Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy, also known as Physical Therapy, is used to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout life. A certain set of modalities are used in physiotherapy which can help strengthen, relax, and heal muscles. They include: electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, traction, and ice and heat therapy.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (E-Stim)
Electrical stimulation involves low levels of electrical impulses delivered to the injured, painful tissues to reduce pain and speed healing. Patients often describe a pleasant, “tingling” sensation, or “electrical massage,” these impulses stimulate the body to release natural pain relievers, called endorphins. These endorphins reduce pain and inflammation, thereby promoting faster healing of the injured tissues. This therapy is often used to treat acute or chronic pain, as well as strains or sprains of the muscles, joints, and soft tissues of the spine and extremities.
Ultrasound
This treatment should not be confused with diagnostic ultrasound, often used in prenatal screening, but instead is a therapeutic procedure that utilizes sound waves to treat injured muscles, joints, and soft tissues. The sound waves vibrate the tissues back and forth, creating a deep, micro-massage effect. In the case of a recent injury, this helps to decrease scar tissue and adhesion formation, which would otherwise interfere with the body’s healing process. The sound waves also decrease inflammation by destroying unwanted inflammatory cells. The sounds waves also accelerate healing by stimulating the activity of the cells responsible for cellular and tissue repair. In chronic cases, special settings are used to create a deep-heating effect, heating the tissues far below the skin’s surface. This heat, along with the vibrations that are caused by the ultrasound, help to “melt away” the muscle spasms and “knots” felt in our muscles.
Traction
Whether applied manually or mechanically, the benefits of traction are similar. It is an excellent therapy choice to reduce pressure on cervical (neck) or lumbar (lower back) discs. Traction effectively reduces joint and nerve pain, pressure, and inflammation, caused by bulging or herniated discs. This procedure is quite comfortable and lasts several minutes.
Ice Therapy
The application of ice over any painful tissue is usually effective at any stage of an injury. It works by constricting blood flow to the tissue, thereby reducing swelling, pain, and muscular spasms. It is very important to use ice correctly. It should be used for a maximum of 20 minutes, but may be applied each hour. Also, it is important that you do not apply ice directly to the skin. Instead, wrap the ice pack in a paper towel or thin damp cloth prior to applying to the injured area.
Heat Therapy
The use of heat is effective in treating conditions that are more chronic in nature. It is not recommended that head be used within the first few days or weeks of a new injury, especially when any signs of swelling are present. The best forms of heat are in the form of warm bath/shower or a moist heating pad. Avoid “dry” heating pads, as they can promote additional swelling and inflammation. As with ice therapy, apply the heat for a maximum of 20 minutes per hour. Never go to sleep with a heating pad, as this can result in increased pain and tissue damage.
In-House Rehabilitation
Sometimes a patient is placed in a rehab program as part of the treatment plan to facilitate a speedy recovery. Usually these exercises will be prescribed after most of the pain has been relieved. The treatment will be designed and supervised by Dr. Pham. He will teach the patient customized exercises and stretches specific to the patient's needs to help strengthen and correct the problem. These exercises can be performed in the comfort of the patient’s home and improve the effectiveness of spinal correction.
