Omnis Rehab

Category Archives for Massage Therapy

Low Back Pain and Piriformis Syndrome

Here at Omnis Rehab Joint and Performance Center we see our fair share of low back pain, it is one of our most common complaints.  Did you know that your low back pain in Little Rock, Arkansas may not be caused by a low back issue at all?  Our Little Rock Chiropractic office and North Little Rock Chiropractic office see patients with low back pain caused from a condition called Piriformis syndrome every day and today we are going to learn about and how to fix this condition.

Piriformis Muscles

Piriformis Syndrome is a condition that affects the piriformis muscle, which is a muscle that stretches from the pelvis to the upper part of the thigh bone, and it is often mistaken for other, more prominent muscles.  When it comes to the muscle groups in the buttocks, most of our patients at our Little Rock Chiropractic office know about the big muscles players like the glute max, glute med and glute min, but have less education on the much smaller but just as important muscles.  These smaller muscle groups called the obturator internus and piriformis muscles are very important when it comes to the health and performance of our bodies.  

The piriformis muscles are the primary external rotators of your femur and upper leg.  They also produce a small amount of stabilization and adduction to the hip joint (think moving your leg out and away from the other leg, making a snow angel).  Another example for our Little Rock CrossFit athletes, when your coach tells you to “screw” your feet into the ground during a squat or a deadlift, the muscles you are activating are the piriformis and obturator internus muscles. 

Piriformis Syndrome

Now that we have a good understanding of the piriformis muscles and what they do, let’s talk about the pain and discomfort caused by piriformis syndrome.  If you suffer from this condition, you may feel numbness or tingling down the back of your legs, have pain in your glutes, or have a deep aching in the deep center of your glutes with activity.  No fun right?  

Piriformis syndrome is classified as a neuromuscular disorder that occurs when the sciatic nerve becomes irritated or compressed by the piriformis muscle, causing pain and paresthesia along the sciatic nerve distribution down the back of the leg. Thankfully, piriformis syndrome can typically be managed and treated very well conservatively with chiropractic care and rehab at your Little Rock Chiropractic clinic. 

Treatment of Piriformis Syndrome through Chiropractic 

At Omnis Rehab: Joint and Performance Center, we are equipped to treat all types of low back injuries and conditions, including Piriformis Syndrome.  We may do soft tissue treatments like direct pressure over the muscle area and ART depending on the severity of your condition.   We may also use Little Rock Acupuncture therapy or do trigger point needling/ dry needling in clinic to help alleviate pain and symptoms.  Another effective treatment for piriformis syndrome is targeted stretching and muscle relaxation.  At Omnis Rehab: Joint and Performance Center, we not only want to treat you in clinic, we want to teach you proper techniques and stretches that you can utilize at home to deal with your condition.  Your Little Rock chiropractors are a tremendous guide for this kind of stretching therapy and guidance.  Alongside our hands on treatment protocols, if you need further help with these exercises, we may utilize the services of our on staff Physical Therapist.

No matter the issue, our staff at Omnis Rehab: Joint and Performance Center, can help you get back to healthy through Little Rock chiropractic care, Little Rock physical therapy, or Little Rock massage therapy. Visit our website to check insurance benefits or set up an appointment with one of our providers..

chiropractic adjustment

Sciatic Pain in Little Rock, Arkansas

Do you have a sharp pain that typically radiates from one side of your back down one leg?  What about numbness, tingling, or weakness in one leg?  If you answer yes to this question, you may be suffering from sciatic pain.

Sciatic pain can vary widely from patient to patient so let us at Omnis Rehab Joint Performance Center help you understand this common condition.  Sciatica can originate from one side in the lower back, or the buttock area.  It often travels down the affected leg, causing numbness, tingling, pain, weakness, or a pins and needles sensation.

Some of the primary symptoms of sciatica include:

  • Leg pain that worsens when sitting, often times driving
  • Tingling or burning running down the leg
  • Numbness, weakness, or difficulties moving the foot or entire leg
  • Loss of range of motion in leg
  • A consistent pain on one side of your lower back
  • An intense and/or intolerable pain that makes it hard or uncomfortable to stand up

What is Sciatica?

