Physiotherapy

To complement and enhance the healing effects of specific Chiropractic manipulative treatment, we at Advanced Healthcare also provide the following physiological therapeutic procedures:

  • Low-Level Laser Therapy
  • Ultrasound Therapy
  • Cervical Spinal Traction (Decompression)
  • Electric Muscle Stimulation (TENS, IFC and EMS)
  • Thermotherapy (dry/moist heat therapy)
  • Cryotherapy (ice therapy)
  • Acupuncture
  • Paraffin (wax) Bath
  • Rehabilitation, Stretching and Strengthening Exercise Programs
  • Patient Education

1. Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT): Also known as photo-biomodulation, 'cold' laser or soft laser, is a form of therapy utilizing the precise and accurate, safe and painless application of helium/neon, red and near-infrared concentrated beams of laser light energy. These beams are focused over acupuncture points, injuries or wounds to help enhance and accelerate the body's innate ability to heal itself by improving soft tissue healing, reducing swelling and inflammation, relieving both acute and chronic pain and ultimately improving one's health. LLLT uses 'cold' (sub-thermal) laser light to direct bio-stimulative photon energy to penetrate through the skin to be absorbed into the body's cells, without injuring or damaging them in any way. Laser therapy is highly effective, with a purported rate of approximately 95% improvement, is non-invasive and non-toxic, promotes the accelerated healing of damaged tissue of up to 40% quicker, and has no reported side effects. Click here for further information on low-level laser therapy.

2. Ultrasound: Ultrasound is a very effective therapy at penetrating and breaking up scar tissue. We utilize ultrasound on many different injuries from back pain to neck pain. It is also very effective in treating injuries such as tendonitis, sprains, and strains. The sound waves from the ultrasound machine penetrate your skin through an applied gel. The sound waves continue through muscles, tendons, and ligaments breaking up scar tissue along the way. This cellular massage helps break up the injured tissue and drawing blood flow deep into the muscle bone interface. This deep blood flow helps heal deep injuries and increases the rate of recovery for many injuries that are stubborn in nature.

3. Cervical Spinal Traction (Decompression): We utilize manual intersegmental traction on patients with certain neck/upper back spinal conditions. Usually sitting or with the patient lying on their back on the adjustment table. What this does is that it stretches vertebral discs, which are the pads in between each individual vertebra. We are able to flex, extend, rotate and bend side-to-side each individual disc, which eventually allows a proper restoration of normal motion. Stretching spinal discs helps to reduce pain and muscle spasm. These motions increase the rate of healing in the discs, which are notoriously slow to heal. This is an excellent tool that has provided a great degree of success when treating patients with mild to moderately severe cervical disc trauma and arm neuralgia.

4. Electrical Muscle Stimulation (TENS, IFC and EMS): At Advanced Healthcare, we utilize several different sources of Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS). First, Interferential Therapy (IFC) is a therapy applied to a patient that offers several benefits. Producing a faint "pins and needles" sensation, tiny amounts of electrical impulses are induced into the tissues in the vicinity of the injury. Where these waves intersect below the surface of the skin, a low-frequency stimulation is created. This prompts the body to secrete endorphins and other natural painkillers to help relieve pain, restores normal movements, increases blood flow that helps to decrease local swelling; promotes soft tissue healing, muscle tone, muscle relaxation and accelerates the healing process . Russian Stimulation is another type of muscle stimulation that we utilize. This variation of electrical muscle stimulation actually helps contract the muscle and helps the patient regain strength in the injured muscle area to offer greater support in rehabilitating the patient's injury. The third type of muscle stimulation that we utilize is Micro-Current. This is a therapy that we use in very acute situations with associated swelling, such as, an ankle sprain. This therapy is wonderful in simulating the body's normal healing energies, and it tends to speed the recovery of ankle sprains and other acute injuries when applied within the first 48 hours. Click here for further information on electrotherapy.

5. Thermotherapy (Hot Dry/Moist Compress): We may use hot moist packs prior to the manipulation. Hot moist packs are a terrific way of reducing muscle spasm and relaxing the patient so that the manipulation can be performed with greater ease. Heat is very useful not only at reducing the muscle spasms associated with many of the spinal ailments that we treat, but also helps draw blood flow which enhances the body's ability to heal.

6. Cryrotherapy (Ice Pack): Ice packs are used when there is acute swelling and spasm in an area. This is helpful with pain reduction and for reducing the inflammatory response, thus speeding the healing rate and recovery for the patient involved.

7. Acupuncture: The most common forms of laser acupuncture 'stimulation' in order of response are He/Ne (helium/neon) laser (light-emitting diode stimulation) also referred to as low-level laser therapy (LLLT), then red-light emitting super-luminous diode, infra-red diode, followed by electronic stimulation, and then teishein referred to as "pressure needles". Teishein, one of the nine ancient forms of acupuncture, is a device that is simply struck on the patient's skin with 20-25 light tapping strokes that produce a mild to moderate sensation. Compare it to tapping a spring-loaded ball point pen on the skin and is and is still employed with much enthusiasm in hospitals, clinics, and institutes around the world. Thumb pressure is equally impressive and not considered painful.

