Treatments at Valencia Chiropractic
9 non-surgical options for spine, disc, joint and nerve pain. Dr. Trapasso reviews your case, builds a written plan, and starts care only when you agree.
Spinal Decompression Therapy
Spinal decompression is a computer-controlled traction therapy that gently elongates the spine, creating a negative pressure environment inside the intervertebral disc. That negative intradiscal pressure draws bulging or herniated disc material back toward the center, while simultaneously pulling in oxygen, water, and healing nutrients the disc needs to repair itself. Unlike manual traction, the DRX9000 and similar FDA-cleared tables modulate the pull in precise cycles so the paraspinal muscles never trigger a protective contraction that would otherwise undo the therapeutic benefit. Dr. Trapasso uses both cervical and lumbar decompression protocols, allowing treatment of neck herniations, thoracic disc injuries, and low-back disc conditions with the same technology. A typical program runs 15 to 24 sessions over six to eight weeks, each lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Many patients begin reporting measurable pain relief within the first four to six sessions. The therapy is often combined with cold laser and therapeutic exercise to accelerate tissue healing and restore functional range of motion.
What to expect at your session
You lie fully clothed on a motorized table. A padded harness is fitted around your pelvis (lumbar) or neck (cervical). The table slowly elongates in precise, computer-guided cycles lasting 30 to 45 minutes. Most patients describe a mild pulling sensation - not pain.
Wear comfortable, non-restrictive clothing. Bring any MRI or X-ray images you have. After the session you may be given ice, heat, or a brief adjustment before you leave.
Knee Decompression Therapy
Knee decompression is a non-surgical, non-injection approach to treating knee osteoarthritis, meniscus injuries, ligament laxity, and cartilage wear. The knee is one of the most mechanically stressed joints in the body, and when cartilage begins to thin, bone-on-bone friction causes pain that escalates with every step. Our knee decompression protocol uses FDA-cleared unloading technology that gently distracts the joint space, reducing compression on damaged cartilage surfaces and allowing synovial fluid - the joint's natural lubricant - to circulate more effectively through areas that have been starved of nutrition. This reduction in mechanical load gives damaged cartilage the breathing room it needs to begin a natural repair cycle. The decompression component is paired with targeted strengthening exercises that rebuild the quadriceps, hamstrings, and hip stabilizers responsible for taking load off the joint. Dr. Trapasso performs a biomechanical assessment first to determine whether decompression is appropriate for your knee, so you receive a treatment plan that is built around your specific anatomy and damage pattern rather than a one-size-fits-all protocol. Many patients who had been told surgery was their only option have achieved functional improvement with this combination approach.
What to expect at your session
Sessions combine gentle joint distraction with targeted exercises. The decompression device attaches just below the knee and applies a carefully calibrated unloading force. Sessions typically run 20 to 30 minutes.
Wear shorts or loose pants that expose the knee. Bring any prior knee imaging (MRI, X-ray) for Dr. Trapasso to review before your first treatment session.
Neck, Back and Spine Care
Chiropractic spinal care remains the cornerstone of everything we do at Valencia Chiropractic. Dr. Trapasso blends several evidence-based techniques to restore proper spinal alignment, reduce nerve interference, and return pain-free movement to patients dealing with neck pain, upper back tension, mid-back discomfort, and lower back dysfunction. High-velocity low-amplitude (HVLA) chiropractic adjustments are the hallmark technique - delivering a precise, controlled force to a vertebral joint that has lost its normal range of motion, restoring mobility and reducing the mechanical irritation on adjacent nerves. For patients who prefer a gentler approach, instrument-assisted techniques such as Activator and Cox Flexion-Distraction provide equally effective results without the audible joint cavitation. Soft-tissue therapies including myofascial release, trigger point therapy, and instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) address the muscular component of spinal pain that adjustments alone cannot resolve. Dr. Trapasso prescribes individualized therapeutic exercises for home use between visits to reinforce spinal stability, improve postural endurance, and prevent early recurrence. The goal is never to create dependency on regular adjustments but to restore the spine to a self-supporting state.
What to expect at your session
Your first visit includes a full history, orthopedic and neurological exam, postural assessment, and review of any imaging. Dr. Trapasso will explain his findings and present a written care plan before any treatment begins.
Adjustments take 10 to 20 minutes. You may hear a pop - this is normal. Mild post-treatment soreness lasting 12 to 24 hours is common and typically resolves quickly.
