KINESIO TAPE

Kinesio Tape is a therapeutic procedure that was developed by a Japanese chiropractor to help patients hold their adjustments better,  It is used extensively by the Japanese Olympic athletes, and in 1999 caught the attention of several American Olympic athletes and doctors, including cyclist, Lance Armstrong.

We want to educate you to the numerous benefits associated with Kinesiotaping.

1.    REDUCES PAIN by causing the body to release endorphins and encephalons

2.    HELPS ADJUSTMENT HOLD by gently supporting the area.

3.    PROTECTS muscles, tendons, and ligaments.

4.    REDUCES INFLAMMATION AND SWELLING by improving lymphatic flow.

5.    REDUCES MUSCLE SPASM by reducing muscle fatigue and over contraction

6.    IMPROVES NORMAL MOVEMENT/ SPEEDS RETURN TO NORMAL ACTIVITY and guarded against excessive motion.

7.    STABLIZES AREA and helps to avoid further injury.


INSTRUCTION TO FOLLOW WHILE TAPED

Shower and bathe as usual and simply pat KINESIO TAPE dry with a towel.  DO not rub dry or dry with blow dryer.

Ice can be applied over the tape for additional relief.

The tape is not magnetic, nor is it medicated.  However, a very small percentage of patients may experience sensitivity or allergic reaction to the adhesive.  There is no latex in the product.  Remove the tape should any problems develop.

Leave the tape on as long as you can.  It should begin to come off as the outer skin layer naturally sloughs off, about 2-7 days.


CRYOTHERAPY ( ICE PACKS)

Many times, along with your Chiropractic treatment, the application of ice to an irritated area will be recommended.  Most conditions involving pain and/or swelling (edema) will respond favorably to cryotherapy.  In conjunction with your Chiropractic care, ice is used most often for the calming of irritated nerve roots (as they exit the spinal column) or for decreasing the inflammation of a “hot” spinal disc (the “shock absorber” which is found in between each of the vertebra).  Ice is incorporated many times in new injuries or conditions in what is known as the acute stage or when reaggravation of an old injury occurs.  Sports therapists use cryotherapy to “freeze” athletic injuries and minimize pain and swelling

Ice brings on this relief by constricting the blood vessels in the involved area and thereby decreases the swelling and pressure which ultimately reduces the pain.  This constriction of the blood vessels decreases the possibility of internal bleeding occurring in the muscles, ligaments, and surrounding tissues which appear as a bruise.

In Chiropractic, by stabilizing the injured tissue with ice (reducing the irritation of a spinal nerve or inflamed spinal disc) allows the treatments to bring about a quicker response and the permanent relief of the nerve pressure and therapy greatly increases response to treatment.


DIATHERMY

The principle physical effect of high frequency treatment is the heating of human tissue in “depth” as opposed to heating pads which heat the skin surface with very little penetration into the muscle tissues.  Production of heat in the deep tissue results in the dilation of capillaries, arteries, and lymph vessels which breaks up congestion and edema in tissues by increasing the circulation in chronic cases.  Nutrition is enhanced and dissipation of waste materials is effected.

Diathermy has a sedative, soothing effect on nerve endings by causing local relaxation of skeletal muscles.  Its bacteriological effects are an increase of phagocytosis (eating of waster material by white blood cells) and leukocyte infiltration (white blood cell production)


ELECTRICAL MUSCLE STIMULATION

Electrical Muscle Stimulation is a procedure used to passively exercise muscular soft tissue up to tolerance of healthy tissue, but not past the point of pain where tissue destruction could take place.  The electrical current stimulates the nerves as they enter the muscle and gently contracts the muscle in a rhythmic pattern to accomplish a variety of therapeutic benefits.

For fast healing without undue stress of active exercise, muscle stimulation can passively (by involuntary response) run the affected soft tissue through a variety of contractions conducted by computerized messages specially programmed at various impulses per second.  This organized bombardment of electrical commands builds muscle strength and stability while the muscle is at physiological rest.  Normal reflex patterns are then re-established in the motorized receptors of the muscle thereby restoring the proper tension and flexibility of the soft tissue with voluntary control.

At the time of injury, muscles, ligaments, and paravertebral soft tissue (known as mesenchymal connective tissue) are flooded with lactic acid and toxic materials. These toxic materials must be cleaned by the lymphatic system.  Unlike the “blood” system which has a heart to pump it, the lymphatic system relies upon the movement of the surrounding tissues to push it through.  While this natural movement ca be severity restricted by pain and swelling, it can be instigated with electrical muscle stimulation which contracts the muscles in rhythmic patterns which aid greatly in assisting the body in the cleansing process.

Because inactivity allows a muscle to heal in a weakened state muscle stimulation is an excellent procedure because it promotes healing, strengthening, and stabilizing factors in the recuperating muscle.


ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound is high frequency sound waves.  It is a therapeutic device that is widely used by all health fields: hospitals, medical doctors, chiropractors, physical therapists, dentists, osteopaths and podiatrists.  Ultrasound waves penetrate the tissue and the sound causes a vibration within the tissue – “micro-massage”.

Microscopic massage – the vibration of each individual cell – causes the cell to greatly increase its metabolic rate or throw off its waste products.  This is very helpful because injured or malfunctioning tissue cannot metabolize or throw off waste products due to congestion, which can case a weakened state, malfunction, scar tissue, or calcification.  

CLINICAL EFFECTS OF THE ULTRASOUND WAVES

1.    Mechanical vibration of the cells is accomplished because of the high frequency of the ultrasound waves causing the molecules and the tissue cells to “rub” against each other.
2.    The friction of movement of cells creates heat in the tissue which in turn increases the circulation in the immediate area.
3.    The increased circulation means that nutrition is being brought into the area for healing and waste matter and debris are being removed.
4.    An analgesic effect (pain relief) is generally produced when the nerve root (neurotrophic) treatment is used because of the effect on the sensory nerves of the involved tissue.

GENERAL CONDITIONS TREATED BU ULTRASOUND

Sprains     Strains            Arthritis        Edema
Wry neck    Tendosynovitis     Pulled tendons   Arthrosis
Bursitis    Lumbago            Myalgia          Myelitis
Neuralgia   Osteitis           Radiculitis      Rheumatitis
Sciatica    Sinusitis          Synovitis        Trauma

MOIST HEAT

Moist heat has been a recommended therapy aid for many years and is used today by hospitals, chiropractors, physical therapists, and virtually all branches of the healing professions.  While cryotherapy (cold packs) can be used on acute injuries to reduce swelling, moist heat can be used to help long term healing as it softens the tissue and promotes pliability as the tissue heals.  A major consideration in the formation of scar tissue following an injury or in a chronic stressful condition is the loss of elasticity in the soft tissue. This mesenchymal connective tissue which consists of muscles, ligaments and articulating fascia uses flexability and elasticity as part of its defense system to surround and protect the nervous tissue and blood vessels as they pass through the foramen or openings between the vertebrae in the spine.

Hot packs expand the openings of even the smallest blood vessels to promote increased blood flow increasing nourishments to injured tissue.

Hot packs relax your muscles reducing the spasms even at the lower tissue levels thereby slowing pulse rate respirations and decreasing spasms.

Hot packs slow down reactions to muscle spasms and calms the unwanted response to nerve excitability that bring stabbing pains during muscle spasm.

Hot packs dialate channels in your body to help get rid of waste products and make room for new tissue growth.

Hot packs help to set the stage for proper healing.

In many instances patients feel the effect of moist heat hours after its application. When used in conjunction with chiropractic adjustments, proper diet, and exercise (active and passive), hot packs help promote long term healing.  The use of multiple therapies has a magnifying effect on each other and aid in the holding of the adjustments, thereby reducing overall treatment time.

INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION

Intersegmental traction is a specialized procedure designed to give passive exercise to the 110 articulations or joints associated with your spine.  Your normal daily activities provide active exercise however passive exercise provides your spine with natural nutrients, circulation, and mobility that can be accomplished in no other way.  Spinal injuries cause the joints of the spine to lock up and lose their ability to bend and twist normally.  This loss of mobility causes the disc to lose its nutritional supply and further hinders its function, pliability, and flexibility.  This loss leads to degeneration of the motor units and attracts unwanted calcium which causes arthritis of the joints.  This loss of youthful flexibility has been termed by lay people as an “aging spine turned to cement as it heals.”

Intersegmental traction used in conjunction with chiropractic care loosens the locked up joints and give passive motion exercise and therapy which feed the discs between the vertebrae.  This helps to return flexibility, elasticity, and preservation to that all important disc space which protects the opening for the spinal nerve.

The feeling of the intersegmental traction has been described by patients as the magic fingers approach to back care.  Its soothing way of stretching the yellow elastic fibers has amazed physicians and therapists with positive results wherever it is used.


TRIGGER POINTS

Trigger points have been identified as sources of pain and are generally defined as being small hypersensitive regions that give rise to local referred pain whenever stimulated by pressure, kneading, extreme temperature, or stretching.  The formation of trigger points may be caused by direct trauma to muscle, joint or muscle strain, myositis, arthritis, visceral ischemia, dyskinesia, or hysteria.  Trigger point locations are often predictable and consistent from patient to patient.  A pattern of pain is frequently associated with a trigger point that extends beyond the trigger point itself.

The sensitivity of a trigger point varies.  At times, the trigger point is recognizable as only a nodule in the muscle belly or ligament and shows no increase in pain sensitivity over surrounding area,.  During acute episodes, pain may be experienced with even gentle palpation and extend some distance from the trigger point itself.

Trigger points may be successfully treated by application of diathermy, ultrasound, or electrical muscle stimulation.