Soft Tissue
Soft tissue is tissue that surrounds internal parts of the body such as organs and bones. This material supports and connects these parts of the body. Soft tissue refers to muscles, ligaments, nerves, fat tendons fascia, and blood vessels. Often when pain is felt in the body, there is some sort of soft tissue injury. This can be a result of misalignment or it can be caused by a sprain, strain, or even a hard hit to the body. When a bone moves out of place, it will/can tug on the surrounding tissue, stretching it out and causing additional pain. A lot of injuries involve some sort of soft tissue damage and though chiropractic care focuses on realigning the spine and bones, it helps soft tissue pain and is crucial in the healing process.
When the spine is aligned, the soft tissue such as the attached muscles is less likely to move and stretch out of place, allowing for a greater range of motion and mobility. This essentially creates a “muscle memory” for the tissues to remain in place and find a neutral home. Keeping up with therapy in and out of the office will increase healing time and reduce injury rates. It is easy to think all is well when the immediate pain is gone however, this is a common mistake. People often return to normal activity levels and forget their therapies and this is when most injuries appear and/or come back. The natural state must be learned through chiropractic adjustments, stretching, electrical stimulation therapy, therapeutic exercise, soft tissue mobilization, Graston Technique, and passive therapy.
How Therapies Aid in Soft Tissue Repair:
Chiropractic Adjustments – Brings the bones and attached tissue back to a neutral state
Stretching – Increases flexibility to reduce hyperextension that causes sprains and strains
Electrical Stimulation – Promotes blood flow to the stiffened area by sending electric pulses directed to the fascia. Muscles, and tendons
Therapeutic Exercise – Strategically strengthens the muscles to allow them to stay in place during the healing process, the use of Therabands greatly improves mobility
Soft Tissue Mobilization – Applies deeper pressure to the tissue to stretch, release built-up tension, and remove trapped fluids in the tissue that cause immobilization and soreness
Graston Technique – Breaks down scar tissue that comes with/from soft tissue injuries to reduce restricted connective tissue, increasing mobility in affected areas
Passive Therapy – A more gentle approach that allows for the proper movement of fluid between the tissues; generally through mechanical traction and/or flexion distraction
Do you think you have had or have injury to soft tissue in your spine and/or extremities? We would love to help you out. Give us a cool to book your appointment or a free consultation with the doctor to see how we can help you with all of the above therapies!
