How Dry Needling can help in injury recovery

What is Dry Needling?

Dry needling is a technique for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. The technique uses a "dry" needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle. Sometimes the treatment may include electrical stimulation in combination with the dry needle technique.

Dry needling is not acupuncture, a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists.

What makes Dry Needling different from Acupuncture?

Dry needling relies on the practitioners knowledge of skeletal and neuroanatomy. This knowledge allows one to identify damaged and sensitive tissues, taut bands, and trigger points as well as injured and overused tissues. Physical therapists trained in this technique utilize an examination that includes movement analysis, orthopedic evaluation, and a neurological workup that includes myotomal and dermatomal testing.

Acupuncture is an ancient traditional Chinese technique that utilizes the knowledge of meridians. This focus allows an acupuncturist to work on a person's inner balance, energy, qi, and one's life-force. Work up and exam includes physical, tongue, and pulse examination. Traditional acupuncture has been widely studied and practiced for thousands of years.

What should be expected from Dry Needling?

Dry Needling is performed by a trained and certified physical therapist and is a safe treatment technique. After a thorough examination this treatment option may be discussed with patient as a viable treatment option.

The area of treatment is thoroughly sanitized and the therapist uses single use acupuncture needles. Depending on the area being treated the application of the needles may take 10 minutes and is applied in and around the affected treatment area. The treatment time is usually around 20 minutes.

Sometimes we add electrical stimulation or e-stim, an electrical current transferred through the dry needle that can help accelerate the pain-relief process.

What does Dry Needling treat?

Dry needling treats muscle tissue, and its goal is to reduce pain, inactivate trigger points and restore function. Typical conditions that can be treated by dry needling include:

• Neck and back pain

• Myofascial pain

• Tendonitis

• Tennis elbow

• Plantar fasciitis

• Trigger points

• TMJ

• Shoulder impingement

• Joint problems

• Headaches and migraines

Does Dry Needling hurt?

Dry needles are very thin, so the insertion of the needle into the skin is typically painless. The needle insertion into the muscle may cause an initial muscle twitch in the affected area which might cause some momentary discomfort. Once treatment begins the patient will feel no pain.

Due to the nature of the treatment and desired outcomes, a patient may experience some mild soreness after treatment. This is to be expected as part of the healing process. The soreness usually lasts only 24 hours.

Pritchette Physical Therapy has trained and certified Dry Needling physical therapists. If you would like to explore this treatment option, please contact our office at 480-785-5415 to schedule an appointment.

Great Stretch for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar Fasciitis is one of the most common causes of heel pain. It involves inflammation and irritation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the ball of the foot. An injury can occur when repeated weight bearing activities cause strain along the plantar fascia. It is an overuse injury that can happen to anyone but is more prevalent in runners or those who are on their feet for long periods each day.

Risk Factors that Contribute to Plantar Fasciitis

• Poor foot and gait mechanics

• Obesity

• Age ranging from 40-60

• Improper footwear or worn-out footwear

• Tight Achilles tendon and Gastrocnemius/Soleus muscle

• Prolonged standing on hard surfaces

How you can treat Plantar Fasciitis

• Icing

• Anti-Inflammatory medication

• Physical Therapy

• Orthotics

• Night Splinting

Try this great Plantar Fascia Stretch

What to Expect with Total Knee Replacement Physical Therapy

Pritchette Physical Therapy treats many conditions related to the knee, this includes post-surgical total knee replacement surgery. Here is what to expect with total knee replacement physical therapy.

What is a Total Knee Replacement (TKR)?

A Total Knee Replacement (TKR), also known as knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure designed to replace the weight bearing surfaces of the knee joint to improve knee function and reduce knee pain.  It is commonly performed when the knee joint experiences rheumatoid arthritis and/or some form of knee joint deformity.

Partial Knee Replacements (PKR) are performed when it is reasonable to achieve a positive outcome with addressing only certain knee joint surfaces.

When is a Total Knee Replacement Surgery Performed?

The surgical procedure is performed by an Orthopedic surgeon after more conservative forms of treatment have been explored.  This includes physical therapy, oral anti-inflammatories, and injectables medication.

How should a person prepare for Total Knee Replacement Surgery?

Pre-surgical physical therapy is an excellent way to prepare for a Total Knee Replacement surgery.  It helps address pain and improves strength and stability of the knee joint prior to the procedure.  It also helps speed up the recovery process after the surgical procedure.

How long is the recovery process for a Total Knee Replacement?

Most procedures are performed in outpatient facilities, meaning the patient can return home same day.  While recovery time is on a case per case basis, one can expect to expect significant return to function within 4-6 weeks and a return to full activity within 2-3 months.

What restrictions should one expect after Total Knee Replacement?

While this will be communicated to the patient by the orthopedic surgeon or physical therapist, most patients return to full activity with no restrictions.  The patient should communicate what activities they would like to return to with their orthopedic surgeon and physical therapist to see if any precautions should be taken

What should be expected from physical therapy after Total Knee Replacement?

Most Total Knee Replacement surgeries are performed “outpatient” with a patient returning home that day.  Outpatient physical therapy is scheduled usually about a week after the procedure. 

For weeks 1 – 4, the goal is to reduce post-surgical swelling, increase range of motion of the knee, and begin light strengthening and stabilization of the knee.

For weeks 5-10, the goal is to achieve maximum range of motion of the knee, increase strengthening activities, and begin process to return to basic activity function.

