Sometimes your body needs some physical attention to feel better. Physical medicine encompasses numerous treatments that create movement in the body using mechanical, chemical, or electrical means. The movement of blood and fluid promotes the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the area and waste products away from the area. The movement of muscles and bones promotes proper alignment and motor functioning.
Physical medicine has many uses and can be beneficial in treating numerous musculoskeletal and medical conditions including: back, neck, and joint pain, local inflammation, fibromyalgia, upper respiratory infection, auto-immune conditions, and cardiovascular disease.
Physical Manipulation employs many methods including deep massage, spinal alignment, joint manipulation, myofascial release, craniosacral techniques, and more as a means of improving limited mobility.
Gua Sha has a rich history as an ancient technique in Traditional Chinese Medicine that can be used to relieve acute or chronic musculoskeletal pain, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Using a smooth, hand-held tool, providers release tension in the affected area on lubricated skin by pressing and stroking the tool and bringing blood flow to the area.
Cupping therapy is a form of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) that promotes healing through pressure, relieving muscle tension and improving blood flow, among numerous other benefits.
During a cupping treatment, glass cups are briefly heated by flame and then placed on the patient’s skin to create a suction. The suction pulls blood to that particular region and promotes healing while also stretching muscles. Patients can often sense the pull on their skin, but the process is generally painless.
Kinesiotaping is a therapeutic taping technique aimed at alleviating pain and facilitating lymphatic drainage. This treatment has the ability to reduce pain and inflammation, promote post-surgical healing, optimize performance, prevent injury, and promote good circulation.
PEMF stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field. PEMF devices that utilize PEMF technology emit electromagnetic waves at different frequencies in order to stimulate and encourage your body’s natural recovery process.
PEMF works on the cellular level of your body. The walls of healthy cells have positive and negative magnetic charges. These charges are required to exchange ions carrying chemical elements your body needs to function, like calcium and potassium. Over time your cells age or get injured, and they lose their magnetic charges – and with them, the ability to exchange ions. Symptoms like inflammation, fatigue, and pain are caused by damaged cells with low charges. PEMF technology targets the affected area and restores cells’ healthy electromagnetic charges.