Manual Therapies

Dry Needling Therapy

Dry Needling is an innovative therapeutic technique that targets muscular trigger points to alleviate pain, restore muscle function, and promote overall well-being. This procedure involves the use of fine, sterile needles inserted into specific points in the muscles, known as trigger points, to stimulate healing and relaxation.

What exactly is dry needling?

Dry needling is a specialized treatment technique performed by trained healthcare professionals, such as physiotherapists or chiropractors. It involves the precise insertion of thin needles, without the injection of any medication or fluid, into muscle trigger points. These trigger points are typically areas of tight knots or bands within muscles that can cause pain, stiffness, and limited range of motion. By inserting the needles directly into these trigger points, dry needling aims to relieve muscular tension and promote healing.

What are the benefits of dry needling?

Pain reduction: Dry needling helps relieve muscular pain by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, and reducing muscle tension and spasms.
Improved muscle function: By targeting trigger points and releasing muscular tension, dry needling can restore normal muscle function, enhance flexibility, and improve range of motion.
Enhanced blood flow and tissue healing: The insertion of needles promotes local vasodilation and increases blood circulation to the treated areas, facilitating the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells to promote tissue healing and repair.
Reduction of muscle tightness and knots: Dry needling can effectively release muscle knots and reduce tightness by causing a reflex relaxation response in the muscles.
Complementary therapy: Dry needling can be used in conjunction with other treatments, such as physical therapy or chiropractic care, to optimize outcomes and provide comprehensive care.

What to expect during a dry needling session?

During your dry needling session, Dr. Neal will assess your condition, discuss your symptoms and goals, and identify the trigger points requiring treatment.
Using sterile, disposable needles, Dr. Neal will gently insert the needles into the targeted trigger points. You may experience a slight sensation upon needle insertion, often described as a brief prick or twitch response. Once the needles are in place, they may be manipulated or stimulated by the practitioner to elicit a therapeutic response. Electrical stimulation may be used to increase effectiveness of treatment.
Throughout the session, Dr. Neal will ensure your comfort and closely monitor your responses. After the needles are removed, you may experience immediate relief or a mild achy sensation, which is normal and typically subsides within a short period.

Cupping Manual Therapy

Cupping therapy is an ancient healing technique that has been practiced for centuries. This unique therapy involves the use of specially designed cups that create suction on the skin, providing numerous benefits for your body and mind.

What is cupping therapy?

Cupping therapy is a form of alternative medicine that involves placing cups on the skin and creating a vacuum or suction effect. Traditionally, cups were made of glass or bamboo, but modern cupping techniques may utilize silicone or plastic cups as well. The vacuum created by the cups draws the skin and underlying tissues upward into the cup, stimulating blood flow and promoting healing.

What are the benefits of cupping therapy?

Pain relief: Cupping therapy can help alleviate muscle and joint pain by increasing blood circulation, reducing inflammation, and promoting the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
Improved blood circulation: The suction created by the cups helps enhance blood flow to the treated areas, which can facilitate the delivery of oxygen and nutrients, as well as the removal of toxins and waste products.
Deep relaxation: Cupping therapy has a profound calming effect on the nervous system, promoting relaxation, reducing stress, and relieving anxiety.
Detoxification: The negative pressure created by cupping can help draw out toxins and metabolic waste from the body, aiding in detoxification.
Enhanced athletic performance and muscle recovery: Cupping therapy is commonly used by athletes to improve performance and expedite muscle recovery. It can help reduce muscle soreness, increase range of motion, and enhance muscle function.

What to expect during a cupping session?

During your cupping session, our skilled therapist will assess your condition, discuss any specific concerns you may have, and determine the most appropriate cupping technique for you.
The therapist will place cups on specific areas of your body, creating suction either through heat or a mechanical pump. The cups are typically left in place for a few minutes or may be moved in a gliding motion across the skin using oil for lubrication. You may experience a mild pulling or tingling sensation during the treatment, which is generally well-tolerated and relaxing.
After the cups are removed, your therapist may apply soothing oils or provide additional manual techniques to further enhance the therapeutic effects. It is normal to have circular marks on your skin following the session, which typically fade within a few days.

IASTM Therapy

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM), also known as scraping, is a specialized technique that utilizes handheld tools to facilitate tissue recovery, promote healing, and enhance overall physical well-being. IASTM targets soft tissues such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia to address restrictions, scar tissue, and adhesions.

What is Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM)?

Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) involves the use of specifically designed tools to perform therapeutic manipulation of soft tissues. These handheld instruments are crafted from various materials, such as stainless steel or plastic, and have specific shapes and edges to effectively treat different areas of the body. The tools are applied in controlled, gentle strokes over the affected tissues to encourage healing and restore optimal function.

What are the benefits of IASTM?

Enhanced tissue healing: IASTM stimulates blood flow to the treated area, promoting the delivery of oxygen, nutrients, and immune cells, while facilitating the removal of waste products. This can aid in tissue healing and recovery.
Reduction of scar tissue and adhesions: The precise application of IASTM helps break down scar tissue and adhesions within soft tissues. This can improve tissue mobility, reduce pain, and restore normal movement patterns.
Pain relief: IASTM can help alleviate pain by reducing tension, inflammation, and hypersensitivity in soft tissues. It targets areas of muscle tightness, trigger points, and myofascial restrictions, providing relief from acute or chronic pain.
Improved range of motion and flexibility: By addressing tissue restrictions and enhancing tissue extensibility, IASTM can improve joint range of motion, flexibility, and overall mobility. This is particularly beneficial for individuals with musculoskeletal conditions, sports injuries, or post-surgical rehabilitation.
Enhanced athletic performance: IASTM is commonly used by athletes to optimize their performance. It can improve muscle activation and recruitment, reduce muscle imbalances, and facilitate efficient movement patterns, leading to enhanced athletic performance and injury prevention.

