Dr. Janet Travell first used the term myofascial in the 1940s in reference to problems with musculoskeletal pain and what are called trigger points. Travell is the author of Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual, a seminal reference work for practitioners of trigger point therapy. Myofascial release involves the use of a practitioner’s elbows, knuckles or other tools to slowly stretch out the tightened myofascial tissue, thus removing knots and adhesions.

Healthy myofascial tissue is soft and relaxed, however, trauma and inflammation to the tissue can cause it to become tight and more rigid, and knots or adhesions can develop in the tissue that can cause a restriction in motion and lead to the development of “trigger points” that can cause pain anywhere in the body. Chronic neck and back pain, muscle spasms, headaches, difficulty breathing and reduced flexibility may all be due to a problem in the myofascial tissue.

Trauma from whiplash, a fall, the effects of surgery or chronic bad posture are some of the things that can contribute to myofascial pain syndrome. But it’s not just physical stress such as injury and illness that can cause the myofascial tissues to tighten. Emotional stress can have the same effect. This tightening can cause increased pressure on the muscles, nerves and organs that leads to chronic pain.

Many chiropractors are trained in myofascial release therapy, which can relieve pain from many conditions, including carpal tunnel syndrome, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, headaches and fibromyalgia. They will stretch and loosen the tightened fascia that are restricting blood flow to the area, which will increase circulation and lymphatic drainage and take the pressure off nerves that have been compressed at trigger points.

A strong wave of short duration that travels faster than the speed of sound is generated by a specialized machine and penetrates deep into the body’s tissues to stimulate cellular healing processes.  It works by first stimulating the nerves around the painful area to the point that their activity begins to diminish, sending fewer pain signals to the brain.  Then—over time—it operates as what is referred to as a “gate control mechanism” in which the signals being sent by the machine override the pain signals sent to the brain.

Some chiropractors use acoustic compression therapy in the course of their practice.  In addition to reducing pain, it has also been shown to reduce inflammation, a condition which in itself can trigger pain.  ACT increases circulation to the area being treated, which helps to bring more oxygen and nutrients to damaged tissues and speeds healing.

Acoustic compression therapy was first discovered in the early 1990s when similar technology was used to dissolve kidney stones.  Patients noticed that pain they had in areas unrelated to the kidneys being treated was reduced after treatment, and researchers began to explore other healing benefits of ultrasound.

Acoustic compression therapy is sometimes used as a form of Trigger Point Therapy.  This involves directing the sound waves to specific points on the body where tense muscles or muscle groups have caused nerve irritation, which may be triggering pain elsewhere in the body.  Your chiropractor can precisely control both the breadth and depth of the waves, which is often impossible to do with manual treatment, particularly in sensitive areas that have been injured or which may overreact to manual therapy.  Waves can be directed to penetrate the body’s tissues anywhere from 1 mm to 30 mm, with frequencies up to 8 Hz.

Acoustic compression therapy is a gentle form of treatment for musculoskeletal pain that will not irritate the skin or bruise tissues.  There are no significant side effects to treatment, and it is safe for most individuals (though it is not appropriate for people with bleeding disorders and pregnant women).  It is a form of therapy that is particularly useful in treating, among other things:

• Neck, back and shoulder pain
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Foot and heel pain, such as plantar fasciitis
• Tennis elbow
• Golfer’s elbow
• Hip, knee and leg pain
• Adhesions and other strains to soft tissue
• Shoulder pain
• Bursitis

If you have questions about acoustic compression therapy and whether it may be helpful in your treatment, please call or visit our office.

Be specific about your symptoms – In order for your chiropractor to recommend the most effective therapy or combination of therapies for your particular situation, you need to be as specific as possible about your symptoms. Since chiropractic is a holistic form of healing (meaning that all aspects of a person’s health and lifestyle are taken into consideration when developing a treatment plan), it’s important to mention every symptom you have. This is true even if you feel that some of your symptoms may be unrelated or insignificant. Based on what you tell your chiropractor as well as diagnostic tests performed in the office, he or she will be able to decide which types of treatment may be most appropriate for your condition.  Treatment plans may include chiropractic adjustments, joint mobilization, soft tissue techniques, therapeutic exercise and nutritional changes as well as other types of specialized therapies.

