Settimi Chiropractic and Wellness Center
**Consult Dr. Settimi before the self-administration of any therapy**
CRYOTHERAPY
Q: What is CRYOTHERAPY?
A: CRYOTHERAPY is a term used to describe the application of ice, cold towels, ice massage and compresses to reduce the temperature of tissues directly below the surface of the skin.
Q: How does CRYOTHERAPY work?
A: Surface cooling constricts blood vessels, numbs painful areas and relaxes muscle spasms. Colder temperatures reduce nerve transmission and pain symptoms which provides temporary relief.
Q: Why is CRYOTHERAPY used?
A: Ice is most often used to manage acute injuries or recent eruptions of a chronic condition. Cooling affected tissue is effective in reducing and preventing posttraumatic swelling. Local cooling should be applied several times a day during the initial stages of an injury.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT ME?
1. Helps reduce swelling and inflammation
2. Reduces muscle spasm
3. Numbs affected area to reduce pain
4. Inexpensive and can be self-applied
INTERFERENTIAL ELECTRO-THERAPY
Q: What is INTERFERENTIAL ELECTRO-THERAPY?
A: It is a proven therapeutic treatment for the relief of pain and the promotion of soft tissue healing.
Q: How does INTERFERENTIAL ELECTRO-THERAPY work?
A: 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 the bodies other natural pain killers to help alleviate the pain.
Q: What does INTERFERENTIAL ELECTRO-THERAPY feel like?
A: Most patients find INTERFERENTIAL ELECTRO-THERAPY extremely beneficial and describe the treatment as a faint “pins and needles” sensation.
Q: Why is INTERFERENTIAL ELECTRO-THERAPY used?
A: INTERFERENTIAL ELECTRO-THERAPY is most often used for pain relief and to reduce the swelling of soft tissues. Ligament sprains, muscle strains and muscle spasms often respond to this treatment, helping to reduce the atrophy and increase blood circulation.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT ME?
1. Reduces painful symptoms
2. Decreases local swelling
3. Promoted muscle tone
4. Helps restore normal movement
5. Releases bodies natural pain killers
6. Accelerates the healing process
Simply relax as the soothing waves of relief diminish your discomfort
INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION
Q: What is INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION?
A: It is a way of inducing passive motion into the spine for the purpose of flexing spinal joints, increasing mobility and preventing disc degeneration.
Q: How does INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION work?
A: 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, flexing the spinal joints.
Q: What does INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION feel like?
A: Most patients find this form of therapy to be relaxing and very helpful. The gentle rolling action is restful, yet flexes and exercises the spine without effort.
Q: Why is INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION used?
A: Since discs have a poor blood supply, they get nutrients from the circulation of fluids surrounding the spinal joints. Fixations prevent this natural circulation and can cause disc thinning and degeneration. INTERSEGMENTAL TRACTION helps increase and restores necessary elasticity and motion of the spine.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT ME?
1. Comfortable and relaxing
2. Increased mobility
3. Improves circulation of spinal fluids
4. Helps prevent disc degeneration
1. Comfortable and relaxing
2. Increased mobility
3. Improves circulation of spinal fluids
4. Helps prevent disc degeneration
Most patients enjoy the relaxing motion and the increased mobility gained from Intersegmental Traction
SUPERFICIAL HEAT
Q: What is SUPERFICIAL HEAT?
A: Hot packs, hot baths, moist warm towels, heating pads, water bottles and infrared lamps are often used to help raise the temperature of soft tissues directly below the surface of the skin.
Q: How does SUPERFICIAL HEAT work?
A: Heat applied to the surface of the skin enlarges blood vessels below the surface, relaxing the tissues and temporarily relieving pain symptoms. Increasing circulation and relaxing muscles is helpful before and after chiropractic adjustments, exercises and other treatments.
Q: When should SUPERFICIAL HEAT be used?
A: Heat is usually recommended for the relaxation of tissues in spasm and temporary relief of symptoms associated with chronic pain and muscle spasms.
Q: Why is SUPERFICIAL HEAT used?
A: Using heat to calm tissues suffering from long term spasm or irritation is an easy way to increase flexibility, range of motion and promote increased circulation to speed the healing process.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT ME?
1. Helps increase circulation
2. Reduces joint stiffness
3. Relaxes muscle tension
4. Prepares tissue for rehabilitation
5. Widely available and inexpensive
TRIGGER POINT THERAPY
Q: What is TRIGGER POINT?
A: A TRIGGER POINT is an area of uncontrolled muscle tightness causing tenderness which interferes with normal muscle function. This restricts normal range of motion, weakens the muscle and may refer pain to other parts of the body.
Q: How does TRIGGER POINT THERAPY work?
A: Using the hands, the skin is gently pressed to locate underlying tight bands or nodules of muscle fibers. Then using the hand, fingers, elbow or small hand instrument, the muscle is compressed with sustained pressure to relax it.
Q: Why is TRIGGER POINT THERAPY feel like?
A: To prepare the site, a cooling spray may be used. As pressure is applied, some patients experience temporary discomfort until the muscle relaxes. Others may feel referred pain to other parts of their body.
Q: Why is TRIGGER POINT THERAPY used?
A: TRIGGER POINT THERAPY is a highly effective way to reduce muscle spasms and relax hyperactive muscles. This restores normal range of motion and promotes faster healing.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT ME?
1. Reduces chronic muscle spasms
2. Avoids scar tissue formation
3. Improves muscle tone
4. Promotes better circulation
5. Increases range of motion
Trigger Point Therapy reduces muscle spasms and relaxes muscles.
ULTRASOUND
Q: What is ULTRASOUND?
A: It is a therapeutic treatment using high-frequency sound waves administered in the Region of soft tissue injuries.
Q: How does ULTRASOUND work?
A: Sound vibrations as fast as a million times per second penetrate the tissues deep in the body to warm them.
Q: Why is ULTRASOUND feel like?
A: The lotion used to conduct the sound waves is warmed up for patient comfort. Most patients feel pleasant and relaxing warmth below the surface of the skin during actual treatment.
Q: Why is ULTRASOUND used?
A: Ultrasound treatment can be administered directly to the area of complaint, penetrating deeply into the body. This rise in temperature increases blood flow, relaxes muscle spasms, massages damaged tissues and speeds the healing process.
HOW DOES THIS BENEFIT ME?
1. Highly effective in reducing calcium deposition
2. Stimulates healing without irritation
3. Reduces nerve root irritation
4. Speeds metabolism and improves blood flow
5. Enhances the body’s natural healing ability
Ultrasound is especially effective in helping shoulders, elbows and sports-related injuries.