The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method is Dr. Micah Carter’s proprietary treatment system that addresses both immediate pain relief and long-term correction. Unlike traditional approaches that only mask symptoms, this comprehensive method works on tight muscles, strengthens weak muscles, and retrains your neuromuscular patterns so problems don’t keep coming back. Patients at Family Tree Chiropractic in Oklahoma City experience lasting results because we fix the root cause, not just the symptoms.
What Makes the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method Different
In my 23 years treating patients, I’ve seen the same pattern over and over. Someone comes in with chronic pain. They’ve tried pain medication, maybe some physical therapy, perhaps even cortisone shots. They feel better for a while, then the pain returns.
That’s because most treatments focus only on symptom management. Take away the pain temporarily and hope it doesn’t come back. But if you don’t address why the problem started in the first place, it will come back.
The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method takes a different approach. We identify the root cause through comprehensive testing, then address every factor contributing to your pain. Tight muscles get released. Weak muscles get strengthened. Your brain learns new movement patterns to prevent re-injury.
The Five Phases of R.E.S.T.O.R.E.
Phase 1: Rapid Pain Relief
Nobody wants to suffer while waiting for long-term correction to work. That’s why the first phase focuses on taking your pain away as quickly as possible.
We use chiropractic adjustments to restore proper spinal alignment and reduce nerve interference. This often provides immediate relief by taking pressure off compressed nerves.
Cold laser therapy accelerates healing at the cellular level and reduces inflammation without medication. Many patients feel significant improvement after just one or two treatments combining adjustments and laser therapy.
Phase 2: Release Tight Muscles
Chronic pain always involves muscle problems. Tight, shortened muscles pull your spine and joints out of alignment. They also restrict blood flow to injured areas, slowing healing.
We use the Pedabon system for full spinal correction through targeted stretching. Our licensed massage therapists release deep muscle tension that adjustments alone can’t address.
For stubborn muscle tightness and trigger points, we use shockwave therapy. The Sanuwave device breaks down scar tissue and chronic tension that’s been building for months or years.
Phase 3: Strengthen Weak Muscles
Here’s something most patients don’t realize. Chronic pain usually involves both tight muscles and weak muscles. The tight ones get all the attention because they hurt. But the weak ones are often the real problem.
When certain muscles are weak, other muscles compensate and get overworked. Those overworked muscles become the tight, painful ones. If you only release the tight muscles without strengthening the weak ones, the problem returns within weeks.
We use deep core strengthening and balance training to rebuild the muscles that should be supporting your spine and joints. These exercises ensure our corrections stay corrected.
Phase 4: Retrain Your Neuromuscular System
This is the secret sauce that makes the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method work long-term. Neuromuscular re-education is a big fancy term for muscle memory.
Your brain controls your muscles through learned patterns. If you’ve had pain for months or years, your brain has learned compensatory movement patterns. Even after we fix the structural problems, those faulty patterns can remain.
We retrain your brain-muscle connection through specific exercises and adjustments. Your nervous system learns new, healthy movement patterns. This prevents you from falling back into the old patterns that caused your pain.
Phase 5: Ongoing Prevention
The goal is not to have you coming to see me forever. We fix the problem, teach your body to maintain the correction, and send you on your way.
Most patients transition to occasional maintenance care after completing their treatment plan. Maybe once a month or every few months, just to keep everything functioning optimally.
We also provide you with home exercises and lifestyle recommendations to prevent problems from developing again. You become empowered to maintain your own health.
Why Root Cause Matters
At Family Tree Chiropractic, we have a saying: “We do not guess. We test.” Before starting any treatment, we do comprehensive evaluations to find your root cause.
Let’s say you have lower back pain. That’s a symptom, not a diagnosis. The root cause might be a herniated disc. Or weak core muscles. Or a misaligned pelvis from an old injury. Or tight hip flexors from too much sitting.
Different root causes need different treatments. That’s why generic treatment plans often fail. They’re treating symptoms, not the actual problem.
Our Diagnostic Process
Every new patient gets a complete physical examination. We do orthopedic tests to evaluate joint function. Neurological testing checks nerve function. Muscle testing identifies weakness and imbalances.
We have digital X-ray equipment on-site. High-frequency imaging gives us the clearest pictures possible on your first visit. We can see spinal alignment, disc spacing, and structural problems immediately.
For some conditions, we do specialized functional testing. How you move tells us as much as static X-rays. We watch how your body compensates and identify movement patterns that contribute to your pain.
Conditions We Treat with the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method
Chronic Back Pain
Lower back pain that keeps coming back usually has multiple contributing factors. Weak core muscles, tight hip flexors, poor posture, spinal misalignment, and disc degeneration often coexist.
The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method addresses all these factors. We use spinal decompression for disc problems, adjustments for alignment, exercises for strength, and neuromuscular training for lasting correction.
Sciatica
True sciatica comes from nerve compression, but the cause varies. Herniated discs, spinal stenosis, piriformis syndrome, or spinal misalignment can all compress the sciatic nerve.
