Electrical Muscle Stimulation
Electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) is a treatment method being 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.
How Does Electrical Muscle Stimulation Work?
This treatment is performed here in our office, and usually only takes a few minutes. Electrodes are placed on the skin over the affected area, and the machine is turned on. An electrical current is then transmitted into the soft tissue or muscle. The level of current used depends on the injury, its location, and how deep the therapy will be. This electrical current causes the muscles to experience very small but quick contractions. During the treatment, patients may feel a prickly or tingling sensation; however, these sensations will subside after the machine is turned off, or shortly afterward. Many patients enjoy the sensation. Electrical muscle stimulation creates tiny contractions in the muscles so they become tired and relax, relieving pain and muscle spasms. In addition, it triggers the release of endorphins, which are our body’s natural pain reliever. The process is also said to clear metabolic waste so nutrients can be better delivered and soft tissue can heal more quickly.
Back muscles and neck muscles are common locations for EMS; however, there are many areas of the body that can experience the benefits of this treatment.
Electrical muscle stimulation works well for both acute and chronic pain. If you have been struggling with pain or have recently suffered an injury, ask your chiropractor if electrical muscle stimulation is right for you.
Therapeutic ultrasound is utilized for injuries related to most soft tissues, joints and muscle spasms. While it shares the same name, this ultrasound is not the same as that used diagnostically to screen the body internally.
What is Therapeutic Ultrasound?
Ultrasound emits small sound waves at an extremely high frequency that is out of the range of human hearing. When applied to problem areas in soft tissues and joints, it produces heat that helps reduce inflammation and increase blood flow, in addition to decreasing pain, stiffness, and spasms. Therapeutic ultrasound is also believed to have a positive effect on the healing process.
How Does Therapeutic Ultrasound Work?
While its effects and goals are different from ultrasound screening technologies, ultrasound therapy is implemented in much the same way. The process may be familiar if you’ve ever had an ultrasound screening in the past.
An ultrasound emitting ‘wand’ will be passed over your skin across the pain point or injury. We will apply ultrasound gel to your skin to reduce friction and allow for better transmission of the ultrasound waves. Despite the deep-tissue heat applied during the therapy, you typically will feel little or no heat at all.
Therapeutic ultrasound has been shown to facilitate the body’s healing process at the most basic cellular level. Contact our office today to discuss whether therapeutic ultrasound may be beneficial to you on your road to recovery.
Interferential Current Therapy
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. An Interferential Current device is then used, which transmits electrical impulses in minute quantities throughout your skin. Underlying tissue and nerves become stimulated which begins the healing properties. These impulses are not painful, and can be described as a minor prickle on the skin.
Interferential Current Therapy is used to treat:
- Circulatory and muscle disorders
- Stiff joints
- Joint injuries
- Muscle spasms
Advantages of Interferential Current Therapy include:
- Reducing or eliminating pain in a safe manner
- Noticeable decrease in swelling and inflammation
- Restoring lost movement and improving range-of-motion
- Stimulating the natural hormones which can help the body heal faster
Additionally, Interferential Current Therapy also assists in blood circulation and rushes recovery by stimulating endorphins.
Soft tissue technique, is a manual therapy technique directed towards muscles and fascia throughout the body. It involves a doctor/therapist using his/her hands to stretch or relax dysfunctional soft tissue structures. While these techniques can be applied almost anywhere, they are especially useful for the paraspinal musculature that surround each vertebra of the spine. The end goal of all soft tissue techniques is to relax hypertonic muscles and stretch tight fascial structures.
- Benefits of Soft-Tissue
- Enhances joint and muscle function
- Improves circulation
- Increases metabolism
- Promotes the healing process