Thursday, May 1, 2014

Soft Tissue Injuries, Performance and Treatment


 
What is Soft Tissue?

The soft tissues of the body are made up of skin, fat, muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nervous tissue.  These structures are used to connect, support and protect other structures and organs of the body.  Just like other living tissues in the body, soft tissue can become injured. 

 Soft Tissue Injuries

There are two type of soft tissue injuries that can occur. 

1.       Acute injury – An injury caused by trauma that results in soft tissue tearing which causes immediate inflammation.  If not treated properly, the cumulative injury cycle may set in.

2.       Cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) – occurs with repetitive motion injuries and poor posture.

·         CTD is the major injury problem in the workforce and the general population in this country.

Whether you suffer from an acute injury or cumulative, the soft tissue goes through the same injury cycle.  At first there is swelling and inflammation, which causes pain.  Next the body begins to deposit connective tissue on the injured site.  This inhibits the movement of the tissues causing friction which leads to more inflammation and pain. 
 

 Soft Tissue Injuries and Performance

If left untreated, soft tissue injuries can have an effect on an athlete’s performance or an individual’s daily activities.   The body will produce tough, dense scar tissue in the affected area.  This scar tissue binds up and ties down tissues that need to move freely.  As scar tissue builds up, muscles become shorter and weaker, tension on tendons causes’ tendonitis, and nerves become trapped.  This can cause reduced range of motion, loss of strength, and pain.  If you are an athlete, these side-effects can greatly hinder your performance.

Soft Tissue Therapy

If you are suffering from a soft tissue injury there are many therapies available to you.  Here are some of the treatments that I offer at my clinic.

Active Release Technique, (ART)





ART is a patented, state of the art soft tissue system/movement based massage technique that treats problems with muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.  Headaches, back pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, shin splints, shoulder pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, knee problems, and tennis elbow are just a few of the many conditions that can be resolved quickly and permanently with ART. 

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Graston Technique

Graston Technique is an innovative, patented form of instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization that enables clinicians to effectively break down scar tissue and fascial restrictions.  The technique utilizes specially designed stainless steel instruments to specifically detect and effectively treat areas exhibting soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7FsSTTVY3OE&list=UU964FfAJyjb_-pTnjlL4Amg&feature=share&index=11


Functional Tapping
 
 

Functional tapping is a specialized type of athletic tape that has many applications.  There are several different brands out there, but I prefer Rock Tape.  Here are some of the benefits of using Rock Tape.

§  Lifts the Skin- The elastic nature of the tape slightly lifts the skin from the underlying soft tissue. This allows increase lymphatic flow which reduces swelling, helps eliminate bruising, and decreases pain. The increase blood flow also allows fresh blood to reach the injured tissue which accelerates the healing process.

§   Increase Mechanoreceptor Stimulation- Mechanoreceptors are sensory receptors stimulated by Rock Tape. This helps with proper muscle firing, improving proprioception, and blocking pain receptors from reaching the brain.

§  Stabilizes Joints- Rock Tape offers mild to moderate support for joints, while allowing 100% range of motion in the joint.

What Conditions is Rock Tape Used For?

- Low Back and Neck Pain
- Shoulder, Knee, and Ankle Pain
- Postural Syndromes
- Muscle Strains such as Hamstring Pulls
- Tendinitis
- Shin Splits
- Plantar Fasciitis



http://youtu.be/Y8TFgC7oi_k





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Thanks for reading.  If you would like to learn more about other services that I offer, please contact the office.


In Health,

Brian C.Burnett, D.C., M.S.
Chiropractic Physician
Brian Burnett Chiropractic, PL
1108 Hays St. Tallahassee, FL
O: 850-222-5362

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