Therapeutic Massage is different than relaxation massage in several ways. Although there are some similarities to a relaxation massage, the therapist identifies areas of weakness and restriction and then works on breaking any scar tissue that has formed in joints and surrounding tissue. Therapeutic massage is used for conditions such as frozen shoulder, and tendonitis as well as improves the overall function of your joints so that you can continue living a pain-free life while still enjoying activities that put a strain on your joints. It is often used in conjunction with other therapies to improve joints and surrounding tissue.
- Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine in which a local suction is created on the skin with plastic or glass cups. The suction helps improve pain, reduce inflammation, and increases blood flow in areas that are otherwise stagnant and painful. Trigger points are an excellent area to place the cups to allow the body to heal itself naturally.
Manual therapy techniques are skilled hand movements and skilled passive movements of joints and soft tissue and are intended to improve tissue extensibility; increase range of motion; induce relaxation; mobilize or manipulate soft tissue and joints; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation, or restriction. Techniques may include manual lymphatic drainage, manual traction, massage, mobilization/manipulation, the Graston technique, and passive range of motion.
Manual therapy can be helpful for the treatment of joints that lack adequate mobility and range of motion in certain musculoskeletal conditions. This limitation can cause discomfort, pain, and an alteration in function, posture, and movement. Manual physical therapy involves restoring mobility to stiff joints and reducing muscle tension to return the patient to more natural movement without pain. Thus, manual physical therapy may provide back pain relief both for patients with chronic back pain involving joint problems, such as sacroiliac joint dysfunction, and acute back pain from soft tissue injuries such as a back muscle strain or a pulled back ligament.
One very effective therapy used by our doctors is Graston Technique. The technique is a patented form of manual therapy that uses stainless steel tools to perform muscle mobilizations.
- Graston Technique can be thought of as a deeper, more intense version of manual therapy. Our doctors are trained clinicians to use specially designed Graston tools in two ways; First, to locate muscle knots or restrictions. They do this by running the tools over your skin to feel for fibrous or scar tissue that may be causing you pain or restricting your movement. Second, they use the tools to break up that tissue to restore mobility and function.
Conditions commonly treated by Graston therapy include plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, back pain, tendinitis, postsurgical scarring, sprains, strains, and muscular or skeletal problems. Graston is also good for those who have hit a plateau in their injury recovery or for athletes who need to return to competition quickly.