Therapies & Techniques

Therapeutic massage, also referred to as medical massage, can be a great addition to chiropractic care. It is common for these therapies to go hand in hand because they are complementary to each other.

There Are Different Types of Therapeutic Massage

Depending on your condition, your sensitivity to touch, and your comfort for lying down or sitting, your chiropractor and massage therapist will determine which type of therapeutic massage is most appropriate for you. There are multiple therapeutic massage techniques, and no single technique fits every body—and massage therapists often have their own specialties when it comes to the techniques they practice. Here are a few of the most common techniques, some of which you may be familiar with:

Swedish Massage
Swedish Massage begins with smooth, gliding light pressure massage strokes, called effleurage, to warm up the tissue. After the tissue is warmed, the therapist applies heavier pressure to the muscles. This is called petrissage. Swedish massage is great for relaxation, but it also improves circulation and flexibility. There is also some evidence that Swedish massage can lower the stress hormone cortisol and boost the immune system.

Lymphatic Drainage
Lymphatic Drainage techniques are great for swelling (edema). This technique uses gentle but firm pressure with movement toward the heart, to manually encourage lymphatic drainage. Lymphatic drainage is also used when there is swelling due to lymph node damage or removal.

Trigger Point Therapy
Trigger points, also known as muscle “knots,” are sensitive areas of bunched up muscle fibers and one of the most common muscle-related complaints. During a trigger point therapy session, the therapist will first identify the problem area(s), and then will apply firm pressure over the points to loosen and disperse the trigger point. You may notice tenderness during a trigger point therapy session.

Chair Massage
Many therapeutic massage techniques can be done in either a lying down or seated position. Chair massage allows for you to be seated during the entire massage in a specially designed therapeutic massage chair. Generally, during a chair massage the therapist will not use any creams or oils, and the patient is often fully clothed.

What to Expect During a Therapeutic Massage Session

A therapeutic massage session in your chiropractor’s office may be different from a massage in a spa or therapeutic massage center. Therapeutic massage in the office has a very specific structural and functional purpose, and is focused on specific areas of the body. Your chiropractor and massage therapist will work together, with you, to determine which type(s) of therapeutic massage will benefit you the most and the length of each massage session. Before your first session, your therapist may give you paperwork to get more detailed information about your areas of tension as well as other basic health information. The massage therapist will also ask you about your preferred pressure when massaging you (light, medium, hard). During the massage, it is always suggested to let your therapist know if they can go harder, or if they need to go lighter during your time with them.

A research study from the University of Miami found that children suffering from asthma received considerable benefits from a session of massage as measured by lung function tests and anxiety scores—and many patients benefit from including therapeutic massage in their treatment plans alongside chiropractic care. Because there are a variety of therapeutic massage techniques available, it is important to have your chiropractor and therapist thoroughly assess your areas of concern and determine which types of therapy will improve the physical structure and function of those areas. Please let us know if you would like to learn more about how therapeutic massage may benefit you.

Therapeutic exercises are specific exercises meant for correcting specific problems. Depending the matter of your concern, your chiropractor may give you a list of exercises to perform to reduce discomfort. The focus of therapeutic exercise is to regain flexibility, strength, and endurance related to specific physical problems.

Therapeutic exercise aims to improve, restore, and prevent loss of physical function. It can also improve a patient’s overall health, fitness, and sense of well­-being.

Additional objectives of Therapeutic exercise include:

• Increasing mobility
• Releasing contracted muscles, tendons, and fascia
• Mobilizing joints
• Improving circulation
• Improving respiratory capacity
• Improving coordination
• Reducing rigidity
• Improving balance

Therapeutic exercises are classified into three major categories:

• Endurance training
• Resistance training
• Flexibility training

No matter what type of exercise is prescribed to remedy a patient’s specific condition, the final goal of rehabilitation is to acquire a maximum level of physical fitness, without the use of more invasive methods. Therapeutic exercise can be performed at home, and gives you the power to improve your quality of life.

Mechanical Spinal Decompression is a therapeutic technique often used by chiropractors to create space between vertebrae, stretch muscles and take pressure off nerves and/or the spinal cord. Other terms for spinal decompression are Vertebral Axial Decompression, Spinal Traction or Axial Traction. This technique is non-invasive and generally painless.

