Modalities and Manual Therapy

Physical therapy modalities include TENS unit (electrical stimulation), EMS unit (electric muscle stimulation), ultrasound, heat and ice, laser and hot stone massage.  They are used alone or in combination. The following modalities are utilized in our office.

1. TENS-TENS unit stimulates nerves and produces a massaging and tingling sensation to decrease pain.
2. EMS unit- stimulates nerves and produces muscle contraction to increase muscle strength.
3. Ultrasound-Ultrasound warms deep structures, improves blood flow and flexibility and allows for better stretching.
4. Superficial heat or Ice- A hot compress warms superficial structures, decreases muscle spasm and increases blood flow. Ice- Cold pack decreases redness and swelling and slows down metabolism during acute pain and inflammation.
5. Low Level Laser Therapy-Laser therapy increases blood flow, speeds up tissue repair and healing, decreases swelling and inflammation and enhances immune responses.
6. Massage with Hot Stones- Massage with Hot Stones relaxes painful muscles and breaks down “knots” and restrictions. It has an overall soothing effect on the body, increases mood and improves wellbeing.

Manual therapy incorporates different techniques applied to soft tissues, muscles and joints to improve their flexibility, range of motion, tissue mobility and movement.  Treatment may include massage, joint mobilization, stretching, active, passive and resistive range of motion and manual cervical traction.

1. Massage- Manual technique applied to muscles, joints and soft tissue to induce relaxation, improve circulation, and release restrictions and decrease pain.
2. Joint mobilization- Manual therapy technique applied to joints at slow speed with or without oscillations to increase joint movement, restore AROM and decrease pain.
3. Stretching-Stretching exercises are an important part of rehabilitation program, as they help to improve muscle flexibility, and joint range of motion, decrease risk of injuries, facilitate muscle efficiency and overall performance in physical and sports activities.
4. Active, passive and resistive ROM-Range of motion exercises are applied to joints to move them through their physiological range. They are essential in restoring normal joint movement and function and to decrease pain.
5. Manual Cervical Traction-Pulling force is applied to the neck while a patient is lying down. It is an effective technique which relaxes nerve ending, decreases pain going down to arms and hands, and improves neck mobility and soft tissue flexibility.