Treatment Options
Cold Therapy
We use cold therapy usually in the early stages of an acute injury and correct application at home can facilitate the treatment here. We use the PRICE technique – , protect, rest, ice, compress, elevate. This is one of the most extensively used therapeutic modalities for treating and rehabilitating acute sport injuries. We apply ice in a multitude of differing applications to ensure the best possible management of acute soft tissue injuries. Cold therapy has a range of benefits in rehabilitation including pain relief, slowing bleeding, reducing inflammation and swelling.
Heat Therapy
We use a number of treatment techniques to apply heat:
Short Wave Diathermy / Pulsed Short Wave Diathermy: Shortwave Diathermy machines emit electromagnetic waves which penetrate deep into your body’s tissues at a specific level for your problem. This in turn increases blood-flow to promote healing, gives pain relief and produces a heating effect to relax tissues. The use of pulsed short wave diathermy reduces the heating output but concentrates on the electromagnetic effect, deep within the tissue.
Radiant Heat: Radiant heat is regularly used in conjunction with our ‘hands on’ approach to your problem to aid rapid healing to your body’s injured tissues. We use it often when applying frictional or therapeutic massage.
Ultrasound
Continuous and pulsed ultrasound treatment used widely and can be used to treat ligament, muscle and tendon injuries. We use this diagnostically too, which assists us pinpointing specifically damaged areas. A crystal within the ultrasound treatment head vibrates at a high frequency and transmits energy in the form of sound waves through the body’s tissues which stimulate the body’s chemical reactions and promote the healing process. This can assist best healing, reduce tissue spasm, reduce swelling and thereby reduce pain.
Laser Therapy
Low intensity laser therapy is used by physiotherapists to stimulate soft tissue healing, pain relief, bone and nerve regeneration.
Indications:
- Wound healing/ulcerated lesions
- Pain-acute/chronic
- Arthritic Conditions
- Musculo-skeletal Conditions
- Fracture Healing
- Nerve Pain-Trigeminal neuralgia, shingles
- Trigger/acupuncture points
Actions:
- Increase rate of healing
- Decrease in inflammation
- Decrease in pain
- Increase in movement
- Increase in function
Pulsed Magnetic Field Therapy (MFT)
MFT uses a series of magnetic pulses to stimulate cells within injured tissues to improve the healing processes. The result is an effective tool for fighting localised inflammation in different types of wounds, relieving pain, reducing the effects of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases, improving bone healing in fractures and enhancing tendon repair.
The magnetic fields penetrate the body -and therefore the cell-completely. The ions existing in the cells, which are well known to be magnetically influenced, are moved in the frequency of the magnetic field pulsation. This leads to an improved oxygenation of cells and so improved activity. MFT permeates all cells, enhancing ion exchange, normalising circulation and increases the use of oxygen by the cell. The deterioration of the use of oxygen is known to be a problem in several areas, especially in delayed healing and arthritis.
Indications:
- Musculo-skeletal conditions
- Trauma
- Rheumatology
- Fractures
- Wound healing/burns
- Degenerative disease(wear & tear)
It is used to promote the healing processes of patients with pins and plates because no damaging heat is produced in the implants. Fractures can be treated through a cast since magnetic fields penetrate all materials.
From clinical experiments, we know that pulsed MFT reduces pain by causing an increase in the oxygen partial pressure in the terminal tissue and increase in the local blood flow. MFT offers a non-invasive, pain free and safe option for helping reduce pain and speed healing.
Kinesiology Taping
Kinesiology taping is a method which differs from traditional rigid sports tape.
Indications: depending on the tape application it can help to:
- Reduce pain
- Resolve swelling and bruising
- Facilitate muscle action
- Inhibit muscle action to reduce muscle spasm
- Correct posture
- Support joint position and correct mal-alignment
- We often use the original Kinesio ® tape
The tape can be applied to relieve the tension associated with inflamed muscles and tendons.
Improving Range of Movement: Applying the tape is thought to activate stretch receptors in the soft tissue which feedback to our brain. The brain then positively influences the control of muscle tension by activating muscle spindles. Therefore, the ability to flex and respond to the strain of increased activity improves, alongside muscular endurance
Promote blood flow and lymphatic drainage: When applied to the skin the tape recoils and lifts the skin and fascia to allow blood and lymph flow to increase which may be beneficial in the recovery of soft tissue injuries.
Dynamic Support: The stretch of the tape provides support to recovering joints and tendons without being restrictive.
