Services & Techniques

At Wellness Unlimited, we take great pride in providing the finest chiropractic care to each and every patient. We have included information below about the different chiropractic services offered in our Marion chiropractic office, but please call us at (618) 964-6976 if you have any questions!

Chiropractic Care

We provide advanced spinal correction and chiropractic adjustments utilizing "state of the art" chiropractic techniques. Never in the history of chiropractic care have chiropractors been able to provide the level of help that is available today. Many of the newest chiropractic techniques are actually safer, more comfortable and more effective than ever before. As a chiropractor who cares about utilizing the most advanced chiropractic techniques, Dr. Martie Blue has years of training, and experience in helping patients get pain relief for back pain, neck pain, headaches, and other related conditions originating from the spine. Chiropractic care under a trained professional can even be used to prevent injuries and help you achieve total health or wellness.


What is dry needling?

Dry Needling, or Intramuscular Manual Therapy, is a neurophysiological evidence-based treatment technique used to treat myofascial pain that uses a dry needle, without medication. When inserted into a contracture knot, the goal is to release or inactivate the trigger points and relieve the pain.

Is dry needling similar to acupuncture?

Dry needling is strictly based on Western medicine principles and research.

How does dry needling work?

There are mechanical and biochemical effects. Based on the pioneering studies by Dr. Jay Shah and colleagues at the National Institutes of Health, we know that inserting a needle into trigger points can cause favorable biochemical changes, which assist in reducing pain. It is essential to elicit so-called local twitch responses, which are spinal cord reflexes. Getting local twitch responses with dry needling is the first step in breaking the pain cycle.

What type of problems can be treated with dry needling?

Dry needling can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal problems. Muscles are thought to be a primary contributing factor to the symptoms. Such conditions include, but are not limited to neck, back and shoulder pain, arm pain (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer's elbow), headache to include migraines and tension-type headaches, jaw pain, buttock pain and leg pain (sciatica, hamstrings strains, calf tightness/spasms). The treatment of muscles has the greatest effect on reducing pain mechanisms in the nervous system.

Is the procedure painful?

Most patients do not feel the insertion of the needle. The local twitch response elicits a very brief (less than a second) painful response. Some patients describe this as a little electrical shock; others feel it more like a cramping sensation. Again, the therapeutic response occurs with the elicitation of local twitch responses and that is a good and desirable reaction.

Are the needles sterile?

Yes, we only use sterile disposable needles.

What side effects can I expect after the treatment?

Patients may report being sore after the procedure. The soreness is described as muscle soreness over the area treated and into the areas of referred symptoms. Typically, the soreness lasts a few hours.

What should I do after having the procedure done?

Our recommendations vary depending on the amount of soreness you have and on the individual response to the treatment. Recommendations may include applying heat or ice over the area, gentle stretches and modifications of activities. It will not preclude you from doing your daily activities.

How long does it take for the procedure to work?

Typically, it takes from one to a few visits for a positive reaction to take place. Again, we are trying to cause mechanical and biochemical changes without any pharmacological means. Therefore, we are looking for a cumulative response to achieve a certain threshold after which the pain cycle is disturbed.

Why is my medical doctor not familiar with dry needling?

In the US, dry needling is a relatively new method for treating myofascial pain and not everyone is already aware of this effective modality. Feel free to inform your doctor about this treatment option. It is upon all of us to educate others about new and innovative ways to treat pain.

Where does dry needling fit in the entire rehabilitation program?

Generally speaking, dry needling is a modality when it comes to treating patients in the clinic with the presence of trigger points. More frequently, dry needling is needed in the beginning in order to break the pain cycle. It is an excellent and effective adjunct therapy to the chiropractic adjustment.

Once I am feeling better, how often do I need to come back to maintain my progress?

The musculoskeletal system is under constant pressure from gravity, stress, work etc. A regular maintenance program is highly suggested.


What is Graston?

A Graston  practitioner  follows specific treatment parameters to initiate the healing process. She will run instruments firmly along your skin, following the direction of the muscle, tendon or ligament. You will feel bumps as the instrument moves along your skin. These bumps are the defective soft tissue. The first couple of treatments may range from being only slightly noticeable to mildly uncomfortable — but stick with it. As your body heals, those bumps will decrease and the area around your old injury will smooth out nicely, indicating healing. There also may be some mild bruising in the area being treated, but don't worry! That is one indication that the body is hard at work, absorbing the old tissue and laying down healthy new tissue.

