There are a ton of myths that float around about what you might experience at a chiropractors office. Let’s take a moment to address some of the treatments that a person experience musculoskeletal pain might receive during treatment with me. First, you must understand that every patient completes a thorough health history and goes through a complete physical examination before any treatment recommendations are made.
This allows every patient to receive the most appropriate treatment, customized to their unique needs. My treatment philosophy is also such that once a person has reached maximum improvement, recommendations will be made about how to improve their own fitness and will be discharged. Patients are only encouraged to return if they experience a flare-up or new problem. No endless treatment programs!
Here is a quick run-down of some of the most common treatments we utilize:
Exercise Therapy
According to the latest research, exercise is one of the most effective ways to reduce pain and restore function to your body! Let me say that again, EXERCISE IS ONE OF THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAYS to reduce pain and build strength. The exercises that I recommended are specifically catered to helping each individual patient. No cookie cutter programs. Sometimes my exercise programs resemble those that you may have seen before in other healthcare offices, like physical therapy. However, many patients require exercises that are a bit more strenuous and might look more like a workout you would do at the gym. I utilize Therabands, exercise balls, kettlebells, dumbbells, squat racks, treadmills to help get people back to to function. It all depends on what the patient needs!
Shockwave Therapy
Also called AWT, it is an exciting therapy that uses sound waves to speed up healing and pain-relief. In physical terms, AWT works by sending low-energy pulses into the affected area of the injured tissue. These pressure waves stimulate the natural bio-healing effects in the body. We utilize AWT to treat conditions like tendinitis, frozen shoulder, shoulder pain, knee pain and many other common complaints.
Thermo-Therapy
Ice and heat have been used commonly to treat injuries, but when do we know when to use ice or heat?
Traditionally, ice is used in the first 24-72 hours after injury to help reduce swelling and decrease pain. Ice works by decreasing blood flow to the injured area, which means that it may also slow down healing time. We prefer to use ice for longterm chronic pain that requires some relief. Ice is excellent in this regard.
Heat is typically used 72+ hours after injury to help reduce muscle spasms and increase range of motion. Heat opens up blood vessels, which increases blood flow and supplies oxygen and nutrients to reduce pain in joints and relax muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The warmth also decreases muscle spasms and can increase range of motion. Applying heat to your body can improve the flexibility of tendons and ligaments, reduce muscle spasms, and alleviate pain.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical Stimulation can be used for two primary functions; muscle strengthening or pain control. Electrical stimulation uses a small electrical current to “turn on” nerves in our body. By placing a pair of electrodes over a muscle, muscle group, or painful area the unit can send electrical impulses through the skin to underlying nerves, creating light, comfortable muscle contractions.
The TENS unit is an electrical stimulation device used for pain management. It provides pain relief by sending small electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin to underlying nerve fibers. Very simply, TENS is effective at blocking nerves that transmit pain information by turning on sensory nerves in our skin. By effectively managing pain without drugs, TENS allows many people with chronic pain conditions to resume daily activity.
Dynamic Taping
This style and brand of taping in relatively new to the US our practice is one of the few in the Houston area to utilize it. In fact, we like it so much that Dr. Riddle is an instructor for Dynamic Tape!
The premise is simple, when you help sore joints, muscles and ligaments by removing some of their workload you can change the way they work and feel. By applying Dynamic Tape in the proper way, we can help your painful joints and muscles work less and provide relief.
Compression Banding or Flossing
The basic principle of flossing is that in healthy tissues, tendons and ligaments and fascia and muscle slide against one another freely. If any of these tissues have become inflamed by injury or by overuse, they can get bound up. This creates pain, inflammation and decreased range of motion.
The “flossing” pins down painful tissue offering compression and support, allowing it to slide underneath as you move the joint safely through range of motion exercises. After the wrap comes off, blood flows back into the area as you move the joint around freely again, and the extra oxygen boost helps keep things from tightening up immediately. The effects of flossing are not permanent but will help someone with a minor injury continue to move the joint freely, workout with decreased pain and improve range of motion.
Myofascial Cupping
Sometimes referred to simply as “cupping”, this is an effective treatment for conditions like low back and shoulder pain, amongst may others. It involves placing a small cup over the area of pain for a brief period of time. Placement of the cup(s) promotes blood flow and may help int he healing process. In some treatments, the cup is left in place while the patient relaxes comfortably. In other instances, the patient may move the painful body part to allow the skin under the cup to move, helping to improve pain and range of motion. There is some possible of skin redness or “cup bruises”, as you may have seen on athletes during competition; like Michael Phelps during the 2016 Summer Olympics. Many athletes swear by this treatment.
Spinal and Joint Manipulation
Probably the treatment that chiropractors are most well-known for, and is the most mysterious to anyone who has never been to see us. Also called and adjustment, this treatment involves the chiropractor making a quick, gentle “thrust” into a joint that may not be moving quite right or that may be painful. Sometimes, a “pop” or cavitation is heard during the treatment. This is gas moving in the joint space and being released. Contrary to the misinformation that’s been spread around about it for years, joint manipulation is extremely safe with few, if any, side effects. In fact, research continues to emerge about how safe and cost effective it is for low back and neck pain versus other medical treatments. As with other treatments, patients are screened carefully to makes sure that this treatment is appropriate for them.
Have questions about whether I can help you with your joint and muscle pain? Schedule a consultation with me to discuss it! Book an Appointment Online Here >>