What to expect during an IASTM session?

During your IASTM session, Dr. Neal will assess your condition, discuss your symptoms and goals, and identify the areas that would benefit from treatment.
Dr. Neal will apply a lubricant to your skin to allow the instrument to glide smoothly. Using the instrument, Dr. Neal will apply controlled, gentle strokes over the affected soft tissues. The strokes may be performed in various directions, targeting specific areas of concern.
You may experience a mild scraping sensation or temporary discomfort during the treatment, particularly in areas with scar tissue or adhesions. However, the overall therapy should not be excessively painful. Dr. Neal will closely monitor your response to ensure your comfort throughout the session.
After the treatment, Dr. Neal may provide additional recommendations, such as stretches, exercises, or self-care techniques, to support your recovery and optimize treatment outcomes.

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation therapy is a modality technique that utilizes electrical currents to stimulate muscles, nerves, and tissues. This non-invasive treatment can provide various benefits, from pain relief to muscle rehabilitation.

What is electrical stimulation therapy?

There are several types of electrical stimulation therapy. Dr. Neal utilizes neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES), interferential stimulation (IF), and Russian stimulation for a variety of conditions. However, each type involves the application of controlled electrical currents to specific areas of the body. This therapy uses specialized devices that deliver electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin, targeting muscles, nerves, or other tissues.

What are the benefits of electrical stimulation therapy?

Pain management: Electrical stimulation therapy can help reduce pain by stimulating the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. It can also interrupt pain signals sent to the brain, providing temporary relief from acute or chronic pain.
Muscle rehabilitation and strengthening: Electrical stimulation therapy can help re-educate and strengthen muscles that may be weakened or atrophied due to injury, surgery, or neurological conditions. The electrical impulses mimic the natural muscle contractions, promoting muscle activation, blood circulation, and overall muscle recovery.
Improved range of motion and joint mobility: By stimulating targeted muscles, electrical stimulation therapy can help improve range of motion, flexibility, and joint mobility. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals with joint stiffness, post-surgical limitations, or conditions affecting mobility.
Reduction of muscle spasms: Electrical stimulation therapy can help relax muscles and reduce spasms, providing relief for conditions such as muscle strains, sprains, or certain neurological disorders.
Enhanced tissue healing: Electrical stimulation therapy can promote tissue healing by increasing blood flow to the treated area. Improved circulation can facilitate the delivery of oxygen and nutrients to the tissues while supporting the removal of metabolic waste products.

What to expect during an electrical stimulation session?

During your electrical stimulation session, Dr. Neal will assess your condition, discuss your symptoms and goals, and determine the most appropriate settings and placement of electrodes.
Dr. Neal will place adhesive electrodes on your skin in strategic locations based on your treatment plan. The electrodes are connected to the electrical stimulation device, which will deliver controlled electrical impulses to the targeted muscles or nerves.
You may feel a gentle tingling or tapping sensation during the treatment, but it should not be painful. The sensation will vary based on condition being treated and type of stimulation used.
Dr. Neal will monitor the session closely, adjusting the intensity and frequency of the electrical impulses to ensure your comfort and maximize the therapeutic benefits. The duration of each session can vary depending on your specific needs and the treatment objectives.

KT Taping

KT taping, a therapeutic technique that utilizes specialized elastic tape to provide support, stability, and promote optimal muscle and joint function. Whether you're an athlete recovering from an injury or seeking to enhance your performance, KT taping can be a valuable addition to your treatment plan.

What is KT taping?

KT taping, also known as kinesiology taping, is a technique that involves the application of thin, elastic tape directly onto the skin. The tape is designed to mimic the flexibility and elasticity of human skin, allowing for a full range of motion while providing support and proprioceptive feedback to the muscles and joints. Based on activity level, the tape can stay on the treated area up to 5-7 days.

What are the benefits of KT taping?

Support and stability: KT tape provides structural support to muscles and joints, helping to stabilize them during movement. This can be particularly beneficial for individuals recovering from injuries, reducing the risk of further damage and promoting proper healing.
Pain relief: KT tape can help alleviate pain by reducing pressure on pain receptors, improving circulation, and providing a gentle lifting effect on the skin. This can be helpful for various conditions, including muscle strains, tendonitis, and joint instability.
Improved muscle function: The elastic properties of KT tape allow it to provide support to muscles without restricting their movement. This can enhance muscle activation, coordination, and proprioception, leading to improved performance and reduced muscle fatigue.
Reduced swelling and inflammation: KT tape can help facilitate lymphatic drainage, reducing swelling and inflammation in injured or overused areas. This can aid in the healing process and promote faster recovery.
Enhanced performance: Whether you're an athlete or an active individual, KT taping can optimize your performance by providing support to key muscles and joints, promoting better biomechanics, and reducing the risk of injury.

What to expect during a KT taping session?

Dr. Neal will assess your condition, discuss your goals and needs, and identify the specific areas that would benefit from taping.
Dr. Neal will apply the KT tape directly onto your skin, following specific taping techniques tailored to your condition and objectives. The tape will be stretched and applied with different tension levels and angles, depending on the desired effect.
Dr. Neal may also provide additional instructions on how to properly care for and remove the tape.
KT tape is designed to be worn for several days, allowing you to engage in your regular activities and exercise routines. It is water-resistant and can withstand sweat and movement, providing continuous support and therapeutic benefits throughout the duration of wear.

(Note: The manual therapies described should only be performed by a trained professional. This description is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice. Consult with a qualified healthcare provider for personalized recommendations and treatment.)

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