Soft Tissue Treatments

Various forms of soft-tissue treatments are used here at Howard County Chiropractic, including integrated myofascial release, Graston® Technique, Active Release Therapy, Kinesio Taping and trigger-point therapy. In addition, Theralase TLC1000, an FDA approved cold laser therapy method, is used to treat musculoskeletal conditions such as sprains/strains, bursitis, and tendonitis.

Graston ^® Technique

HCC is very excited to be offering this remarkable procedure that allows us to detect and treat areas of scar tissue or adhesions in muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Scar tissue and/or adhesions can reduce range of motion and cause pain. The Graston ^® Technique has been effective in treating many soft-tissue dysfunctions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, cervical pain, fibromyalgia, lower back pain, joint sprain, muscle strain, painful scars and more.

Graston ^® Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables certified clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions. The technique utilizes specially-designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibiting soft-tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation.

Benefits of Graston ^® include:

• Decreased overall time of treatment
• Faster rehabilitation/recovery
• Reduced need for anti-inflammatory medication
• Resolved chronic conditions thought to be permanent

Click here to watch Dr. Antico’s overview of Graston Technique™ (short video) .

Active Release Techniques (ART)

Active Release Techniques (ART) is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves. Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. These conditions all have one important thing in common: they are often a result of overused muscles.

How do overuse conditions occur?

Over-used muscles (and other soft tissues) change in three important ways:

• acute conditions (pulls, tears, collisions, etc.),
• accumulation of small tears (micro-trauma)
• not getting enough oxygen (hypoxia).

Each of these factors can cause your body to produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area. This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely. As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes tendonitis, and nerves can become trapped. This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain. If a nerve is trapped you may also feel tingling, numbness, and weakness.

What is an ART treatment like?

Every ART session is actually a combination of examination and treatment. The ART provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements.

These treatment protocols – over 500 specific moves – are unique to ART. They allow providers to identify and correct the specific problems that are affecting each individual patient. ART is not a cookie-cutter approach.

What is the history of Active Release Techniques?

ART has been developed, refined, and patented by P. Michael Leahy, DC, CCSP. Dr. Leahy noticed that his patients’ symptoms seemed to be related to changes in their soft tissue that could be felt by hand. By observing how muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves responded to different types of work, Dr. Leahy was able to consistently resolve over 90% of his patients’ problems. He now teaches and certifies health care providers all over the world to use ART.

The Kinesio Taping Method

The Kinesio Taping ^® Method is a rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing processwhile providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. It also provides extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy administered in the office by one of our doctors.

Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Kinesio Tex Tape is safe for populations ranging from pediatric to geriatric, and successfully treats a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions. The Kinesio Taping Method is a therapeutic taping technique that offers patients the support they are looking for, while rehabilitating the affected condition. By targeting different receptors within the somatosensory system, Kinesio Tex Tape alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. This lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation of the affected areas.

Kinesio Tape has been used in the clinical treatment space for many years and has been determined to be very successful in treating many conditions. Kinesio Tape is specifically applied to each patient based upon their needs after their office evaluation. The findings of each patient’s clinical evaluation or assessment dictate the specifics of the Kinesio Tape application and other possible treatments or modalities. Kinesio Tape can be applied in hundreds of ways and has the ability to re-educate the neuromuscular system, reduce pain and inflammation, enhance performance, prevent injury and promote good circulation and healing, and assist in returning the body to homeostasis.

The Kinesio Benefit

When used along side clinical evaluations and treatments, Kinesio Tape has been proven to have positive physiological effects on the skin, lymphatic and circulatory system, fascia, muscles, ligaments, tendons, and joints. It can be used in conjunction with a multitude of other treatments and modalities that we offer and is effective during the rehabilitative and chronic phases of an injury as well as being used for preventative measures.

Dr. Russel Antico is a certified Kinesio Taping Practitioner and has had a great deal of success with adding this modality to his treatment arsenal. If you are interested in adding Kineso Taping to your treatment plan, be sure to discuss options with one of the doctors next time you are in!

Integrated Myofascial Release

Myofascial release is an amazing form of soft tissue therapy that addresses tense, tight, overused and stressed muscles, tendons, ligaments and fascia.

Myofascia is a connective tissue system which gives our bodies shape and form, sort of like a strong support stocking under our skin. When healthy, the fascia is pliable and relaxed, providing protection and shock absorbency, giving us the ability to move comfortably without pain or restriction. Unfortunately, repetitive strain, injury, emotional trauma, surgery, or infection can cause the fascia to harden in order to protect us from further damage. Dense, solid fascia can put considerable pressure on underlying structures, compressing nerves and blood vessels which cause further tension and pain at the point of restriction and much further beyond. Myofascial Release can help by releasing restricted fascia and associated muscle tension.

Trigger Point Therapy

A trigger point is a tight area within muscle tissue that causes pain in other parts of the body. For example, a trigger point in the back may produce referral pain in the neck. The neck, now acting as a satellite trigger point, may then cause pain in the head, sort of like a chain reaction. Pain caused by trigger point can be either sharp and intense or simply a dull ache.

Trigger point therapy is specifically designed to alleviate the source of the pain through cycles of isolated pressure and release. The recipient actively participates through out the treatment by breathing deeply as well as identifying the exact location and intensity of the discomfort.

The results and benefits of trigger point therapy include releasing constricted areas in the muscles and alleviating pain. You can experience a significant decrease in pain after just one treatment and receiving massage with trigger point therapy on a regular basis can help naturally manage pain and stress from chronic injuries.

Cold Laser Therapy

Rapidly becoming the choice for treatment of certain soft-tissue injuries, HCC possesses one of the few cold laser therapy units in the county. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is the use of therapeutic  (or cold) laser light to provide relief from pain, eliminate inflammation (swelling) or to repair damaged tissues. LLLT is entirely non-invasive and has a wide range of applications  for musculoskeletal conditions.

Benefits of LLLT include:

• It is a drug free, non-toxic, and non-invasive treatment
• It’s extremely safe and virtually painless
• There are no side effects
• Cost effective for practitioner and patient
• Highly effective for patient (>90% efficacy)

So how does it work?

When the body has an injury the cells are damaged and fail to function within normal parameters. Low level lasers penetrate deeply into the skin and work by restoring this abnormal cellular function. Physiologic effects include improved metabolism, circulation, and tissue healing.

Laser therapy may be useful to you if you have any of the following:

Click here to watch Dr. Antico’s overview of Cold Laser Therapy (short video) . For more information on this therapy go to www.theralase.com .