We identify which structure is compressing the nerve, then address that specific problem. If it’s a disc issue, we decompress. If it’s muscle-related, we use shockwave therapy. If it’s alignment, we adjust. Then we strengthen and retrain to prevent recurrence.
Headaches and Migraines
I actually became a chiropractor because of my own migraines. Traditional medicine offered me medication that made me feel worse. Chiropractic care eliminated my headaches completely.
Most chronic headaches stem from neck problems. Upper cervical misalignment, muscle tension, and poor posture all contribute. The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method corrects these underlying issues.
Whiplash and Auto Accident Injuries
Car accidents cause complex injuries. Whiplash damages soft tissues, misaligns the spine, and creates muscle imbalances. Without proper treatment, these injuries become chronic pain problems.
With my Advanced Competency in Whiplash and Brain Traumatology from the Spine Research Institute, I understand the specific biomechanics of auto injuries. We treat all components of whiplash to ensure complete recovery.
What Makes Our Approach Comprehensive
We have all treatment modalities under one roof. You’re not getting bounced between different offices for different therapies. Everything happens here, coordinated by me.
Chiropractic adjustments restore alignment. Spinal decompression relieves disc pressure. Cold laser accelerates healing. Massage releases muscle tension. Shockwave therapy breaks down scar tissue. Exercise rehabilitation builds strength.
Every patient gets an individualized treatment plan. Some people need mostly adjustments with minimal therapy. Others need extensive rehabilitation. We customize based on your specific root cause and goals.
How Long Does Treatment Take?
This depends on several factors. How long have you had the problem? How severe is it? Do you have multiple contributing issues?
Acute injuries often respond quickly. Someone with a new injury might feel significantly better in 2-4 weeks. Chronic conditions that have been building for years take longer to fully correct.
Most patients follow an intensive phase of 2-3 visits per week for 4-8 weeks. Then we taper to once weekly, then every other week as you improve. The goal is always to get you independent as quickly as possible.
Why Some Cases Take Longer
I actually enjoy treating the most difficult cases. When someone has been suffering for years, tried everything, and nothing worked, that’s when the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method really shines.
These complex cases take more time because multiple systems need correction. But the improvement these patients experience is life-changing. Getting someone’s life back after years of chronic pain is the most rewarding part of my job.
Real Patient Success Stories
I had a patient who came in with sciatica so severe he’d considered amputation. Pain level was 10 out of 10. He couldn’t sleep, couldn’t work, couldn’t function.
Using the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method, we identified a herniated disc combined with severe piriformis syndrome. Spinal decompression for the disc, shockwave therapy for the piriformis, specific exercises for stabilization.
After one week, his pain dropped to 7-8. After six weeks, he was at a 2. After three months, he was pain-free and back at work. That was two years ago and he’s still doing great.
Another patient had chronic headaches for over a decade. She’d tried neurologists, pain specialists, and countless medications. Nothing worked long-term.
We found significant upper cervical misalignment and chronic muscle tension. Through adjustments, muscle work, and postural correction, her headaches resolved completely within eight weeks.
The Movement You’re Joining
When you come to Family Tree Chiropractic, you’re not just making an appointment at a doctor’s office. You’re joining a movement of people who reject unnecessary medications and surgeries.
We’re people who want to understand the root cause of our problems. We want natural solutions that actually fix issues instead of masking them. We want to be empowered to maintain our own health.
This community aspect matters. You’re surrounded by other patients who share your values and goals. Everyone here believes in the body’s natural ability to heal when given the right support.
Why I Developed This Method
I grew up on a farm in rural Oklahoma. Hard work and persistence were just part of life. Later, I became a teacher before finding my calling in chiropractic.
That teaching background shows in how I approach patient care. I don’t just adjust you and send you out the door. I educate you about what’s wrong, why it happened, and how we’ll fix it.
The R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method came from 23 years of clinical experience and continuing education. I’ve studied with the best minds in chiropractic, earned advanced certifications in spinal trauma and whiplash, and treated thousands of patients.
What I’ve learned is that lasting results require comprehensive care. You can’t just adjust someone and expect chronic problems to disappear. You need to address all the factors contributing to their pain.
Getting Started with the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method
Your first visit includes everything we need to identify your root cause. Comprehensive consultation where we discuss your history and goals. Complete physical examination with orthopedic and neurological testing. Digital X-rays if needed to see structural problems.
On your second visit, I sit down with you for a detailed report of findings. I show you exactly what we found, explain the root cause of your pain, and outline our treatment plan. You’ll understand the “why” behind everything we do.
Our $49 new patient special includes your initial consultation, examination, first adjustment, X-rays if needed, cold laser therapy, report of findings, and a massage voucher. That’s everything you need to get started.
Ready to experience the difference comprehensive care makes? Call Family Tree Chiropractic at (405) 340-4400 to schedule your evaluation with Dr. Carter. We’ll find your root cause and create a customized treatment plan using the R.E.S.T.O.R.E. Method. Visit our contact page to book online or learn more about our process.
