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Massage is a hands on technique to increase blood flow, relaxation, decrease muscle spasms and decrease pain. Massage provides only a temporary effect. Soft tissue mobilization incorporates many techniques performed by the physical therapist to help relax muscles, restore mobility, increase circulation, increase extensibility of individual structures. Such techniques include deep friction massage, myofascial release, scar tissue mobilization, trigger point relief, and so forth. Therapeutic massage and soft tissue mobilization can be and are both widely used techniques that assist in decreasing muscular tightness, decreasing pain and promote muscular relaxation. The ‘soft tissues’ are defined as muscles, ligaments and even tendons.

Mobilization refers to the passive (someone is moving your joint for you) movement of a joint. Here, the joint surfaces are glided across each other in an attempt to increase pain free movement of that joint. This is a hands on technique performed by the physical therapist to restore motion in any joint. Limitations in accessory mobility are treated with joint gliding which restores normal joint mechanics, and with traction which provides a gentle stretch of the joint capsule.  There are various grades and types of mobilization that the physical therapist may use to help improve range of motion of the joint. Joint mobilization is used to treat joint restrictions in the hand, wrist, elbow, shoulder, spine, ankle and knee. The physical therapist applies force and controls the desired direction, speed, intensity and duration of a stretch to soft tissues or muscles that have caused a shortening or restriction of motion joints such as the neck, low back, hip, shoulder, ankle, or knee. The muscles are lengthened beyond where they are normally resting. Put simply, this is a technique in which various methods of massage and soft tissue mobilization are used. This involves working with the soft tissues (skin and its various layers as well as muscles) and increasing their mobility, decreasing areas of muscular spasm and mysofascial restrictions. Using these techniques effectively, a physical therapist can decrease pain, increase pain free movement and promote general healing.

Strain/Counter-strain is a technique in which the muscle affected is put at its shortest length and held for a certain period of time. This ‘shortening’ of the muscle aides in the muscles’ total relaxation and usually decreases in pain. Muscle Energy involves contracting a certain muscle at a very low level and then gently stretching it as it moves across a joint.The Kinesio Taping Method is designed to facilitate the body’s natural healing process while allowing support and stability to muscles and joints without restricting the body’s range of motion. It is used to successfully treat a variety of orthopedic, neuromuscular, neurological and medical conditions. Both Kinesio® Tex Tape and the training protocol have shown results that would have been unheard of using older methods and materials.

Lumbar stabilization is an active form of exercise used in physical therapy. It is designed to strengthen muscles to support the spine and help prevent lower back pain. Through a regimen of exercises, and with the initial help of an experienced physical therapist, the patient is trained to find and maintain her/his “neutral spine” position. The back muscles are then exercised to teach the spine how to stay in this position during functional movements.

The canalith repositioning procedure can help relieve benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a condition in which you have brief, but intense, episodes of dizziness that occur when you move your head. Vertigo usually comes from a problem with the part of the inner ear responsible for balance (vestibular labyrinth). BPPV occurs when tiny particles called otoconia in one part of your inner ear break loose and fall into the canals of your inner ear. The canalith repositioning procedure can move the otoconia to a part of your ear where they won’t cause dizziness. Performed in your physical therapist’s office and at home, the canalith repositioning procedure consists of several simple head maneuvers. The procedure is quite effective, relieving vertigo in 80 percent or more of individuals after one or two treatments. However, the problem may recur.