Physical Therapy in Plantation
Our office integrates multiple modalities of physical therapy for maximum patient outcome.
Physical Therapy integrated with chiropractic aids remarkable in recovery from Auto Injuries, Sports Injuries, Muscle Sprains & Strains.
Below are some of the modalities and procedures employed in our office.
- Interferential Electro-Therapy
- Therapeutic Exercises & Activities
- Cryotherapy
- Superficial Heat
- Intersegmental Traction
- Hydro-massage Whirlpool
- Diathermy
- Ultrasound
- Cold Low level Laser
Interferential Electro-muscular Therapy
What is Interferential Electro-muscular Therapy?
It is a therapeutic treatment to aid in the relief of pain and the promotion of soft tissue healing.
How does Interferential Electro-Therapy work?
Tiny amounts of electrical impulses are induced into the tissues in the vicinity of the injury. Where these waves intersect below the surface of the skin, a low frequency stimulation is created. This prompts the body to secrete endorphins and other natural pain killers to help relieve pain.
What does Interferential Electro-Therapy feel like?
Most patients find Interferential Electro-Therapy to be extremely beneficial and describe the treatment as a faint "pins and needles" sensation.
Why is Interferential Electro-Therapy used?
Interferential Electro-Therapy is most often used for pain relief and to aid in reducing the swelling of soft tissues. Ligament sprains, muscle sprains and spasms often respond to this treatment, helping to reduce atrophy and increase blood circulation.
Benefits of Interferential Electro-Therapy
- Reduces painful symptoms
- Decreases local swelling
- Promotes muscle tone
- Restores normal movements
- Releases the body's natural pain killers
- Accelerates the healing process
Therapeutic Activities and Exercises
What are Therapeutic Activities and Exercises?
Therapeutic Exercises is a set of repetitive stretching or strengthening maneuvers designed to develop weakened or injured muscle groups that support the spine. Specific exercises help rehabilitate and stabilize the spine. These maneuvers can be both active and passive.
How does Therapeutic Activities and Exercises work?
The individual bones of the spine are held in place by muscles, tendons and ligaments. Proper motion and position of these bones are crucial for proper nervous system function, correct posture, and good health. By performing therapeutic exercises, there is a increase in motion, strength and healing.
Cryotherapy
What is a Cryotherapy?
Cryotherapy is a term that describes the application of ice, cold towels, ice massage and compresses to reduce the temperature of tissues directly on or below the surface of the skin.
How does Cryotherapy work?
Surface cooling constricts blood vessels, numbs painful areas, reduce local swelling of inflamed tissues and helps relax muscle spasms. Cold temperatures reduce nerve transmission of painful symptoms and provide temporary relief.
Superficial Heat
What is Superficial Heat?
Hot packs, warm moist towels, heating pads, water bottles and infrared lamps are often used to help raise the temperature of soft tissues directly below the surface of the skin.
How does Superficial Heat work?
Heat applied to the surface of the skin enlarges blood vessels below the surface, relaxing tissues and can temporarily relieve painful symptoms. Increasing circulation and relaxing muscles is helpful before or after chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and other treatments.
Intersegmental Traction
Intersegmental traction produces several very important effects in the healing of the spine. These effects include increased vascular and lymphatic flow which tends to reduce edema (swelling) and coagulates seen in chronic tissue congestion. Intersegmental traction also stretches and frees articular and periarticular adhesions and fibrotic infiltrations, thereby is an efficient supplement to manual adjustments. Intersegmental traction further helps to tone muscles which reduces fatigue and restore elasticity and resiliency of the tissues.
Intersegmental traction further improves circulation in the joints of the spine. In spinal injuries or mechanical problems of the spine, the articulations or joints lose their mobility. Traction stretches the joints which opens the facet joint articulation and reduces pressure of the spinal nerves. Traction also opens the facet joint articulations and increases the circulation flow of the spine.
Hydro-massage Whirlpool
Hydro-massage whirlpool therapy tables are very similar in effect to whirlpools and immersion water therapy but the patient remains dry. The patient lies on his/her back, completely clothed, on the surface of the table. Just under the surface is a mattress filled with heated water. A Jacuzzi pump propels the water toward the patient through three patented hydro-jets.
The pressure of the water against the patient’s body provides the massage. Each jet spins at more than 200 revolutions per minute. A primary wave and a lighter secondary wave combine to produce a very effective deep tissue massage to all areas of the spine simultaneously. The therapy can be applied to nearly every part of the body simply by changing the patient’s position on the table.
Hydro-massage whirlpool focuses on the muscular system, the connective tissue, the circulatory and lymphatic systems. The combination of flotation, heat and massage produce the therapeutic effects and are described below.
The major physiologic effects of hydrotherapy can be summarized as follows:
- Works out trigger points in the muscles, which are localized areas of hyperirritability that induce a cycle of spasm, pain, tension, weakness and limited range of motion.
- Increases circulatory and metabolic rates, thereby promoting tissue healing & removal of metabolic toxins.
- Increases blood volume and oxygen consumption.
- Soothes irritated nerves.
- Promotes tissue healing and repair.
- Relaxes muscles.
- Relieves fatigue.
Diathermy
What is a Diathermy?
It is a form of short-wave electromagnetic energy used to raise the temperature of certain soft tissues below the surface of the skin.
How does Diathermy work?
Unlike a heat lamp, the Diathermy energy field passes through the softer tissues near the surface of the body, turning into heat when reaching the more dense tissues below the surface. This increases blood circulation and can help speed the healing process.
Benefits of Diathermy
- Can help speed the healing process.
- Dilates blood vessels for improved circulation.
- Stimulates white blood cell production.
- Helps prevent adhesions and scar tissue.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a therapeutic treatment using high frequency sound waves administered in the region of soft tissue injuries.
How does Ultrasound work?
Sound vibrations, as fast as a million times per second, penetrate the tissues deep in the body, creating a heat response. These vibrations and heat help break down and disperse unhealthy calcium and other hard tissue accumulations.
Benefits of Ultrasound
- Highly effective in treating calcium deposition
- Stimulates healing without irritation
- Speeds metabolism and improves blood flow
- Reduces nerve root irritation
- Enhances the body's natural healing ability
Cold Low Level Laser
What is Cold Low Level Laser Therapy?
Light or photon energy with the unique property of being able to penetrate up to two inches below the skin surface causing an increase in cellular metabolism with no tissue damage whatsoever.
What is Cold Low Level Laser being used to treat?
Cold Low Level Laser is being used to treat a variety of painful and inflamed conditions of the soft tissues and joints such as:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Chronic & Acute Traumatic Pain, i.e.: Whiplash and Sprained Back from Auto Accidents & Sports Activities
- Back & Neck & Shoulder Pain
- Sciatica
- TMJ Syndrome
- Headaches & Migraines
- Tendonitis & Bursitis
- Plantar fascitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Diabetic Neuropathy
- Painful Trigger Points
- Scars & Keloids
- Muscle Strains
- Tennis/ Golfer Elbow
- Rotator Cuff Injuries
- Frozen Shoulder
- Arm & Leg Pain
- Wound Healing
How does it work?
Simply stated, laser light energy converts into chemical energy which initiates a cascade of events at a cellular level:
- Improves blood and oxygen flow to affected/ injured areas which stimulates the healing process.
- Stimulates endorphin release which equates to pain relief.
- Strengthening the immune system response by increasing levels of lymphocyte activity.
- Reduces formation of scar tissue.
- Stimulated nerve function which may decrease numbness associated with certain conditions.