Anatomy Affected by Spinal Decompression

The spinal column, or vertebral column, is a remarkably stable structure made up of vertebrae (bones) that protect the spinal cord. Between each of the vertebrae is a disc that is made of cartilage. There are nerves that begin at the spinal cord and travel through a small hole (called a foramen) in the side of each vertebra to the rest of the body. The nerves are responsible for detecting changes in temperature and position as well as signaling muscles and producing pain when the nerves are irritated, injured or damaged. Gravity and physical activity can put pressure on our spinal column throughout each day. That pressure “squeezes” out a little bit of fluid from the discs, and the body rehydrates the disc at night when we are at rest. Imagine a kitchen sponge: When it’s wet, the sponge is softer and can absorb some shock. The more we squeeze it, the more water comes out—but when we add water to a dry sponge, it quickly absorbs the water and puffs up. This is similar to the way our discs work.

Spinal decompression affects the discs and nerves in the spine the most. In a healthy spine, the edges of the vertebrae and discs are stacked on top of one another to form a smooth curve, and the nerves between the vertebrae have plenty of space. However, over time or sometimes because of an injury, degeneration or inflammation, the discs can become flatter. This puts pressure on the nerves and can cause pain, weak muscles and/or changes in our sense of touch. In these cases, the discs need a little more room to rehydrate and allow for optimal space for the nerves that exit the spinal cord. Spinal decompression works to create some extra space between each of the vertebrae using gentle traction, which in return helps promote the movement of water, oxygen and nutrient-rich fluids into the discs.

What Does Spinal Decompression Feel Like?

Spinal decompression feels like strong but gentle stretching of the neck or low back, depending on the area being treated. For example, if the problem is in your lower back, a harness will be placed around the abdomen and just above the hips, and you may have a bolster or small stool under your legs. The harness should be tight and secure, but not so tight that you can’t breathe comfortably. When the pulling begins, you may feel your entire body shift slightly for a few seconds, and then you will feel a gentle pull on the low back. We will closely monitor you to make sure there is no discomfort during therapy. A device known as a flexion-distraction table may also be used, which is a flexible table that gently flexes the body in repeated motions to open spaces between the vertebrae.

Conditions Helped by Spinal Decompression

Spinal decompression may be an appropriate therapy for a number of conditions. Besides back or neck pain, spinal decompression may be used to treat conditions affecting discs and nerves, such as sciatica, bulging or herniated discs, degenerative disc disease or posterior facet syndrome (a condition where the spinal joints in the back are worn and don’t move well anymore). We may also use spinal decompression for other conditions that begin in the neck or back and cause pain, numbness, tingling, weakness or loss of sensation in other parts of the body. A physical and neurologic examination in the office will help determine if spinal decompression is an appropriate therapy for you. Please let us know if you’d like to discuss spinal decompression therapy further.

Myofascial release is a gentle, hands-on therapy that uses pressure on specific muscles and connective tissues to release tension and improve flexibility. “Myo” means muscle. “Fascia” is connective tissue that sits below the skin and stabilizes, covers, attaches and separates muscles, nerves, blood vessels and organs from one another. Myofascia, specifically, refers to the fascia that surrounds and separates muscles.

Throughout the body, fascia can be found in bands or sheets and is strong and durable. It is tightly woven, kind of like a spider’s web, and that woven design is what gives fascia its strength. Perhaps one of fascia’s most interesting features is that it is actually one continuous structure from the head to the feet. That is why a fascial restriction in one area of the body can cause symptoms somewhere else.

Fascial/Myofascial Restrictions

When the body is in a healthy form, fascia is able to move and stretch freely. However, muscle and joint problems in the body can cause restrictions in the fascia. Myofascial restrictions can cause significant pain and pressure within your body.

Sometimes, fascial restrictions happen as part of your body’s natural healing process. As an example, we often hear or read about scar tissue being formed after a surgical procedure or after an injury. Scar tissue is actually the healing of the fascia. But sometimes when the fascia heals, it is thicker and more tense in that area than it was before the surgery or injury. This thicker and tenser fascia can pull and tug on other fascial tissue, which causes pain and a change in the tissue layout. (Remember the spider web we talked about before? Imagine a lump in it—the whole web gets pulled in different directions.) There are specific myofascial release techniques that can help break down scar tissue and rework tissue in the right direction and general pattern.

