnancy, during your pregnancy, and even after your pregnancy. During your pregnancy stages, you will be experiencing many physiological and hormonal changes, and with an adjustment a chiropractor is able to get ahead of the curve and help your body adapt to the changes easier and quicker than normal.

 

Getting adjusted before your pregnancy comes with many benefits such as:

  • Promotes regular menstrual cycles
  • Optimal uterine function
  • Prepares body for healthy implantation
  • Ensures proper nerve supply to reproductive organs

 

Getting adjusted during every stage of your pregnancy comes with many benefits such as:

  • Less back labor
  • Less back pain
  • Reduced need for pain medication
  • Detection, prevention and correction of fetal malposition
  • Reduction of preeclampsia
  • Shorter labor times
  • More comfort while breastfeeding and greater production of breastmilk
  • Less incidence of postpartum depression

 

“Women who received chiropractic adjustment in their third trimester were able to carry and deliver their child with much more comfort”

– Irvin Henderson,MD

Chiropractic and Kids

Your child’s way to wellness!

Dr. Jennifer Howard is Certified from the Academy Council on Chiropractic Pediatrics in Pediatrics through the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association.  

Having your child see a chiropractor is probably one of the most beneficial things you can do for them. At any age from infant to teenager; seeing a chiropractor comes along with many benefits.
 
When your child is an infant they go through many milestones such as they are learning how to roll over, how to sit and crawl, they even begin to stand and walk on their own. With the rapid development, they experience, there is no better time to ensure your child’s spine and nervous system is working to the best of their ability.  Tiny people have tiny spines and the adjustment always suits their stage in life.  The chiropractor should always use the least force necessary, and in infants and children the pressure used is light just like checking the ripeness of a tomato.  Infants, in particular, grow and go through physiological changes very quickly, with rolling over, sitting, crawling, standing, and walking all achieved in little more than a year.
 
There is no better time to care for their spine and nervous system than when they are going through their most rapid development. Effective chiropractic care offers many benefits to babies.
  • Helps with eczema and rashes
  • Relief for ear infections
  • Improves sleep
  • Helps them latch quicker
  • Helps reflux and colic
  • Helps with torticollis or tight muscles

Help Your Toddler Resist Illnesses With Fewer Drugs

Once your child becomes a toddler, they’ll learn to run, climb, jump, and fall. We’ll help them stay healthy and strong as they adjust to these newly acquired motor patterns.

 
Chiropractic care can lessen their chances of getting sick and, when they do become ill, they often will need fewer antibiotics and other drugs. Other benefits follow, as well.
  • Help with ear infections
  • Help with digestion, diarrhea, and constipation
  • Help with poor sleep
  • Help with irritability and mood swings

Let Your Preschooler Adjust to Their New, Wider World

As preschoolers range beyond the home, they’re going to run into new stressors, including illnesses, environmental chemicals, and processed foods.

 
At the same time, they often begin to spend extended time in front of the television, computer, and smartphone screens, which can affect their posture and attitudes.
 
Regular chiropractic adjustments can help.
  • Alleviate moodiness
  • Relieve allergies and asthma
  • Help with bed wetting, constipation, and diarrhea
  • Speed recovery from colds and the flu

Help Your Children Meet the Challenges at School

Once your children begin school, they are going to have to get used to sitting still for long periods of time. They’re also going to learn new sports and activities at the same time they’re exposed to even more technology and peer pressure.

 

Let us help you keep them happy and well-adjusted throughout their challenging school years.

  • Electric Muscle Stimulation or Interferential Therapy uses electrical current to reduce swelling, relieve pain and stimulate muscle. Interferential applies two different frequencies that interfere with one another to produce a medium frequency current within the tissues.

  • Ultrasound stimulates the tissue beneath the skin’s surface with high frequency sound waves. Conditions regularly treated with ultrasound include muscle strains, tendonitis, joint inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and scar tissue adhesions.  There are three primary benefits of ultrasound, firstly is healing circulation of blood flow in the muscle strain. The second is decrease pain, swelling and inflammation. The third is the massage of muscles tendons and/or ligaments, and reduce any scar tissue damage.

  • Microwave diathermy uses microwaves to generate heat in the body. It can be used to evenly warm deep tissues without heating the skin. Since it can’t penetrate deep muscles, it’s best suited for areas that are closer to the skin, such as the shoulders.

  • Cold Laser help heal tissue ailments by use of visible and/or invisible laser light deep into tissue structures. Tissue naturally contains protein strands called chromophores and cytochromes located in the mitochrondria of a cell, which have the unique ability to absorb laser light energy and transform it into chemical energy for the cell. This chemical energy is utilized by the tissue to significantly accelerate the healing process and reduce pain in the body naturally.  Infrared Laser Relief can be used for ligament sprains, muscle strains, tendonitis, bursitis, tennis elbow, neck pain, lower back pain, knee pain, pain associated with muscle spasms as well as wound healing.  
  • Ice/Heat Therapy:  Ice is a better choice than heat when you are initially injured — especially for about the first three days or so. Ice numbs pain and causes blood vessels to constrict, which helps reduce swelling.  Heat is typically better for chronic or long-term pain.  Regardless of your use of Ice or Heat, you should not use longer than 20 minutes per application.  If you like to alternate, you can do Heat for 20 minutes followed by Ice for 20 minutes.  
  • Intersegmental Traction helps misaligned or stuck joints in the spine that can hinder your movement and lead to pain.  The intersegmental traction table gently mobilizes the stuck or fixated spinal joints. It mobilizes the spinal column positively affecting not only the vertebrae, but also the discs, ligaments, muscles, and tendons. The patient lies face-up on the table, while the rollers gently move up and down the spine. Not only is it painless, but it’s also actually soothing and feels great!

The Alletess Food Sensitivity Test looks at 96 or 184 different food allergens (most people eat the same 10 food ingredients each week), including dairy, meats, fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds and random foods like coffee, sugar, etc. through a simple finger stick you can do at home or in our office.