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Saliva testing is a non-invasive way of testing multiple hormones. Patients collect saliva at home or throughout their day, wherever they may be without interruption to their daily schedule. Saliva testing measures the amount of hormone available to target tissues, which makes this kind of testing a great choice in determining specific symptoms of excess or deficiency.
A comprehensive stool analysis detects the presence of pathogenic microorganisms such as yeast, parasite, and bacteria that contribute to chronic illness and neurological dysfunction. It also evaluates beneficial levels of intestinal immune functions, overall intestinal health, and inflammation markers.
Blood chemistry is a panel or group of tests routinely ordered to determine a person’s general health status. These tests are performed by blood sample, usually taken from the arm and can be drawn at most any lab.
Food sensitivity testing can help determine which foods may be triggering unwanted inflammation. With these results, Our Doctors and Staff can create a very personalized nutrition plan based on your immune response to certain foods. She can also determine possible underlying food-related causes of illness and disease. This is done through a blood sample and sent to a lab for results.
Heavy metal toxicity caused by increasing levels of pollution and use of chemicals is a growing concern. High levels of toxic metals in the body’s tissues can cause significant developmental and neurological damage.
If there is a concern of heavy metal overload, Our Doctors and Staff can prescribe a hair analysis test. The results can aid in determining if heavy metal toxicity is contributing to a disorder or condition.
Detox programs help your body purify and rebuild itself from the inside out. Our Doctors and Staff can set up a personal detoxification program for you that will provide you with a structured plan for purifying, nourishing and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This program will support your major organ systems with vitamins and minerals and other nutrients from food. The personalized program will also support healthy weight when combined with a healthy lifestyle and lead you to feel your best.
A Urinalysis is a set of tests that detect cells, cell fragments, and substances in the urine. It can be used as part of a health exam or when there are presenting symptoms. This test can reveal diseases that have gone unnoticed because they do not produce striking signs or symptoms.
Genetic Testing is also known as DNA testing and is a medical test that identifies changes in chromosomes, genes or proteins. Genetic testing can confirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition.
A complete dietary assessment is an in-depth evaluation of both objective and subjective data related to your food and nutrient intake, lifestyle and medical history. Our Doctors and Staff will assess this information and evaluate your nutritional status. This will aid in a plan of care or intervention. Many complaints such as fatigue, headaches and digestive issues can be improved by a simple dietary change.
Our Nutrition Coaches will work with you to create a customized meal plan that will suit your metabolism, goals, personal preferences and dietary needs and restrictions. This plan will explain to you exactly what to eat and what to avoid, in alignment with macronutrient needs and activity level and food sensitivities/allergies.
Whole food supplements are made combining nature and science, providing a broad spectrum of vitamins, minerals, enzymes and phytonutrients that are easily utilized by the body. Our office offers a variety of cost-effective, leading-edge supplements from top brands that ensure the highest quality control, product safety, and natural effectiveness.
An exercise program that is designed specifically for you is a great way to stay physically and mentally fit. It also provides many other benefits, including: improved condition of the heart and lungs, increased muscular strength, endurance, and motor fitness. Our Doctors and Staff will discuss your needs and goals and work with you to create an exercise plan that is right for the needs of your body.
Dr. Hilary Rutledge will take an extensive history and review any test results you have sent to us prior to the appointment. She will also order any other tests she feels necessary to develop your treatment plan. During this consultative exam, Dr. Hilary Rutledge will also do a diet assessment and offer modifications, detoxification programs or nutritional guidelines to get you underway to feeling your best.
The cold laser unit looks like a bit like a large, hourglass-shaped calculator. It has several different buttons to enter the different healing frequencies. From the unit extends two heads, each of which emit a red beam of light. That beam of light is placed over the cause of your pain for anywhere between 10-30 minutes. The laser does not produce heat and is painless. Most patients say they do not feel anything at all, but a few have reported a slight “tingling” sensation, but that’s it.
Before we go any further, here’s a little warning: Not everyone has “miraculous” results. There is no such thing as “sure thing” when it comes to treating conditions that affect the human body. If you are looking for a 100% guaranteed cure, you won’t find it in our office or anywhere else.
Just like everyone responds differently to diet and exercise, not everyone will respond to the cold laser. A very small minority say that the treatment gave them no benefit at all. But with a well documented 79.6% patient improvement rate, we think you’d have to agree the odds are well in your favor. This means that, on average, of every five joint pain sufferers who come into this office for treatment, four walk out pain-free!
Is decompression painful?
