Etter Chiropractic
11240 Strangline Olathe, KS 66062
( 2/3 Mile North of 119th on Strangline)
913-829-7246
Etter Chiropractic
Dr. Tom Etter is a graduate of Palmer College of Chiropractic and has nearly ten years of practice experience. He specializes in Chiropractic adjustments for lower back pain, neck pain, headache, sports injury, auomobile injury, and pain relief. Chiropratic treatment is also avalible for injuries involving the rotator cuff (shoulder pain), knees, carpal tunnel, and running injuries. He has post graduate training in acupuncture, workplace ergonomics and myofascial release treatments. Dr. Etter has an acupuncture fellowship through the international academy of Medical Acupuncture (IAMA). Dr. Etter's office is fully equiped with Bone Density testing equipment, traction tables and physiotherapy.
Dr. Etter's chiropractic techniques include Gonstead, Diversified, Lumbar Flexion/Distraction (Cox Flexion) , Thompson, myofascial release and Activator.
Dr. Etter is an approved provider for chiropractic services, including the following insurances: Blue Cross/Blue Shield, United Health Care, Aetna, Humana, Coventry, PHCS, Medicare, FMH, Sprint Choice and others.
Etter Chiropractic is located at 11240 Strangline Road, serving Olathe, Lenexa, and Overland Park.
Tom Etter, D.C.
Doctor of Chiropractic, Palmer College of Chiropractic Graduate
Etter Chiropractic Office: At 11240Strangline Rd, Olathe
The Chiropractic and Massage Therapy Team
The "chiropractic" comes from the Greek works cheir (hand) and praxis (action) and literally means "done by hand". Instead of prescribing drugs or performing surgeries, chiropractors use manual treatments of the spine and joints, exercise therapy, myofascial release, and lifestyle changes to allow the body's natural state of health to fully express itself.
Like conventional medicine, chiropractic is based upon scientific principles of diagnosis through testing and empirical observations. Treatment is based upon the practitioner’s rigorous training and clinical experience. Unlike conventional medicine, which focuses on attempting to treat the disease once it occurs, chiropractic attempts to improve the health of the individual in an effort to avoid illness in the first place. Most people would rather be healthy and avoid illness, if they could. This is one of the main reasons for the big upsurge in the popularity of chiropractic. People are recognizing the benefit of seeking an alternative to traditional medicine; one that will help them achieve and maintain optimal health.
Chiropractors understand that one of the main causes of pain and disease is the misalignment and abnormal motion of the vertebrae in the spinal column called a subluxation. Chiropractic works by removing the subluxation in the spine, thereby reliving pressure and irritation on the nerves, restoring joint mobility, and returning the body back to a state of normal function.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that chiropractic care is one of the most effective treatments for back pain, neck pain, headaches, whiplash, sports injury, and many other types of musculoskeletal problems. It has even been shown to be effective in reducing high blood pressure and irritation on the nerves, restoring joint mobility, and returning the body back to a state of normal function.
The chiropractic approach to healthcare is holistic, meaning that is addresses your overall health. It recognizes that many lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, rest, and environment impact your health. For this reason, chiropractors recommend changes in lifestyle’ eating, exercise, and sleeping habits in addition to chiropractic care.
What truly differentiates doctors of chiropractic from any other healthcare professionals is the fact that chiropractors are the only professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat what are called spinal subluxations. The word ‘subluxation’ comes form the Latin words luxare (to dislocate) and sub (somewhat or slightly). So, the term ‘vertebral subluxation’ literally means a slight dislocation (misalignment) of the bones in the spine. Although this term was adequate in the 1800s when much was still misunderstood about the human body, today the word subluxation has changed in meaning to capture the complex of neurological, structural and functional changes that occur when a bone is ‘out of place’. For this reason chiropractors usually refer to subluxations of the spine as the ‘Vertebral Subluxation Complex”, or “VSC” for short.
Chiropractors have known the dangers of the vertebral subluxation complex ever since the birth of the profession. More and more scientific research is demonstrating the tremendous detrimental impact that subluxation have one the tissue of the body. In order to be truly healthy, it is vital that your nervous system be functioning free of interference from subluxations. Chiropractors are the only health professionals trained in the detection, location, and correction of the vertebral subluxation complex through chiropractic care.
The chiropractic adjustment is a quick thrust applied to vertebra for the purpose of correcting its position, movement, or both. Adjustments are often accompanied by audible release of gas that sounds like a ’crack’. the sound sometimes shocks people a little bit the first couple times they get adjusted, but the sensation is usually reliving. Occasionally, minor discomfort is experienced, especially if the surrounding muscles are in spasm or the patient tenses up during the chiropractic procedure. There are times when the audible ’cracking’ does not occur. This is often due to either significant muscle tightness or that the patient may be having a hard time relaxing during their adjustments.
