MANUAL THERAPIES & physical therapy tools
Manual therapies are simply techniques that use a “hands on” approach, rather than machines. Our advanced physical therapy & manual therapies are specifically designed to decrease pain, and increase range of motion. This helps to reduce inflammation, promote relaxation, and overall facilitate your movement and function.
soft tissue mobilization
Soft tissue mobilization's goal is to break up scar tissue, break facial restrictions, move tissue fluids and relax muscle tension. Specific directional manual force is used to help loosen the tissues. The therapist will find the area of greatest tissue restriction through layer-by-layer assessment. These restrictions can then be mobilized with a wide variety of techniques.
CUPPING
Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which the physical therapist puts special cups on your skin for a few minutes to create suction. People get it for many purposes, including helping with pain, inflammation, blood flow, relaxation and well being, and as a type of deep-tissue massage.
Joint Mobilization
Joint mobilization is a key component of manual therapy and consists of skilled, passive or active, movements to joints, neuro-vascular and their soft-tissue structures. Joint mobilization involves loosening the restricted joint and increasing its range of motion by providing movement directly into the joint in ways patients cannot move the joint themselves.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) is a manual resistance technique that promotes the response of normal movements of the body through stimulation of the sensory system responsible for detecting position and movement.
Muscle energy techniques (MET)
Muscle energy techniques (MET) are designed to move restricted joints, reduce localized edema and lengthen shortened muscles. It involves a voluntary contraction of the patient’s muscles against a distinctly controlled counterforce from a precise position and in a specific direction. MET focuses on joint range of motion limitation, and uses light to moderate muscular contractions to restore normal joint position and motion. By placing the affected joints in precise positions for soft tissue contraction and relaxation the therapist is able to inhibit restrictions within the muscular skeletal system.
Myofasical Release
Myofasical Release is a “larger form” of soft tissue mobilization. Fascia is a specialized system of the body covering every bone, muscle and nerve in the body. Fascia is densely woven and looks somewhat like a spider’s web, connecting each and every part of the entire body to each other. When you experience trauma, such as a fall, the fascia becomes tight and restricted and can cause pain in other parts of the body. By applying gentle sustained pressure, and stretches, and long holds to the fascia, it releases restriction in the tissue, eliminating pain and restoring motion.
DRY NEEDLING
FUNCTIONAL DRY NEEDLING
Trigger Point Dry Needling allows us to go deeper than other manual therapies. Using a thin, painless filament needle to penetrate the skin, we are able to stimulate the exact spot that is causing you pain and impairment. Your body reacts to this stimulation by creating biochemical and mechanical changes that help with the healing process. When combined with corrective exercises, this treatment has been proven to help reduce pain, increase range of motion and accelerate the healing process.
laser therapy
CLASS IV LASERS
Class IV Laser therapy is the non-invasive use of laser energy. It is used to generate a photochemical response in damaged or dysfunctional tissue. Class IV Laser therapy can alleviate pain, and reduce inflammation. In addition, it accelerate recovery from a wide range of acute and chronic clinical conditions. The main goal of treatment when treating painful, debilitating conditions is to facilitate improved function and mobility. Laser therapy is a drug-free, surgery-free technique to help make that goal a reality.
Diagnostic ultrasound
Ultrasound
Diagnostic Ultrasound allows the provider to use ultrasound waves to view internal parts of your body to see if something is wrong or not working properly. They can help your provider learn more about what’s causing a wide range of symptoms, such as unexplained pain or masses.
blood flow restriction
BFR
Blood Flow Restriction training, or BFR, uses a tourniquet and safe low loads to manipulate the healing environment around injured tendon, ligament, muscle and bone through increased collagen synthesis. BFR does this by using the tourniquet to create an oxygen deprived exercise state that greatly increases the production and pooling of lactate within the exercising limb. This spike in lactate triggers the release of Growth Hormone, the down regulation of Myostatin, and the increased secretion of growth factors. This cascade leads to connective tissue healing as well as muscle growth.
Astym®
Astym® Treatment
Astym® treatment is a therapy that regenerates healthy soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.). It eliminates or reduces unwanted scar tissue that may be causing pain or movement restrictions. Astym® treatment is highly effective and even works when other approaches routinely fail. Astym® treatment is much more effective than other treatments. Rather than just trying to temporarily relieve symptoms, it was scientifically developed to resolve the underlying cause of soft tissue problems. It is one of the most researched and effective therapy treatments available.
Astym® treatment is unmatched in its ability to resolve tendinopathies, scar tissue problems, and other soft tissue dysfunctions. Generally, chronic soft tissue problems are due to scarring or degeneration. Soft tissues include muscles, tendons and ligaments. Both scarring and degeneration are common and can result in pain and limitations in movement.
How ASTYM Can Help
The body’s soft tissues degenerate when inadequate healing occurs, and over time the tissues degrade. Degenerated tissues are weak and prone to injury. Degeneration can be caused by many factors, including age, intense use, improper movement, weakened muscles putting extra stress on other tissues, disease, etc. Most chronic tendinopathies are primarily degenerative in nature.
Scarring can happen on top of the skin, but often the biggest problems come from scar tissue that forms inside the body around joints, muscles, tendons and/or ligaments. The body naturally lays down some scar tissue in response to irritation or injury. The fibrous, strong scar tissue is meant to reinforce an area, but often it ends up restricting movement and causing pain. The causes of problem scar tissue could be an injury, such as a sprained ankle, car accident, etc. Additionally, a surgery can cause the body to respond with scar tissue, preventing full recovery. Sometimes intense or over use of soft tissues from activities such as sports, repetitive work, or activity beyond your fitness level can cause scar tissue build up. Even sprains or other strains can develop scarring on soft tissues.
Astym® treatment works both to regenerate tissues and eliminate or reduce internal scar tissue. By eliminating the cause of your problems, your symptoms will resolve quickly.
The ASTYM technique is used for muscles, tendons, and ligaments, and on a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions such as:
- Cervical sprain/strain (neck pain)
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Lateral Epicondylitis (tennis elbow)
- Rotator Cuff
- Tendonitis
- Achilles
- Tendinitis
- Lumbar sprain/strain (back pain)
- Plantar Fasciitis (foot pain)
- Medial Epicondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
- Patellofemoral Disorders (knee pain)
- Fibromyalgia
- Trigger Finger
- Joint sprains
- Scar Tissue
- Shin Splints