Allen Healthcare Solutions

Manual and Electrotherapy

Manual therapy encompasses mobilization techniques that are performed by the hands of the chiropractor to the patient's tissues. Manual therapy techniques include:

Joint mobilization: When a joint is stiff, often a patient cannot move the joint through its full range of motion. Joint mobilization is the chiropractor moving the joint through range, often including the restricted range to free the joint. Joint mobilizations can be gentle or robust, depending on the irritability of the joint.
Joint manipulation: When a quick thrust is applied at the end of range of motion of a restricted joint, to restore range of motion, it is called a joint manipulation.
Muscle stretching: Tight muscles can restrict joint movement. Following a warm up, a chiropractor can stretch a tight muscle and improve is flexibility. The patient is then educated how to safely stretch the tight muscle at home to maintain the movement gained.
Nerve mobilization: Nerves travel from the spine to the tips of the fingers and toes. Nerves pass through soft tissues such as muscles and fascia. Nerve movement can become restricted if they become tethered at soft tissue interfaces. Chiropractors perform techniques to free up the nerves' mobility.
Massage: Chiropractors use their hands - or instruments - to manipulate soft tissues such as muscles and fascia. Massage can help muscles relax, reduce swelling, improve circulation, and reduce pain.

Electrical Muscle Stimulation or Interferential Current

IFC stands for Interferential Current. IFC is a form of electrical stimulation used to treat pain, aid in tissue healing, and control swelling. As with TENS, tiny electrical impulses are induced into the tissues in the injured or painful area. This modality uses a variety of frequencies and most patients equate its sensation to that of a light massage. IFC has the potential to reach deeper tissues than TENS.

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