Chiropractic and Acupuncture Treatments Help Back Pain, Sports Injuries

University Health Center is a training facility for pre-and-post graduate doctors of chiropractic and acupuncture, located in Pasadena, California. Their complete array of services includes chiropractic, acupuncture, Oriental Medicine, diagnostic imaging and rehabilitation services.

Chiropractic

Dr. Dennis R. Buckley, DC (Doctor of Chiropractic) specializes in sports medicine, wellness medicine, injury and illness treatment and prevention. A graduate of Los Angeles College of Chiropractic with a BS in 1991, he earned his doctorate in 1993.

He's been a chiropractor for 14 years, having made that life changing decision after an accident that changed his life.

Here is the story in his own words:

"In 1985 while working in the grocery industry I hurt my back. I was incapacitated and my co-workers that morning drove me to the chiropractor. They carried me in and I walked out.

I was also humbled to learn my 25 year old body was more like 50. I had to take better care of myself or this was the preview of coming attractions. Later that year I started running and in 1986 I ran the City of Los Angeles Marathon in 4 hours. I also started in 1985 to go back to school at the urging of a successful relative who encouraged me to find what my life works should be. I did not know at the time.

In November of 1986 my chiropractor who had helped me get better and keep me well while I trained for the marathon asked me what I was going to school for? I wasn't sure so he suggested I look at the chiropractic profession. I did. That afternoon I was visiting Los Angeles College of Chiropractic in Whittier and after seeing, learning and talking to them, it became very clear.

I did not choose the chiropractic profession, it was choosing me. The back injury introduced me to chiropractic, going back to school stimulated my search for my life work, and running the marathon gave me the confidence that I could accomplish a monumental task.

That November day in 1986 I made a decision that I was going to be a chiropractor. My return to college was August 20^th, 1985 and on August 18^th, 1993, I received my license to practice form the state of California. It took one day to discover where my life was leading me and now nearly 20 years later I have had the honor and pleasure of helping others as I was helped back then."

To contact Dr. Buckley please call: 626-798-7805.

Acupuncture

Gina Haber, L.Ac. a graduate of the Samra University in West Los Angeles, has practiced acupuncture for 6 years.Her other areas of expertise include: Traditional Chinese Medicine, herbal remedies, energy psychology, amino acid therapy, and Quantum Reflex Analysis.

These additional modalities allow Dr. Haber to treat physical as well as emotional and mental imbalances; including trauma, depression, anxiety, internal deficiencies and imbalances.

When asked what inspired her to become a health professional, she responded:

"I have always been interested in health and healing, but outside of mainstream thinking, typically. However, in acupuncture school, I took additional credits in Western Medicine so that I may better be conversant in both systems. The deciding event pointing me in the direction of acupuncture was when I used it to treat my cigarette addiction. I was so impressed with the power of that modality that I decided to pursue an education in the field. I plan never to retire - my work inspires me and fulfills me endlessly. I write a weekly health newsletter and I hold various workshops. Teaching is a big part of my passion."

Contact Information: Gina Haber, 626-798-7805, ext. 214.

Rehabilitation Services

Their rehabilitation services offer traditional treatment methods for sports injuries, back and neck pain, occupational conditions, and knee and ankle injuries.

Specific conditions that they treat include; weakness in muscles, muscle misalignment, this creation, lumbar and cervical spine strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, rotator cuff tears and headaches among others.

Among the many modalities or physical therapies they offer are:

Proprioceptive therapy, also known as, proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), which is basically set of muscle exercises that first contract, then expand stiff muscles. This relieves pain, increases your range of motion by improving your flexibility and strengthens the muscles.

Plyometrics is a muscular exercise of repetitive, explosive motions that allowed the muscles to develop power (to generate more force). This type of therapy may be used to increase a particular athletic skill, like the ability of the baseball pitcher to forcefully throw a ball.

Resistance training involves exercises the pit one group of muscles against the other, or a stationary object to increase muscle strength.

Diathermy (therma means heat and dia means through) is a deep muscular therapy that utilizes high frequency electrical currents to generate the heat. Heat therapy can be used to treat arthritis, bursitis, sinusitis and relief of pain. Ultrasound therapy is a form of diathermy.

Ultrasound therapy can be used directly over sore or bruised muscles, and has been known to be effective in decreasing the pain for calcific tendonitis of the shoulder, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians' article in the November 1999 issue of the American Family Physician. The study, which was conducted in Vienna Austria, concluded that there was a decrease in calcium deposits in the shoulders of 54 patients suffering from calcific tendonitis, along with an increase in the range of motion and blood flow to the affected areas.

Electrical stimulation uses small square pads of moistened material which are placed directly over tense muscle groups; they are connected to a regulated machine that delivers mild electric stimulation directly to those muscle groups causing them to contract and expand. This releases tension or knots in the muscles, and increases circulation to the area.

Cryotherapy, (cold therapy), uses ice packs locally on the injured or bruised muscle groups, decreasing the swelling and blood flow to the area. The cold will decrease the pain in the area and help contract the muscle spasms.

The UHC staff is professional and friendly, with an eye for time efficiency and concern for your health. A complete alternative health center for Pasadena residents, also serving the greater San Gabriel Valley.