There are other causes of fascial restrictions as well. Inflammation, poor posture, repetitive motion, less severe injuries and trauma (both physical and emotional) can create fascial and/or myofascial restrictions and can cause pain and restricted motion in one or multiple areas of the body.

Diagnosing Fascial/Myofascial Restrictions

Diagnosing these types of restrictions is done through physical examination. We are looking for tender points in tense muscles by applying gentle pressure to specific muscles and muscle groups. Often, we will feel the muscle “twitch” when we have found a myofascial problem in a certain area, and sometimes applying that gentle pressure causes referred pain, or pain in another area.

Currently, we do not have a way to see fascia or myofascia using any type of medical imaging (x-ray, CT-scan, MRI, etc.), so the physical examination turns out to be very important for making an accurate diagnosis of myofascial restriction or myofascial pain syndrome (a chronic pain condition).

Myofascial Release Is Not Massage Therapy

Myofascial release is different from massage therapy. The main focus of myofascial release is to align the fibers of the fascia within the fascial network. Myofascial release is often recommended along with chiropractic adjustments to focus on soft tissue problems such as trigger points (muscle knots), which can lead to tension and pressure on nerves created by the pulling and tugging on the fascia where it is not meant to be pulled or tugged. Working on these soft tissue dysfunctions often reduces pain and increases pain-free ranges of motion. Myofascial release takes time, as gentle pressure is applied over the myofascial or fascial restrictions slowly, allowing the tissue to elongate and release.

Many of us have experienced muscle pain, and usually that pain gets better within a few days to weeks. If you are dealing with muscle pain that is not improving, or if you have difficulty moving because of muscle pain, myofascial release may be a treatment option for you.

Ice pack cryotherapy consists of applying cold compresses to the skin, both to reduce its temperature and constrict blood vessels in the area. Applied to fresh injuries, it can help reduce pain, swelling, and inflammation.

You are likely already familiar with the use of ice to bring down swelling after spraining an ankle or knocking your shin. But did you know that ice pack cryotherapy can be beneficial well after you suffer your initial injury?

Treatment and Benefits

Ice pack cryotherapy is an an excellent way to help with muscle spasms, and is known to help numb painful areas while providing a cooling relief to the affected soft tissues. Commonly used in sports medicine, its power to ease pain and decrease inflammation can be helpful to those in rehabilitation programs for injuries or who have chronic pain.

Interested in learning more about the power of ice pack cryotherapy? Contact your chiropractor for an appointment today.

When you have injured or weak muscles that are causing pain or affecting your daily activities, a treatment method called electrical muscle stimulation (EMS) can help reduce discomfort and get you moving again. EMS, also called E-stim, sends small electrical impulses to the injured muscles. The theory is that the current may block pain signals from the muscles to the nerves, preventing them from reaching your brain. This in turn prevents muscle spasms, which would create additional pain. EMS may also stimulate the release of endorphins, the body’s natural “painkillers.” Finally, EMS may help retrain or build muscle tissue.

Many chiropractors are specially trained to apply electrical muscle stimulation in addition to performing adjustments and using other therapies. EMS is usually given soon after an injury, and you may have a series of treatments to alleviate your symptoms and help you heal. Here’s what to know about electrical muscle stimulation:

What to Expect From EMS

In an EMS session, sticky pads are placed on or near the affected area. The pads have electrodes (small wires that can carry an electrical current) attached to them. These are connected to a generator or battery designed for EMS therapy.

At the start the session, the current will be on a very low setting. The current can be set to different intensities, frequencies and intervals based on whether the goal is to relieve pain, reduce swelling or build and retrain muscle tissue. At the optimum intensity, the pulses will feel strong but still comfortable.

An EMS session usually takes about 10 to 15 minutes, though some may last longer. You may feel relief right away, which can last anywhere from several hours to several days. EMS for strengthening or retraining muscles takes longer to have an effect.

