Complementary therapies

Ultrasound

#ultrasound

Ultrasound is a high frequency sound generator that is locally applied to injured or inflamed areas. Ultrasound causes micro-movement to tissues and has the ability to increase circulation, clean up congested areas and break down connective tissue adhesions.

Electrotherapy

#interferentialtherapy #tens

The interferential current is a high frequency electric current that has been developed to reach deep tissue, reduce edema, reduce pain and locally increase circulation and tissue oxygenation.

Electrotherapy is a therapeutic treatment that helps reduce pain and improve soft tissue healing. Electrodes are placed on the skin at the site of the injury and when the device is on, it creates several small electrical pulses that penetrate the tissues at the site of injury. As the pulses cross the skin’s surface, low frequency stimulation is created. This stimulation causes the body to produce endorphins and other natural substances that help reduce pain.

The majority of patients find electrotherapy to be very beneficial and describe the treatment as a sensation of small needles or tingling.

Electrotherapy is mainly used to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. Ligament tears, sprains and muscle spasms respond positively to this type of treatment, which helps reduce atrophy and improve blood circulation.

Benefits

Reduces painful symptoms
Decreases local edema
Improves muscle tone
Restores normal movements
Enables the body to produce chemicals, such as endorphins that help to reduce our perception of pain.
Accelerates the healing process

Thermotherapy

#heattherapy

Heat packs, warm pads or warm and damp towels are used to help increase the temperature of soft tissue just below the skin. The heat applied to the surface of the skin dilates the subcutaneous blood vessels, allowing the tissues to relax and thus temporarily alleviate the pain. Increasing circulation and relaxing muscles can be beneficial before or after chiropractic treatments, exercises or other types of treatments.

Heat is generally recommended to relax spastic tissues and temporarily relieve the symptoms associated with chronic pain and muscle tension. The use of heat to calm spastic or chronically irritated tissue is a good way to increase flexibility, mobility and blood circulation, which ultimately speeds up the healing process.

Benefits

Increases circulation
Relaxes muscle tension
Reduces joint stiffness
Prepares the tissues for rehabilitation

Cryotherapy

#cryotherapy

The term cryotherapy refers to the application of ice or cold compresses to lower tissue temperature below or on the skin’s surface. Decreasing the temperature constricts the blood vessels, numbs the areas of pain and helps to relax the muscles. A cold temperature will reduce painful nerve transmissions, therefore providing temporary relief.

Ice is often used for acute injury or during a recent exacerbation of a chronic malaise. Tissue cooling is effective in reducing and preventing post-traumatic edema. Local application of ice should be repeated several times a day when the injury is recent. For example, cryotherapy is an easy and effective way to reduce edema in inflamed tissue.

Benefits

Helps reduce edema and inflammation
Numbs the area to reduce pain
Reduces muscle spasms

Prescribing therapeutic exercises

#exercisetherapy #rehab

Exercises are a series of active or sustained repetitive stretches or strengthening exercises performed to maximize the function of weak or injured muscles that support the spine or other joint. Specific exercises help stabilize and re-educate the injured area of the body.

After an injury, the scar tissue created changes the elasticity and strength of the muscles. It is therefore important to have a good stretching and strengthening exercise program established according to your needs, allowing you to restore muscle tone. Results take time. Exercise is an effective and inexpensive way to recover faster, stabilize the spine and peripheral joints, and help prevent relapse.