treatment

Happiness is A Warm Theragun

December 26, 2019 by Gabby

One of the “weapons” that our therapists have in their arsenal is the Theragun. Shaped like an electric drill, the Theragun is a tool that takes aim at muscle tension, zaps knots, and blasts through scar tissue. At the tip of the Theragun is one of several specialized heads that target your muscles with strong percussion. There are small tips that pinpoint trigger spots, and broad tips for larger areas like your back.

Wherever you’ve got pain, the Theragun delivers powerful percussion to relax your muscles and increase blood flow to the area. The vibrations stimulate your nerves enough that they stop sending signals for pain. Translation? You don’t hurt so much. If you smash your finger, you may immediately shake your hand around, stimulating your hand in a way that isn’t painful in hopes that you feel the shaking instead of the awful pain of a smashed finger. Likewise, when you have muscle pain, the Theragun is there to shake things up and get your nerves busy sending signals for something other than pain.

Additionally, your muscles have a casing around them called myofascial tissue. Sometimes this tissue can get tight and inflexible, kinked, or overlapped onto itself. This can lead to widespread muscle pain. Loosening this tissue and making it flexible again can increase flexibility and relieve pain. This release is an important part of recovery. The Theragun is a useful tool to work on trigger points that create myofascial release.

Lastly, it just feels nice and relaxing. Who wouldn’t want some percussive vibrations on their sore muscles? There may be some of us who might not. A Theragun is not the right tool for those who have injuries that are too recent. It also may not be the right option for patients who have certain conditions above the shoulders or who have had certain operations. Getting evaluated by a licensed therapist will help you to know if this therapy is right for you. If it is, you will soon be on your way to a more relaxed, flexible, and pain free you.

Post Written By: Tom Farnsworth, PT

The Bee’s Knees

December 17, 2019 by Gabby

Patella Femoral Dysfunction (PFD) is a condition that affects the knee, resulting in pain in the front part of one or both knees. It may be caused from a mechanical difficulty in the knee itself, or from improper formation of the bone in the hip area. High or flattened foot arches can also contribute to this issue. Improper alignments of the hips, knees, or feet can place excessive forces on the kneecap. As the kneecap moves across the end of the leg bone (or femur) the surfaces become irritated and painful.

Most commonly found in young women and adolescent females, PFD is a condition that can affect anyone. A softening of the cartilage on the back side of the kneecap, or imbalances in the muscles that control the movement of the kneecap may also cause PFD. Improper force can be placed on the kneecap and femur if outside portions of the quadriceps muscles are stronger than the inside portions. Symptoms usually include pain with kneeling, walking, running, or climbing up or down stairs. Patients usually describe their pain as “aching” and “deep”. One can also experience tenderness and swelling around the knee area. When bending or straightening the knee, you may feel a creaking or crunching in the area.

Rehabilitation first begins with controlling the pain and symptoms such as swelling. Icing the knee will help control swelling and pain. You an read more about icing here. Electrical stimulation treatments may also help ease the pain. As much as you can, try to avoid activities that increase your pain. For instance, try taking an elevator instead of using the stairs. Painful activities may need to be modified but will be resumed gradually during the course of treatment. In some cases, a knee brace is issued to help control the movement of the kneecap and decrease irritation.

In most cases, strengthening or stretching exercises will help correct muscle imbalances. Be careful, as too much resistance during exercises can sometimes make the problem worse. Everyone reacts to exercise resistances differently. Because of this, it’s important to communicate any pain increases to your health professional during the course of treatment so modifications can be made. Another intervention may be a detailed foot evaluation, and correction of any problems found in this area, including orthotics. Orthotics are custom-made shoe inserts that help correct improper foot mechanics directed to the knee.

It’s important to remain optimistic and patient while treating patellofemoral issues. PFD symptoms can flare up very easily. Another responsibility you have is to be very consistent with your treatment visits and home program so the knee can gradually adapt and heal. The condition can be difficult to remedy, but in most cases relief and return to your activities can be achieved.

Post written by: Travis Rohner, PT

Frozen Shoulder

November 25, 2019 by Gabby

Cooler temperatures during fall months remind us that winter is coming. While we don’t have to deal with freezing conditions here in Arizona, there are some “frozen” things we can experience. Some of these things are enjoyable-the beloved Disney film, yogurt, pizza, bananas- and some are not- a frozen bank account, for example, and a condition known as “Frozen Shoulder.”

The official name for frozen shoulder is Adhesive Capsulitis. The main symptom of this condition is a stiff shoulder joint, which affects range of motion. Not only is this very inconvenient, it’s also painful. Frozen shoulder is most common in women, aged 35-60, but men are not immune to it. Diabetes, thyroid conditions, and trauma can make someone more prone to developing this condition. If left alone, the pain and lack of mobility will eventually resolve themselves, but it can take years.

There are three stages of frozen shoulder. First, we have the freezing stage. In this stage, pain increases as range of motion begins to decrease. This stage can last up to several weeks. Next, we have the frozen stage where pain continues, especially with movement. Adhesions start to form, making the tissues stick together, further limiting the motion. Separate problems
develop, especially muscle imbalances. Finally, we have the thawing stage. Stiffness and pain continue, but you will see gradual improvement. This final stage can last anywhere from several weeks to over a year.