When EMS May Be Used

EMS is most often used for back pain, but it can help other areas of your body as well. In chiropractic, EMS is typically used along with other treatments, such as heat, ice and adjustments. In addition to relieving pain and inflammation, EMS can reduce muscle spasms, loosen tight muscles and help you regain range of motion. If you have muscles that have been weakened by illness or injury, it may help prevent further atrophy. Some people claim that EMS can help athletic performance, but there is insufficient evidence to definitively support that claim at this time.

Safety of EMS

There is little risk from EMS. The electric current is very low voltage—you are not in danger of an electric shock of any significance. Rarely, patients may have mild irritation from the adhesive pads after an EMS session, which should go away quickly. If it continues, please notify us on the off chance that there is an allergic reaction to the adhesive, although this would be a very rare situation.

EMS can provide quick relief from muscle pain without drugs, and in the longer term it may help you recover muscle function. In conjunction with other chiropractic therapies and exercise, EMS can help speed recovery and get you back on track.

A chiropractic adjustment, also known as chiropractic manipulation, manual manipulation, or spinal manipulation, is the primary chiropractic treatment method for back pain.

How Does Spinal Manipulation Work?

      There are well over 100 types of adjustment techniques used by chiropractors throughout the world. Some practitioners may use force and twisting, while other techniques are more gentle. Regardless of how they are performed, these techniques are intended to restore or enhance joint function with the objectives of reducing pain and resolving joint inflammation.

The adjusting techniques Dr. Brown specifically performs include the following:

• Full Spine Manipulation
• Drops/Thompson
• Activator

Complementary soft tissue treatments combined with adjusting also include:

• Trigger Point Therapy
• PNF Stretching

      When vertebrae shift out of place, there is an overall systemic response from the muscular system to the central nervous system. Without proper alignment and flow, our nerves, our immune system, and our minds cannot function at their highest peak.

      Overall, spinal adjustments and manipulations are an excellent way to keep the body functioning at its highest level without any discomfort. When the body is adequately aligned, it becomes able to respond and perform as it was built to do.

What Are the Benefits of Receiving Chiropractic Adjustments?

If you’re considering an appointment with a chiropractor, that likely means you’re interested in receiving spinal or chiropractic adjustments. These are the techniques most people associate with chiropractors. You likely know them better as the adjustments that produce those cracking noises.

By the way, you shouldn’t let those cracking noises scare you. They are merely indicators that gas is escaping from your joints. In other words, they indicate that the adjustments are working as intended. However, we also offer gentler versions.

You should also take a strong interest in chiropractic adjustments because they provide impressive benefits. These adjustments excel at correcting the misalignments in your musculoskeletal system. Although other forms of treatment can also help with those misalignments, the effects of spinal adjustments are unmatched. They can immediately address the existing misalignments and eliminate their ill effects.

Chiropractic adjustments offer instant pain relief. The lingering pain affecting your back and joints should disappear after the adjustments are applied. Even the headaches caused by the misalignments should subside sooner rather than later.

Don’t overlook the positive effects spinal adjustments can have on your range of motion. Your previously stiff joints will loosen up following treatment. Expect them to become more flexible than they have been in years.

The impressive benefits of chiropractic adjustments are all the reasons you need to seek treatment from a chiropractor. Work with a top chiropractor to ensure those adjustments are properly administered.

Reach out to Dr. Brown of Southern Palms Chiropractic and Wellness and get the chiropractic adjustments you need in Spartanburg, SC.

What Is the Experience of Getting Chiropractic Adjustments?

Despite the benefits chiropractic adjustments provide, some people still avoid getting them. They avoid getting those adjustments because they’re afraid of how much they may hurt. If you’ve ever received spinal adjustments, you’ll know those concerns are unfounded.

Chiropractic adjustments relieve pain, and often quickly. You may start feeling better while you’re in the chiropractor’s clinic.

Our options for gentle adjustments are also known for their relaxing effects. Your body will feel lighter right after treatment.

Side effects don’t accompany chiropractic adjustments. You don’t have to worry about any ill effects while you’re resting at home. Most patients also say they feel refreshed following treatment.

Receive chiropractic adjustments in Spartanburg, SC, by calling 864-256-1437 and booking a treatment session with Dr. Brown of Southern Palms Chiropractic and Wellness.