For weeks 10 and on, the goal is to gradually return the patient to recreational activity function, maintain strength and endurance, and return patient to full function.

Aquatic Therapy after Breast Cancer

Aquatic Therapy has been shown to benefit in the recovery of post-mastectomy patients. Often after breast cancer treatment patients can experience muscle and tissue contracture and lymphedema.

Lymphedema is the swelling of tissues due to the build-up of lymph fluid in the body. This is a common side effect for many patients after cancer treatment and can lead to pain and potential infection. Physical Therapy, including aquatic therapy after breast cancer has been found to be a great treatment option to help reduce lymphedema.

Post-Mastectomy patients can experience significant muscle and tissue contracture. Aquatic therapy is a great option for breaking up tissue adhesions, increasing range of motion, and strengthening.

Why Aquatic Exercise after breast cancer/post-mastectomy?

• Warm water provides resistance, assisting in venous return.

• Hydrostatic Pressure provides compression which decreases edema

• Muscle contractions improves lymphatic flow.

• Exercises in the water help to improve ROM, posture, and endurance.

Pritchette Physical Therapy offers aquatic therapy after breast cancer. Contact our office at 480-785-5415 for more information and to schedule your appointment.

How Scraping Technique can help with injury recovery

What is Scraping Technique?

Scraping is a treatment technique using tools which enables clinicians to efficiently locate and treat soft tissue tightness and injury. The scraping instruments help break up these adhesions and restore normal tissue mobility, just like any other form of soft tissue mobilization or deep tissue massage. This technique is used in conjunction with soft tissue work, joint mobilization, and/or therapeutic exercise, thus correcting many musculoskeletal issues that cause pain.

What should be expected from Scraping Technique?

Scraping is performed by a trained physical therapist and is a very safe technique. The treatment itself can be uncomfortable, it is pretty common to experience some discomfort, petechiae, or redness during the treatment and some soreness the day after treatment. In rare cases, some bruising may occur which may last for 24-48 hours.

What are the benefits of Scraping Technique?

Scraping benefits the injury healing process by reducing pain, increasing range of motion, removing tissue adhesions, and swelling reduction.

When would my physical therapy treatment include Scraping Technique?

Your physical therapist will determine if the Scraping Technique is right for you. Common conditions that my benefit from the Scraping Technique are tendonitis and strain/sprain injuries.

Both our Ahwatukee and Ahwatukee Foothills locations have trained physical therapists that can utilize this technique in treating a wide variety of conditions. Contact our office at 480-785-5415 to learn more.

Long Arc Quadriceps Exercise: Knee Pain Series

WHAT IS KNEE PAIN?

Pain in or around the knee may indicate a condition affecting the knee joint itself or the soft tissue around the knee. Knee pain is a common problem that plagues millions of individuals worldwide and is one of the most common conditions treated in physical therapy. Though very common, the underlying cause of knee pain can be multifactorial and should be thoroughly evaluated by a medical professional to ensure the most appropriate treatment plan is prescribed to you to best address your deficits.

COMMON CAUSES OF KNEE PAIN

Knee pain can have causes that aren't due to underlying disease. Examples include heavy physical activity, muscular imbalances, injuries such as sprains or strains, sedentary lifestyle, or decreased joint mobility. Knee pain can also be referred from other areas of the body which is why it is important for a thorough medical evaluation.

HOME TREATMENTS

If you have pain, swelling, or lack of mobility or stability in your knee, it is highly recommended that you seek medical attention for your knee pain. The treatment outlined below is only a first-aid measure. Please seek medical advice before moving forward with any other treatments/interventions. 

• Rest - Discontinue activities causing or increasing your knee pain

• Ice - Apply ice to the affected area to help reduce swelling and pain. Apply for no more than 20 minutes at a time and be sure to place a towel between the ice pack and your skin to avoid nerve or tissue damage. A good rule is 15 minutes on, 45 minutes off.

• Compression - Use an ACE bandage or knee compression sleeve to reduce fluid build-up and improve stability in the knee. The compression should be applied as to not restrict blood flow to the lower leg. If you notice that your foot or toes are changing colors or are becoming numb, the bandaging is too tight. 

• Elevate - To reduce swelling, elevate the knee above the level of your heart by placing some form of bolster, like a pillow, under your knee while lying down. 

EXERCISES FOR KNEE PAIN

In Exercises for Knee Pain: In physical therapy we use exercises to strengthen and stabilize the knee to help reduce pain and improve function. We progress these exercises based on the recovery of the affected area and each patient’s tolerance to activity. Here are some basic knee exercises that we use in the early stages of treating knee pain that can easily be performed at home. Please consult with a medical provider before beginning any exercise program.

• Short Arc Quad Knee Exercise

• Long Arc Quad Knee Exercise

• Clamshell Exercise

• Straight Leg Raise

• Quad Sets

Check out our YouTube Channel for descriptions on how to perform these exercises or if you have any questions about your knee pain please call us at 460-785-5415 to schedule a consultation with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy.

Long Arc Quadriceps Exercise

The Long Arc Quadriceps exercise is a great exercise to help strengthen the quadriceps muscle.

The exercise can be performed sitting on the edge of a table or in a chair by slowly straightening the leg to be exercised. Keep your toes/ankle pulled back towards you as you straighten your leg. Hold this position for 2-3 seconds. Watch the video below for a visual description on how to perform this exercise.