Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy: Several studies have shown that myofascial pain is the most overlooked cause of persistent pain.  Trigger points are painful 'knots' or contractions of the muscle fibers. They are extremely common, and can result in muscle pain and stiffness, decreased range of motion, weakness and referred pain that radiates away from the trigger point itself, mimicking other problems.  Both of our therapists, Anne and Pam, have studied with Robert Gerwin, MD and Jan Dommerholt, DPT, the founders of the Janet Travell Seminar Series, as well as Janet Travell, MD, herself, who was a pioneer in research and treatment of myofascial pain and JFKs personal physician while he was in office.

 

Dry Needling: The most effective option to deactivate myofascial trigger points or “knots” found in muscles of those with myofascial pain syndrome, Fibromyalgia, and orthopedic related muscular injuries is Dry Needling. DN is not the same as acupuncture; it is based on modern western medicine and the musculoskeletal system.  DN uses very fine solid filament needles to turn off the constant firing of the trigger points within muscles and is called “dry” because no medication is being injected.  Anne is a Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist with a specialty in Dry Needling taught by the internationally recognized Jan Dommerholt, DPT and Robert Gerwin, MD et al. through Myopain Seminars. 

 

Myofascial Release: MFR is a specialized technique in which the muscle and fascia tissue is gently stretched and manipulated to relieve tension in the soft tissue by applying sustained pressure into this myofascial tissue. “Myo” means muscle, and fascia is a continuous web-like connective tissue which wraps around every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein, as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord.  Traumas throughout our lives, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create myofascial restrictions that can be corrected through this procedure. 

 

Craniosacral Therapy: CST is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. Using a soft touch which is generally no greater than 5 grams - about the weight of a nickel - restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system are released. 

 

Muscle Energy Techniques: MET is a gentle form of manual therapy which uses a patient’s own muscle’s strength in the form of gentle isometric contractions to lengthen muscles, correct joint alignment and reduce pain.  This is used most often with SI joint dysfunction and pelvic malalignment.

 

Kinesiology Taping: This type of taping is used to facilitate and improve posture, reduce muscle fatigue and weakness, reduces myofascial pain and encourages healing through reduction of edema.  This taping technique can be used on anyone from athletes to someone with chronic pain; young and old. 

 

Neural Mobilization: Moblization of the nerves is a movement technique which facilitates homeostasis between neural structures and their surrounding tissues. Nerves should move independently from their surrounding tissues, but when this ceases to be the case, symptoms such as numbness, tingling, and weakness can occur. 

 

Iontophoresis and Phonophoresis: Both techniques are used to push medication transdermally (through the skin). Iontophoresis pushes the medication through the tissue by a mild electrical charge that has the opposite polarity of the medication.  Phonophoresis uses ultrasound (sound waves) to push the medication into the inflamed tissue. Typically, an anti-inflammatory or analgesic medication is chosen to treat an area of localized inflammation. 

 

Cold Laser: Cold laser is a non-surgical form of laser therapy, which can help reduce both acute and chronic pain. It has been demonstrated to produce an anti-inflammatory effect which promotes tissue healing. The first cold laser was FDA-approved for treating pain in 2001, and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) has only been widely used in clinical practice in the United States since 2002.   

 

Balance Training and Fall Prevention:  Starting in our 40s, balance starts to decrease. Through balance training exercises and fall prevention education we can not only slow this process but also reverse it.  Whether you are in your 80s or 20s you can benefit from working on your balance, coordination and proprioception for walking safely or running on a field or on the court. 

 

Custom Orthotic Fabrication:  Orthotics correct the alignment of the foundation of the body, with custom inserts in the shoes, enables the ankles, knees, hips and spine to fall in improved alignment, and function with greater ease and less pain. 

 

Functional Nutrition: Nutrition is part of the scope of practice for physical therapists. Functional Nutrition is a science-based approach that focuses on the patient rather than the disease. It takes into account health history, lifestyle, genetics, and lab values to create a personalized nutritional plan to reach optimal function and health. The goal is to treat the root cause of the pain and/or disease. Instead of masking the symptoms through medications. Functional nutrition can help slow and sometimes reverse the actual disease process and decrease or eliminate the need for medications all together. Anne is certified in Functional Nutrition for Chronic Pain. Beyond pain, she can help you with metabolic syndrome, reducing inflammation, weight loss, sugar detox, food sensitivities, irritable bowel syndrome, and autoimmune diseases.

Interested in knowing how we’d treat you?    Contact us today for more information!