Physical therapy applied at each stage can significantly reduce healing time. One of
the most important things is a proper stretching routine, both in office and at home. Manual therapy will also be part of your recovery. It’s important to discuss your recovery process with a physical therapist. Doing so will reduce the risk of worsening your injury in any way. If you think you may have frozen shoulder, make an appointment to be evaluated. We would love to help you heal.

Post written by: Rod Walker, DPT

Cup, Cup, and Away!

October 28, 2019 by Gabby

Back in the summer of 2016, Michael Phelps was ending his decorated career as an Olympic swimmer. He won more gold medals at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics than 66 other countries participating that year. Despite his amazing accomplishment, all people wanted to talk about were the purple dots on his back. Did he have a fancy new tattoo? Or perhaps leprosy? Maybe he got in an argument with a vacuum cleaner? As it turned out, the purple dots on Michael’s skin were the result of an ancient Chinese healing practice called cupping.

Known in the medical field as myofascial decompression, cupping actually began as early as 400 BC in Greece. The Chinese made the technique more common, using cupping to treat internal disease, structural issues, and certain illnesses. They heated up glass cups with a flame and placed them over the body, causing fluid to rise toward the surface of the skin.

While some therapists still use fire, nowadays it is more common to use an air pump device to create suction. This device uses suction to pull the skin up, causing the decompression effect. After just a few minutes, the capillaries beneath the surface begin to rupture, potentially creating a circular bruise. Sort of like a medically induced hickey, for lack of a better term. Reduced soreness and a quicker healing process are just two of the benefits of this process. Because of this, all varieties and ages can benefit from cupping, including athletes, geriatrics, and everyone in between. Please call our office with any questions you may have about cupping and we will be happy to assist you,

Post written by: Casey Badder, DPT

Ice, Ice, Baby

October 14, 2019 by Gabby

Unlike the characters in The Year Without a Santa Claus, heat and ice can work together to help you heal quicker.

Heating and Icing are important tools in your recovery. They can reduce pain and inflammation and help your body to heal. Icing and heating are mild, drug-free treatments that will likely be a part of your treatment. Applying ice helps to calm down damaged tissues, lower your pain level, and reduce swelling. Using heat relaxes muscles, reduces stress, and relieves stiffness.

Though heat and ice are a part of the treatment you receive in the office, they are also tools you can use at home. Injuries typically hurt most in the morning when your body is stiff. Because of this, we recommend heating the injury right when you wake up. If you don’t have a heating pad at home, don’t worry! You can heat the affected area by taking a warm shower. It is important to ice your injury whenever you have pain or swelling. These are typically symptoms that occur at the end of the day. Try icing your injury for ten minutes after dinner while you watch your favorite tv show. If you don’t have an ice pack, you can fill a plastic bag with ice cubes.

Sometimes it is tempting to leave the heat or ice on for extended periods of time. Be careful of this, as too much can sometimes be a bad thing. We recommend using heat and ice for ten minutes at a time. If needed, you may do this once every hour. It is important to remember to put a buffer between your skin and the ice pack. Try wrapping the ice pack in a pillowcase, t-shirt, or towel to avoid an ice burn. Likewise, if using a heating pad, there should also be some material between the pad and your skin to avoid burning.

Do you know when to ice your injury and when to use heat? Should you use both? Generally, ice is used to treat injuries, especially a recent injury, while heat is used for chronic pain and tension, but there are exceptions! Your therapist will evaluate your injury or ailment to discern whether you need icing, heating, or a combination of both.

Post written by: Tom Farnsworth, PT

The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

October 1, 2019 by Gabby

Back pain is one of the most common ailments we treat at our office. “Back pain” is a simplified term for something that can be rather complex. While arthritis, disc problems, and surgeries are some of the more common causes of back pain, sprains and strains are also to blame. A strain is injury to a tendon, while a sprain is in an injury to a ligament. Improper lifting, falls, and motor-vehicle accidents are the most common causes of these types of injuries.

Strains are mild injuries involving the muscles. The good news is, blood flow in the muscles can aid in a quick recovery. Even still, this type of injury can be very painful. Pain causes the muscles to tighten up, which can result in spasms. More severe injuries involve the ligaments as well as muscles and tendons. When ligaments become torn or stretched, the bones of the spine become less stable. Instability leads to irritation which can cause severe pain.

Age, level of activity, and work conditions are all contributing factors to the treatment you may receive for your injury. During the beginning stage of healing, modalities such as heat and e-stim can help relieve pain. Low-level therapeutic exercises help promote range of motion and mobility. Manual therapy such as soft-tissue massage, mobilization, or myofascial release may be utilized throughout all stages of recovery. As your injury begins to heal, modalities will be used less frequently, and a higher-level exercise program will be implemented.

Decrease in range of motion, strength, and endurance are common occurrences with back injuries. Buttock and leg pain may also occur. Overall function may be limited, depending on the physical demands of your work and daily activities. All this to say, back injuries are THE WORST! While no injury is fun, the possibility of relief through physical therapy is comforting. With proper diagnosis and treatment, consistent attendance, and consistent application of the home exercise program, your back injury can improve.

Post written by: Clint Bunker, DPT

Happiness is A Warm Theragun

The Bee’s Knees

Frozen Shoulder

Cup, Cup, and Away!

Ice, Ice, Baby

The Straw That Broke The Camel’s Back

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