Therapies We Provide

CERVICAL TRACTION

WHAT IS CERVICAL TRACTION?

Cervical traction is the process of using force to straighten the spine. More common devices are similar to neck braces and weights that lift the skull. Cervical traction is used to treat damages to the spine from misalignment or pressure.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Cervical traction uses upward force on the spinal column, usually applied to the skull, while the rest of the body stays in place. This pulling motion aligns the spine and minimizes adverse effects on the spinal column.

CRYOTHERAPY

WHAT IS CRYOTHERAPY?

Cryotherapy is the application of ice, cold towels, ice massage or compresses with the intent of reducing temperatures of the tissue directly on or below the skin’s surface.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Surface cooling constricts blood vessels, numbs painful areas, and helps relax muscle spasms. Cold temperatures help reduce some painful symptoms and help provide temporary relief.

HYDROTHERAPY

WHAT IS HYDROTHERAPY?

Hydrotherapy is used at DeCrescenzo Chiropractic to treat many painful conditions. Superficial Heat Therapy is used to relax the muscles, increase circulation, and can provide relief to patients with chronic pain.

In contrast to deep heating modalities, superficial heating modalities usually do not heat deep tissues, like muscles. This is because the layer of fat beneath the skin's surface acts as a thermal insulator and inhibits heat transfer. Additionally, increased blood flow from superficial heating causes a cooling reaction as it removes the heat that is applied externally.

WHEN MAY HEAT THERAPY BE USED?

Heat therapy is mostly used to treat problems that cause the patient pain. It is particularly useful in the treatment of back pain, period pain, neck pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and pain associated with damaged nerves.

HOW DOES HEAT THERAPY WORK?

The doctors at DeCrescenzo Chiropractic utilize hot packs, warm moist towels and healing pads to help raise the temperature of soft tissues directly below the surface of the skin. Heat therapy increases the temperature of the skin and underlying tissues. It can open up the capillaries and increase blood flow. When the blood flow is increased, more oxygen gets to the muscles and other organs. It may also loosen tissues which helps with problems related to stiffness. The heat also stimulates the body's temperature receptors (or thermoreceptors), which help it stop feeling pain.

Hydrotherapy is a good way to increase flexibility and range of motion and also promote increased circulation to speed the healing process.

COLD LASER THERAPY & PAIN RELIEF

ERCHONIA THERAPEUTIC LASER

Think of it as a calculator that subtracts pain

LASER FOCUS

When learning about laser, there are some basic concepts that should be understood. A laser is basically a focused beam of light that emits photon energy. When the light is focused properly, all the photons are travelling in the same wavelength; this is also known as coherent light. When light is not focused, it scatters in all directions and becomes diffused, this is called non-coherent light.

BEAMS OF LIGHT

We use lasers to listen to our favorite music CDs, to measure distances, temperature, and speed. Even though Einstein was the first to talk about the idea of beams of light, our bodies have been using that same kind of energy to communicate since man was created; as documented in James L. Oschman’s book Energy Medicine: The Scientific Basis, cells communicate with one another through coherent light.

LOW-LEVEL LASERS

Low-level lasers are different than the publicized heat lasers that are used in many surgical procedures to cut, and cauterize tissue. Low-level lasers do not have a thermal effect and are used to stimulate, rather than destroy tissue. These types of lasers have been in use for over 25 years and there has yet to be one recorded side-effect. Low-level laser studies have been proven to be effective in many cases, but it was the Erchonia laser that made history by becoming the first low-level laser in the world to gain FDA market clearance for the treatment of chronic neck and shoulder pain. This was proven through two double-blind studies to prove the efficacy of the Erchonia laser on chronic pain.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Erchonia lasers emit visible coherent light that is applied to the affected area. Bundles of light energy pass through the dermal layers and are received within the cell membrane by specific energy photo acceptors. The increase in intra-cellular energy results in altered cell membrane permeability and physiological changes occur through an enzyme cascade to affect several biological processes. Within the injured musculoskeletal tissue, low-level laser light initiates increased microcirculation and enhanced tissue regeneration. The overall effects are decreased pain and inflammation while increasing range of motion.

MYOFASCIAL RELEASE

WHAT IS MYOFASCIAL RELEASE?

