Therapeutic Modalities
Tools of the trade
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization
IASTM is a soft tissue therapy technique that uses an instrument that is made of metal or stone to scrape over a specific area of the body to improve the movement and health of the tissue. At the cellular level, an inflammatory response is initiated through micro trauma to the affected tissues results in increased fibroblast proliferation, collagen synthesis, and the remodeling of unorganized collagen fibers like scar tissue. IASTM also has a neurophysiological effect by stimulating mechanosensitive neurons through skin.
Kinesiology Taping
Kinesiology tape is an elastic sports tape that is designed to provide drug-free pain relief and lightweight support to muscles, tendons, and ligaments while allowing full range of motion. Kinesiology tape can be applied to various regions of the body for support, improved proprioceptive feedback, reduced tension, and improved lymphatic drainage to reduce swelling.
Laser Therapy
Low level laser therapy, also known as low level light therapy, utilizes specific wavelengths of red and near infrared light to stimulate healing and reduce pain. It works through a process called photobiomodulation to increase the speed, quality and tensile strength of tissue repair. I specifically chose a multi-wavelength laser to be able to target healing in superficial tissue and the lymphatic system as well as deeper into the muscular layer. Laser therapy has hundreds of applications including its use in healing painful and cracked nipples and cesarean scar incision sites.
Cupping Therapy
Myofascial cupping is a decompressive soft tissue therapy that encourages healing by creating negative pressure, or suction, on the skin using plastic or silicone cups that pull underlying tissues, blood, and extracellular fluid to the surface of the skin improving blood flow and making it easier for the body to process and eliminate impurities and toxins. It helps decrease pain and swelling and improves range of motion and health of the target tissues.
Therapeutic Ultrasound
Ultrasound therapy units emanate high-frequency sound waves that penetrate soft tissues with deep heat to increase blood flow to the area and promote healing. These therapeutic vibrations also influence nerve impulses that reduce pain and muscle spasm at the cellular level and improve nerve conduction. This is a great therapy to speed the healing of tendon and soft tissue injuries and promote collagen production and tissue regeneration.
Electric Muscle Stimulation
Electric muscle stimulation uses electrical impulses that pass through special pads placed on the skin to generate muscle contractions that help muscles relax, increase blood flow to the area, and reduce pain and swelling. Electric muscle stimulation also helps your body release it’s own natural pain-relieving hormones. Muscle stimulation can also be used to activate inhibited muscles and retrain muscle coordination.
Muscle Energy Technique
Muscle energy technique (MET) is a form of manual therapy that uses a muscle’s own energy in the form of gentle isometric contractions to relax and lengthen short or tight muscles. There are different muscle energy techniques. Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR) causes a decrease in muscle tone in a single or group of muscles, after a brief period of submaximal isometric contraction. Reciprocal inhibition describes the relaxation of muscles on one side of a joint to accommodate contraction on the other side.
Canalith Repositioning Procedures
Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) can be brought on by something as simple as turning the head, causing dizziness, a spinning sensation (vertigo), lightheadedness, unsteadiness, loss of balance, and nausea. This happens when granular material that normally sits in one part of the inner ear is displaced into the semicircular canals. Treatment includes a series of head positioning maneuvers to get these tiny granules back to their correct place to resolve symptoms quickly, easily and painlessly.