Physical therapy is a health care service that is used to restore and maintain optimal health and quality of life. Whether addressing limitations caused by an injury, chronic condition, or lifestyle choices, the goal in physical therapy is to restore and improve function, activity, and movement. This is achieved by addressing the neuromuscular impairments that are identified during a comprehensive physical therapyevaluation and creating a plan to assist the patient in meeting the goals set by the therapist-patient team.

Doctors of physical therapy practice a drug-free, patient-centered approach that includes a patient evaluation, diagnosis, and hands-on treatment. A multitude of treatment techniques may be utilized including manual therapy to restore joint and tissue mobility, therapeutic exercises to improve strength and flexibility, and movement assessments for education and correction of suboptimal movement patterns.

Physical therapists work in conjunction with other members of the healthcare team to provide high level care in planning treatment programs for a wide variety of problems including cervical and low back pain, post-operative conditions, upper and lower extremity injuries, headaches, overuse syndromes, and musculoskeletal-related pregnancy and postpartum issues.

Most musculoskeletal conditions are appropriate for physical therapy treatment, but in cases where further investigation is required, patients will be assisted in connecting with appropriate health care providers to determine the best course of treatment for their condition.

A sports medicine specialist treats exercise and sports related injuries. The primary focus of a sports medicine specialist is the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of sport/exercise related injuries. The diagnostic tools used to identify each specific injury include clinical experience dealing with similar/common issues, orthopedic tests, and diagnostic imaging(MRI, X-ray etc.). Prevention of such injuries can be accomplished via stretching, strengthening, nutrition, and developing specific/custom workout routines to make sure a condition does not re-occur. Treatment for such issues can vary but may include soft tissue work (myofascial release, Active release therapy, deep tissue massage), spinal manipulation, stretching, and electrical stimulation. Ultimately the primary purpose of your sports injury specialist is to alleviate the pain you may be experiencing and get you back to the activities that you want to participate in with the same if not better functionality.

As part of your regular wellness routine, massage therapy can help you maintain physical, mental and emotional well-being. Massage therapy is used to:

• boost immunity
• enhance recovery from injury
• increase joint flexibility and muscle elasticity
• reduce levels of the stress hormone, cortisol
• release tension and lactic acid in muscles
• promote healthy sleep
• support a balanced lifestyle

Massage therapy techniques used by our massage therapists include:

• acupressure
• deep tissue
• reflexology
• shiatsu
• split-muscle sculpting
• Swedish

What is acupuncture?

Acupuncture is an ancient health science dating over 5,000 years old, and has been used to successfully treat both pain and dysfunction in the body.  History has shown that more people have benefited from acupuncture over the course of fifty centuries than the combined total of all other healing sciences, both ancient and modern.

Early physicians discovered an energy network traversing on and below the skin surface in the form of electro-magnetic meridians.  This energy network communicates from the exterior to the internal organs and structures at over 1,000 “acupoints” on the body.  This energy works in harmony with the body’s nervous, circulatory, muscular, digestive, genitourinary systems and all other systems of the body.

In normal health, vital energy (known as chi/qi) flows unimpeded in the meridian channels in a balanced state.  When qi becomes blocked or weakened, an effect in a body system or anatomic location becomes evident.  This disruption of energy flow can produce conditions affecting certain organs or in many cases the entire body.  Stimulation of key acupoints on the body can restore harmony to the affected area.

Is acupuncture painful?  How is it applied?

Acupuncture is a principle, not a technique.  Just as there are different styles of martial arts, there are many ways to stimulate an acupoint.  Besides the painless traditional insertion of a sterile needle, the diameter of which is no bigger than that of a single strand of hair, Dr. Alvarado also utilizes electric stimulation, Tei-Shin needle percussion, and state of the art laser technology to penetrate into the point of stimulation.

How many treatments are usual?

Internationally, the usual number of treatments is between 8 and 16 with 12 being the most common.  The usual frequency is 2-4 times per week.  Patients are urged not to enter an acupuncture or chiropractic treatment program with the thought of “trying a few” to see what will happen.  Even though the doctor may recommend 10 visits of initial trial therapy, the patient may be discharged should the patient respond completely within just a few treatments.  On the other hand, treatment could be continued to assist in stabilizing the condition.

Results are usually permanent where there has been little or no tissue or organ system damage.  Symptoms from chronic conditions may recur from time to time and may need booster treatments periodically.