This treatment, also known as myofascial decompression therapy, employs the use of suction to lift the tissue in order to decompress the fascia, improve mobility/ROM and increase circulation to the affected area to promote healing. We utilize both static and movement-based cupping based on your needs and preference. Cupping may be slightly uncomfortable, however, the degree of suction can be adjusted for each patient. It is complimentary to dry needling.
Dry needling involves the insertion of a thin filiform needle directly into a myofascial trigger point (taut band) or affected muscle tissue to elicit a twitch response, reduce tension, and improve blood flow to the area in order to alleviate pain and promote healing. Unlike acupuncture, which is intended to restore the body’s energy flowing through meridians, dry needling is a form of direct intramuscular therapy that specifically targets the muscles based on referred pain patterns, active trigger points, and direct muscle trauma.
We employ both static (needles left in the muscle) and trigger point (piston in and out of the muscle) techniques for our clients. Both techniques can be very effective. The selection process is usually based on the specific body part, inflammatory phase, injury pattern/history, and patient preference.
Common conditions that respond well to dry needling include:
Effective dry needling may be uncomfortable. Post-treatment soreness may last 24-72 hours in the affected area, however, there are no activity restrictions following treatment. Many patients experience symptom reduction and pain relief in 1-3 visits.
We utilize RockTape in our clinic as it is designed for active clientele. The application of kinesio tape may help improve soft tissue mobility, raise proprioceptive awareness of your body position, and increase circulation in the skin. Taping is a small adjunct to formal treatment and is not curative in nature, but may aid in pain reduction during activity or sport. The tape can be worn in the water or during workouts and used up to 3-5 days per application. Indications may include: muscle strains, tendinitis, poor posture, and shoulder, hip, knee, and ankle pain.
BFR training is a cutting edge technology that utilizes the application of a specialized tourniquet system to the proximal arm or leg, which is inflated to a personalized and specific pressure to reduce blood flow to an exercising extremity. For the lower extremity, the occlusion pressure is 80%, whereas the upper extremity pressure is set at 50% of the total limb occlusion pressure.
The application is brief and intermittent, usually lasting about 5 minutes per exercise. For most clients, a total of 2-4 exercises are used to aid in strengthening the affected area. Typically, to increase strength and hypertrophy a person would need to lift a significant amount of weight (greater than or equal to 60% of a 1 repetition maximum). With BFR, you can create significant strength and hypertrophy gains with loads as low as 20% 1RM to accelerate recovery.
We utilize an FDA approved personal tourniquet system from Smart Tools (SmartCuffs Pro) to ensure patient safety at all times. BFR can aid in the treatment of non-operative and post-operative conditions such as:
We utilize VALD ForceDecks to accurately assess and test our client’s balance, strength, power and limb symmetry. This information is valuable in detecting any weakness or asymmetry that may be present, both in the healthy athlete and patient recovering from an injury or surgery.
Testing is a routine part of our rehabilitation process, however, we also offer a la carte testing for clients who simply want to optimize their performance and train smarter to reduce injury risk. Force plate testing is a big part of our return to sport testing process as we look closely at each client to ensure their body is ready to perform.
Specifically, we assess jump height, reactive strength index, concentric strength/power, eccentric strength/power, ground reaction force, squat depth, and many other metrics to build a complete picture of a client’s performance capacity. All of this data is stored securely in an app that the client can access, allowing clear communication and the ability to re-test and track progress efficiently. Learn more about the force plates at https://valdperformance.com/
Preparing athletes to successfully return to sport includes facing unpredictable cues and changes in their environment. Using the reactive lighted pods, athletes respond to changing and unpredictable visual cues in various patterns over a specified time period.
The software tracks success and errors for immediate feedback. This sharpens cognitive awareness, reaction time and fitness, while also providing a fun and challenging training environment. Neurocognitive training is an important step to complete for athletes transitioning back to practice and play.
