Sports Physical Therapy

sports-physical-therapy

What is Sports Therapy and What Are Their Benefits?

Within the chiropractic field, there are many specialties and treatment options available. Here at Prime Sports Med, we offer two main types of treatment: traditional chiropractic adjustments and chiropractic sports therapy. Chiropractic sports therapy became a standard in the United States in 1980, when the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) appointed its first sports chiropractor. Sports Therapy treatment targets athletes and people who participate in sports activities. However, it has shown to be beneficial to anyone who has acute or chronic pain.

At Prime Sports Med, our doctors use several techniques during a sports therapy session. They customize each session to the patient and their pain on the day of treatment, so each time a patient comes in, they may get a slightly different session. The techniques our doctors may use are:

  • Class 4 Laser Therapy – The laser wavelength penetrates deeply and efficiently allowing it to pass energy to the nerve, muscle, ligament, and tendon tissue in a short amount of time. Class 4 laser therapy stimulates the production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate) which drives many of the processes within our cells and our muscles. This increased production of ATP helps speed up the healing process.
  • Graston Technique – A unique form of instrument assisted manual therapy. Specially designed stainless-steel instruments are used by our doctors to manipulate the patient’s soft tissue. Our doctors usually pair this with a cooling lotion that contains arnica, which is a natural analgesic. Graston technique increases blood flow to the area, decreases pain, and increases range of motion.
  • Fascial Distortion Model – It’s called a ‘model’ because it isn’t a technique. It’s a treatment model in which virtually all soft tissue injuries, or musculoskeletal complaints, can be viewed through 1 or more of the 6 different types of alterations to the body’s connective tissues. Based off the patient’s verbal and physical descriptions, our doctors can analyze and treat the alterations that the patient has. Those alterations are Trigger Bands, Continuum Distortions, Cylinder Distortions, Herniated Trigger Points, Folding Distortions, and Tectonic Fixations.
  • Cupping Therapy – Cupping therapy dates back to 1550 B.C. There are several types of cupping therapy available, but at Prime Sports Med our doctors use silicone cups. Our doctors will place the cups where the patient indicates they have pain. Before placing on the skin, our doctors will use a cooling lotion that contains arnica to allow for a painless glide over the skin. The cup creates a vacuum that lifts the skin and superficial soft tissue layers. Cupping therapy increases blood flow, improves local anerobic metabolism, reduces inflammation, and increases immunity both at a cellular and systemic level.
  • Therapeutic Exercise – Involves movement prescribed to correct impairments and restore muscular and skeletal function. This is different than physical activity. Therapeutic exercise usually falls into 4 groups: Strengthening, Endurance, Flexibility, and Balance. Loss of proper muscle and joint function are common effects that can lead to injury or be a result of injury. Therapeutic Exercise is usually most effective in helping to improve function in more long-term, chronic (symptoms present for at least 3 months) conditions. Based off the patient’s verbal and physical descriptions, our doctors can assess if therapeutic exercise should be added to your treatment plan.
  • Electrical Stimulation – Also called E-Stim, our doctors place adhesive pads, known as electrodes, on areas where the patient indicates they have pain. The doctors use a handheld device that transmits low-voltage electrical signals to your body through the electrodes. The intensity of the signals can be adjusted as needed. These signals disrupt the patient’s pain regulation and bring pain relief. This is usually one of the last treatments that is performed during a sports therapy session at Prime Sports Med because our doctors leave the electrodes on for 8-10 minutes.
  • Kinesiology Tape – Also called K Tape or KT, it is made from breathable, stretchable material. The tape adheres to the skin with a medically approved sweat- and water-proof adhesive. The tape usually stays in place for 3 or 4 days even with exercising or showering. KT stabilizes an injured area by adhering to the skin and applying light pressure to the tissues the tape is wrapped around. Kinesiology Tape allows the flow of blood and lymphatic fluid to cleanse and heal the injured area without the use of medications or surgery. It also helps prevent further muscle injury while still allowing motion. If our doctors believe a patient will benefit from KT, it will be one of the last treatments they do before the patient leaves.
  • Cox Flexion Distraction Table – At Prime Sports Med we have a state-of-the-art motorized lumbar traction table. The design of the table is based on principles of both chiropractic and osteopathy, a combination that often provides fast relief from low back and leg pain. It is one of the most effective and well-researched techniques used by chiropractors. The goal of Flexion Distraction is to decompress the spine by applying gentle stretching or traction to the lower spine. The movements are slow and repetitive, without any undue pressure or quick thrusts. This treatment increases circulation, improves range of motion, and reduces pressure within vertebral discs. This is usually one of the last treatments that is performed during a sports therapy session at Prime Sports Med because our doctors have the patient stay on the table for 8-10 minutes.

References

Miners, Andrew L. “Chiropractic Treatment and the Enhancement of Sport Performance: A Narrative

Literature Review.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, Canadian Chiropractic Association, Dec. 2010, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2989393/.

Lee, Alexander D, et al. “Opinions of Sports Clinical Practice Chiropractors, with Sports

Specialty Training and Those without, about Chiropractic Research Priorities in Sports Health Care: A Centering Resonance Analysis.” The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, Canadian Chiropractic Association, Dec. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5178019/.

Team, NUHS. “Everything You Need to Know about Chiropractic Medicine for Athletes.” The Future of Integrative Health,

https://blog.nuhs.edu/the-future-of-integrative-health/chiropractic-medicine-for-athletes.