TECHNIQUES
DRY NEEDLING
What is dry needling?
Dry needling, also known as trigger point dry needling or intramuscular manual therapy, is a skilled intervention that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues for the management of neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments.
What is a trigger point?
Myofascial trigger points are hyperirritable spots within a taut band of skeletal muscle. Trigger points can be active, spontaneously painful, or latent, painful when stimulated (i.e. pressure) and may result due to an injury, overuse, improper movement patterns, or poor posture.
Is dry needling the same as acupuncture?
Although a thin filiform needle is used in both dry needling and acupuncture, dry needling is not acupuncture or Oriental medicine. Dry needling does not have the purpose of alternating the “Chi” or “Qi” along traditional Chinese meridians for the treatment of diseases. Dry needling is used to treat pain and dysfunction in musculoskeletal disorders.
BLOOD FLOW RESTRICTION TRAINING (BFR)
BFR training is a technique that reduces blood flow to the arm or leg while exercising at a lower intensity to achieve the benefits of high intensity training. BFR can be utilized to minimize muscle atrophy that typically occurs due to disuse resulting from an injury or post surgery. It can increase muscle hypertrophy and strength, decrease pain, facilitate recovery, and impact aerobic fitness.
MANUAL THERAPY
Manual therapy is skilled hand movements intended to improve tissue extensibility; increase joint range of motion; mobilize or manipulate soft tissues and joints; induce relaxation; alter muscle function; modulate pain; and reduce soft tissue swelling, inflammation or movement restriction.
Techniques include soft or deep tissue massage, myofascial release, trigger point release, instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), muscle energy technique, joint mobilization/manipulation, manual traction, and passive range of motion
CUPPING THERAPY
Cupping therapy is an ancient form of alternative medicine in which cups are placed on the skin for several minutes to create suction. It may help reduce pain and inflammation, decrease muscle tightness, improve blood flow, increase range of motion, and remove toxins.
TAPING
Tape is typically used to stabilize/support an injury, prevent injury, reduce injury recurrence, relieve pain, correct faulty biomechanics, inhibit or facilitate muscle action, improve postural patterns, and provide compression to manage edema.
We use various types of tapes including sports/athletic tape, elastic tape, and Kinesio Tape.
MOVEMENT SCREEN
During a movement screen, we analyze fundamental movement patterns. This provides insight regarding an individual’s functional movement quality, which helps to identify functional impairments that increase injury risk and affects sport performance. We will use the information gathered to develop a plan to improve any identified impairments.