W. Melbourne Chiropractic Physical Medicine Rehab

Introduction: What you see is what you get. I practice straightforward physical medicine for musculoskeletal problems without the typical hyperbole you might encounter within the chiropractic profession. All patients are tri-aged and referred in a timely manner. Non-musculoskeletal comorbid issues are always referred for medical assessment. Intake assessment also includes recognition of yellow flag characteristics, which, when present are clinical indicators of potential poor outcomes. Case management becomes a bit more scrutinized accordingly. Treatment plans are outcome driven and therefore pose little risk of fostering passive care dependence or over utilization as commonly experienced with many of these patients. As standard/orthodox physical medicine assessment and treatment procedures for non-specific spine pain have not produced stellar outcomes over the past 30 years or so, I have evolved my assessment and treatment protocols more in line with clinical prediction assessments. With that, outcomes are better, reducing time and cost expenditures for the patients; both with better results sooner as well as timelier discharge from care. We primarily use four physical treatment modes that have relatively good outcome prediction, if and when a patient’s findings fall within the parameters set forth. They include active and passive directional preference movement, manipulation, stabilization exercises and traction. Traction clinical prediction is the weakest of the four. Mechanical neck care is extremely effective with directionally indicated active movement therapy and or gentle passive mobilization procedures when clinically indicated. Obviously we don't get everybody better but when we can identify a mechanical source of pain we can usually help. We're big on empowering the patient. Those that are motivated and compliant do seem to do better and need less passive care. Once it's been determined that care will likely benefit the patient we set forth to achieve goals established from deficits recorded on the baseline exam. That typically includes; centralizing (extremity symptoms) and abolishing pain, normalizing physical deficits (ROM), re-establishing ADL functions and education. If those goals are not being achieved in a reasonable time frame (4 to 5 visits), care is discontinued and other opinion is recommended. Services include: * McKenzie Mechanical Diagnosis and Treatment * Manual Therapies Joint and Soft Tissue * Spinal Rehabilitation * Extremity Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation * Board Certified 2005 Rehabilitation * Pain Modulation Modalities as Clinically Indicated