Chiropractic Care and Soft Tissue Work

When you think of chiropractic care, you may think doctors of chiropractic only adjust necks and backs, or work with the spine.  While we are known for our ability to perform adjustments, that’s not all that your Little Rock Chiropractor does at Omnis Rehab: Joint and Performance Center.  A large part of our work and your appointment revolves around working with soft tissue.

What is the difference in an adjustment and soft tissue work?

An adjustment is the manipulation or movement of a joint in the body traditionally done by hand or assisted by a handheld instrument such as an activator.  The soft tissue work done in our Little Rock chiropractic office or North Little Rock chiropractic office when paired with traditional chiropractic adjustments can help patients get better faster and improve prognosis.  Some of the soft tissue techniques we utilize include:

• ART (Active Release Technique) 
• Graston
• Medi-Cupping
• Manual Therapy
• PIR (Post Isometric Relaxation)
• PNF which is a form of stretching designed to increase flexibility of muscles and increase range of movement

Some Common Ailments Treated with Chiropractic Soft Tissue Care

With joint disfunction or injury, most of the time the issue is accompanied with surrounding tissue tightness, muscles compensations, or a functional deficit (loss of range of motion or strength in area).  Our goal at Omnis Rehab is to get you back to feeling good and healthy as soon as possible with minimally invasive treatments.  We believe that you should be able to do your favorite activities, sports, or job without nagging pain or issues.  Here are some of the most common ailments we see in our office.

Tennis or Golfer’s Elbow: Both of these conditions are due to excessive or repetitive use of the forearm musculature.  While often times this pain is attributed to the before mentioned sports, they are also commonly seen in office workers or those who do tasks that regularly put their hands or wrists under strain.  Consistent strain to the lateral forearm musculature can cause scar tissue to build. In many cases doing nothing may cause a decrease in mobility in the elbow, wrist, or hand joints.  Using soft tissue techniques employed alongside chiropractic care, we can help address the pain and injury, while assisting with rehab and prevention of future issues.

Achilles Tendonitis:  The pain associated with Achilles tendinitis typically begins as a mild ache in the back of the calf or above the heel after activity.  Tenderness or stiffness is also common, especially in the morning, but typically gets better throughout day as muscles surrounding the area warm up.  Achilles Tendonitis can be a persistent problem that requires treatment and we at Omnis Rehab are equipped to handle the issue.  We can use many different types of soft tissue work to break up the adhesions in the muscles that contribute to the pain, as well as rehab the area to be stronger and more flexible, therefore helping relieve the pain caused by the tendonitis.  We can also teach your ways to stretch and perform your own soft tissue work at home to manage symptoms on your own, and keep the pain and discomfort at bay. 

Plantar Fasciitis:  If you suffer from Plantar Fasciitis, you may not automatically think to visit your chiropractor, but it is an ailment that responds very well to the soft tissue techniques we employ at Omnis Rehab.  Plantar Fasciitis is caused when the ligament that connects your toes to your heel (the plantar fascia) becomes inflamed, swollen, and weak. This can cause a shooting or stabbing pain in the bottom of your foot or heel when you walk or stand. 

Shoulder or Rotator Cuff Impingement:  One of the most common issues we successfully treat in our Little Rock and North Little Rock chiropractic offices is shoulder pain.  Shoulder issues happen in both young people and older adults, and can be caused from the regular aging process or from exercise or activity.  The shoulder joint is one of the most complex joint structures in the body and can easily become inflamed.  Shoulder impingement syndrome occurs when the tendons of the rotator cuff and the subacromial bursa are pinched in the narrow space beneath the acromion.  This causes the tendons and bursa to become inflamed and swollen, causing pain or discomfort.  This pinching can be worse when the arm is raised away from the side of the body, or when engaging in sport.  Impingement may develop over time as a result of a minor injury, or as a result of repetitive motions (CrossFit kipping, tennis or golf swings, etc..) that lead to inflammation in the bursa.  In our office we utilize chiropractic soft tissue work to help relieve the pain and restore the joint back to health.  

If you are experiencing any of the above issues or symptoms, give us a call at 501-313-2844 to schedule an appointment at our West Little Rock chiropractic office or 501-353- 1781 to make an appointment at our North Little Rock chiropractic office.