Physiotherapy and Therapy
Although the best-known chiropractic technique is adjustment (or spinal manipulation), chiropractors may use a number of different therapies and techniques as part of an individual's treatment plan. Many chiropractors use their hands as their main treatment tool, but there are also techniques that use handheld therapeutic devices. In this section, you can read about various chiropractic therapies and techniques.
Chiropractic Physiotherapies and Therapies
Chiropractic treatment is a non-invasive, hands-on approach to health care that focuses on the musculoskeletal system. It involves the diagnosis and manipulation of misalignments in the spine, known as subluxations, which affect the body's motion and the body's physical function, a common occurrence in many chiropractic clinics. Chiropractors, who are trained in chiropractic care, use their hands to perform spinal adjustments and other techniques to help the body heal itself. This article will delve into the various chiropractic techniques and therapies commonly used to treat a range of conditions.
How do chiropractic therapies work?
Chiropractic therapies, provided in a chiropractic clinic, encompass a range of techniques designed to address neck pain treatment, soft tissue injuries, and musculoskeletal dysfunctions. Therapeutic soft tissue manipulation, the Graston technique, and manual manipulation of extremities are among the therapies that chiropractors may employ to promote healing and relieve pain in their patients.
How does therapeutic soft tissue manipulation help?
Therapeutic soft tissue manipulation involves targeted techniques such as massage and myofascial release to alleviate tension, improve blood circulation, and promote the healing of soft tissue injuries. In a chiropractic clinic, the chiropractor applies their hands to apply precise pressure and movements to the affected areas, aiding in the rehabilitation of muscles, tendons, and ligaments.
What is the Graston technique in chiropractic care?
The Graston technique is a form of manual therapy that utilizes stainless steel instruments to perform soft tissue mobilization. By using specific strokes over the skin in a chiropractic clinic, chiropractors are able to detect and treat adhesions, scar tissue, and fascial restrictions with various treatment techniques, enhancing recovery and restoring function to injured areas.
How can manual manipulation of extremities benefit patients?
Manual manipulation of extremities involves chiropractic adjustments focused on the joints outside the spine, such as the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, and ankles. This approach, offered in a chiropractic clinic, helps improve joint mobility and function, addressing issues related to neck and back pain, sports injuries, repetitive strain, and overuse, thus aiding in the overall recovery process.
Stretching and strengthening exercises can increase flexibility, create joint stability, improve posture, or decrease pain, so they are often part of a chiropractic treatment plan.
Trigger point therapy entails putting pressure on “trigger points,” or tender nodules found in the muscle, to release tension, relieve pain, and correct dysfunction of a muscle.
A treatment method is used to reduce pain, swelling, and recovery time. This increasingly popular treatment works well for soft tissue injuries, muscle spasms, and even for athletes who want quicker recovery from workouts.
Spinal decompression is a technique that utilizes traction to open space between vertebrae, pump the discs with nutrients, and help injured and herniated discs.
Spinal manipulation (adjustment) is the main form of treatment performed by chiropractors. There are many adjustment techniques, and all have the goal of relieving pressure on joints, reducing inflammation, and improving nerve function.
In therapeutic ultrasound, high-frequency sound waves stimulate soft tissues of the body to ease pain and tightness and promote healing.
Research shows that therapeutic massage can be a great addition to other chiropractic treatments. Unlike spa massage, it targets specific areas of increased muscle tension and its goal is to restore optimal muscle function, resulting in decreased pain and tension.
An electrical muscle stimulation (EMS or E-stim) device can prevent muscle spasms, relieve pain, and retrain or build muscle tissue.
If muscle pain bothers you or keeps you from moving freely, a gentle therapy called myofascial release can reduce pain, break down scar tissue, and increase flexibility.
Chiropractors are known for performing adjustments, but there are many other therapies and techniques that can be part of a chiropractic treatment plan.
Cold laser therapy is a non-invasive and painless treatment that uses light wavelengths to speed healing time, reduce inflammation, and relieve pain.
Depending on the matter of your concern, your chiropractor may give you a list of exercises to perform to reduce discomfort. The focus of therapeutic exercise is to regain flexibility, strength, and endurance related to specific physical problems.
Ice pack cryotherapy consists of applying cold compresses to the skin, both to reduce its temperature and constrict blood vessels in the area. Applied to fresh injuries, it can help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.
Interferential Current Therapy is an effective therapy method used to relieve pain and accelerate the self-healing process. It is essentially a deeper form of electrical stimulation. To perform this method of treatment, electrodes are placed on the skin around the injured body part
The Epley maneuver or repositioning maneuver is a maneuver used by medical professionals to treat one common cause of vertigo, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) of the posterior or anterior canals of the ear.
Designed to mimic human skin, with roughly the same thickness and elastic properties, the tape can be stretched 30–40% longitudinally. It is a latex-free material with acrylic adhesive, which is heat-activated. The cotton fibers allow for evaporation and quicker drying leading to longer wear time, up to 4 days.
Active Release Techniques (ART) are a soft tissue method that focuses on relieving tissue tension via the removal of fibrosis/adhesions which can develop in tissues as a result of overload due to repetitive use. These disorders may lead to muscular weakness, numbness, aching, tingling, and burning sensations.
Graston Technique is a therapeutic method for treating disorders of the skeletal muscles and related connective tissue. The method was started by David Graston and employs a collection of six stainless steel instruments of particular shape and size, which are used by practitioners to rub patients' muscles to detect and resolve adhesions in the muscles and tendons.
Dry needling is a treatment that healthcare providers use for pain and movement issues associated with myofascial trigger points. With this technique, a provider inserts thin needles into or near your trigger points. The needles stimulate your muscles, which causes them to contract or twitch. This helps relieve pain and improve your range of motion.
