Physical Therapy

Physical therapy is a type of treatment you may need when health problems make it hard to move around and do everyday tasks. It helps you move better and relieves pain. It also helps improve or restore your physical function and your fitness level. The goals are to help your joints move better and to restore or increase your flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination, and/or balance. Both Dr. DeCriscio and Dr. Feng are privileged to offer and design appropriate physical services based on patients’ needs. Our physical therapy includes manual therapy, rehabilitation exercise, spinal decompression and modalities such as heat, cold, ultrasound, and electrical stimulation. Our doctors and licensed Chiropractic assistants will offer one on one rehabilitation exercise. 

 

Multiple modalities of PT are available in office to help you to move better, relieve pain and improve your physical function and your fitness level.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Spinal decompression is generally considered as a special modality of PT. Spinal decompression has saved many people from spinal surgery. If you are suffering from a degenerated or herniated disc, don't risk surgery until you have explored safe and effective spinal decompression.

 

Spinal Decompression is a non-surgical, traction based treatment outcome for herniated or bulging discs in the neck and low back.

 

Some of the other more common conditions treated and helped with spinal decompression include: sciatica, facet syndrome, spinal stenosis, and failed back surgery.

 

The exact number of spinal decompression sessions needed and your specific treatment plan will be determined by the doctor after your examination. To assist the healing process, supporting structures may be treated with therapy, chiropractic adjustments and/or physical rehabilitation

 

Here are a few scientific studies that verify the beneficial results of spinal decompression:

 

"86% of ruptured intervertebral disc patients achieved "good" (50-89% improvement) to "excellent" (90-100% improvement) results with decompression. Sciatica and back pain were relieved." Norman MD; Borgmeyer, Vera RN, MA. Emerging Technologies: Preliminary Findings: Decompression, Reduction, and Stabilization of the Lumbar Spine: A cost-effective treatment for lumbosacral pain. American Journal of Pain Management 1997; 7 (2)

 

"Results showed that 86% of the 219 patients who completed the therapy reported immediate resolution of symptoms, while 84% remained pain-free 90 days post treatment. Physical examination findings showed improvement in 92% of the 219 patients, and remained intact in 89% of these patients 90 days after treatment." Thomas MD; Groteke, Eric DC. Surgical Alternatives: Spinal Decompression. Orthopedic Technology Review.

Therapeutic Taping

Have you noticed those colorful taping on professional athletes? Are you wondering what is it?

 

This is Therapeutic taping! Therapeutic taping is a definitive rehabilitative taping technique that is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while providing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion as well as providing extended soft tissue manipulation to prolong the benefits of manual therapy administered within the clinical setting. Latex-free and wearable for days at a time, Therapeutic Tape is generally safe for populations ranging from pediatric to geriatric, and successfully treats a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and other medical conditions. By targeting different receptors within the somatosensory system, Therapeutic taping alleviates pain and facilitates lymphatic drainage by microscopically lifting the skin. This lifting affect forms convolutions in the skin thus increasing interstitial space and allowing for a decrease in inflammation of the affected areas.

 

Our providers would love to help and teach you how to apply those taping on yourselves.

Muscle Stimulation

Muscle stimulation, or electrical muscle stimulation is a very common used modality in physical therapy. Some common functions of EMS include:

 

  • Relaxation of muscle spasms;
  • Prevention or retardation of disuse atrophy;
  • Increasing local blood circulation;
  • Muscle re-education;
  • Immediate post-surgical stimulation of calf muscles to prevent venous thrombosis;
  • Maintaining or increasing range of motion.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Ultrasound is a therapeutic modality that has been used by physical therapists since the 1940s. Ultrasound is applied using a round-headed wand or probe that is put in direct contact with the patient’s skin. Ultrasound gel is used on all surfaces of the head in order to reduce friction and assist in the transmission of the ultrasonic waves.

 

The waves are generated by a piezoelectric effect caused by the vibration of crystals within the head of the wand/probe. The sound waves that pass through the skin cause a vibration of the local tissues. This vibration or cavitation can cause a deep heating locally though usually no sensation of heat will be felt by the patient. In situations where a heating effect is not desirable, such as a fresh injury with acute inflammation, the ultrasound can be pulsed rather than continuously transmitted.

 

Ultrasound can produce many effects other than just the potential heating effect. It has been shown to cause increases in tissue relaxation, local blood flow, and scar tissue breakdown. The effect of the increase in local blood flow can be used to help reduce local swelling and chronic inflammation, and, according to some studies, promote bone fracture healing.

Rehabilitation Exercises

Rehabilitation is the process to regain full function following injury and involves restoring strength, flexibility, endurance and power.

 

It is achieved through various exercises and drills. Rehabilitation is as important as treatment following an injury but unfortunately is often overlooked.

 

The aim of a rehabilitation program is to regain pre-injury levels in all aspects of physical fitness. A full rehabilitation and strengthening program is essential to ensure full recovery and in order to prevent re-injuries.

 

Rehabilitation programs should aim to restore muscle strength, endurance and power, improve flexiblity, priorioception and balance as well as more sports specific or functional exercises.

Office Hours

Monday:         8:00 --- 5:30

Tuesday:        12:00 --- 5:30

Wednesday:  8:00 --- 5:30

Thursday:      8:00 --- 5:30

Friday:            8:00 --- 12:30

 

 

Contact Us

Allegany Chiropractic Center

376 Mill Street

Hagerstown, MD 21740

Phone: 301-739-0090

Fax: 301-739-0288

 

 

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Allegany Chiropractic Center, Hagerstown, MD