ART (Active Release Technique)
Active Release Technique (ART) is a soft tissue therapy designed to rid injured areas of scar tissue. Here at Forever Strong Chiropractic we incorporate ART in our treatment of musculoskeletal disorders to remedy injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, rotator cuff injuries, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, tennis elbow, headaches, and back pain. All of theses conditions tend to have one thing in common: the result of an overused muscle.
We are all prone to over-using muscles while at work and in our daily lives, no matter the occupation. Overuse Syndrome is common in our society. As a result of our work duties, athletic events and daily lives, we are all at risk of developing this syndrome due to repetitive stresses on the same structures. These stresses may not be painful at first, but the body learns to compensate for long term use resulting in the soft tissue adapting and changing over time.
Chiropractic Adjustments
A chiropractic adjustment can make you feel so much better. Your body does not want to be out of alignment, and that’s exactly what an adjustment can help address. It is also known as chiropractic manipulation, manual manipulation, or spinal manipulation. The adjustment refers to the manipulation of the vertebrae that have abnormal movements and are not functioning properly. A chiropractic adjustment will assist in fixing these issues.
The goal of chiropractic treatment is to reduce the subluxation, increase the range of motion, reduce nerve irritability, and improve mobility. Our compassionate and qualified chiropractor will work with you to relieve this pain and get you back to being pain free every single day.
Although many people visit their chiropractor and have an adjustment when something feels out of alignment, a regular visit will help you avoid any pain in the future and will keep your body feeling great all day long.
If you are having one of those days when you are not in the best mood, an adjustment may actually help. Your body will feel much better, which will naturally improve your mood.
Corrective Exercises
Corrective exercises are the use of bodily movements and/or postures to restore desirable changes in diseased or injured tissues. The corrective exercises are movement strategies that minimize or eliminate compensation. Corrective exercises should precede more integrated exercises, because they can cue the patient’s motor system to respond in a more desirable way and assist in removing or improving biomechanical constraints.
Cupping
Cupping is an ancient practice and can be found in Egyptian texts as far back as 1550 B.C. It was practiced in ancient Chinese and Middle Eastern cultures as well. Within modern medicine, cupping has been adopted by practitioners across many different fields, including chiropractors.
We perform cupping therapy by placing specialized cups on your skin for several minutes to create suction. You can think of it as the opposite of a massage – pulling your tissue up rather than massing your tissue down. Depending on your needs, cupping can also be combined with acupuncture.
- Inflammation
- Injury
- Neck, shoulder, and back pain
- Joint problems
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Asthma
- Headaches
- Cramps
- Digestive issues
- Arthritis
- Eczema
- Acne
- Allergies
- High blood pressure
- Anxiety
Your practitioner will create the suction in the cups through the use of a small handheld vacuum device. This causes the skin and underlying tissue within the cups to lift, allowing for greater circulation and relief of pain. In most cases, these cups are left in place for a few minutes and then gently removed.
Benefits of cupping include reduced pain and inflammation, a greater sense of well-being, decreased pain and irritation caused by skin, joint, and muscle issues, improved digestion, and lowered blood pressure.
Side effects are generally mild and may include bruising where the cups were placed and minor discomfort. Bruising and marks left from the therapy typically last a few days, but may take more than a week to fade.
Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is an intervention administered to various patients to alleviate pain or restrictive tissue problems. The release treatment usually involves the application of gentle or moderate pressure on the connective tissues and leads to relaxation and eventual elongation of the fascia therein. These restrictions are often caused by traumatic accidents or inflammations of the soft tissue. Some patients get them as an after-effect of surgery. They always result in muscular tension and spasm of sharp pain. They cannot be detected through standard diagnosis tests like the x-ray scan. It is essential for a patient to visit a doctor or physiotherapy expert once they notice restriction of movement in the hip area or shoulder. Painful backs can also be a sign of the restriction and can only be treated through the Myofascial Release procedures.
If you have never undergone a Myofascial Release procedure before, you might wonder what will be done. There is no need to panic any way, since it is a minor therapy intervention meant to alleviate any pain that could be as a result of fascia muscle pain and restriction. Here is what you can expect if you visit a standard therapist for your myofascial pain treatment.
- The therapist might have to interview you about what you think the cause of the pain could be. They may also palpitate the affected area to identify the particular fascia that needs to be massaged and given due attention during the procedure.
- A standard treatment should last anywhere from 30 minutes to one hour, but should not last longer than that as that may lead to soreness and fatigue.
- You may experience considerable relief, but if the case is severe, you may need to go for another session or two in the subsequent days.
- The treatment does not require the use of any equipment and creams or gels. The therapist will only need their hands to manipulate and apply slight pressure to the trigger points and affected muscles.