Keep moving – One of the main aims of chiropractic care is to maintain flexibility and range of motion. As the old saying goes, “Use it or lose it.” Chiropractic has been shown to be most effective when combined with regular exercise, and the effects of treatment last longer. Muscle strengthening and stretching exercises will provide the necessary support to the spine that will help to keep it from going out of alignment as easily. By following your chiropractor’s exercise suggestions between adjustments, your function will be restored more quickly, and you will gain confidence in your ability to move in ways that would have been too painful before your chiropractic treatment. With your newly enhanced flexibility, try to get out on a walk, hike or bike ride.

Consider massage – Therapeutic massage is often used in conjunction with chiropractic care. It shares with chiropractic the desire to enhance the circulation of blood and fluids and to restore the free flow of nerve impulses. Massage can break up adhesions in the fascia that keep your muscles from moving properly. Massage can also help to release muscle tension and warm up the areas around a spinal subluxation, making your joints more pliable and easier to adjust. However, keep in mind that not all chiropractors agree about the relative benefits massage before an adjustment. Some chiropractors prefer to get an accurate picture of your normal physiological state prior to performing an adjustment, so be sure to check with your own chiropractor before having a pre-adjustment massage.

Incorporating these suggestions into your regular chiropractic treatment regime can help you to make the most of each adjustment and make a significant impact on your quality of life.

Impingement syndrome

It is caused by wear or injury to the rotator cuff muscles that surround and support the shoulder joint. When the muscles and tendons of the shoulder become worn, they respond by swelling, which (because they are surrounded by bone) causes compression and a loss of blood flow to the entire area. This in turn causes the muscle tissue of the shoulder to begin to degrade, in effect to fray like a rope. As a result, movements such as reaching up behind the back or lifting the arm over the head become painful, and shoulder motion becomes restricted. This may be accompanied by an increasing weakness of the shoulder muscles.

The pain of shoulder impingement syndrome is most often experienced as a sharp burning sensation when you move your arms and shoulder. One test performed by chiropractors to detect this syndrome is to have you raise your arm to the side, similar to performing “jumping jacks.” If pain occurs, that may be an indication of impingement. The pain is often felt on the outer side of the shoulder and upper arm. Another key symptom of this condition is waking up with pain after sleeping on your side, regardless of which side you sleep on.

Shoulder impingement syndrome is treated by medical doctors with painkillers and anti-inflammatory medications (and in severe cases with surgery), but there are more conservative, non-invasive treatments available. Several studies have shown that chiropractic manipulation, in conjunction with standard medical treatments, produces much faster and more complete relief from impingement syndrome pain than medical treatment alone.

A Doctor of Chiropractic, after performing a thorough examination to make sure that the condition is in fact shoulder impingement syndrome and not a more serious injury or condition, can prescribe a series of treatments aimed at achieving several goals. First, because the shoulder and arm are connected to the spine, the chiropractor may perform spinal adjustments to eliminate structural abnormalities that are causing or perpetuating the wear and tear on the shoulder joints. At the same time, your chiropractor may treat the muscles of the shoulder and arm with cross friction massage or with electro-stimulation therapy to relax them, and thus to improve mobility of the shoulder joints and arms. Chiropractors can also recommend home care activities and exercises to strengthen the shoulder girdle muscles and prevent further pain as the result of upward movements of the arm.

People such as swimmers and tennis players, who practice sports that involve a lot of movement of their arms over their head, are more likely to suffer from this injury, as are those over age 40, due to the normal loss of elasticity and degeneration that comes with aging. Injuries can be caused from a direct blow to the shoulder, falling on the arm when it is outstretched or having the arm yanked. It is more likely for the rotator cuff to be injured when the muscles of the shoulder area have been weakened by inactivity. The most common injuries to the rotator cuff are tendonitis and rotator cuff tears.

A rotator cuff tear can be either a result of a direct injury to the arm or may evolve from rotator cuff tendonitis (also called impingement syndrome). Impingement syndrome occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff rub against the shoulder blade, causing it to become inflamed, fray and weaken. Arthritis and bone spurs can also contribute to this condition. A symptom that you may have a torn rotator cuff is having a dull ache in the upper arm and shoulder that may extend down to the elbow, especially when moving the arm over the head.

Treatment options include rest, pain killers, ice packs, chiropractic care, steroid injections and surgery. Many rotator cuff injuries heal by themselves in time, and using an NSAID such as ibuprofen may help to reduce inflammation and control pain. Ice packs can also be applied to the shoulder for this purpose (bags of frozen vegetables work well too!)

