Glossary

Acupuncture is a method used to help improve body functioning and promote the body's natural healing ability. It involves inserting needles in the body and applying heat or electrical stimulation at specific points. Acupuncture treatment can help with the body’s internal organs, to assist in correcting imbalances in digestion, absorption and energy production activities.

Treatment will depend on each individual as every individual’s conditions differ from person to person. If the problems are acute, the treatment will be for a shorter period than if they are compounded and long-standing. Acupuncture's main aim is to stimulate the movement of the flow of Chi, which is the Chinese belief that when pain and poor function occur, Chi is blocked.

Cryotherapy is a technique that uses intense cold to remedy a range of conditions. It can have a powerful effect on reducing pain and inflammation, improving circulation and facilitating the rehabilitation and healing processes. As such, cryotherapy is often used in sports medicine in the treatment of acute and chronic injuries.

Cryotherapy has been used in the management of different conditions for decades. It is a highly beneficial adjuvant therapy, with studies showing multiple benefits, not least of which is an improved ability to do physiotherapy, significantly improving the outcome of a course of treatment.

Local Cryotherapy (LCT): Local Cryotherapy (LCT) has proven to be highly effective in the treatment of numerous conditions, including plantar fasciitis and joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

The main reason for the success of cryotherapy is its ability to increase circulation to the affected area by up to four times. This allows for four times the amount of oxygen, nutrients and repair cells to access the affected tissue, which helps to fast-track healing. Studies show that cryotherapy can reduce recovery time by up to 50%.

The most popular applications of cryotherapy include:

• Frozen shoulder and other shoulder dysfunction
• Gout
• Hip pain
• Knee pain and post knee surgery
• Neck and mid-back pain and spasm
• Sport injuries
• Sprains and strains
• Tendonitis (Achilles, plantar fasciitis)
• Tennis elbow and Golfers elbow

Cryotherapy process can be broken down into the following 10 steps:

1. Cryotherapy commences: Liquid nitrogen vapour ranging between -120°C to -160°C, which envelopes the patient's body for 0.5 to 3 minutes.


2. Thermoregulation is activated: The process is completely tolerable, yet the body interprets the extreme cold as a threat to its wellbeing. The temperature receptors in the skin send this information to the brain, which responds with an attempt to restore balance.


3. Vasoconstriction occurs: The first step the body takes to protect its core temperature is to redirect blood from superficial vessels and capillaries in the skin towards deeper structures. This causes blood to flow from the periphery towards the central core.


4. Vasodilation rebound occurs: After completion of the treatment, the body reheats itself through vasodilation. The vessels and capillaries expand up to four times their usual diameter. This causes a significant increase in blood flow to the skin and extremities, enriching cells with oxygen and enzymes to a much greater degree than under normal balanced conditions.


5. Hormones are released: B-endorphins are released, which act as the body’s natural morphine. This has a pain-relieving effect throughout the entire body and also creates a sense of euphoria.


6. Reduction of nerve conduction velocity/pain signal adaptation: The cold exposure drastically reduces the body’s ability to communicate pain signals. After multiple sessions, the body adapts its perception of pain stimuli.


7. Muscle relaxation takes place: Muscle relaxation leads to relief of muscle spasm.


8. Anti-inflammatory response: The body’s white blood cells secrete small proteins (cytokines), which are used in cell signalling and ultimately affect the behaviour of other cells. These proteins can be either pro-inflammatory or anti-inflammatory. During cryotherapy, pro-inflammatory cytokines are decreased, and anti-inflammatory cytokines are increased. This causes a powerful anti-inflammatory response throughout the entire body.


9. Oxidative stress is reduced: The body’s total anti-oxidative status is increased. The body achieves an improved ability to eliminate free radicals, neutralise toxins and repair cellular damage. This process can lead to a powerful anti-ageing effect.


10. Increased metabolism: As part of the body’s metabolic reheating mechanism, additional calories are burnt.

Dry needling is a treatment that targets the muscle tissue and the nerve connection. It aims to help relieve pain by changing the tone within the muscle to help it relax.

The difference between dry needling and acupuncture is that, in dry needling, the needle is inserted into the skin and the muscle directly at the correct trigger points. Once the needle has been inserted, the chiropractor then manipulates it until the patient experiences a sensation.

Dry needling is based on Western anatomical and neurophysiological principles, whereas acupuncture is based on traditional Chinese medicine. The needles used for dry needling are tiny, thin, and solid. Dry needling treatment can last up to 15 minutes and can occasionally be manipulated in the area being treated.

Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy, also known as ESWT, is a modern and highly effective treatment method that can assist with a variety of conditions. Individuals who suffer from chronic pain are turning to ESWT treatment to help relieve their pain.

This method of treatment is a non-surgical approach. The shock wave therapy is used to target the area experiencing pain, by sending shock waves directly to the area. The treatment sessions last about 5 to 10 minutes. ESWT eliminates pain and restores full mobility, thereby improving the individual's quality of life.

The machine can be adjusted to a lower level, should patients feel unable to handle the pressure. There may be a little discomfort for a short period, but results will start showing from the first treatment received.

The benefits are that ESWT helps promote new healing and pain control. The treatment produces an inflammatory response, which then makes the body react to the new inflammation and increase the metabolic activity around the pain, which then helps the healing process. Damaged tissue gradually regenerates and eventually heals. The treatment also encourages bone healing and can help heal stress fractures, slow healing bone and non-healing bone.

