What are
Physiotherapies?
There are many
forms of physiologic therapeutics that may be used in conjunction with your
spinal adjustment. We may employ the use of:
§
Ice
§
Heat
§
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
These procedures
will have a specific physiological effect on the body. Their use during the
course of the treatment depends upon your specific needs and the goals we want
to achieve.
Ice or Cryotherapy
Properly applied
ice is used to manage acute injuries or flare-ups of a chronic condition. Ice
reduces the 
temperature
of the tissues directly on or below the surface of the skin. Surface cooling
numbs painful areas, constricts blood vessels and helps relax muscle spasms.
Cold temperatures reduce nerve transmission of painful areas and provides
temporary relief. Cooling the affected tissues is effective in preventing or
reducing post traumatic swelling and inflammation.
Dr. Casey always
recommends icing over heating. If you
are not sure which one you should do.
Always resort to icing and consult Dr. Casey for additional
recommendations.
Heat
Heat applied to
the surface of the skin enlarges blood vessels below the surface, relaxing
tissues and can temporarily relieve painful symptoms. Using heat to calm
tissues suffering from long term spasm or irritation is an easy way to
temporarily increase flexibility, range of motion, and promote increased
circulation to speed the healing process. Increasing circulation and relaxing
muscles is helpful before chiropractic adjustments.
Be sure to ask
Dr. Casey when it is beneficial to heat before applying it yourself.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation
A
small amount of electrical current is induced into the site of soft tissue
injury, especially muscles, for the purpose of blocking pain and reducing
swelling. Patients generally feel a slight tingling sensation and as your body
becomes accustomed to the initial setting, the intensity may be raised during
the course of the treatment. Many painful symptoms can be relieved with the
application of Electro-Muscle stimulation.
Ultrasound
The two basic
forms of ultrasound are diagnostic and therapeutic ultrasound. They both use
high frequency sound waves administered on a region of the body. Most
people are familiar with diagnostic ultrasound because it is wildly used on
pregnant women and their unborn babies.
Therapeutic
ultrasound is used to treat injured tissues. Sound vibrations, as fast as one million
times per second, penetrate the tissues deep in the body creating a pumping
action and heat. These vibrations and heat help break down and disperse
unhealthy calcium and other hard tissue accumulations. Therapeutic ultrasound
stimulates the healing process with out irritation, reduces nerve root
irritation, speeds metabolism and improves blood flow. Gel is used to conduct
the sound waves to the patients body. Most patients feel nothing or a pleasant
and relaxing sensation below the surface of the skin.
Intersegmental Traction
Since discs have
a poor blood supply, they receive nutrients from the circulation of fluids
surrounding spinal joints by way of a pumping action. Fixations of the spine
prevent this natural pumping action and 
can
cause disc thinning and degeneration. Intersegmental traction (IST) is a way of
inducing passive motion into the spine which will stretch spinal joints and
increase mobility. The patient lies face up on the IST table which has
rollers beneath its surface that slowly travel the length of the spine.
Our IST tables
have several patient friendly features. On these tables you have the option of
having the rollers vibrate and adjusting the height of the rollers to your
comfort level. Most patients find this form of treatment to be very
relaxing and want to take the IST tables home.