Chiropractic is so much more than simply a means of reliving pain. Ultimately, the goal of the chiropractic treatment is to restore the body to its natural state of optimal health. In order to accomplish this, I use a variety of treatment methods, including manual adjustments, trigger point therapy, as well as counseling on lifestyle issues that impact your health. Since the body has a remarkable ability to heal itself and to maintain its won health, the primary focus is simply to remove those things which interfere with the body’s normal healing ability.
1. What is chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the science, art & philosophy of locating & correcting vertebral subluxations through gentle, specific chiropractic adjustments thus allowing your body to function at it's optimum potential.
2. What is a subluxation?
A misalignment of one or more of your spinal bones (vertebrae), which causes interference to your nervous system. If your nervous system is interfered with, your body's natural ability to heal itself & function at it's optimum potential becomes impaired. A subluxation is a perfect example of how structure effects function.
3. What is an adjustment?
A gentle, specific "thrust" delivered by hand or instrument. The purpose of the adjustment is to correct your spinal subluxation(s) thus removing the nerve interference in your body.
4. Does it hurt to get adjusted?
No. Chiropractic adjustments feel great. I am confident that once you begin receiving your adjustments, you will begin to look forward to them. They will become one of the highlights of your week. When you allow the vertebrae in your spine to return to their proper position, you will notice much less stress and tension.
5. Is chiropractic care safe?
Yes. Statistics prove that chiropractic care is one of the safest types of healthcare in the world. You only need to compare the malpractice premiums paid by chiropractors to those paid by medical doctors. Doctors of Chiropractic pay only a small fraction (approx. 1/20) of the price medical doctors pay in malpractice premiums. 250,000 people will die this year as a result of bad medicine, making this the third leading cause of death in the United States of America (The Journal of The American Medical Association, JAMA; Vol.284, July 26, 2000). Of the millions of people receiving chiropractic adjustments, each year, only a handful will even make a complaint.
6. Why do my children need chiropractic care?
The birth process is often the cause of your child's first subluxation. A very soft and undeveloped spine of an infant can suffer trauma during delivery. It is estimated that as much as 80lbs of pulling pressure can be exerted to remove a baby from the birth canal. Then, as children grow up and become more adventurous, the number of injuries to their spines become countless. The repeated falls as children learn to walk, the running, jumping, twisting, bumping and falling all over the place while playing in the yard or on an athletic field will often cause your child to become subluxated. However, often children do not show any signs or symptoms of being subluxated until later on in life. Chiropractic care offers your child a more responsive body, a more balanced flow of energy and overall increased performance as she/he passes through their windows of development. A subluxation free child also minimizes the risk of future health challenges.
7. What causes the sound made during a chiropractic adjustment?
That sound is not your spine "cracking" or "popping" like most people think. That sound is created by gas (in this case, nitrogen) rushing in to fill the partial vacuum created when the joints are slightly separated. Another example of this phenomenon would be the "pop" sound you hear when the cork is taken out of a champagne bottle. Not all chiropractic adjusting techniques produce this noise. In fact, some adjusting techniques use little force and thus produce no noise at all.
8. Is it bad to "crack" your back or neck a lot?
This question is frequently asked because people associate the "cracking" or "popping" of one's back or neck with a chiropractic adjustment. The two are not the same thing. If a person has a desire to "crack" his/her neck or back it is often because one area of their spine is fixated or jammed causing another area to move too much and "pop", sometimes by itself. It's the fixated or jammed area that needs to be properly adjusted by a chiropractor so that the other parts of the spine will not be hypermobile and noisy. When you "crack" your back you may be relieving the tension for a little while. Do you notice how it keeps coming back? That is because you are not giving yourself a specific chiropractic adjustment. The cause of the spinal tension, the fixated or jammed (subluxated) vertebrae, has not been corrected. Any person who makes a habit out of "cracking" or "popping" their back or neck needs to go to a Doctor of Chiropractic to have their spine checked. Even a chiropractor cannot adjust him/herself.
9. Once you see a chiropractor, do you have to go for the rest of your life?
No. The extent to which you choose to benefit from your chiropractic care is ultimately up to you. Each & everyone of us is solely responsible for the quality of our health & well-being. However, we do strongly urge all practice members to consider lifetime, wellness chiropractic care. This is where the long-term, lasting benefits of care are enjoyed. Regular exercise & healthy eating habits are a lifestyle decision and so is lifetime, wellness chiropractic care. You need to remain subluxation free for life.