At Advanced Healthcare, Dr. Pisarek like many other health providers certified in Acupuncture and licensed Acupuncturists, are employing electronic and laser stimulation to the 'Acupoints' with equal effectiveness as the needle. Both of these procedures are painless and are quickly becoming standard worldwide. Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), or more recently red-light emitting diodes, have received considerable attention internationally and is being used in some of the most noticeable institutes in the People's Republic of China, as well as the majority of the Eastern Bloc nations, Europe, Soviet Union, and North America. Click here for further information.

8. Paraffin Hot Wax Bath: Paraffin wax is a mineral wax derived from petroleum. Unlike the wax used for depilatory procedures, which is viscous and sticky to bond to hair and skin, paraffin wax is a soft wax with a low melting point, which means that it melts at a temperature cool enough to safely immerse your skin, especially hands and feet. Paraffin wax is an emollient approved by the FDA as a treatment to soften and smooth skin.

Paraffin wax has a long history of treating a variety of physical conditions. In fact, it was used in massage therapy as far back as the Roman Empire, and, in more recent years, it's become a popular physical therapy treatment for people with sports-related injuries.

Paraffin wax treatments are NOT used if there are any open wounds, cuts, burns, significant edema (swelling), impaired circulation, impaired nerve system, haemophilia (ease of bleeding), malignancies or skin rashes. The temperature of the wax is in the range between 40° to 44°c. The time duration for the treatment is about 10-15 minutes.

The hand or foot must be dipped 4-6 times to build up a thick layer of wax around the immersed portion of the hand or foot. The hand/foot must then be wrapped with a plastic bag and placed in an oven mitt to sustain the heat. Treatment lasts about 10 min. Removal is easy as the wax will 'peel' off like taking off a glove.

The heat energy obtained from the hot paraffin wax is used to commonly relieve and reduce pain and stiffness of the joints and muscles, bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, osteoarthritis and other rheumatic diseases such as fibromyalgia by increasing blood flow. Paraffin wax can even soften hardened skin caused by scleroderma, a disease in which collagen accumulates on the body. Here, paraffin increases the skin's elasticity, allowing for increased movement and mobility, especially on the skin covering the hands. Finally, paraffin wax baths produce a relaxing and soothing effect on the body where the wax is applied.

9. Passive Stretching: Another soft tissue technique. Chiropractors and physiotherapists use various techniques of stretching so that we can lengthen tightened muscles within the skeletal structures. This will help allow the patient's healing by creating a better balance and symmetry throughout the body.

10. Soft Tissue Mobilization Therapy: We utilize several methods of soft tissue therapy... first being trigger point therapy. A trigger point is a local area of muscular spasm. Often when it is an active trigger point when you press it, you will have pain referring to other parts of your body. Trigger point therapy is performed by utilizing our hands to work on trigger points (knots) that cause many of the pain syndromes that affect our patients. By using our hands to work on these trigger points, the toxins that cause the pain in these muscles can release and be flushed out of the body. Massaging also attracts blood flow to the injured area to help increase the rate of healing within the body.

11. Range of Motion (ROM) Exercises: Range of motion exercises are often prescribed to increase or maintain flexibility of your joints and to reduce stiffness. There several types of range of motion exercises often prescribed including the following

  • Passive Range of Motion (PROM) Exercises
  • Active Assistive Range of Motion (AAROM) Exercises
  • Active Range of Motion (AROM) Exercises

12. Strengthening Exercises: Certain conditions can make your muscles to become weak. Strengthening exercises is an important part of physiotherapy rehabilitation to prepare you for your return to your original performance level or highest possible function.

13. Patient Education: Another important aspect of rehabilitation is patient / family education. You will learn what you can do at work and/or at home to manage your symptoms, precautions to observe in order that hopefully you don't re-injure yourself. Besides stretching and strengthening exercises, Dr. Pisarek will discuss to name a few: posture, sitting/standing and lifting strategies, stress management, ergonomics, diet and nutrition, sleep, mattresses and pillows, lifestyle modification and wellness strategies.

Click here for article: "Chiropractic Therapies'.

Location

HOURS OF OPERATION

Monday

8:00 am - Noon

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Tuesday

By Appointment

By Appointment

Wednesday

8:00 am - Noon

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Thursday

By Appointment

2:00 pm - 6:00 pm

Friday

8:00 am - Noon

By Appointment

Saturday

By Appointment

By Appointment

Sunday

By Appointment

By Appointment

Monday
8:00 am - Noon 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Tuesday
By Appointment By Appointment
Wednesday
8:00 am - Noon 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Thursday
By Appointment 2:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am - Noon By Appointment
Saturday
By Appointment By Appointment
Sunday
By Appointment By Appointment