Myofascial Release is a safe and effective hands-on technique that involves applying gentle sustained pressure into the Myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion. This essential “time element” has to do with the viscous flow and the piezoelectric phenomenon: a low load (gentle pressure) applied slowly will allow a viscoelastic medium (fascia) to elongate.

Trauma, inflammatory responses, and/or surgical procedures create Myofascial restrictions that can produce tensile pressures of approximately 2,000 pounds per square inch on pain sensitive structures that do not show up in many of the standard tests (x-rays, myelograms, CAT scans, electromyography, etc.)

Myofascial release is a type of soft tissue massage which incorporates stretching and massage of the connective tissues, or fascia. Myofascial release began to be a popular form of massage therapy in the late 1990s, when patients realized the potential for pain management and increased flexibility that myofascial release offered. Like other forms of massage therapy, there are a number of schools which offer certification in myofascial release. Massage students are expected to log a set number of classroom, textbook, and practice hours before they are certified.

Myofascial release usually begins with a gentle massage which is designed to warm and loosen muscles. As the therapist works, he or she identifies areas of tension which require further attention and will return to those areas to stretch and work the fascia. Sometimes myofascial release can be quite intense, especially in the case of muscles which are holding a great deal of tension and stress. After the session, some clients experience slight stiffness and soreness, which will usually vanish over the next few days, leaving behind a sense of well-being.

Myofascial release operates on the principle that many people hold stress in their muscles, which causes the muscles to seize or lock. This is exacerbated by muscle injury and scarring. Myofascial release aims to access these areas of blockage and tension to release them, thereby freeing up the muscle and allowing it to move more easily and effectively.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

• Relaxation and pain relief
• Reduces muscle spasms
• Avoid scar tissue formation
• Improve muscle tone
• Promote circulation
• Increase range of motion

INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION

WHAT IS INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION?
It is a way of inducing passive motion into the spine for the purpose of stretching spinal joints and increasing mobility.

HOW DOES INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION WORK?

The patient lies face up on a bench table which has roller-type cams beneath its surface. These rollers can slowly travel the length of the spine, stretching spinal joints. Most patients find this form of treatments to be relaxing and very helpful. The gentle rolling action is restful and exercises the spine without effort.

WHY IS INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION USED?

Since discs have a poor blood supply, they get nutrients from the circulation of fluids surrounding spinal joints. Fixations prevent this natural circulation and can cause disc thinning and degeneration. Intersegmental traction helps increase and restores necessary elasticity and motion to the spine.

When Intersegmental traction is used in conjunction with the chiropractic adjustment, it loosens locked-up joints and gives passive motion exercise and therapy to the disc between the vertebrae. This helps to return flexibility, elasticity, and preserves that all-important disc space which protects the opening for the spinal nerve.

PATIENT BENEFITS

• Comfortable and relaxing
• Increased mobility
• Improves circulation of spinal fluids
• Most patients enjoy the relaxing motion and the increased mobility gained from Intersegmental Traction.

MUSCLE TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

WHAT IS TRIGGER POINT THERAPY?
Trigger Point Therapy is one of the many techniques used by the chiropractors at DeCrescenzo Chiropractic to deal with muscle pain of myofascial pain.

A trigger point is not an area of scar tissue from an injury. It is an area of increased sensitivity in the muscle. A trigger point is a hyperirritable spot that is painful; it is called a trigger point because it "triggers" a painful response.

But a trigger point is more than a tender nodule. It affects not only the muscle where the trigger point is located, but also causes "referred pain" in tissues supplied by nerves.

Trigger points are located in a taut band of muscles fibers. The trigger point is the most tender point in the band. The therapist at DeCrescenzo Chiropractic will locate and deactivate them using finger pressure. One technique is to pick up the muscle fibers in a pincer grip.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT TRIGGER POINT THERAPY

• It is used to treat painful trigger points that cause referred pain.
• It took a while to get the muscle in that condition, and it will likely take more than one massage to get rid of it.
• These points are often areas of chronic "holding" and you need to learn how to move in different ways to keep them from recurring.

ULTRASOUND

WHAT IS ULTRASOUND?