Neuropathy Treatment Protocol
Peripheral neuropathy - the numbness, tingling, burning, and sharp pain that affects the hands and feet - is a debilitating condition with limited treatment options in conventional medicine. At Valencia Chiropractic, we use a multi-modality protocol specifically designed to address the root causes of peripheral neuropathy rather than simply managing symptoms with medication. The protocol begins with a detailed neurological assessment to identify whether the neuropathy originates from spinal nerve compression, impaired peripheral blood circulation, metabolic factors, or a combination of all three. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also called photobiomodulation, is a cornerstone of the program. Near-infrared and red-spectrum laser wavelengths penetrate deep into tissue, stimulating mitochondrial activity within nerve cells and improving intraneuronal circulation that enables damaged nerves to begin repairing. Electrical circulatory stimulation therapy enhances blood flow to the smallest capillaries in the extremities, ensuring healing nutrients reach the distal nerve endings most affected by neuropathic damage. Dr. Trapasso also provides nutritional support guidance addressing deficiencies in B-complex vitamins, alpha lipoic acid, and other micronutrients clinically associated with nerve health. The program is typically delivered over 8 to 12 weeks and is monitored with periodic neurological testing to objectively track improvement.
What to expect at your session
Sessions are non-invasive and painless. Laser therapy involves a handheld device held over the affected extremities. Circulatory stimulation uses gentle electrical impulses through pads applied to the feet or hands.
Sessions run 25 to 40 minutes. Most patients report improved sensation and reduced burning within the first three to four weeks of consistent treatment.
SoftWave & Laser Therapy
SoftWave TRT (Tissue Regeneration Technology) is an FDA-cleared acoustic wave therapy that uses unfocused, low-energy shock waves to trigger a cascade of biological healing responses in damaged tissue. Unlike traditional focused shockwave devices, SoftWave delivers energy across a broader tissue area, activating stem cell recruitment, promoting angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation), reducing chronic inflammation, and accelerating the natural repair process in tendons, ligaments, muscles, and joints. It is particularly effective for conditions that have not responded well to conventional physical therapy, including plantar fasciitis, rotator cuff tendinopathy, chronic low back pain, Achilles tendon injuries, and knee osteoarthritis. Dr. Trapasso pairs SoftWave with Class IV cold laser therapy (photobiomodulation) for a synergistic regenerative effect. While SoftWave works at the cellular signaling level to call in stem cells and reduce inflammation, the cold laser penetrates 3 to 5 centimeters into tissue to directly stimulate cellular ATP production, accelerate collagen synthesis, and reduce oxidative stress in injured cells. Together the two modalities address both the mechanical and metabolic dimensions of musculoskeletal healing. SoftWave carries FDA clearance and has been featured in multiple peer-reviewed clinical studies demonstrating measurable tissue regeneration and pain reduction.
What to expect at your session
A water-based gel is applied to the treatment area. The SoftWave handpiece is moved in slow, overlapping passes over the target tissue. The sensation is a mild tapping or pressure - most patients describe it as tolerable even over tender areas.
Sessions run 15 to 25 minutes. Some temporary soreness may follow the first session - this is a normal healing response. Most patients report noticeable improvement after three to six sessions.
Not sure which treatment is right for you?
Dr. Trapasso reviews your case in person, explains his findings in plain language, and builds a written care plan. No pressure, no commitment - just clarity on what is causing your pain and what can be done about it.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture has a 2,500-year clinical history and a growing body of modern peer-reviewed research confirming its effectiveness for pain management, muscle tension, headaches, and neurological dysfunction. At Valencia Chiropractic, we offer both traditional acupuncture and electro-acupuncture (EA), which passes a gentle microcurrent through the needle pair to amplify the analgesic effect in a dose-controlled way that research has linked to measurable endorphin release and descending pain inhibition through the central nervous system. Traditional dry needling targets myofascial trigger points - the hyperirritable knots within taut muscle bands - releasing them more effectively than many manual therapy techniques. This makes acupuncture an ideal complement to spinal decompression and chiropractic care: by reducing excessive paraspinal muscle tone, it allows the spine to hold adjustments longer and decompress more effectively. Dr. Trapasso uses acupuncture as an integrated element of multi-modal care plans rather than a standalone modality, strategically layering it with spinal care to address both the structural and neurological components of chronic pain. Acupuncture is particularly valuable for patients who have high muscle guarding that prevents decompression from reaching full therapeutic distraction, for headache and migraine sufferers, and for patients dealing with the anxiety and sleep disruption that so often accompany chronic pain conditions.
What to expect at your session
Hair-thin sterile needles are placed at specific anatomical points. Most patients feel little to no discomfort. A mild warmth or mild aching sensation at the needle site - called "de qi" - is normal and indicates a therapeutic response.
Needles typically remain in place for 15 to 25 minutes. Electro-acupuncture adds a gentle, adjustable electrical current. Sessions run 30 to 45 minutes total including setup and consultation.
