Treatment methods

MANUAL THERAPY – MAITLAND CONCEPT

Manual therapy can be defined as healing with hands that carried out by specialist. This treatment method often used to diagnose and treat patient problems such as:

  • Mobilization of stiff joints;
  • Stimulation of joint healing;
  • Neuromuscular re-education;
  • Prevention of immobilization complications (for example reduced joint motion).

Also it is effective in sports medicine, people withmaitland rheumatic diseases, solving orthopedics problems conservatively and to accelerate recovery after orthopedic surgery.

Emphasis is placed not on the technique of treatment but on a basic philosophy – a thought and decision making process, involving analytical patient examination, assessment and re-assessment on which treatment decisions are based. Concept emphasizes:

  • A specific way of thinking;
  • Patient subjective evaluation (it is important to know type of disorder, history, area of symptoms and behavior of patient’s symptoms. Listen to the patient’s complaints! This will determine the further action plan and the potential source of individual symptoms.)
  • The objective examination (supports/negates physiotherapist hypothesis from the subjective exam);
  • Patient reassessment after each manual therapy treating;
  • Patient subjective and objective exam after each treatment session;
  • The art of manual therapy (know when, how and which techniques to perform, and adapt these to the individual patient).

This manual therapy method can be carried out only by specially trained and highly qualified physiotherapists.

NEURAC TREATMENT METHOD

NEURAC (neuromuscular activation) is the treatment method that is meant to restore normal movement patterns through high level neuromuscular stimulation. This is an active treatment method, which includes sling therapy exercises with vibration using the medical equipment RedCord.

The objectives of NEURAC treatment are the following:

  • To optimize the neuromuscular control.
  • To restore the range of motion.
  • To reduce or remove pain.

We use NEURAC method to treat:

  • Backache.
  • Disc’s hernia.
  • Osteochondrosis.
  • Scoliosis.
  • Diseases of joints.
  • Faulty posture.

 

 

THE SPINAL TRACTION

The spinal traction is applied to treat the hernia of intervertebral disc, but before this the thorough diagnostics of internal spinal structures has to be done. The MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) has to be performed before this procedure is started. When the specialist assesses the type, size and direction of the disc’s hernia, he decides whether it is safe to perform the procedure. If the data about internal spinal structure correspond with the patient complaints and preclinical indications, then it is safe to perform the procedure. This procedure is applied to restore normal anatomic spinal correlations. The traction of cervical and lumbar spinal parts are used in physioclinic, and afterwards special movements are necessary.

 

 

PHYSIOTHERAPY WITH ELASTIC RESISTANCE BANDS

The elastic resistance bands are the “trainers” operating by the resistance principle, which have been successfully used in medicine and sport for many years. The therapy with bands uses the elastic component of strength building that increases not only the procedure’s effectiveness, but also protects joints and ligaments from unnecessary overloads. The special movements using the elastic resistance are applied in case of different muscular interactions.

This treatment method is used to heal:

  • Scoliosis.
  • Pain in neck.
  • Pain in lumbar region.Besides, the treatment strengthens muscles, improves their interaction and endurance. Different colors of elastic resistance bands denote different loads, thus the method may be applied for the patients with different physical preparation.

 

ELECTROTHERAPY

Electrotherapy is the use of electric current for joints, muscles and other soft tissues. The treatment using different electric currents is applied in Fizioklinika. The specialists combine this sort of treatment with other treatment methods (NEURAC, mobilization of joints, etc.). Only the most advanced and up-to-date equipment of electrotherapy is used in the clinic.

During the treatment of different electric current:

  • The muscular force is increased.
  • The microcirculation is improved (blood circulation and lymph circulation).
  • The faster metabolism is induced.
  • The inflammation is reduced (of joints, soft tissues).
  • The pain is suppressed.
  • The injured nervous tissue is stimulated and activated, etc.

 

ULTRASOUND

The term ultrasound is used to define the spread of sound wave, which frequency exceeds 20 kHz. Such frequencies are above the limit of human perception of sound. The usage of this method in medicine provides wide range of opportunities in diagnostics and treatment.
The ultrasound therapy has the following effect:

  • Thermal effect (locally caused thermal effect).
  • Mechanical effect (the recurrent compressions and expansions are caused in the tissues).
  • Physiochemical (positive chemical changes are caused in tissues).

This method is often used to treat following diagnoses:

  • Joint trauma.
  • Strain of ligament.
  • Strain of muscles.
  • Bursitis.
  • Tendonitis.
  • Epicondylitis.
  • Backaches.
  • “Frozen shoulder” (adhesive capsulitis).This treatment diminishes pain, inflammation or muscle spasm, enhances tissue healing speed and increases movement amplitudes.

 

TAPING METHOD

Previously only the sport elite could use the taping method, but now it is a common procedure for anyone. The purpose of taping is to activate the natural self-healing processes of organism and to strengthen injured places in body. This method is used when you suffer:

  • Muscular pains.
  • Pains of joints.
  • Pain after the ligament has been strained.
  • Inflammation of tendons (tendonitis).
  • Adhesive capsulitis (“frozen shoulder”).
  • Tightness of shoulder’s joint.
  • Joint’s bursitis.
  • Cervical and lumbar spondylitis.
  • Tennis elbow.
  • Golfer’s elbow, etc.

When different taping techniques are applied and combined, it is possible to make the blood circulation more active, to improve lymph circulation, and if correct methods are used, it is possible to expect better and most importantly faster recovery.

 

 

ULTRASONOGRAPHY

During last 15 years ultrasonography became a very popular diagnostic tool. Ultrasonograph is becoming one of main devices in tendon, joint and muscle functional diagnostics during physiotherapist‘s daily work. Often patients indicate their pain during specific movements. Ultrasonography may help to identify the exact source of pain. After that a specialist can use the most effective way of treatment.
We are using ultrasonography when:

  • There is a pain in joint
  • There is a pain during movements
  • Pain is felt during muscle contraction
  • Pain is felt in tendon region

Ultrasonography is mostly used to diagnose these joints: shoulder, ankle, knee and elbow. In Fizioklinika we also use ultrasonography to diagnose muscle or tendon ruptures.