Each new patient at Healing Motion Physical Therapy receives an initial evaluation where a detailed biomechanical analysis of movement, posture, strength, flexibility and joint motion are assessed to identify the primary source of pain and dysfunction as well as any other contributing factors to the client's chief complaint. Often as soon as in the first session, manual therapy techniques and exercises are applied, not only to help the client, but to guide future treatment. Both short-term and long-term functional goals are established to determine a plan of care.
Follow-up treatments build on the initial evaluation and are a mixture of therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education and manual therapy.
Both the initial evaluation (first session) and all follow-up treatments are one hour long, working directly one-on-one with the physical therapist. No assistants or aides are used.
Follow-up treatments build on the initial evaluation and are a mixture of therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular re-education and manual therapy.
Both the initial evaluation (first session) and all follow-up treatments are one hour long, working directly one-on-one with the physical therapist. No assistants or aides are used.
Manual Therapy Techniques Include
- Myofascial Release: A safe and effective technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion.
- Muscle Energy Technique: Patient's muscles are actively used on request, from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction, and against a distinctly executed physician counterforce to gain joint mobility, decrease muscular spasm and pain.
- Craniosacral Therapy: A gentle hands-on technique used to optimize whole-body health and promote the flow of cerebral spinal fluid thru the nervous system. Working with the craniosacral rhythm, therapy can be used to various orthopedic issues and non-orthopedic issues. By facilitating this rhythm, the practitioner works to improve the nutrition within the nervous system which in turn helps to promote better overall health.
- Joint Mobilization: Graded pressure on skeletal joints in the body with the intention to promote greater joint flexibility, increase blood flow to an area of the body, decrease muscular spasm and pain.
- Joint Manipulation: A form of joint mobilization that uses a high velocity low amplitude at the end-range of a joint to promote greater bony alignment, decrease pain and improve both alignment and mobility.
- Tui Na: Translated as "push-pull", Tui Na is an ancient form of Chinese medical massage. Using various techniques such as rolling, pushing, pulling, kneading, percussion, friction, rocking, vibration, and shaking, the practitioner manipulates the bones, muscles, and joints of the body. At the same time, the clinician works with the energy of the body on a deeper level by stimulating acupressure points and opening blocked meridians. Tui Na can be effective in treatment of constipation, headaches, stress, sympathetic nervous system overdrive, insomnia, and respiratory issues. There are specific protocols for treatment of the internal organs based upon traditional Chinese medicine theory. By attempting to create energetic, emotional, mental, and physical balance in the body, it is designed to not only correct existing problems, but to prevent them.
Additional modalities include cupping and gua sha, modalities of Chinese medicine that increase micro-profusion or micro-circulation at a superficial level in muscles that are tight or in areas where there is congestion or stiffness. Increased blood flow to muscles and surrounding tissue brings in oxygenated blood and fluids to carry out metabolic waste and deliver the components that are needed for tissue repair.
They also help to break up any superficial adhesions in the tissue that might be contributing to muscle tension and pain. In addition to relieving pain, cupping promotes relaxation and a sense of wellbeing, while gua sha has been shown to have an effect on the immune system.
They also help to break up any superficial adhesions in the tissue that might be contributing to muscle tension and pain. In addition to relieving pain, cupping promotes relaxation and a sense of wellbeing, while gua sha has been shown to have an effect on the immune system.
- Cupping: Described as somewhat like a reverse massage. Instead of pushing the muscles into the body to get them to relax, suction is used to gently pull the muscle tissue upward to help it release. Specially designed cups are used to create suction through the use of heat or a vacuum device. Once the cups are in place the suction draws new blood to the site, increasing circulation to help release tight muscles, reduce inflammation and stimulate healing. During the cupping process, painless bruise-like markings know as "sha" often appear on the skin that dissipate in a few days.
- Gua Sha: A technique in which scraping is used to release muscle tension, stiffness and congestion. Oil or liniment is applied to the skin and then scraped with repeated strokes with a smooth edged implement until a small red or purple spot appear. These spots are referred to as "sha" and it will a take a few days for them to resolve.
Therapeutic Exercises Include
- Qi Gong: a holistic system of coordinated body posture and movement, breathing, and meditation used for health, spirituality, and martial arts training. Frequently, Qi Gong based exercises are prescribed to patients to reinforce positive changes made through manual therapy and to correct faulty movement patterns.
- Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF): a hands-on technique developed in the 1950s based on efficient biomechanical movement which uses different tactile cues to promote healthy neuromuscular patterns.