At Innovative Muscle Therapy and Pain Center our number one priority is the patient. We have a team approach to our treatment plans, tailoring each plan to the specific needs and goals of each patient. Treatment begins in the office and continues at home with various activities (stretches, rehab, and/or lifestyle modifications) that are unique to each patient’s situation.
At Innovative Muscle Therapy and Pain Center, we specialize in taking a fully body biomechanical approach to helping our patients achieve their “optimal performance,” whether it is for aport or everyday activities. We utilize the highest quality myofascial release techniques, fully body bio-mechanical screenings and traditional chiropractic treatments to identify and treat musculoskeletal imbalances. Each injury is approached from a functional standpoint. Restrictive soft tissues and joints are released and rehabilitative exercises are give to strengthen. This therapy improves the dysfunction while speeding up re-entry back to athletics or everyday activities. Once pain free, the patient is taken through new movement patterns and strengthening exercises to optimize performance.
Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy (Adjusting)
When a joint is fixated or stuck, the doctor utilizes a chiropractic manipulation or an adjustment to help restore the normal motion and function. Our manipulative therapy techniques are based on current medical research and proper joint biomechanics. Generally, this technique employs gentle pressure or a shallow thrust to restore optimal motion. An adjustment is sometimes accompanied by a pop, which results from the joint’s release of nitrogen gas (the same pop heard when one “cracks their knuckles”). Neurologically, an adjustment will inhibit pain nerves, help relax muscles, and will improve neuromuscular coordination.
Motion Palpation Assessment and Adjusting
When a door is not working properly, you would not just examine the door closed but also swing the door to determine if the hinge is freely moving or if the door is out of level. That is what a skilled Motion Palpation Doctor does when examining a patient. This often includes examining patients’ movements as they walk, squat, run or throw and then feeling the specific joint’s movement by hand. Once a restricted joint is identified, this technique offers effective and bio-mechanically correct ways to mobilize the fixated joints, restoring proper function to these areas.
For more information on Motion Palpation please visit: www.motionpalpation.org
Active Release Technique (ART®)
Dr. Mathews treat a multitude of musculoskeletal conditions with a specific form of myofascial release, called Active Release Technique. These conditions range from sciatica, rotator cuff tendonitis and carpal tunnel to tennis elbow, strains or plantar fasciitis. This hands on technique releases the soft tissue, resulting in increased range of motion, enhanced strength, and improved circulation optimizing the healing process. Commonly muscles can compress nerves and Active Release Technique (ART) with specific nerve stretches can help reduce or completely resolve many nerve symptoms down the arm or leg. For more information on ART please visit:www.activereleasetechnique.com
Graston Technique®
With Graston Technique®, Dr. Mathews uses stainless steel instruments to detect and treat areas of scar tissue or adhesion in muscles, tendons, fascia, and ligaments. These instruments act like “scar tissue” stethoscopes to find tissue problems with amazing sensitivity. Graston has proven itself in the current research as a leader in initiating the healing process, regenerating stronger tissue, and managing many musculoskeletal cases. It has proven itself at Innovative Muscle Therapy and Pain Center as a great asset to our manual therapy model. For more information on Graston please visit: www.grastontechnique.com
Functional Rehabilitation
Functional Rehabilitation (Rehab) incorporates functional exercises and activity avoidance, modification, or recommendation to help patients relieve pain and regain normal function of their spine and limbs. To learn these procedures Dr. Mathews was trained by some of the top rehab therapists in the world, from all disciplines including Physical Therapists, PhD’s in Spine Biomechanics, Medical Doctors, and Chiropractors.
Therapy begins by identifying faulty patterns of movement often resulting from poor posture, improper lifting mechanics, muscle imbalances or injury. These improper movements load and stress muscles, ligaments and joints asymmetrically, producing pain and early signs of wear and tear (osteoarthritis).
After identifying the problem and treating the affected tissues, patients at Innovative Muscle Therapy and Pain Center can expect to learn functional rehabilitation procedures for maintaining proper posture, improving lifting mechanics, improving personal exercise programs, and determining Do’s and Don’ts related to their jobs or daily activities. The effectiveness of this treatment protocol depends on the patient’s commitment to their therapeutic exercises and to their doctor’s recommendations.
Care for Temporomandibular Joint
The TMJ is the joint between the jaw or mandible and the skull. It is used every time we chew, talk, or even swallow. Its anatomy as well as its movements are very complex and very often become dysfunctional. This dysfunction can cause pain in the jaw or face, popping or clicking during chewing, limitation of jaw movement, or even headaches/migraines.
Dr. Mathews is highly trained in the evaluation and treatment of this orofacial condition. His conservative approach to temporomandibular dysfunction consists of a detailed examination of the TMJ and its function, as well as the function of the cervical spine (neck). Treatment focuses on first releasing the tension of the proper soft tissues, in some cases mobilizing the jaw or manipulating the neck, and then teaching the patient how to retrain proper jaw motion with rehabilitation exercises. The goal of this treatment is to restore proper function of the joint and stabilize its motion. Many times, there is hope for a clicking jaw, painful joint, or headaches even if a patient has been dealing with the problem for years.