10. Should I continue chiropractic care if I don't have any symptoms and I feel better?
Yes. Just because symptoms disappear, does not mean your subluxations are corrected. Most of the practice members seen in our office have spinal degeneration (decay) which has taken years to develop. The trauma of the birth process, slips, falls, accidents and countless other stresses over the course of your lifetime adversely affect the health of your spine. The longer you wait to have your spine checked by a chiropractor, the longer it will take to correct your subluxations. However, how you choose to use chiropractic care is ultimately up to you. It has been our experience that those who stop care when they are "feeling fine" return with the same health challenge(s) which brought them to our office in the first place...only it's usually gotten worse. On the other hand, those practice members who commit to long-term, wellness chiropractic care, find their health challenge(s) rarely return and they enjoy a higher quality of life & health.
The benefits of chiropractic go far beyond relieving back and neck pain and can help people of all ages from infants to the elderly.
Chiropractic is proven effective in the treatment of many common ailments including:
- Headaches Low Back Pain Mid and Upper Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Shoulder and Arm Pain Leg Pain (Sciatica) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Dizziness
- Joint Stiffness
- Muscle Spasms Numbness and Tingling Low Energy
- Stress
- Scoliosis
And many other common health issues
As successful as chiropractic has become, there are a lot of myths circulating among the general public. Times have definitely changed for the better, but the fact is that many people still do not understand what chiropractors do. Let's talk about a few of the more common myths about chiropractic.
Myth #1 - Chiropractors are not real doctors.
A chiropractic college grants a D.C. or Doctorate of Chiropractic degree. Chiropractors are licensed as health care providers in every U.S. state and dozens of countries around the world. While the competition for acceptance in chiropractic school is not as fierce as medical school, the chiropractic and medical school curricula are extremely rigorous and virtually identical. In fact, chiropractors have more hours of classroom education than their medical counterparts. As part of their education, chiropractic students also complete a residency working with real patients in a clinical setting, supervised by licensed doctors of chiropractic. Once chiropractic students graduate, they have to pass four sets of national board exams as well as state board exams in the states where they want to practice.
Just like medical doctors, chiropractors are professionals that are subject to the same type of testing procedures, licensing and monitoring by state and national peer-reviewed boards. Federal and state programs, such as Medicare, Medicaid, and Workers' Compensations programs cover chiropractic care, and all federal agencies accept sick-leave certificates signed by doctors of chiropractic. Chiropractors are also commissioned as officers in the military.
The biggest difference between chiropractors and medical doctors lies not in their level of education, but in their preferred method of caring for people. Medical doctors are trained in the use of medicines (chemicals that affect your internal biochemistry) and surgery. Consequently, if you have a chemical problem, such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, or an infection, medical doctors can be very helpful. However, if your problem is that your spine is mis-aligned or you have soft tissue damage causing pain, there is no chemical in existence that can fix it. You need a physical solution to correct a physical problem. That is where chiropractic really shines. Chiropractors provide physical solutions -- adjustments, exercises, stretches, muscle therapy -- to help the body heal from conditions that are physical in origin, such as back pain, muscle spasms, headaches, and poor posture. Another distinction is the fact that it is completely appropriate to receive chiropractic care even if you do not have symptoms. Unlike standard medical doctors, whom you visit when you have a symptom to be treated, chiropractors offer adjustments to improve spinal alignment and overall well-being before symptoms develop.
Myth #2 - Medical doctors don't like chiropractors.
The American Medical Association's opposition to chiropractic was at its strongest in the 1940s under the leadership of Morris Fishbein. Fishbein called chiropractors "rabid dogs" and referred to them as "playful and cute, but killers" He tried to portray chiropractors as members of an unscientific cult who cared about nothing but taking their patients' money. Up to the late 1970s and early 1980s, the medical establishment purposely conspired to try to destroy the profession of chiropractic. In fact, a landmark lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Illinois in the 1980s found that the American Medical Association was guilty of conspiracy and was ordered to pay restitution to the chiropractic profession.
In the 20 years since, the opinion of most medical doctors has changed: several major studies have shown the superiority of chiropractic in helping people with a host of conditions, and medical doctors developed a better understanding as to what chiropractors actually do. Many people have returned to their medical doctors and told them about the great results they experienced at their chiropractors office. Hospitals across the country now have chiropractors on staff, and many chiropractic offices have medical doctors on staff. Chiropractors and medical doctors are now much more comfortable working together in cases where medical care is necessary as an adjunct to chiropractic care.
Myth #3 - Once you start going to a chiropractor, you have to keep going for the rest of your life.
