Functional Dry Needling

Dry Needling is a general term for a therapeutic treatment procedure that involves multiple advances of a filament needle into the muscle in the area of the body which produces pain and typically contains a trigger point. There is no injectable solution and typically the needle that is used is very thin. Most patients will not even feel the needle penetrate the skin, but once it advances into the muscle, the discomfort can vary from patient to patient. Usually a healthy muscle feels very little discomfort upon insertion of the needle; however, if the muscle is sensitive and shortened or contains active trigger points, the subject may feel a sensation much like a muscle cramp, often referred to as a ‘twitch response”.

The twitch response also has a biochemical characteristic to it which likely affects the reaction of the muscle, symptoms and response of the tissue. Along with the health of the tissue, the expertise of the practitioner can also attribute to the variation of discomfort and outcome. The patient may only feel the cramping sensation locally or they may feel a referral of pain or similar symptoms for which they are seeking treatment. A reproduction of their pain can be a helpful diagnostic indicator of the cause of the symptoms. Patients soon learn to recognize and even welcome this sensation, as it results in deactivating the trigger point, reducing pain and restoring normal length and function of the involved muscle. Typically, positive results are apparent within 2-4 treatment sessions but can vary depending on the cause and duration of the symptoms, overall health of the patient, and experience level of the practitioner.

Dry needling is an effective treatment for acute and chronic pain, rehabilitation from injury, and even pain and injury prevention, with very few side effects. This technique is unequaled in finding and eliminating neuromuscular dysfunction that leads to pain and functional deficits.

ASTYM

Astym® treatment is a therapy that regenerates healthy soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.), and eliminates or reduces unwanted scar tissue that may be causing pain or movement restrictions. Astym® treatment is highly effective and even works when other approaches routinely fail. One of the main reasons Astym® treatment is so much more effective than other treatments is that it was scientifically developed to resolve the underlying cause of soft tissue problems, rather than just trying to temporarily relieve symptoms. It is one of the most researched and effective therapy treatments available. Astym® treatment is unmatched in its ability to resolve tendinopathies, scar tissue problems, and other soft tissue dysfunctions. Doctors regularly prescribe Astym® treatment specifically for their patients, and elite athletes and knowledgeable patients seek out Astym® treatment for superior results. When your health and ability to stay active is at stake, only the best will do.

Generally, chronic soft tissue problems are due to scarring or degeneration. Soft tissues include muscles, tendons and ligaments. Both scarring and degeneration are common and can result in pain and limitations in movement.

The body’s soft tissues degenerate when inadequate healing occurs, and over time the tissues degrade. Degenerated tissues are weak and prone to injury. Degeneration can be caused by many factors, including age, intense use, improper movement, weakened muscles putting extra stress on other tissues, disease, etc. Most chronic tendinopathies are primarily degenerative in nature.

Scarring can happen on top of the skin, but often the biggest problems come from scar tissue that forms inside the body around joints, muscles, tendons and/or ligaments. The body naturally lays down some scar tissue in response to irritation or injury. The fibrous, strong scar tissue is meant to reinforce an area, but often it ends up restricting movement and causing pain. The causes of problem scar tissue can be injury (such as a sprained ankle, car accident, etc.), a surgery (good surgery can be done, but the body’s response with scar tissue can prevent a full recovery), intense or over use of soft tissues (such as sports, repetitive work, activity beyond your fitness level, etc.), sprains or other strains on soft tissues.

Golf Fitness Instructor  (TPI)

Level 1 Certification is designed for any golf, fitness or medical professional looking to expand their knowledge of how the body influences the golf swing. TPI has generated swing and physical data on well over 60,000 golfers of all skill levels, from the top players in the world, to weekend enthusiasts. Through years of research and with the help of the TPI Advisory Board, TPI developed what is now their core philosophy, The Body-Swing Connection.

The Level 1 online class and two-day live workshop teaches students the fundamental concepts of the Body-Swing Connection; how many of the most common swing characteristics and loss of swing efficiency are directly connected to how the body is functioning. Students learn TPI’s physical assessment screen, how the screen results are connected to swing characteristics, and drills and exercises to get your client back on track. At the live workshop, students take what they’ve learned online and apply it in real life cases to become proficient and confident.

Return to Work Services

• General Physical Therapy for Worker’s Comp/Auto
  • Initiating therapies to decrease pain, improve range of motion and restore function for activities of daily living and eventually work related tasks
• Work Hardening/Conditioning
  • A program that focuses on restoring body strength, which will prepare the employee for the physical demands of their unique work environment
• Functional Capacity Evaluations
  • Team Rehab provides evidence based, legally defensible FCEs to analyze an injured worker’s ability to perform functional work activities.
• Ergonomic Evaluations
  • Identifies aspects of the work environment that increase risk of injury and helps to resolve ergonomic challenges
• Job Site Evaluations
  • Evaluation of job-site used to formulate an individualized return-to-work plan
• Disability Evaluations
  • Team Rehab can provide objective, functional outcome measures so you can make a more accurate decision on disability for your patients/clients.

Certified Integrated Manual Therapist

The Synthesis course will be a four day course with study materials and will integrate all of the program courses together. The course will also add in advanced techniques in all areas, “connect the dots” of the material from each course and help shape your thinking about treating dysfunction. The final day of this course will be a comprehensive written, oral, and lab examination which, if passed, will allow a person to become a Certified Integrated Manual Therapist.