The Benefit of Electrotherapy used in Conjunction with the Chiropractic Adjustment

At CT Spine and Disc Center, we use other therapies in addition to the chiropractic adjustment. Such therapies include vibration, moist heat, cold therapy and electrotherapy. Electrotherapy is often used to relieve pain and relax muscle spasms. Often times, the electrotherapy is used in conjunction with a hot or a cold pack.

Electrotherapy can be used in the “interferential” or “premodulated” form- both of which treat pain.

For muscle spasm reduction, a medium frequency wave length called “Russian stim” is often used.

Using electrotherapy involves applying pulsating electric currents to certain areas of the body, such as the low back, mid back, or neck via electrodes. This process elicits responses from nerves which are involved in pain sensation and muscle contraction information. The stimulation of sensory fibers will help block pain while stimulation of motor fibers will produce pulsatile contractions of the muscle groups innervated by the nerves being stimulated.

Electrotherapy is often used for:

1. Chronic pain that does not go away
   
2. acute pain
   
3. relaxation of muscles
   
4. increase of blood flow to the treatment area
   
5. muscle re-education
   
6. increasing range of motion
   
7. prevention of atrophy of muscles
   

Electrotherapy can be used to relieve pain and muscle spasm without increasing inflammation or swelling. Also, no heat is produced when using electrotherapy.


The Glastonbury Chiropractor is located in central Connecticut- CT Spine and Disc Center specializes in patients who suffer from sciatica, disc degeneration, bulging disc or herniated disc in the lumbar spine. Call our chiropractic office at 860-633-8756 to schedule an appointment and to see if you are a candidate for non surgical spinal decompressionAdditional Reading Resources:

• Home Electrotherapy
  
• Jeanie Rub Massager
  
• Glastonbury chiropractic
  
• What is Non Surgical Spinal Decompression: FAQ's
• Research about Non Surgical Spinal Decompression

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Heat vs Ice for Lower Back Pain Relief?

Hello everyone, Happy New Year 2009; Wishing everyone a wonderful healthy new year ahead !

Today I want to discuss one techinque for lower back pain relief that I often get asked about. Heat or ice for Lower Back Pain?

The good news is that they both can be good and they are all natural. So no side effects like medication.

To get the best results use ice when there is inflammation. This is often hot, red and feels tender. Areas are usually inflammed when they are initially injured or re-aggravated.

Heat works very well to loosen an area. So, couple of days after the initial injury when inflammation has disippated from using ice, use heat. For the ara to heal completely it may take weeks. With the use of heat to now keep the muscles loose and increase blood flow you can often get better much sooner.

Here's an example: If you watch football, you'll notice before the game most players are wearing extra clothing like sweats or sports pants and jackets. This keeps their backs, legs, and arms heated and warm. After the game often they're sore especially if they injured an area they'll have ice packs on thier back or knee, etc..This is because the area is often strained and inflammed.

The same holds true for someone with a back injury. Use ice to decrease the inflammation and back pain. If you continue to work or do physical activity you can heat your back to loosen the muscles before you begin your activity. The ice and hot packs we recommend patients are often shaped specially for certain parts of the back.



For example, if you are icing or heating your lower back, use a larger ice pack that is 10"x13", square in shape. For your neck area, use a 6" x 20" ice pack that is shaped with a special pouch area to cover your neck area. There is also a special ice pack for your neck and upper back, with dimensions of 9" x 16" trisectional ice/heat pack- it had two side flaps for your shoulders to better coverage. Just keep in mind tha this ice pack will be a little heavier than the cervical or lumbar ice pack.

To get rid of your low back pain once and for all look into this advanced new technology we use at our office called Spinal Decompression.

Dr. Matt Bellinger
CT Spine and Disc Center LLC

Photo Credits: Flickr Monstershaq2000

Addtional Resources:
Hot and Cold Therapy for Lower Back Pain Relief- Ice/Heat Packs for Pain Relief