Spokane Rehab and Pain

Using Frequency Specific Microcurrent to Heal What Others Can't

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Diagnosis and Treatment Matrix

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Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release is a passive stretching technique that uses feedback from the patient’s tissues to determine the direction, fullness and length of the stretch.  The therapist relies on this feedback to achieve maximum relaxation of the tight or restricted tissues without the discomfort often associated with intense stretching.  The purpose is to “unstick” the fibers of the muscles and fascia, releasing deeply held patterns of tension. This relaxes and re-educates the muscle, freeing it to operate within its full capacity.

Fascia is a thin, tough, elastic type of connective tissue that wraps most structures within the human body, including muscle. Fascia supports and protects these structures. Osteopathic theory proposes that this soft tissue can become restricted due to overuse, trauma, infectious agents, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, muscle tension, and corresponding diminished blood flow. Although fascia and its corresponding muscle are the main targets of myofascial release, other tissue may be addressed as well, including other connective tissue.

Fascia is a contractile organ of the skin. This ability is expressed on the on hand in chronic tissue contractures which include tissue remodeling; and on the other hand in smooth muscle-like cellular contractions over a time frame of minutes to hours, which can be strong enough to influence low back stability and other aspects of human biomechanics. The new understanding of fascia offers future implications for the understanding and clinical management of pathologies which go along with increased or decreased myofascial stiffness (such as  as low back pain, tension headache, spinal instability, or fibromyalgia).

Strain Counterstrain

Strain Counterstrain is an Osteopathic manual medicine technique.  It emphasizes correction of abnormal neuromuscular reflexes through the treatment of tender points.  Tender Points are discrete, pea-sized areas of tenderness that are manifestations of specific neuromuscular dysfunctions.  The tender point is found in the shortened muscle group, which is not necessarily in the muscle groups that have pain.
Counterstrain technique is a passive manipulation of the body’s deep fascia. The clinical effects include decreased inflammation, improved flexibility, normalization of muscle tone and improved functional performance.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral therapy is a technique that is not aggressive.  Eight cranial bones and 14 facial bones articulate together in harmony.  Connective tissue, known as “sutures”, bind the cranial bones together and have specific movement patterns.  These movement patterns are evaluated by the clinician who “listens” with their hands.  The treatment is then focused on relieving the restriction in movement of the sutures and increasing cerebrospinal fluid, blood, and lymphatic flow.

Visceral (Organ) Manipulation

Physicians and folk healers have manipulated organs since antiquity, but it was not until the last quarter of the 20th century that this art evolved into a science.

Visceral Manipulation is a gentle technique that frees up the fascia and allows the organs to glide against each other more easily.  As a result of injury, repetitive stress, surgery, or postural compensations, the fascia around the organs can become restricted and contribute to overall fascial tension and pain patterns.  The therapist feels for any patterns of tension. Using a gentle technique with the hands, the therapist can release this tension, often at a very deep level. This can have a profound effect on how easily the body moves, decreasing muscle tension and pain and improving alignment throughout the body.

The organs have significant influence on the functioning of all body systems. With most illnesses, the viscera is often involved and can present with problems with lethargy, overall pain and discomfort and your ability to focus and maintain your attention on your daily responsibilities.

Lymphatic Drainage Therapy

Manual Lymphatic Drainage
Using light, rhythmic strokes, the therapist facilitates improved and increased lymph circulation that in turn can have a myriad of beneficial effects.  These include: increased range of motion, decreased scar tissue, decreased localized pain and improved healing. It has also been shown to increase speed and quality of healing post minor surgery and/or injury.

Note: At this time, no clinicians at Spokane Rehab & Pain Clinic are trained to treat patients with severe lymphedema.

What is Frequency Specific Microcurrent

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Frequency Specific Microcurrent (FSM) is a relatively new form of electrical stimulation utilized by Osteopaths, Nurse Practitioners and Physical and Occupational therapists. It is being increasingly used by practitioners for acute (new) and chronic (long term) injuries and conditions. Healthcare practitioners who utilize FSM are required to attend specialized training and demonstrate their ability to effectively assess and treat clients with basic or more complicated diagnoses.

Every tissue in the body has a unique electrical frequency. This was determined years ago and has been utilized by many healthcare organizations for various types of healing using a myriad of frequencies – many representing diseased tissues. Synergy Healthcare therapists utilize only frequencies which match the body’s tissues, allowing us to avoid side effects while optimizing healing. FSM treats the tissues – not the disease itself.

FSM focuses on stimulating specific tissues functions (Channel A) directed at the affected tissues (Channel B). The treatment utilizes the body’s ability to respond to frequencies to promote healing acute and chronic conditions. Psychological and emotional conditions often show immediate responses to depression, anxiety and other negative emotional states. FSM functions at one millionth of an amp, which is ten times less than TENS (a device which blocks pain signals).  This amperage represents the natural current of the body and generally cannot be felt by the patient.

From a physiological perspective, FSM increases ATP production up to 500%, protein synthesis to 70% and amino acid transport to 40%. It also significantly reduces pain levels. These factors contribute to an imminent decrease in pain while increasing metabolic function and energy. There are no side effects other than occasional initial drowsiness due to release of toxins and changes in neurological and tissue function.

FSM treatments are combined with Craniosacral therapy, Visceral Manipulation, Strain-Counterstrain Arterial/Venous/Neurological, Feldenkrais and other traditional interventions in 1:1 50-60 minute treatment sessions. Incremental lifestyle changes are introduced and encouraged to complement treatment interventions, encourage permanency of progress and expedite positive changes.

FSM has been effective in decreasing hypertonicity (high muscle tone) in Traumatic Brain Injury and Strokes. Patients with Parkinson’s and other progressive neurological conditions often report increased muscle coordination and strength. Concussions and decreased thought processes are addressed using frequencies which stimulate – or inhibit targeted brain components and neural pathways. Inflammation, a physiological response in many diagnoses, is significantly reduced using acute or chronic settings. Healing orthopedic injuries including fractures and torn or inflamed tendons are addressed utilizing frequencies specific to the target tissue and facilitating the healing functions of that tissue.  This treatment also has an immediate effect on the pain from Shingles, a viral condition which can reappear years after your initial encounter.

The effectiveness of treatment varies from provisional to complete healing. This often depends on the patients’ compliance with therapeutic recommendations and efficacy of the target tissues. Generally, inflammation and joint laxity (as with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and after hip/knee replacement) are often immediate and may last weeks to months or longer.

Choosing to utilize FSM as a therapeutic tool allows patients who may not be able to tolerate surgical or other medical/ rehabilitation interventions programs to decrease their pain and increase function with fewer medications. FSM is the least restrictive intervention which presents with no side effects (OK, sometimes a little “drowsy” after a session) and is very effective in helping patients return to a higher quality of life.

For more information on this innovative intervention, go to www.spokanerehabandpain.com, www.frequencyspecific.com or https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/frequency-specific-microcurrent. You will find many case studies and research regarding the effectiveness of Frequency Specific Microcurrent.

 

Not typical physical therapy!

Frequency Specific Microcurrent is holistic, safe, and gentle. At Spokane Rehab and Pain we offer one-on-one, focused sessions that are relaxing. No exercises, just healing. Here's what our clients have to say. ::: Testimonials to come :::