Posts tagged pain management
A Glance At Some Of The Popular Form Of Massages
Sep 21st
There is just no way anyone could be averse to a nice massage. After all, a brilliant massage not just helps you feel completely relaxed but also helps alleviate even most severe of pain. Nevertheless, it's crucial to understand that every massage serves a different purpose and therefore cannot offer the desired result. Read on to understand more about some popular massages.
Amongst various other massage methods, it is Swedish massage that's the most favored. This massage method comprises of 5 fundamental steps particularly effleurage, petrissage, friction, tapotement and vibration. Swedish massage is considered to be one of the most successful massage techniques. It's also regarded to be appropriate for providing stress relief.
Another name that makes to the list of famous massages is deep tissue massage. This massage type renders the desired results by concentrating on particular areas of the body and is done using elbows and knuckles of the fingers. The swift and constant movements are applied along the muscle fibers, helping pump in a better blood supply to the muscles. This subsequently facilitates fresh oxygen supply to the muscles. And what's more? Deep tissue massage alleviates back pain as well
Another famous name in this category is sports massage. It involves varied tactics aimed to provide relief from muscle tension. It's basically a combination of trigger point massage, deep tissue massage and Swedish massage. The trigger point massage helps zero in on the hardness of the tissue by immediately working on the aching muscles with the help of fingers. It helps alleviate pain and offer relaxation, primarily in cases of tension and swelling in muscles.
Another massage type that is fast catching up is the aromatherapy massage. This massage method has more to do with the kind of oils rather than the technique. It makes use of essential oils which are known to have therapeutic effect. These essential oils are used for many purposes including acne treatment. However, if you are handling more severe forms of acne, then you can look at using Exposed Acne Treatment System.
Shiatsu massage is an eastern oriental massage that is often used along with regular yoga practice for pain relief. Also, commonly known as acupressure, this massage tactic involves applying pressure on the acupressure points of the body. The massage involves tapping, rubbing, probing and even squeezing of the pressure points. This technique makes use of finger tips and thumbs for applying pressure. If you are in pain, then this massage will prove to be of excellent help.
You could go in for one of these massages depending upon the purpose you want to realize.
Here are a few more ways to know about Deep Tissue Massage For Back Pain Relief and Yoga Practice For Pain Relief.
The Thoracic Outlet Syndrome – Part Two
Dec 25th
Physiotherapy examination starts with the therapist assessing the posture of the patient, often before they have taken any of their clothes off. A rounded or slumped shoulder posture and a poking forward neck and head stretch the neck and shoulder blade muscles and may make this syndrome more likely to occur. Active range of movements of the neck will be examined and any restrictions noted. The neck may be placed in combined positions involving two or more pure movements plus downward pressure in an attempt to bring on symptoms. Range of motion of the shoulders is also assessed.
The examination will include the ability of the nervous and vascular system to supply the requirements of the arm, with most of the deficiencies involving the lower nerves of the brachial plexus. Compression of the veins in the armpit area results in an arm which is bluish in colour and swollen, whilst if the part of the vascular system which is compressed is an artery this makes the arm cooler, lacking in a pulse and often having a lower blood pressure of 20 mmHg or more compared to the normal arm.
In the case of thoracic outlet syndrome due to neurological compression the finding are often of weakness and wasting of the small muscles of the hand. There may also be reduced sensation in the areas supplied by the ulnar nerve, which again reflects the fact that the lower nerves of the brachial plexus are most often involved. The last type of this syndrome, that of non-specific thoracic outlet syndrome, has widespread but less precisely located pain, with less precise and clear examination findings, making the diagnosis unreliable at best.
Thoracic outlet syndrome can be brought on by a large number of neck and shoulder anatomical structures and this is reflected in the numbers of diagnostic tests which have been developed to investigate this problem. A significant problem with these tests is the occurrence of false positive and false negative tests. False negatives mean that the test shows the problem not to be present when it really is and false positives mean the test indicates the tested problem to be present when in reality it is not.
A typical test is Roos stress test, where the patient keeps their arms up in a "hands up" position, opening and closing the fist. If the symptoms come on or the arms feel heavy or tired then the test may be taken to have a positive result. The reasons for thoracic outlet syndrome can either be due to bony structures or soft tissue structures. Bony structures which might cause compression or obstruction include cervical ribs and bony outgrowths on the ribs or collar bone. Soft tissue structures involved include abnormal fibrous bands or abnormally large muscles in weight training athletes.
Trauma to the neck and mechanical stressors may combine with any abnormalities in neck anatomy such as cervical ribs to increase the likelihood of developing thoracic outlet syndrome. Obstruction of the blood supply is an emergency and should be speedily assessed and surgically decompressed with repair to the arteries or veins. Most people with this syndrome are however treated conservatively with anti-inflammatory drugs, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and assessment and mobilisation or exercise prescription by a physiotherapist.
Many patients are helped by conservative management and those whose pain continues to be troublesome may eventually be considered for surgery. Physiotherapists look at the postural attitude taken by patients and muscle imbalances which may be present around the neck and shoulders. Patients who maintain static postures for long periods or continually return to one particular posture may develop dysfunctions.
Abnormalities of posture can elevate local tension or compressive forces and cause chronic compression of the nerves in the area. Maintenance of muscles in a shortened position can cause them to shorten permanently and then react with pain when they are put on a stretch. The idea of muscle imbalance implies that some muscles are stretched by the person's function and become weaker whilst others become shorter in consequence and so stronger, perpetuating abnormal function. Management of these conditions starts with patient education as understanding is vital if they are to make long term postural changes.