Your chiropractor can use a range of treatments to first address the pain and inflammation of a rotator cuff tear. These may include ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation and heat and ice treatments. Then chiropractic adjustments and targeted exercises are used to restore mobility and increase range of movement, without having to resort to steroid injections or surgery. After approximately six to eight weeks of treatment most patients are able to resume normal activities.

In some cases surgery may be indicated if there has been a complete tear. This can involve widening the space through which the rotator cuff tendon passes, which releases the trapped tendon, or repairing the tendon itself.

The shoulder joint is a ball-and-socket joint that allows the upper arm to exhibit a whole range of movement including flexion (bending up), extension (straightening out), abduction (movement away from the body), adduction (movement towards the body), lateral rotation (rotation of the arm at the shoulder joint itself) and circumduction (making circles with the arm). The shoulder joint allows a greater range of movement than any other joint in the body, and is encapsulated by a loose sac called the articular capsule that covers the area from the glenoid cavity to the neck of the upper humerus. Three sets of ligaments hold the scapula and humerus together. These are made up of the coracohumeral ligament, glenohumeral ligaments and transverse humeral ligament. Although the ligaments lend some degree of support to the shoulder joint, the majority of its strength actually comes from the associated muscles and tendons.

Muscles of the shoulder and their tendons encircle the shoulder joint and form what is known as the rotator cuff. The rotator cuff (comprised of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor and subscapularis muscles and their tendons) joins to the articular capsule and, together with the shoulder ligaments, holds the scapula and humerus in place. Four strategically located bursae (the subscapular, subdeltoid, subacromial and subcoracoid) prevent friction between the shoulder bones as they are moved by muscular contractions.

Although part of the axial skeleton of the torso, the shoulder girdle is not physically connected to the vertebral column but held in place by a series of muscles that include the trapezius, deltoid, serratus, rhomboid, subclavius, pectoralis and latissimus dorsi.

Consult your Fremont Chiropractor, Dr. Hans Freericks, to find out how you can achieve a good posture. Call Fremont Chiropractic at (510) 797-4796 today.

Everyone has experienced the sensation of “pins and needles” in their limbs at one point or another in their lives. It is a very common occurrence characterized by a sensation of tingling, pricking, burning or numbness in the extremities, commonly referred to as having a limb that has “fallen asleep.” Its medical term is paresthesia, and in most people it is a temporary condition. However, some people experience this feeling on a regular basis. This can be an indicator of several underlying medical conditions, some serious and some less so.

Pins and needles happens most often when prolonged pressure is applied to the arms or legs (such as when kneeling on the ground). This in turn applies pressure on the nerves and reduces the supply of blood to the limbs. The pressure and lack of blood inhibits the nerves from sending messages to the brain. Then when you change positions the pressure on the nerves is released and blood flow returns to normal. This results in messages from the nerves flooding the brain, causing the pricking and tingling sensation we’re all familiar with.

Chronic paresthesia is due to a problem with neuron function. There can be many causes for this, ranging from a vitamin deficiency to an autoimmune disease. It can also be caused by a pinched nerve or an injury to the nerves from disease or accident. Paresthesia is common in the elderly, who often have reduced circulation in conjunction with a tendency toward vitamin B12 deficiency. As B12 must be absorbed by the gut, its absorption becomes more difficult as we age and our digestive enzymes are not as strong as they once were.

Among other conditions that a pins and needles sensation may indicate are diabetes, alcoholism, compressed nerves, carpal tunnel syndrome, spinal disc herniation, menopause, heavy metal poisoning, anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia, chemotherapy, multiple sclerosis, a transient ischemic attack (TIA) and lupus.

The sensation of pins and needles usually goes away by itself, but if you find yourself experiencing paresthesia on a regular basis, consult with your physician. There are a range of different treatments, depending on the cause. A pinched nerve and carpal tunnel syndrome can often be effectively treated by an Oakland chiropractor. Vitamin B12 deficiency may be addressed through dietary changes, supplements or injections. Together, you and your chiropractor can decide upon the best course of treatment based on the specifics of your situation.

Dr. Spencer H. Baron, a team chiropractor for the Miami Dolphins and past president of the Professional Football Chiropractic Society, said, “The robust need for chiropractic care in the NFL has been deeply driven by the players’ desire for peak physical conditioning and not simply for injuries. From the earliest years of full contact football, their bodies are subject to structural stress that doctors of chiropractic are specially trained to care for. Many DCs who provide their services to professional athletes travel with their respective teams throughout the season, treating players up until game time, during the game and sometimes immediately following.”

Professional Football Players Advocating Chiropractic Care

A number of professional football players are staunch advocates for chiropractic care and the ability it gives them to perform at their peak.

