Injuries and Treatments
Dr. Joel effectively treats a wide variety of sports and spinal injuries. With his highly specialized evluations and treatments, he routinely sees cases from the acute to chronic issues that have never fully resolved. He enjoys diagnosing difficult cases that require specific functional analysis and not simply treating the site of pain or dysfunction. Some of his treatments are listed below.
Soft Tissue Mobilization
One primary focus of Dr. Joel is soft tissue component of injuries. Soft tissues are: muscles, tendons, ligaments, bursae, fascia, and nerves. The treatment of these structures is known as soft tissue mobilization. When trauma occurs, whether it is a single traumatic event or repeated microtrauma, inflammation follows. The inflammation leads to scar tissue formation within the muscle and between the muscles and the other layers of connective tissue. This scar tissue formation decreases the ability of the muscle to lengthen and contract normally, which leads to a decrease in range of motion. This effect can be very specific within a muscle or can affect the muscle groups very broadly leading to faulty biomechanics that are dysfunctional and inefficient. The scar tissue can also cause pain and can predispose you to re-injury. Additionally, pain can lead to muscle guarding in order to protect the injured area, if prolonged guarding occurs the muscle can loose it’s normal length. The purpose of soft tissue mobilization is to restore the normal texture, tightness, flexibility, and function to the affected tissue. It includes several techniques such as transverse friction massage, Active Release Technique® (ART), myofascial release and neurofascial release.
Transverse Friction Massage (TFM)
Scar tissue forms when inflammation is present after an injury. The presence of scar tissue often leads to a significant loss of function. Transverse friction massage (TFM) involves deep pressure with specifically directed movement in order to remodel scar tissue allowing the soft tissue to become more flexible, pliable, and more functional.
Myofascial / Neurofascial Release
Fascia is a tough connective tissue that surrounds most structures in the body. It functions to provide support, protection, and improves shock absorption. Myofascial release focuses on removing fascial adhesions acquired during injuries by using gentle sustained pressure applied in a specific direction. Myofascial release is beneficial for the treatment of chronic pain, peripheral nerve entrapments, and various other injuries.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) Muscle Stretching
PNF stretching is an advanced form of flexibility training and is considered to be the fastest and most effective way to increase static flexibility. Overall, PNF flexibility training reduces post workout soreness, decreases musculoskeletal injury, increases range of motion, and improves muscular strength and coordination.
Joint Manipulation
Joint manipulation is a passive musculoskeletal procedure to create a stretch and motion to the joint. The effects of joint manipulation include relief from musculoskeletal pain, a shorter recovery time from sprains, an increase in range of motion, and positive influences on the nervous system.
A Solution to your injury
Dr. Joel treats sports and spine injuries that run and gamut from the simple to the complex and chronic. He uses a variety of analyses and assessments that focus on function and force production, rather than simply treating symptoms. He has studied under the best minds in sports medicine and exercise science and has formulated his own unique treatment methodologies with impressive results. If you are not responding to to your treatments or would like a second opinion, contact Dr. Joel for a consultation.