This statement comes up frequently when the topic of chiropractic is discussed. It is only partially true. You only have to continue going to the chiropractor as long as you wish to maintain the health of your neuromusculoskeletal system. Going to a chiropractor is much like going to the dentist, exercising at a gym, or eating a healthy diet: As long as you keep it up, you continue to enjoy the benefits.
Many years ago, dentists convinced everyone that the best time to go to the dentist is before your teeth hurt, that routine dental care will help your teeth remain healthy for a long time. The same is true of chiropractic care for your spine. It is important to remember that, just like your teeth, your spine experiences normal wear and tear as you walk, drive, sit, lift, sleep, and bend. Routine chiropractic care can help you feel better, move with more freedom, and stay healthier throughout your lifetime. Although you can enjoy the benefits of chiropractic care even if you receive care for a short time, the real benefits come into play when you make chiropractic care a part of your wellness lifestyle.
Dr. Etter has additional training in myofascial release. Whether you have a recent injury or have suffered from pain for a long time, myofascial release can help interrupt the cycle of inflammation, scar tissue, impairment and pain. This technique restores movement, function and relieves pain. Myofascial release is used by Medical Doctors, physical therapists, occupational therapists and Chiropractors. Treatment consists of locating the adhesion or muscle injury and applying a measured pressure and the muscle is slowly lengthened. The combination of muscle pressure and stretching lengthens tight muscles and releases trapped nerves. This intervention breaks the vicious cycle of inflammation, scar tissue, impairment and pain.
Most patients see significant improvement in three to four treaments. Length of treatment will depend on your problem, your occupation, how long you have had the problem and willingness to do follow up exercises. Six to eight treatments over two to three weeks is common.
The following is a list of upper body conditions that may benefit from myofascial release: Shoulder injury (rotator cuff injury), Carpal tunnel, tennis elbow, trigger finger, and peripheral nerve entrapment.
Many conditions of the lower body may also benefit from myofascial release: Sciatica, knee pain, ilio-tibial band syndrome, shin splints, plantar fascitis, hamstring injury, hip flexor injury, and hip bursitis.
Shoulder Injuries and Rotator Cuff
Shoulder injuries and pain are some of the most common complaints of athletes as well as other adults. Pain in the shoulder most frequently involves a rotator cuff problem, biceps tendinitis, A-C joint injury or frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis). Often all shoulder pain is refered to as bursitis. True bursitis of the shoulder is relatively rare and usually results from a blow or trauma to the shoulder. Bursitis is usually caused by some other problem with the rotator cuff or biceps tendon. A bursa is a lubricating sac that facilitates movements of the shoulder.
The biceps tendon is a common cause of pain in the front of the shoulder. Adults over 40 and athletes who do throwing motions or sports may be most at risk. Often other tasks may aggrevate the biceps tendon such as vacuuming or computer work.
The rotator cuff is the most commonly injured part of the shoulder. Comprised of four muscles, the rotator cuff forms a covering or cuff over the humrus (bone of the upper arm). The function of the rotator cuff is to stabilize the motions of the upper arm and shoulder. The most commonly injured part of the rotator cuff is the supraspinatus tendon. Most tears of cuff involve the supraspinatus. Pain at the front and top of the shoulder is often common in rotator cuff problems.
Crackling or popping of the shoulder is also a common complaint. Often the collar bone (clavicle) may be the cause. The joint of the clavicle and shoulder blade (A-C joint) is often the cause. Rotator cuff problems may also be a contributor to crackling/popping shoulders.
Myofascial release is considered very effective in management of tendinitis, bursitis and rotator cuff problems of the shoulder.
Knee Injuries
The knee joint is one of the most suceptible joints to become injured. The knee is unique in that it relies on a system of ligiments for stability. The quadricepts is the most important muscle that stablizes the knee. The most common tramatic injury invovles the meniscus. Meniscus injury in young adults is usually the result of twisting when the knee is bent. The purpose of the meniscus is to stabilize the knee and add cushioning to the joint.
Pain on the side of the knee may often be the result of ilio-tibial band syndrome (IT Band). The pain is usually worse after exercise, felt slightly about and to the side of the knee, and may be more common in women. IT Band problems often respond well to myofacscial release , stretching and ice.
Pain on the front of the knee often involves quadriceps tendinitis or patello-femoral pain. The patella (kneecap) is a bone embedded in the quadricips tenden that slide through a groove oin the femur (upper leg bone). Quadriceps problems may interfer with the round are of the knee cap and cause pain in the front of the knee. Myofacsicial release is often able to relase the adhesion in the quadriceps tenden and allow the putella to slide more freely.
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