Sciatica (sometimes known as radiculopathy) is inflammation or irritation of the sciatic nerve.  This can be caused from dysfunction of the muscles and/ or joints surrounding this nerve.  These dysfunctions can be caused by an injury or joint misalignments/ joint restrictions putting pressure on the sciatic nerve.  Muscle weakness or muscle tightness can also contribute to nerve pressure causing sciatic pain.  Pregnancy is another leading cause of sciatic pain.  The sciatic nerve passes underneath the uterus and as your body changes throughout pregnancy, pressure on the sciatic nerve can increase.

Treatment of Sciatic Nerve Pain

Sciatic pain can be debilitating.  At Omnis Rehab Joint and Performance Center, our goal is to treat your pain through chiropractic and rehab treatments that are non invasive and safe.  Our goal is to accurately diagnose and treat the cause of the problem, getting you back into the swing of things through non invasive and conservative care.

At your first visit with your Little Rock chiropractor, we will determine through a thorough examination, which may include x-rays, what is causing your discomfort.  We will then work through some basic treatments of your sciatic pain in Little Rock, Arkansas that may include:

  • Chiropractic Adjustment:  Your Little Rock chiropractor can apply spinal manipulations to allow your spine and joints to move freely and unrestricted.  Adjustments help realign the spine.  This allows nerves, joints, and muscles to function together correctly within the body.
  • Heat and Modality Therapies: In our Little Rock or North Little Rock chiropractic offices, we often use heat for muscle relaxation.  We often pair heat with TENs units (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) which is a small battery powered, portable box that stimulates the muscles. It uses electrical currents at variable intensities to help control pain and reduce the occurrence of muscle spasms.
  • Myofascial Therapies:  These types of therapies can help reduce trigger points and other muscle adhesions that can contribute to pain and underlying problems.  We use ART (Active Release Technique) as well as Percussion Massage.
  • Spinal Decompression:  Spinal decompression utilizes a table that provides a gentle release to create more space within each joint of the spine.  This process takes pressure off nerves, relieving pain and symptoms in affected areas.
  • Chiropractic Exercises:  Strengthening the muscles surrounding joints leads to better stabilization and healing of areas.  When your body and joints are properly aligned and muscles are firing appropriately, your body feels its best.

If you have sciatic pain, we can treat the source of the pain with our expertise at Omnis Rehab.  We have two locations for chiropractic care in Central Arkansas.  Call us today at 501-313-2844 or schedule your appointment today.  We accept most major insurance policies and you can check your insurance benefits here.

massage therapist little rock

The Benefits of Massage Therapy

The Benefits of Massage Therapy

Massage was once only available at luxury spas and high-end health clubs. Today, massage therapy is offered in companies, clinics, and even airports. If you’ve never had a massage, keep reading to learn why it’s so good for you.

What is massage?

“Massage” is the term for manipulating your skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Massage may range from light strokes to deep pressure. The common types of massage are:

  • This is a gentle form of massage. The therapist uses long strokes, kneading, and deep circular movements to help relax and energize you.
  • This massage technique uses slower, more forceful strokes to target the deeper layers of muscle and connective tissue. It’s commonly used to help with muscle damage from injuries.
  • This massage is similar to Swedish, but it’s designed for people involved in sport activities to help prevent or treat injuries.
  • Trigger point massage.This massage focuses on areas of tight muscle fibers that can form in your muscles after injuries or overuse.

Benefits of massage

Massage is generally considered complementary medicine. It’s increasingly being offered along with standard treatment for a wide range of medical conditions.

Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain, and muscle tension. And while more research is needed to confirm the benefits of massage, some studies have found massage may also be helpful for:

  • Anxiety
  • Digestive disorders
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Headaches
  • Insomnia related to stress
  • Myofascial pain syndrome
  • Soft tissue strains or injuries
  • Sports injuries
  • Temporomandibular joint pain

Beyond the benefits for specific conditions or diseases, some people enjoy massage because it often produces feelings of caring, comfort, and connection.

You can schedule an appointment with our on-staff Licensed Massage Therapist here!