The Osteopathic Clinic

Soft Tissue Massage/ Deep Tissue Massage/ Trigger Point Deactivation

Massage is one on the oldest therapeutic modalities. During our daily lives we are using our muscles constantly; from sports to even sitting at a computer, muscles are contracting and relaxing to maintain posture. Muscle dysfunction is when a muscle cannot stretch to its full length. Commonly a muscle is overstretched or torn and reacts by strongly contracting (spasm), to prevent further over-stretching. However, even prolonged sitting causes muscle dysfunction; the muscles are continually held in a contracted state they can stay that way and form painful trigger points.

Massage uses gentle force directed at the tightened musculature and trigger points to relieve muscular pain.

Spinal Manipulation

Once a joint has been diagnosed as having limited range of motion and function, the fastest method of restoring normal use is Osteopathic manipulation. The joint that is limited in use is placed at the end of its limited movement in all three planes of normal motion (flexion/extension, left or right rotation, and left or right lateral bending) and with a small additional movement the joint is allowed to gently separate. Often a �pop� or �click� will be both felt or heard at this time. This is not the sound of a bone rubbing over another bone as is commonly thought, but is the sound of a gas being released within the vacuum created in the joint by the separation of the two surfaces. The same sound may be created when you �pop� your finger joints. These sounds are normal and while they may seem loud, especially in the neck where they are close to the ears, they should cause no alarm. A manipulation does not necessarily always have this sound but it is an indication that the joint has fully separated. These joint separations are more easily produced in some people than others and are affected by the tightness of the ligaments, the presence of muscle spasm, the health of the disc, the age of the patient and the presence of arthritis.

Muscle Energy Technique

In cases where the patient's spinal condition limits the use of osteopathic adjustments (i.e. osteoporosis or severe arthritis) very gentle techniques called muscle energy are used to help release limited range of motion and restore function. The joint or spinal segment is placed at the end of its range of motion in the direction of limited function and the patient gently contracts muscles to rotate, side bend or flex/extend the joint in the opposite direction under the careful direction of the osteopath.

For the patient who simply does not like or tolerate spinal adjustments, it provides a safe and effective alternative. Muscle energy treatments do not have some of the known risks of manipulation.

Craniosacral Therapy

Cranial Osteopathy is a refined and subtle type of Osteopathic treatment that uses very gentle, though highly effective, manipulative pressure to encourage the release of stresses throughout the head and body.

The Osteopath uses their highly trained sense of touch to identify and correct mechanical disturbances and limitations both in and around the joints in the skull and throughout the body. Cranial Osteopathy is extremely effective in treating a wide range of conditions in people of all ages, from birth to old age.

Interferential Electrotherapy

The effects of electrical stimulating currents on the human body are physiological, chemical and thermal. The type and extent of biological response depends on the type of tissue treated and the electrical current's intensity, duration, waveform, modulation and polarity. Biological tissue responds to electrical energy in a manner similar to how it normally functions and grows. Electrical therapy can be used to reduce pain, increase muscle tone for muscle rehabilitation, reduce swelling and inflammation, reduce muscle spasm, increase local circulation, and speed wound healing. Medical use of electrotherapy is effective for sprains, strains, myositis, acute edema, and certain forms of osteoarthritis, tenosynovitis and neuritis.

Short Wave Diathermy

High frequency electrical currents may be used to produce a tissue temperature increase. Electrical current flowing through a conductor will generate an electrical field and a magnetic field. Two forms of diathermy have been used in the past, shortwave and microwave. Diathermy is particularly useful due to its depth of penetration being far deeper than with ultrasound. For some locations, deep within the joint for example, it is the only method of deep heating available. Recently research has shown electromagnetic fields have a dramatic and positive therapeutic effect on severe arthritis and bone healing.

Ultrasound

Ultrasonic energy is vibrational energy with frequency above 20,000 Hertz, usually in the range of 1 million Hertz. It is generated by an electrical current causing a crystalline substance to vibrate rapidly which produces the vibrational source or �sound-wave�. Ultrasound does not pass through the air and requires a liquid or cream base as a coupling agent to transfer the energy from the sound-head into the body's tissues. The vibrational energy is transferred into heat energy within the body and will penetrate from 4 to 5 cm into the body, deeper than regular surface applications of heat. Therapeutic ultrasound is used to reduce inflammation in conditions such as Carpal Tunnel syndrome, Rotator Cuff injuries, muscle sprains/stains and tears.