Graston treatment is a therapy that regenerates healthy soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.), and eliminates or reduces unwanted scar tissue that may be causing pain or movement restrictions. Graston® treatment is highly effective and even works when other approaches routinely fail. One of the main reasons Graston® treatment is so much more effective than other treatments is that it was scientifically developed to resolve the underlying cause of soft tissue problems, rather than just trying to temporarily relieve symptoms. It is one of the most researched and effective therapy treatments available.

Generally, chronic soft tissue problems are due to scarring or degeneration. Soft tissues include muscles, tendons and ligaments. Both scarring and degeneration are common and can result in pain and limitations in movement.

The body's soft tissues degenerate when inadequate healing occurs, and over time the tissues degrade. Degenerated tissues are weak and prone to injury. Degeneration can be caused by many factors, including age, intense use, improper movement, weakened muscles putting extra stress on other tissues, disease, etc. Most chronic tendinopathies are primarily degenerative in nature.

Scarring can happen on top of the skin, but often the biggest problems come from scar tissue that forms inside the body around joints, muscles, tendons and/or ligaments. The body naturally lays down some scar tissue in response to irritation or injury. The fibrous, strong scar tissue is meant to reinforce an area, but often it ends up restricting movement and causing pain. The causes of problem scar tissue can be injury (such as a sprained ankle, car accident, etc.), a surgery (good surgery can be done, but the body's response with scar tissue can prevent a full recovery), intense or over use of soft tissues (such as sports, repetitive work, activity beyond your fitness level, etc.), sprains or other strains on soft tissues.

Good news: Graston® treatment works both to regenerate tissues and eliminate or reduce internal scar tissue. By eliminating the cause of your problems with adjustments and Graston, your symptoms will resolve.

Graston® therapy is one of the most researched and effective treatments available. It is unmatched in its ability to resolve tendinopathies, scar tissue problems, and other soft tissue dysfunctions. Doctors regularly prescribe Graston® treatment specifically for their patients, and elite athletes and knowledgeable patients seek out Graston® treatment for superior results. When your health and ability to stay active is at stake, only the best will do.

It really fixes the problem: Graston® treatment doesn't just treat the symptoms or hide a problem with a temporary solution. Instead, the Graston® process stimulates the body to regenerate healthy tissues, and heal properly and completely.

Although Graston® treatment uses instruments; it is not a massage technique. Graston® treatment is regenerative medicine, and one of the most researched and effective therapy interventions available. Graston® treatment is unmatched in its ability to resolve tendinopathies, scar tissue problems, and other soft tissue dysfunctions.


Want to avoid surgery?

We treat common joint problems and help you avoid surgical procedures.

Joint problems are commonly caused by overuse, strains, sprains, arthritis, history of fractures, and excessive scar tissue. Our knowledgeable team will create a comprehensive customized plan for you that will be tailored to your specific needs.

Common JoinProblems

Hand and Wrist

Have trouble shaking hands or even picking up a coffee cup? We can address the primary causes: Carpal tunnel, wrist sprain, strain, thumb pain and trigger finger pain.

Foot and Ankle

Is your life limited by every step being painful when you walk? We treat the joint problems that cause the pain: Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis and toe problems.

Knee

Are steps getting more and more difficult to navigate? We can help address the joint causes: Prior ACL and PCL injury, osteoarthritis, meniscal tear, patellar tendonitis, knee bursitis and knee sprains.

Shoulder and Collarbone

Is lifting your arm over your head difficult and painful? We can address the primary causes: Prior history of frozen shoulder, dislocated shoulder, shoulder impingement, separated shoulder, shoulder sprain and strain.

Hip

Are you in pain when you stand, sit or move your hips or legs? We can treat the hip related joint problems behind your pain: Dislocation, injuries and history of fractures.

Arm and Elbow

Is bending your arm to brush your teeth a painful process? We can address the primary causes: Biceps tendinitis, “Tennis” and “Golfers” elbow, ulnar nerve entrapment and elbow bursitis.

Soft TissuMobilizatioTreatments

Over-used muscles can result in scar tissue accumulation. This causes the muscles to become shorter and weaker. Scar tissue also creates tendonitis by placing tension on tendons. Nerve entrapment, reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain are more difficult symptoms you may be dealing with. Our providers use various techniques to comb over and break up fibrotic scar tissue, which is then absorbed by the body.

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Friday:

Closed

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Location

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