Patient Information
In addition to spinal manipulation, rehabilitation, and acupuncture, there are a wide variety of physiologic therapeutic modalities we use at Simone Physical Medicine. These therapies influence the body from the outside rather than trying to change the body chemistry from the inside as is seen with medication. Methods of physiologic therapeutics we use are heat, ice, ultrasound, electrical muscle stimulation, diathermy, and specific exercises and stretches tailored to your condition. Following is a brief explanation of these therapies:
- Electrical muscle stimulation is used to exercise those muscles that you are unable to exercise. It is used to strengthen muscles, pump fluids to areas that have been traumatized to help the healing process, and to relax contracted muscles.
- Ultrasound and diathermy increase circulation to the deeper tissues by providing deep heat. This will provide a more rapid relief and quicker recovery.
- Heat packs cause the blood vessels to dilate, thereby increasing circulation to the area being treated. This increase in circulation promotes the healing process by having a higher concentration of blood products in the damaged area.
- Cold packs cause the blood vessels to immediately constrict which will decrease swelling and damage in the area. The pain fibers in the area are also desensitized by the cold. When the area begins to warm up, the blood vessels will start to dilate, thereby increasing circulation and promoting the healing process with minimal or no pain.
- Specific spinal manipulations (adjustments) used in conjunction with physiologic therapeutics will help to remove structural fixations (joints not moving like they should) or nervous irritations.
- Exercise, a topic most people would like to ignore, is also very important to good health. A reasonable amount of exercise should be performed daily. Walking, many forms of work, and light household duties are some examples of exercise that could easily fit into any lifestyle. Exercise helps to keep the muscles reasonably trim and promotes better circulation. We may give you some exercises to do at home that are specifically designed to strengthen the muscles of the spine. As well as strengthening muscles, exercise is a great stress reducer. Our experience has shown that patients who do their exercises have less pain and recurrence of symptoms in the future. We will advise you concerning at home exercise and may prescribe exercises for you to perform in the office.
Treatment at the Simone Physical Medicine is a team effort. We will educate you about your problems, help relieve your symptoms, and help rehabilitate your injured areas, but we expect you to follow our advice. This is the only way we can get your health under control and keep it there.
Please feel free to call Jannine or Dr. Simone at the office or at home if you have any questions or problems. We are available 24 hours a day. Call the office at 833-2332. If we are not available, our home phone number will be on our answering machine.
Helpful Tips (Check with your physician before using these tips)
- Sleep on your side and hug a pillow, put another pillow between your knees and place one under your head.
- Try to minimize bending at the waist.
- When sitting, keep your knees elevated.
- When you are suffering muscle pain you may inflame the tissues with heat. It is doubtful you will cause damage with ice.
- Contact your doctor if you experience headaches different from what you have had in the past.
- Remember the five words that will often get you in trouble--"Maybe It Will Go Away".
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