MOSES LAKE - Dexter Chiropractic in Moses Lake was sold recently

to chiropractor Aaron Hammons and renamed Hammons Chiropractic.

Hammons is a graduate of Washington State University and Palmer

College of Chiropractic.

MOSES LAKE - Dexter Chiropractic in Moses Lake was sold recently to chiropractor Aaron Hammons and renamed Hammons Chiropractic.

Hammons is a graduate of Washington State University and Palmer College of Chiropractic.

He has worked in private practice for 12 years and was previously employed at a Bellevue sports injury clinic.

Hammons is certified to provide Active Release Techniques, Kinesio Taping and Graston Technique. He specializes in sports injuries, but the techniques he uses also work with other injuries.

Chiropractor and former owner Kris Dexter is working with Hammons during the transition.

Dexter's office manager, Leslie Wright, remains at the clinic.

Dexter plans to return to the business on a part-time basis after going on a two-month vacation, according to a letter he sent to patients.

He has owned the clinic for more than 30 years.

Hammons is one of three practitioners in Central Washington and Eastern Washington offering Active Release Techniques.

He described it as a type of deep tissue therapy for soft tissues.

"What it allows you to do is isolate each muscle, break up any restrictions or adhesions in that muscle or tendon," he explained.

Once you tear or damage a joint or muscle, the body's response to any type of injury is inflammation and the start of scar tissue.

"The technique will flush out inflammation from the area," Hammons said.

For new injuries, the technique helps keep scar tissue from forming and breaks up scar tissue in patients with chronic problems.

The Graston Technique does the same thing, but with a stainless steel tool applied to a patient's skin once a muscle is isolated.

Another method he's certified to practice, Kinesio Taping, involves taping used by Olympic athletes.

"It's used by pretty much every world class athlete now," he commented. "It's not like the old tape that makes you immobile. This is flexible."

When the tape is used for an injury, like on the rotator cuff, the area is stabilized while providing free range of motion.

He treats a variety of injuries, including sprained ankles and tennis elbow.

"It all has to do with soft tissue," Hammons explained.

During his last job, he treated world ultramarathoner Devon Chrosby-Helmes, for a foot injury.

Hammons Chiropractic is located at 900 E. Nelson Rd., Moses Lake. For more information, call 509-765-0239.