Emmitt Smith, a former NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys and Arizona Cardinals and NFL all-time record holder for rushing, dealt with a lot of hamstring problems during a tough season in 1994. He related how he had some difficult questions to answer: “‘Do I need to get more rest? Do I need to eat better? Do I need a little more training? How can I take care of my body better? Do I need to find a Chiropractor?’ It was time for me to invest in me.” Smith added, “I found a specialist that’s really good in balancing out my body to make sure my hips are rotated right, and my body is functioning properly.”

Smith continued, “I remember somebody telling me that what I put myself in during the games is like having a car wreck every Sunday. It’s against the norm. You can find yourself in awkward positions. That stuff takes its toll. But if you take advantage of the health care, balance your body back out, put it back where it’s supposed to be, you function better, and you recover faster.” He said about chiropractic, “You can have a Ferrari body, but your wheels need balancing. I felt if I took care of my body, I could still function when I got older.”

Chiropractic apparently served Smith well in helping him maintain function and flexibility, because after his retirement in 2004 he went on to win the third season of Dancing With the Stars, teamed with professional dancer Cheryl Burke.

Other professional footballers have expressed their appreciation for chiropractic care as well. Joe Montana, who possesses three Super Bowl MVPs and was named Player of the Year in 1990, was so appreciative of chiropractic that he agreed to become the spokesperson for chiropractic in the state of California, saying “Chiropractic has been a big part of my game. Chiropractic care works for me.”

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Lance Moore is another chiropractic devotee. He said, “Not only did my chiropractor get me back on the field, but he helped me to stay on the field. My body just feels much better overall because of the care I’ve gotten.”

Three-time Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice, a former wide receiver with the San Francisco 49ers said, “I believe in chiropractic, and I know that it works. You probably know about my long and successful career in football. I’m flattered by the testimonials to my durability. Football is a very rough and vigorous sport. Chiropractic was the key to keeping me in the game.”

Discover Chiropractic also serves patients in Oakland, CA. For ways to find a good Oakland chiropractors, follow this link.

Chiropractic care is not only safe for the vast majority of seniors, it is also a completely appropriate medical treatment for the kinds of health problems that an aging population faces. Many changes may take place as we get older-our muscles, spinal discs, facet joints and ligaments become less hydrated, weaker, and less able to withstand normal stresses. For many older people, these changes can result in pain as well as reduced strength and range of motion.

In addition to suffering from chronic pain, senior often become more susceptible to injuries as their bones become more brittle and their balance and coordination begin to deteriorate. At least one in four elderly people per year experiences a fall, which can aggravate existing spinal injuries or create new ones.

So what can chiropractic offer the elderly?

First, it can provide a safe, non-surgical approach to spinal care, free of both invasive procedures and potentially dangerous medications. Doctors of Chiropractic in Fremont use proven, gentle techniques of adjustment, manipulation and stretching to realign displaced joints and muscles. This in turn reduces pain and helps restore flexibility and ease of movement.

One recent study compared two types of chiropractic manipulation in 240 men and women over the age of 55: high-velocity low amplitude manipulations versus low-velocity variable amplitude manipulations. The researchers found that the chiropractic techniques produced superior results in relieving chronic lower back pain when compared to traditional conservative medical care. Not only was chiropractic care found to be more effective in relieving lower back pain, the researchers also concluded that the two approaches (the first producing the “cracking” sound often heard during chiropractic manipulations, the second not) were equally useful. Even better, no adverse effects were recorded.

This study is important because it points out that chiropractic care can be tailored to some extent to the age and preferences of the individual patient. While some patients prefer the “cracking” approach and others prefer a more gentle technique, they’re both effective when skillfully applied. This is very good news! Every individual’s situation is unique, and it’s good to know that chiropractors and their patients (including seniors) have many choices when it comes to treatment.

Also, it’s important to remember that chiropractic care isn’t limited to spinal adjustments. Modern chiropractic focuses on improving the patient’s overall state of health and well-being in addition to addressing specific problems. Most chiropractors today can offer advice on diet, exercise and lifestyle choices that is tailored to the specific needs of their patients, whether young or old.

Safe, effective chiropractic care can clearly play a key role in restoring or maintaining spinal function. It can also help promote general health, mobility, endurance and vitality at any age. If you have questions about whether chiropractic care is right for you or someone close to you, please call our Fremont Office at 510-797-4796 or our San Lorenzo Office at 510-783-3754.