Using beveled edge stainless steel tools, direct pressure and soft tissue work is performed to reduce pain, increase blood flow and promote improved tissue mobility. Instead of trying to mechanically distort the tissue with heavy intense pressure, research has shown a lighter approach designed to stimulate mechanoreceptors and elicit a positive response in the nervous system is effective. The goal is to promote relaxation and alter the tone of the involved muscles. IASTM is useful for muscle strains, tendinopathy and scar remodeling following surgery.
This involves the use of a handheld device designed to target specific areas of the body with pulses of pressure at various speeds. The deep repetitive pulses of pressure decrease muscle tension and soft tissue restrictions, increase blood flow and circulation, and help to improve overall range of motion. Vibration is able to help inhibit tension regulated by the central nervous system. This is an excellent tool to prepare soft tissue for movement and can also be used in recovery after a rehab or training session.
The Normatec Recovery System provides dynamic compression using their patented pulse technology to help enhance blood flow and aid in recovery. This system uses compressed air to decrease muscle soreness, improve circulation and speed up the recovery process. Normatec is beneficial following a hard training session or between competitive events. It is a popular and effective recovery tool for runners, triathletes, pitchers and exercise enthusiasts. Our dream seat recovery chairs allow you to recline and fully relax.
The Runeasi assessment is designed for running – from explosive sprinting to long distance endurance. It incorporates a user-friendly attachment to the body.
The benefits include:
While 2D video analysis reveals how you move, Runeasi delves deeper to explain how those movements impact your body. It provides insights into how your movement patterns influence crucial biomechanical factors linked to injury risk and running efficiency.
The assessment details information about each step you take. Recognizing the uniqueness of every step contributes to a holistic understanding of your movement, and you can now accurately assess biomechanical fatigue.
TECAR therapy, short for Transfer of Energy Capacitive and Resistive, is an advanced form of electrotherapy that uses high-frequency radio waves to stimulate the body’s natural healing response.
TECAR is non-invasive and well-tolerated, it can be used for patients of nearly any age and can complement both manual therapy and exercise programs.
Ever wonder if you or your child is really ready to go back to sport? The word ‘cleared’ does not always mean you are physically or mentally ready. We use a scientific approach and objective testing algorithms to determine if there are any deficiencies present prior to giving you the green light.
Testing may include:
Do you play a sport that involves jumping and cutting? Has someone in your family suffered an ACL injury in the past? If you answered yes, you may be at risk for an injury. Research indicates that ACL prevention programs are effective in reducing injuries. Specifically, we see higher rates of injuries in female athletes participating in soccer, basketball, volleyball and lacrosse.
This program is designed to identify imbalances and asymmetries that may increase injury risk and educate you on a simple straightforward program to reduce injury risk in the off-season and in-season. Participants will be provided with a detailed training program that can be done at home.
This service is delivered over 3 sessions and includes:
Throwing is one of the most violent and harmful activities for the elbow and shoulder. Year-round throwing and travel baseball has only added to the amount of throwing athletes are doing. Pitchers and catchers are more at risk for overuse and throwing-related injuries. We specialize in treating this population and understand that many injuries can be avoided with education about training workloads and eliminating mobility and strength deficiencies that may exist.
We will build a personal profile for the athlete so he/she understands how the body works in conjunction with the arm, while detecting any physical imbalances that may increase injury risk.
The following options offer year-round athletes and competitive players a monthly membership geared toward reducing inflammation and muscle fatigue, while increasing blood flow and muscle activation to optimize tissue mobility and performance. All memberships include weekly sessions or four sessions per month to be used as desired.
The focus is on mobilization, movement and recovery. We offer the following levels that can be customized to meet the needs of each athlete.
Essential Arm Care
Premier Arm Care
Elite Arm Care
We are happy to offer a free 10-15 minute orthopedic screen to point you in the right direction. No cost and no obligation, just sound medical advice from our staff of sports physical therapy experts.