Physiotherapy and Rehab in Erie PA

Lake Erie Spine & Injury Center offers a full spectrum of physio-therapeutic modalities geared towards facilitating and expediting your recovery time. Physiotherapy in Erie PA is defined as the use of physical methods to assist recovery of damaged tissue, especially in muscles and joints.

Types Physiotherapy & Rehab We Offer in Erie PA

Their role in a treatment plan is to aid in returning a patient to full fitness using the safest and quickest methods. Physiotherapy modalities used at Lake Erie Spine & Injury Center include:

Ultrasound
High-frequency sound waves can treat deep tissue injuries by stimulating blood circulation and cell activity, helping to reduce pain and muscle spasm and speed up healing.

Electric Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
Electric muscle stimulation, known as Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), is the process in which muscle tone and strength is restored to those going through physical therapy. NMES allows those in physical therapy, who otherwise would not be able to exercise in the usual manner, still develop muscle tone by using electrical muscle contraction.

Decompression Therapy
Decompression therapy is a nonsurgical program designed to relieve pain in the lower back and neck. The therapy uses a machine to slowly and gently stretch the spine. The theory is that stretching the spine will assist in taking pressure off of a compressed nerve root, therefore help to relieve pain. Decompression therapy sessions are usually spaced out over a period of several weeks and it is not a one-time treatment.

The purpose of each treatment is to alleviate pain by relieving pressure and improve mobility of either nerve structures, joints of the spine and/or muscle. Each method utilizes a sophisticated table and mechanical device to apply a traction or decompressive force which is sometimes augmented by the patient performing activities while on the table.

Infrared Heat
Infrared heat is the use of infrared radiation (as by infrared lamps or heating pads or hot water bottles) to relieve pain and increase circulation to a particular area of the body.

Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy assisting in the removal of heat from a body part due to inflammation. It involves the application of ice, cold towels, compresses, and ice massage to reduce the temperature of the tissues on or below the surface of the skin.

Mechanical Inter-segmental traction (IST)
Intersegmental traction (IST): a medical device that induces passive motion into the spine for the purpose of stretching spinal joint, increases mobility. Since discs have a poor blood supply, they get nutrients from the circulation of fluids surrounding spinal joints. Spinal joint fixations prevent this natural circulation and can cause disc thinning and degeneration. Inter-segmental traction helps increase and restore necessary elasticity and motion to the spine.

Massage Therapy
Massage therapy: the scientific manipulation of superficial and deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue using various techniques, to enhance function, aid in the healing process, and promote relaxation and well-being. Target tissues may include muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, skin, joints, or other connective tissue, as well as lymphatic vessels, or organs of the gastrointestinal system. Massage can be applied with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, and feet.

Massage therapy affects the circulation of blood and the flow of blood and lymph, reduce muscular tension or flaccidity, affect the nervous system through stimulation or sedation, and enhance tissue healing. These effects provide a number of benefits:

• reduction of muscle tension and stiffness
• relief of muscle spasms
• greater flexibility and range of motion
• increase of the ease and efficiency of movement
• relief of stress and aide of relaxation
• promotion of deeper and easier breathing
• improvement of the circulation of blood and movement of lymph
• relief of tension-related conditions, such as headaches and eyestrain
• promotion of faster healing of soft tissue injuries, such as
• pulled muscles and sprained ligaments, and reduction in pain and swelling related to such injuries
• reduction in the formation of excessive scar tissue following soft tissue injuries
• enhancement in the health and nourishment of skin
• improvement in posture through changing tension patterns that affect posture
• reduction in stress and an excellent stress management tool
• creation of a feeling of well-being
• reduction in levels of anxiety
• increase in awareness of the mind-body connection
• promotion of a relaxed state of mental awareness

Joint Manipulation
Lake Erie Spine & Injury Center uses a variety of gentle and effective spinal and extremity joint manipulative techniques to correct aberrant joint biomechanics, influence proper movement of joints and improve neurological function. Manipulative techniques are chosen based on each individual patient’s assessment.

Rehabilitative Exercise
The reinforcement of proper movement patterns is essential to the recovery process. We incorporate the latest proven and most effective types of rehabilitative exercises appropriate to an individual’s needs. The proper type of exercise implemented at the right time will help to maximize function and prevent the return of symptoms. We will implement the use of resistance bands, physioball and balance balls, free weights, ankle and wrist weight cuffs, wobble boards, etc as deemed medically necessary and/or appropriate depending on the type of condition being treated and the goals of care to be achieved.

Kinesio Taping
Kinesio-Tex Tape® is a NON-latex tape used in the treatment of muscular conditions. Kinesio Taping lifts the skin slightly and alleviates pain. The taped portion forms folds in the skin, which slightly increases the space between tissues, resulting in the decrease of pressure and irritation of the neural and sensory receptor.