Jonathan Blood Smyth, editor of the Physiotherapy Site, writes articles about Physiotherapists, physiotherapy, Physiotherapists in Coventry, back pain, orthopaedic conditions, neck pain and injury management. Jonathan is a superintendant physiotherapist at an NHS hospital in the South-West of the UK.
How Is Lordosis Related To Lower Back Pain?
Aug 8th
What is Lordosis?
Lordosis is an abnormal excessive front-to-back curvature of the lower back Lumbar Spine. It is also known as Hyperlordosis or Swayback or Saddleback. Lower Back Pain is a common symptom of Lordosis, and is a correctable condition if addressed properly before any permanent damage is dome to the Lumbar Spine.
What is the cause of Lordosis?
If the pelvis rotates forward as a result of some kind of condition, the center of gravity of the body will move forward as well. The upper torso will then move backward to reposition the center of gravity so that it is vertically balanced. An excessive front-to-back lumbar curve is the end result given other names such as Hyperlordosis, Swayback, or Saddleback. This Postural Dysfunction of the lower back Lumbar Spine causes muscular imbalances as well as incorrect Lumbar Spine positioning. Hyperlordosis doesn't happen overnight, but develops over a period of time, and is fundamentally a postural and developmental problem.
How is Lordosis associated with Foot Positioning?
Lordosis is caused by anything that positions the heels of the feet higher than the balls of the feet. Wearing high heeled shoes results in postural dysfunction of the lower back, and that is a primary cause of Lordosis. Muscular imbalances are then caused by the postural dysfunction where there are corresponding anterior and posterior hypertonic muscle groups in opposition to weak and inhibited muscle groups in the pelvis and lower torso. Lower Crossed Syndrome is a condition that is commonly caused by the result of those imbalances.
What Muscle Groups corresponding with Lower Crossed Syndrome are Hypertonic (Excessively Tight)?
The anterior hypertonic muscle groups directly related to Hyperlordosis Lower Crossed Syndrome are the Hip Flexors (Psoas Muscles) and the upper anterior thigh muscles (Rectus Femoris and Sartorius). The posterior hypertonic muscle groups directly related to Hyperlordosis Lower Crossed Syndrome are the muscles of the Lumbar Spine (Erector Spinae, Multifidi, Quadratus Lumborum, Rotatores).
What are the Weak and Inhibited Muscle Groups that correspond with Lower Crossed Syndrome?
The anterior weak and inhibited muscle group directly related to Hyperlordosis is the abdominal Muscles (Rectus Abdominus). The posterior weak and inhibited muscle groups directly related to Lordosis is the buttocks muscles (Gluteus Maximus) and the posterior upper leg muscles (also known as the Hamstrings or Biceps Femoris).
How does Hyperlordosis cause Lower Back Pain?
With the spine positioned in an excessive lordotic curve, a primary dysfunctional source of pain and a secondary dysfunctional source of pain is created. The primary source of pain is the improperly positioned lumbar spine. The secondary source of pain is the abnormal tissue hypertonicity that is created.
How is Lower Back Pain caused by an improperly positioned Spine?
The improperly positioned lumbar spine due to Hyperlordosis results in unbalanced, uneven, and abnormal weight bearing loads upon the Lumbar Vertebrae and the Intervertebral Discs, which could result in nerve impingement and/or Sciatica. The excessive curve also results in incorrect Lumbar Facet Joint movement i.e. reduced Lumbar Facet Joint movement and /or Lumbar Facet Joint Compression which can turn into Lumbar Facet Syndrome. That Facet Syndrome could be a stuck open or closed Facet Joint or a Facet Joint that sticks or binds. This could also cause Facet Arthritis.
So what kind of Pain Symptoms are experienced directly as a result of the Improperly Positioned Spine?
Facet Syndrome Pain Symptoms due to the improperly Hyperextended Lumbar Spine are the result of Facet Joint Compression, decreased Facet Joint movement, and irritation caused within the limited Facet ROM-Range of Motion in a Hyperextended state. The development of Osteophytes (Bone Spurs) and degeneration of Intervertebral Discs would result in additional pain symptoms over time, and would have an effect upon nerve roots in the Lumbar area. Pain could be localized, radiating, or Radicular-nerve root pain in nature.
How does Tissue Hypertonicity cause Lower Back Pain?
Excessive soft tissue loading, compression and reduced circulation occur due to Lordosis. The tissues become hypertonic due to the compressive state. This in turn causes reduced circulation, resulting in the inability to move waste products out of the muscles, ligaments, tendons, and other soft tissue, as well as causing an impediment to the flow of nutrients into cell structures. This multiple cause and effect issue then results in significantly reduced circulation that causes lower back pain, and results in Ischemia (lack of Blood Flow), Myofascial Pain Syndrome or Trigger Points.
What can be done about Lordosis?
The first thing that should be done is to alleviate as much as possible any condition that positions the heels higher than the balls of the feet while standing. The best Hyperlordosis approach to treatment is a Diagnostic Pain Assessment conducted by a skilled Medical Massage Therapist or other Healthcare Professional prior to Hyperlordosis Treatment. Comprehensive compilation of information based upon Postural Analysis, Range of Motion Testing and other Special Tests will be used in the Assessment to formulate the most effective treatment plan for this condition.