ESWT is also used to treat the following conditions:

• Achilles' tendon pain
• Chronic neck, shoulder and back pain
• Heel pain (plantar fasciitis)
• Osteoarthritis
• Patella tendinitis;
• Shin pain/tibial stress syndrome
• Shoulder pain (the breakdown of calcification)
• Tennis or golfers elbow
• Trigger points

High Power Laser Therapy is a treatment that uses high-energy light to introduce large quantities of light into the affected tissue. As a result, healing is stimulated in a sustained manner. The therapy increases power density in the tissue, which in turn increases the thermal effect in deeper layers.

High Power Laser Therapy includes three wavelengths, which stimulate different target sites: pain receptors at the surface and deeper tissue structures are stimulated at the same time. In particular, the wavelength of 1064 nm, which has the lowest scatter in the tissue, promotes penetration of the radiation into deep layers of tissue.

Interferential Therapy (IFC) uses a high-frequency electrical signal to treat muscular spasms and strains. Due to its high frequency, it can overcome tissue resistance more easily and is too fast to let nerves repolarise. The current produces a massaging effect over the affected area at periodic intervals and this stimulates the secretion of endorphins, the body's natural pain relievers, thereby relaxing strained muscles and promoting soft-tissue healing.

There are many benefits to using ultrasound. It accelerates the healing process by increasing the blood flow to the treated area and decreases pain by reducing swelling and oedema. Ultrasound is also used to massage muscles tendons and ligaments in the treated area because no strain is added, and any scar tissue is softened. These three benefits are achieved by two main effects of therapeutic ultrasound: thermal and non-thermal effects.

Laser Therapy is the use of specific wavelengths of light to treat painful and debilitating muscle, bone and joint conditions. Light energy enters the damaged cells and stimulates inter-cellular activity. This reduces pain in the area of injury and accelerates recovery of the damaged cells.

Laser Therapy is a painless treatment that typically lasts several minutes. Individuals may experience a comfortable sensation at the point of application. Most patients see positive results within just a few treatments. The swelling at the site of injury and pain is usually greatly reduced and there is a rapid relief of pain. Chronic conditions can be controlled with regular treatments.

Multiwave Locked System (MLS) Laser Therapy is a safe, comfortable and effective treatment for chronic and acute pain. From sports injuries to lower back pain, arthritis or golfer's elbow, MLS Laser therapy can help individuals to achieve optimal health.

Although no laser therapy works without fail for all patients, the M6 Laser exhibits a high rate of satisfaction amongst previous patients. Commonly treated conditions include back and joint pain; sprains and strains; post-surgical pain control and tissue healing; inflammation control; and arthritis disc disease and injuries.

The MLS Laser is also used to treat the following:

• Burns
• Bursitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Chronic non-healing wounds
• General pain relating to musculoskeletal disorders
• Muscle spasms, sprains, and tears
• Neurological pain
• Neuropathy
• Pain in the ankles, back, elbows, face, feet, hips, knees, shoulders, tailbone, and wrists.
• Plantar fasciitis
• Post-surgical pain and swelling
• Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD)
• Repetitive stress injuries
• Sciatica
• Shingles
• Soft tissue injuries
• Sore muscles and joints
• Sports injuries
• Tendon and ligament healing
• Tendonitis
• Tennis and golfer's elbow
• Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction (TMJ) dysfunction
• Toenail fungus
• Whiplash wounds and cuts

Spinal decompression, also known as traction therapy, is a treatment used by chiropractors to help assist with lower back pain. Research points to the benefits of traction because it can distract joint surfaces, reduce swelling and inflammation, stretch soft-tissue muscles and mobilize joints. These effects provide many patients with pain relief from spinal dysfunction. The stimulation of sensory mechanoreceptors that occurs with the application of traction may also prevent the transmission of pain.

Spinal manipulation is a technique used to help relieve lower back pain and improve physical function like walking and other everyday movements. Spinal manipulation therapy is used for the upper, mid and lower back, whereas extra-spinal manipulation is used for the extremities.

The individual's condition will determine which technique will be used, and this treatment is generally safe. The patient may experience slight discomfort for one or two days afterwards, but that is quite rare. Patients who use this treatment have shown to recover must faster and also use less medication to help with pain relief.

The Stimpod NMS460 is a nerve stimulator that uses a patented, non-invasive Pulsed Radio Frequency (PRF) waveform to treat peripheral neuropathy and chronic intractable pain quickly and effectively. It is a technological breakthrough in the treatment of chronic pain. Case studies include the successful treatment of diabetic neuropathy; rheumatoid arthritis, bell’s palsy; migraines; sciatica; and meralgia paresthetica.

Typically there are four phases associated with a pulsed radiofrequency procedure:

• A stunning phase, which provides instant relief.
• Occasionally there may be a phase of post-procedure discomfort.
• A phase of beneficial clinical effect.
• A possible phase of recurrence of pain or paralysis.

With invasive procedures, one big challenge is to locate the nerves using PRF. The NMS460 delivers this PRF waveform by way of a non-invasive probe, applied transcutaneously to the affected nerve.

The nerve mapping probe and waveform assist with locating the nerve, making a diagnosis, and evaluating the treatment progress. Due to the targeted nature of the probe, the nerve involved is easily identified and results in fasciculations along this nerve pathway.

The Stimpod NMS460 shows effective results with just a five-minute treatment. Patients experience immediate and drastic relief from symptoms.

The Triton DTS Traction System includes a sophisticated traction unit, which can be used to relieve peripheral radiation, sciatica and pain associated with several conditions, including:

• Acute facet syndrome and posterior facet syndrome
• Bulging, protruding, and prolapsed discs
• Compression fractures
• Degenerative disc disease
• Degenerative joint disease
• Discogenic pain
• Herniated discs
• Hypomobility
• Joint pain
• Radicular pain
• Spinal root impingement