No. Decompression in our office is gentle, relaxing, and often, our patients will fall asleep while undergoing treatment.
Is decompression effective?
There was a study published in the Orthopedic Technology Review of 219 patients, which is a large number of patients as far as studies go. The patients had a variety of different problems. Some had single-level disk herniations, and others had multiple levels that were bulging. Some had more back than leg pain and others had mostly sciatica. The results were that about 86% of the patients obtained substantial relief. That is a very large percentage in terms of anything else that is out there. There are currently studies ongoing to more fully evaluate the effectiveness of spinal decompression. We have found in the four years we’ve been using decompression in our office, a success rate of 90% (9 of 10 patients) when combining decompression with treating the patient’s muscle imbalances (like we spoke of earlier).
How long does it take?
Each decompression session takes less than an hour. 15 minutes is spent with the doctor prior to decompression, then 30 minutes on the decompression table.
How much will it cost me?
Unfortunately, no insurance plan currently pays for decompression. And there are doctors in the greater Wilmington area that are charging upwards of $4,000 for their decompression programs which require patients continue for 20 visits. Not us. Since we don’t have a crystal ball, we tell our patients to take it one visit at a time. If they continue to make the improvements we expect, then they continue with treatment until their injured discs are healed. And, very importantly: We reasonably charge just $50 per visit for decompression services.
The Erchonia Adjustor (top) and
Percussor (bottom)
Chiropractic is a health care profession that focuses on disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, and the effects of these disorders on general health. Chiropractic care is used most often to treat neuromusculoskeletal complaints, including but not limited to back pain, neck pain, pain in the joints of the arms or legs, and headaches.
Doctors of Chiropractic – often referred to as chiropractors or chiropractic physicians – practice a drug-free, hands-on approach to health care that includes patient examination, diagnosis and treatment. Chiropractors have broad diagnostic skills and are also trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling.
The most common therapeutic procedure performed by doctors of chiropractic is known as “spinal manipulation,” also called “chiropractic adjustment.” The purpose of manipulation is to restore joint mobility by manually applying a controlled force into joints that have become hypomobile – or 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 the sufferer. Manipulation, or adjustment of the affected joint and tissues, restores mobility, thereby alleviating pain and muscle tightness, and 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. In many cases, such as lower back pain, chiropractic care may be the primary method of treatment. When other medical conditions exist, chiropractic care may complement or support medical treatment by relieving the musculoskeletal aspects associated with the condition.
For those patients who are afraid of being “cracked” or having their spine twisted, we offer the Erchonia Adjustor. It is a state of the art medical tool that allows our Doctors to properly realign bones that are out of place.
We also utilize the Erchonia Percussor, far and away the best medical massage tool on the market! For tight and tender muscles, our patients love the Percussor. Combined with the Adjustor, we offer the area’s best “no cracking” treatment for misaligned spines.
Active Release Techniques at Wilmington Functional Medicine (ART) is a myofascial release technique that utilizes patient movement to treat problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.
What conditions are treated with ART in Wilmington Functional medicine?
Like the Graston Technique, ART is very successful at alleviating pain associated with acute and chronic soft tissue disorders. ART is a system that utilizes over 500 protocols that vary based on the practitioner’s hand placement and patient movement and are each specific for the muscle or entrapment being treated. Through ART, soft tissue movement and gliding is enhanced, which releases nerve entrapments and leads to decreased pain and improved quality of movement. It was developed by Dr. Mike Leahy, a sports chiropractor in Colorado Springs, CO. Dr. Leahy recognized that high repetition, low force movements such as typing, and abnormal posture can cause as much damage to tissue as low repetition, high force injuries like a car accident. ART at Wilmington Functional Medicine can be used alone or in conjunction with other soft tissue treatments like Graston, trigger point therapy or massage, and like Graston, custom stretching and strengthening exercises will aid in your recovery. Many of the same conditions treated with Graston can also be resolved with Active Release Techniques. ART and Graston are utilized by numerous professional and collegiate sports teams, because of their effectiveness. ART is the official soft tissue care program for Ironman athletes during race week.
WHO DOES ART?
There are over 6000 ART practitioners world-wide working in a variety of settings. Providers must pass certifications for each area of treatment (spine, upper extremity, lower extremity, and nerve entrapments). Dr. Bradshaw is one of just a few certified ART practitioners in the all of Eastern North Carolina.
WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE?
For more information about the Active Release Techniques, please visit www.activerelease.com or call Wilmington Functional Medicine at 910-444-9438.
Wilmington Functional Medicine
