Heal Faster, Prevent Future Injuries, Be More Productive after Injury or Surgery
It happens! We fall, we stumble, we tear, we break. From minor sprains and strains to torn rotator cuffs and invasive surgeries, there is hope!
At Cannon Pointe Chiropractic, we provide a wide range of treatment options. One of which is instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization. This technique involves the use of metal tools moved along and across muscles, tendons, fascia, and other connective tissue to relieve stress on tissues, break up abnormal adhesions/scar tissue, and to promote the flow of blood to the area of injury. Patients typically notice immediate results in pain reduction and increased range of motion with only one treatment.
While the technique may seem like something new, its philosophy has been used for thousands of years. Traditional Chinese Medicine uses techniques called guasha, spooning, cupping, and coining to promote the movement of qi and blood in the body.
Figure One Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization Original image credit from the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy, July 2009.
Research is now revealing just how amazing this seemingly simple technique may be. In 2009, the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy published research by M.Terry Loghmani, PT, MS and Stuart J Warden, PT, PhD2. In their research, the hind leg medial collateral ligaments were intentionally damaged bilaterally on 51 mice. Starting one week after injury, 31 mice received instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization 3 times per week for 10 weeks over the injury area (see figure 1). Each treatment lasted approximately 1 minute.
The results were incredible. Post injury, all mice were evaluated, including 7 control mice. At four weeks, the treated ligaments could resist 43.1% more pressure than the non-treated ligaments. The treated ligaments were also 39.7% stiffer (able to engage without failure) and were able to absorb 57.1% more energy than non-treated ligaments. Keep in mind that the total amount of treatment time it took for these results was 9 MINUTES (9 sessions at 1 minute/session) without the use of any medication.
Light microscopic morphology was also analyzed. The orientation of collagen fibrils and interspersed fibroblasts of the treated mice ligaments lined up along the longitudinal axis of the ligament whereas the non-treated mice ligaments cellular orientation was more disorganized (see figure 2).
Figure 2A. Non Injured Ligament
B. Non-Treated Ligament
C. Treated Ligament
Original image credit from the Journal of Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy July 2009
Overall, the study suggests that treatment through instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization accelerates early tissue-level healing following ligament injury. This is relevant because there are currently limited established treatment options for ligament healing of this nature.
Would you like stronger ligaments and connective tissue, heal faster, and have a better chance of avoiding re-injury? Contact us at Cannon Pointe Chiropractic. 507-645-8000
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