Ultrasound is a therapeutic treatment using high-frequency sound waves administered in the region of soft tissue injuries.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Sound vibrations, as fast as a million times per seconds, penetrate tissues deep in the body, creating a heat response. These vibrations and heat help break down and disperse unhealthy calcium and other hard tissue accumulations.

WHAT DOES ULTRASOUND FEEL LIKE?

The gel used to conduct the sound waves is at room temperature and may momentarily feel cool to the skin when it is initially applied. Most patients feel nothing, or a pleasant and relaxing sensation below the surface of the skin.

WHY IS ULTRASOUND USED?

Ultrasound treatment can usually be administered directly to the area of complaint, penetrating deep into the body. The rise in temperature increases blood flow, relaxes muscle spasms, massages damaged tissues and speeds the healing process.

PATIENTS BENEFITS

• Highly effective in treating calcium deposition
• Stimulates healing without irritation
• Speeds metabolism and improves blood flow
• Reduces nerve root irritation
• Enhances the body’s natural healing

DECOMPRESSION THERAPY

Decompression Therapy is a Non-Surgical Procedure to help reduce or eliminate neck and arm pain, low back and leg pain, and extremity numbness and tingling.

Spinal Decompression is an FDA approved alternative to surgery for many spinal conditions, including; herniated and extruded discs, bulged discs, spinal degeneration, spinal arthritis, nerve root compression syndromes (including sciatica) resulting in various forms of back, leg, neck, and arm pain, numbness, tingling and dysfunction. (Ref: “Treatment of L5/S1 Extruded Disc Herniation>>>” by Terry Yochum, DC, DACBR; Chiropractic Economics; Vol. 53: Issue 2)

Decompression therapy is designed to provide static, intermittent, and cycling distraction forces to relieve pressures on structures that may cause pain. It relieves pain associated with herniated discs, protruding discs, degenerative disc disease, posterior facet syndrome, and sciatica. It achieves these effects through decompression of intervertebral discs, unloading due to distraction, and positioning.

If you are suffering from low back or neck pain and want to AVOID SPINAL SURGERY; please call our office and make an appointment to see if you are a candidate for Spinal Decompression therapy.

Decompression Therapy is a non-surgical procedure that effectively treats disabling low back, neck, radiating leg & arm pain, and headaches.

Decompression Therapy effectively relieves the pain associated with disc herniation, degenerative discs, posterior facet, and other spinal-related syndromes, by reducing the pressure on spinal discs and facet joints through unloading created by distraction and positioning.
Decompression Therapy effectively enhances the healing process and often renders quick, effective, and amazing pain relief that enables most patients to return to a more active lifestyle.
Research to develop this procedure was conducted by prominent physicians, engineers, and technicians at major teaching hospitals.

Decompression Therapy is a highly successful treatment for patients suffering from bulging, herniated, degenerative, or ruptured discs as well as sciatica, carpal tunnel syndrome, and many failed back surgery cases.

This treatment helps patients avoid the risk of anesthesia, surgical complications, and the potential of failed back surgery.

Decompression Therapy begins with a series of sessions typically 3-4 times per week. Each session is approximately 8-12 minutes. During each session, electrical muscle stimulation, ultrasound, or therapeutic laser may be applied to help relax muscles and promote further healing of injured tissues.

After treatment, your doctor may prescribe specific exercises designed to help you regain proper control and strength of the stabilization muscles which can help create long-term benefits.

Decompression Therapy is administered to patients fully clothed either face down or face-up on the table.

Clinical studies suggest Decompression Therapy provides a majority of qualified candidates with initial relief within just a few sessions.

This proven, non-surgical approach could help you find the pain relief you need.

For more information on how you can benefit from Decompression Therapy contact our office today!

ADVANCED SPINAL DECOMPRESSION TREATS:

Spinal Decompression Therapy may be used to relieve peripheral radiation/sciatica and pain associated with:

• Protruding discs
• Bulging discs
• Herniated discs
• Degenerative disc disease
• Posterior facet syndrome
• Acute facet problems
• Radicular pain
• Prolapsed disc
• Spinal root impingement
• Hypomobility
• Degenerative joint disease
• Facet syndrome
• Compressions fractures
• Joint pain
• Discogenic pain