Treatments

Helping Our Patients Unlock Their Potential

Graston Technique (IASTM)

The Graston Technique® is also known as instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization. It is a technique that uses special ergonomic stainless steel tools to scrape and massage the skin which works to perform a deeper form of manual therapy. These tools are used to detect the injured tissues and to then provide treatment.
By using this non-surgical technique we are able to locate any muscle knots or scar tissue restrictions that are usually associated with trauma to the soft tissue such as a strained muscle or pulled ligament. These restrictions are reduced by stretching the connective tissue where it can be broken down and rearranged.

Effective For:

Helps To:

  • Improve and increase range of motion
  • Repair and strengthen muscles
  • Reduce pain
  • Decrease overall treatment time
  • Faster rehabilitation and recovery time
  • Reducing need for anti-inflammatory medication

Electrical Stimulation

Electrical stimulation is a physical therapy modality that most frequently is used as a method to decrease pain or muscle spasms and best practiced by a licensed physical therapist. This is more commonly used if you have an injury or illness that is causing pain or limiting your mobility.

We have both muscle and nervous tissue that can respond to both internal and external stimuli. By applying the electrical stimulation to the affected muscles, it performs an external stimulation that produces a contraction that promotes strengthening and functional training. This method also stimulates specific nerve fibers which then disrupts or decreases the feeling of pain.

This method of therapy should be used in conjunction with your physical therapy program and used only to enhance your progress. Also, not everyone can use this form of therapy as there are limitations. It is not safe for people with deep vein thrombosis, people who are pregnant, people with pacemakers, and people with impared cognition. It is also not safe to use on certain areas of the body such as anterior neck, eyes, or areas of damaged skin.

Effective for:

  • acute sports-related injuries
  • auto accident-related injuries
  • repetitive stress injuries
  • muscle strains
  • ligament sprains
  • neurological conditions including stroke

Manual Therapy

At OPTherapy & Wellness manual therapy is a vital part of our practice. Our “hands on” physical therapy is focused to provide you with one on one sessions using skilled techniques that are tailored to your individual needs. This can include techniques to help reduce pain, decrease soft tissue inflammation, increase joint mobility, relax muscles, and facilitate movement to improve function to name a few.

Manual therapy is based on a careful assessment of the patients range of motion, movement patterns, and medical history. Depending on the patients progress, the treatment may be altered to correspond to the response of the treatment being provided. This has been shown most effective when combined with specific exercises to restore function.

Types of manual therapy include:

  • Joint mobilization
  • Muscle Stretching
  • Passive range of motion
  • McKenzie Method
  • Soft tissue mobilization
  • Myofascial release
  • Trigger point release
  • Active Release Technique

Taping

The Taping Method is one of the techniques used for helping you recover from a new or pre-existing injury. Athletes are also known to use it for the prevention of injury. Although this technique is widely known in the sports injury arena, there are a variety of conditions it helps to improve. It helps provide support and stability to your muscles and joints while still allowing some range of motion, relieve pain, decrease swelling and muscle spasms, and improve healing in soft tissues. Each tape is applied in a specific location, direction, and with varied tension strengths dependent on your specific diagnosis.
An evaluation and assessment by your physical therapist is used to determine the best use for your injury or condition if necessary.

Myofascial Decompression (Cupping)

Myofascial Decompression (or Cupping) is a therapy which uses cups that are placed on the injured areas of the skin and suction is created to form an airtight seal. This process creates a negative pressure which lifts the skin from the underlying tissues and allows an increase in blood flow to those areas which promotes better healing with muscle, tendon, or ligament relaxation. Cupping can be effective in reducing trigger points, decreasing stiffness and pain, improving tissue health and increasing mobility.