Manipulative Therapies

Therapy Guide

Trigger points are hyperirritable spots in skeletal muscle that are associated with palpable nodules in taut bands of muscle fibers.

These palpable nodules are the result of small contraction knots in muscle tissue. They are an extremely common cause of pain and are frequently misdiagnosed as some other problem, which often leads to a great deal of anguish for the patient.

Several common painful conditions are often relieved by trigger point therapy. Examples are: carpal tunnel syndrome, bursitis, tendinitis, angina pectoris, sciatic symptoms, along with many other painful problems.

Treatment of trigger points may be by local compression, injection of a local anesthetic such as procaine hydrocloride (novocain), "spray-and-stretch" using a cooling (vapo-coolant) spray, or by superficial dry needling. Many acupuncture practitioners do the superficial dry needling which is often considered the most effective and has the least side effects.

Therapy Guide

Chiropractic, or chiropractic care, is a system of health care with an underlying principle that health problems can be prevented and treated using spinal adjustments in order to correct spinal dysfunction, or subluxations.

Some chiropractors infer a causal relationship between nerve interference or compression at the spine and subsequent problems in more distant parts or organ systems regulated by the nerve.

Most patients start chiropractic care for treatment of some sort of pain. Be it back pain, neck pain, headaches, whiplash or other pain.

Therapy Guide

Shiatsu (Japanese from shi, meaning finger, and atsu, meaning pressure) - is a massage technique originating in Japan.

Developed by Tokujiro Namikoshi it was refined and practiced throughout his life. In 1953 he introduced it to the West at the Palmer Chiropractic School. By 1964 The Japanese Ministry of Health reviewed the regulations and acknowledged Shiatsu, Massage Therapy and Anma as unique and independent therapeutic methods.

A common misconception is that Shiatsu was based on Oriental or Chinese medicine , it was not. It is based on modern anatomy and physiology and is not related to Acupuncture, Moxibustion or Anma therapy.

Introduction

Each therapy has treatments that fall into general categories. The categories refer to the primary mode of operation of the therapy.

By mode of operation we are referring to the method by which the treatment is believed to effect a change in health. For example some therapies are manipulative where the effect is brought about by mechanical means applied by a therapist. Some are pharmacological or chemical.