Manual Therapy: Involves the application of gentle pressure and stretching techniques applied in a variety of ways to muscles, tendons and ligaments to help relieve pain, promote healing, restore range of movement, improve circulation and drain excess fluid. Manual therapy techniques offered at the Centre include:
- Soft Tissue and Deep Tissue Therapy
- Myofascial Release Therapy
- Myotherapy
- Neuromuscular Therapy
- Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Spinal and Joint Manipulation: Involves the gentle repositioning or adjustment of joints to help restore and optimise movement and relieve pain and muscle spasm.
Medical Acupuncture: has become a common treatment technique used by Medical Professionals to bring about a number of health benefits. Treatment involves the insertion of very fine, single use, sterile needles through the skin at pre-determined points into either the muscles, tendons or ligaments. Dependent upon the method of application Medical Acupuncture can be used to provide pain relief, reduce tissue inflammation, alleviate muscle tension and improve circulation to expedite natural tissue healing.
The benefits of Acupuncture have been such that continued scientific research into this treatment technique has also found it to have a positive effect in affecting hormone output, anti-body production, respiratory, digestive, urinary and reproductive systems.
The Centre offers a variety of Medical Acupuncture techniques including:
- Traditional Chinese Medical Acupuncture
- Dry Needling
- Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy
- Electro-Acupuncture
- Intra Muscular Stimulation (a highly specialised form of Acupuncture which is extremely effective in the treatment of back and shoulder pain).
Electrotherapy – Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): a gentle electrical current is emitted from a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Unit through gel electro pads which are placed on the site of the muscle causing pain. The gentle electrical current brings about pain relief by interrupting the pain signals sent by the nerves of the muscle to the brain. It also helps to encourage the body to release its own natural painkillers called endorphins.
Electrotherapy – Interferential Therapy: involves the emission of high frequency electrical signals from an Interferential Unit which pass painlessly through the skin into deeper lying muscle tissue to treat muscle injuries. The high frequency signals cause heat to generate within the muscle tissue providing pain relief, reduction of swelling and help promote the healing of soft tissue.
Electrotherapy – Ultrasound Therapy: this is a further form of electrotherapy which uses high-frequency sound waves (vibrations) to treat injuries of the muscles, tendons and ligaments. It helps promote circulation to expedite the healing process and reduce scar tissue. It is particularly beneficial in the treatment of tendon and ligament injuries where blood circulation to these areas is naturally poor.
Paraffin Wax Thermotherapy: is used predominately in the treatment of injured hands, feet and joints where either fractures or sprains have been sustained. It is also beneficial to those suffering arthritic conditions of these areas. The warm paraffin wax is applied directly onto the injured area and helps promote healing by improving circulation and cell repair. It also helps to relieve joint stiffness, relax the surrounding muscles and connective tissues of the joints leading to increased range of movement and eases pain symptoms.
Biomechanical Gait-Analysis: is commonly used by athletes to help identify movement related problems causing injury to the back and legs. It is also of assistance to those who are of a non-sporting background who suffer such problems.
Whilst walking and or running on a treadmill an assessment of the bodies movement (biomechanics) will be carried out with particular focus on the pronation (turning inward or outward movement) of the feet. Our feet should strike the ground in a neutral manner. If they do not then over a prolonged period of time injury will occur to either the back or legs due to our body trying to compensate for this imbalance.
The alignment of your legs and the shape of your feet, which further contribute to our biomechanics and pronation, will also be analysed.
For those who do not pronate in an neutral manner and either under or over pronate, then orthotics can be prescribed by our one of our Medical Clinicians to help correct this.
Kinesiology Strapping and Taping: is used to help support superficially injured muscles, tendons or ligaments during the healing process, but without restricting range of movement. Kinesiology taping is particularly beneficial to the injured athlete who wishes to remain in light training whilst their injury heals or those suffering from repetitive strain injuries.
Postural Advice / Muscle Strength and Conditioning: a large contributing factor to the cause of musculoskeletal problems, particularly back pain, is due to poor posture. Where a Client is identified as having poor posture we will work with them as part of their treatment to help correct and improve this through the provision of various exercises to stabilise and strengthen the core muscle groups.
The Centre also runs a number of Medical Pilates Classes which further help to correct poor posture and prevent further reoccurrences of musculoskeletal problems.
Individually Tailored Exercise Programmes: various exercises and stretches will be prescribed to Clients to carry out at home in between treatment sessions in order to complement and further capitalise on the effects of the various hands-on treatment methods provided at the Centre.
Hire of Rehabilitation Equipment: the Centre has a number of items of rehabilitation equipment which it will, where appropriate, happily hire to Clients for them to use at home in between treatment sessions in order to further expedite recovery.