Emsculpt NEO
Weak core and back musculature is one of the most underappreciated drivers of chronic spinal pain. The deep stabilizing muscles - multifidus, transverse abdominis, and quadratus lumborum - bear the mechanical load that protects intervertebral discs from injury and degeneration. When these muscles are weak or neurologically inhibited, the spine is forced to absorb forces it was not designed to handle, accelerating disc wear and predisposing patients to repeated pain flares. Emsculpt NEO uses a dual combination of High-Intensity Focused Electromagnetic technology (HIFEM) and Radio Frequency (RF) energy to passively contract and strengthen the targeted muscle group at a neuromuscular intensity impossible to replicate through voluntary exercise. HIFEM induces supramaximal muscle contractions - up to 20,000 contractions in a single 30-minute session - forcing deep muscle remodeling, hypertrophy, and neurological re-patterning that conventional physical therapy exercises would take months to achieve. The simultaneous RF component raises deep tissue temperature to a therapeutic range that improves local circulation, reduces fibrosis in the treated muscles, and enhances the metabolic response to the contractions. In a chiropractic context, Emsculpt NEO is prescribed after disc or spinal conditions have been stabilized through decompression and adjustment, as a tool for rebuilding the structural muscular support system that prevents recurrence. The treatment requires no exercise effort from the patient - you lie still while the device does the work.
What to expect at your session
Paddle applicators are secured to the target muscle group (typically abdomen or lower back). The device is calibrated to your tolerance level and gradually increased. You feel intense involuntary muscle contractions - unusual but not painful.
Sessions run exactly 30 minutes. Most protocols recommend four sessions over two weeks. Mild muscle soreness similar to an intense workout is normal 24 to 48 hours afterward.
Functional Wellness
Eliminating pain is only the first chapter. Functional Wellness at Valencia Chiropractic is the long-term maintenance and prevention program designed to keep patients out of pain permanently - not by keeping them dependent on regular visits, but by equipping them with the tools, knowledge, and habits that make relapse far less likely. The program addresses four interconnected pillars: movement, nutrition, lifestyle, and periodic structural reassessment. Movement coaching goes beyond generic exercise prescription. Dr. Trapasso analyzes your movement patterns - gait, posture under load, spinal flexion and extension mechanics - and designs a home-based program that corrects the biomechanical inefficiencies that led to your original injury. Nutritional support focuses on anti-inflammatory dietary strategies, joint-supporting micronutrients, and evidence-based supplementation that promotes disc hydration, cartilage health, and nerve function. Lifestyle habit coaching addresses the daily behaviors that most impact spinal health: sleep position, ergonomics at work and in the car, the way you lift, and the way you recover. Periodic reassessment sessions catch early warning signs before they escalate back into acute pain episodes. Functional Wellness is offered as a maintenance program once active treatment is complete, with visit frequency gradually reduced as the patient builds independence and confidence in their own body mechanics.
What to expect at your sessions
Wellness visits are lighter and more conversational than active treatment visits. Dr. Trapasso reviews your progress, updates your home program, and addresses any early warning signs. Sessions run 20 to 30 minutes.
Frequency starts at once per month and reduces to quarterly as you gain confidence. The goal is graduation - a point where you manage your own spinal health independently.
Personal Injury Care
Auto accidents cause a unique category of musculoskeletal injury. The abrupt deceleration forces in even a low-speed rear-end collision are sufficient to sprain cervical ligaments, herniate discs, and cause diffuse soft tissue microtrauma that often does not become symptomatic until 24 to 72 hours after the crash - by which time many patients have already left the emergency room without a chiropractic evaluation. Valencia Chiropractic specializes in the assessment and treatment of whiplash-associated disorders (WAD), post-collision cervical and lumbar disc injuries, seat belt contusions, shoulder injuries, and the headaches and cognitive changes that frequently follow head restraint impact. Dr. Trapasso provides comprehensive documentation of your injuries - detailed clinical notes, orthopedic and neurological exam findings, functional impairment ratings, and imaging referrals when warranted - in a format specifically designed to support your attorney and insurance claim. We work on a letter-of-protection (LOP) basis, which means treatment begins immediately at no cost to you, with fees resolved from your settlement. No injury is too recent or too old to evaluate. We accept patients who were injured days ago as well as patients who sustained injuries months ago and have been living with untreated pain. Our clinical records are regularly relied upon by personal injury attorneys throughout the Santa Clarita Valley to establish causation, document treatment necessity, and quantify damages in litigation and settlement negotiation.
What to expect at your session
Bring your police report, insurance information, and any photos from the accident if available. Dr. Trapasso performs a full post-accident clinical evaluation and can begin treatment the same day.
All clinical documentation is prepared in a medico-legal format. We communicate directly with your attorney's office and can provide expert narrative reports if your case proceeds to deposition or trial.
Everything you need under one roof
Your first consultation is free
Dr. Trapasso personally reviews every new case. He explains what he finds, presents a written treatment plan, answers your questions, and starts care only when you agree. No high-pressure sales, no confusing contracts.