Treatments & Techniques
Spinal Manipulation
Spinal manipulation is a technique where practitioners use their hands or a device to apply a controlled thrust (that is, a force of a specific magnitude or degree in a specific direction) to a joint of your spine. The amount of force can vary, but the thrust moves the joint more than it would on its own. Spinal manipulation is different from spinal mobilization, which doesn’t involve a thrust (and is performed within a joint’s natural range of motion and can be controlled by the patient). Spinal manipulation is one of the most common complementary health approaches used by adults and children in the United States, the 2012 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) showed. The most common side effects of spinal manipulation are temporary muscle soreness, stiffness, or a temporary increase in pain.
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy beams light energy at your skin to reduce pain and inflammation deep within an area of your body. The device uses low levels of energy, or photons. Unlike higher-frequency lasers used for surgery, they don’t heat or cut your skin. Photons penetrate deep into a painful joint. The light triggers chemical changes that help damaged cells and tissues heal and regrow. During treatment, your doctor aims the cold laser device directly at the skin on your knee. It will either touch your skin or be very close to it. The device sends a quick light pulse into your knee that lasts from 30 to 60 seconds. You’ll need more than one treatment to get results. It is used to treat knee pain from osteoarthritis as well as low back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, tendinitis, nerve pain, and sports injuries.
Dry Needling
Dry needling is a procedure in which thin needles are inserted directly into specific hard, tender spots (called myofascial trigger points) in muscles. The needles are the same type used in acupuncture, but the points where the needles are inserted are chosen in a different way.
Massage Therapy
Massage therapy is used to help manage a health condition or enhance wellness. It involves manipulating the soft tissues of the body. Massage has been practiced in most cultures, both Eastern and Western, throughout human history, and was one of the earliest tools that people used to try to relieve pain. The term “massage therapy” includes many techniques. The most common form of massage therapy in Western countries is called Swedish or classical massage; it is the core of most massage training programs. Other styles include sports massage, clinical massage to accomplish specific goals such as releasing muscle spasms, and massage traditions derived from Eastern cultures, such as Shiatsu and Tuina. Massage therapy has been studied for several types of pain, including low-back pain, neck and shoulder pain, pain from osteoarthritis of the knee, and headaches.
