DRY NEEDLING

What is Dry Needling?

Dry Needling is a treatment technique that uses a small sterile solid filament needle to treat muscle trigger points. A muscle trigger point is a highly localized, hyper-irritable spot within a palpable, taut band of skeletal muscle fibers. These muscle trigger points – which are located throughout the human body – play a role in producing and sustaining feelings of pain and discomfort. Trigger points develop in muscle for various reasons including referred or local pain, inflammation, tissue injury or other causes. Studies from the United States have shown that trigger points were the primary source of pain in as many as 85% of pain-related appointments with a primary care doctor.

Who should be treated with Dry Needling?

Dry needling can be used for a variety of musculoskeletal problems where muscles, fascial restrictions, and/or scar tissue are thought to be a primary contributing factor. Dry Needling is prescribed as a part of an overall care plan and can be a natural extension of quality hands on therapy. To be effective, Dry Needling should not be performed as an isolated treatment, but as part of a comprehensive care plan.

• Neck Pain
• Back pain
• Shoulder pain
• Elbow pain
• Knee pain
• Post operative scar tissue dysfunction
• Headaches
• Muscle strains
• Posture dysfunction

How does Dry Needling work?

While the exact mechanisms of action of dry needling on trigger points is not known, there are documented mechanical and biochemical effects. Inserting a needle into a trigger point can cause favorable biochemical changes, known as a local twitch response. It is essential to elicit this local twitch response to reduce pain. Achieving a local twitch responses with dry needling is the first step in breaking the pain cycle to reduce pain. Occasionally, insertion of the needle will also reproduce “referred pain” symptoms. This is often a positive sign confirming the trigger point as being the source of the pain.

How is Dry Needling different from acupuncture?

There are many similarities and some differences between dry needling and acupuncture. Both use a small sterile solid filament, however, their intention is different. Traditional acupuncture follows Eastern Medicine’s key principle of holistic treatment and is based on normalizing ones Chi. Dry Needling emphasis is on restoring normal muscle function through direct treatment of muscle trigger points.

Are the needles sterile?

Yes. We only use sterile disposable needles.

Is Dry Needling safe?

Our highly trained certified clinicians go to great lengths to ensure patient safety through our extensive training as well as years of education of human anatomy and experience. We apply OSHA standards, use personal protective equipment, and proudly hold ourselves to the highest standards of safety. Dry Needling treatments are only performed by our Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapists who are highly skilled manual therapists, with advanced training in anatomy, musculoskeletal function and dysfunction.

How will I feel after being treated with Dry Needling?

Most patients report being sore after the procedure. The soreness is described as muscle soreness over the area treated and into the areas of referred symptoms. Typically, the soreness lasts between a few hours and two days and feels like you’ve had an intense workout at the gym. A patient may also feel tired, nauseous, emotional, and/or somewhat “out of it” after treatment. This is a normal response that typically only lasts an hour or two.

What should I do after having the procedure done?

Our recommendations vary depending on the amount of soreness you have and on the individual response to the treatment. Recommendations may include applying heat or ice over the area, gentle stretches, increasing hydration and modifications of activities.

SPORTS REHABILITATION

Whether you’re a weekend warrior or a competitive athlete, you know how frustrating it is when an injury keeps you side-lined. The physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy can help you recover from a sports injury and get you back to your sport as quickly and safely as possible.

Types of Sports Injuries

Sports injuries depend on the nature of the sport, but some of the most common sports injuries include:

• Sprains and strains — involves injury to the ligaments or muscles that surround a joint, often occurring when the tissues are overstretched or torn by excessive force or movement.
• Tendinitis — involves inflammation of the tendons that attach muscles to bones and occurs due to overuse or repetitive strain on a joint.
• Knee injury — involves injury to the cartilage, ligaments, tendons, or bones of the knee, often occurring due to improper body mechanics, overuse, or trauma.
• Achilles tendon injury — involves injury to the tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. This injury typically occurs with repetitive or sudden movements that overstretch, tear, or rupture the tendon.
• Shin splints — involves tenderness and pain in the front of the shin bone and usually occur due to overuse, stress fracture, muscle imbalance or faulty footwear.
• Rotator cuff injury — involves injury to the group of tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint (supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, and subscapularis). Rotator cuff injuries include inflammation, impingement, or tears and are the result of degeneration, overuse, or trauma.
• Fracture — involves a break or crack in the bone that occurs due to overuse or trauma.
• Dislocation — involves movement of the joint beyond its normal position. This injury occurs due to trauma, including sudden impact or movement, falls, or contact sports.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Sports Injuries

Physical therapy helps athletes recover from sports injuries and prevent future injuries.

If you’ve suffered a sports injury, contact Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy today to start a customized sports rehabilitation program, allowing you to get back to the sport you love as quickly and safely as possible.

The Role of Physical Therapy for Sports Injuries

After a comprehensive evaluation, your physical therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan that includes hands-on therapy and sport-specific functional exercises. The goals of physical therapy include decreasing pain, correcting biomechanical imbalance, increasing muscle strength and core stability, improving range of motion, increasing endurance, restoring and improving function, and preventing re-injury.

FITNESS AND WELLNESS

Fitness and wellness are interrelated concepts that are essential for both physical and mental health. Fitness is your ability to perform physical activities, such as your daily tasks, work activities, and sports, without feeling tired or suffering an injury. Wellness refers to being in a state of optimal health and well-being, including physical, emotional, and social aspects of your life. The friendly and knowledgeable physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy can help you live a healthy and happy life, full of energy and free from pain.

At Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy, you will discover how to achieve the pinnacle of healthy living, expand your boundaries, feel younger, and revitalize your health. Our physical therapists can create a customized total health and wellness plan that includes specific exercise recommendations that will help you meet your fitness and wellness goals.

Benefits of Fitness and Wellness

Fitness and wellness are essential for living a healthy and happy life. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, including regular physical activity and eating a balanced diet, allows you to enjoy a variety of health benefits, such as improved cardiovascular health, increased muscle strength and endurance, increased mobility, improved posture, improved body composition, increased energy, decreased stress and anxiety, improved sleep quality, enhanced cognitive functioning and more!

At Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy, our therapists know that every patient is different. They will assess you and create an individualized program to help set you on the right track toward a healthy life.

Whether you are recovering from an injury, want to improve your core strength and balance, or simply want to get active to feel better, Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy’s fitness and wellness programs can help you. Contact us today to learn more about our fitness and wellness programs.

CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT

Concussion management involves the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of concussions. Physical therapy plays a vital role in concussion management, allowing you to recover from the physical, cognitive, and emotional issues caused by concussions.

The physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy will assess your symptoms and develop an individualized treatment plan based on your needs, allowing you to safely return to sports, school, work, and play.

What Is a Concussion?

A concussion is a brain injury that happens following a significant impact to your head that causes acceleration or deceleration of your brain within your skull. This impact causes a biomechanical imbalance within your brain cells that results in decreased blood flow and temporary energy deficits within your brain, leading to symptoms of concussion.

Symptoms of concussion vary depending on the nature of your injury and may include loss of consciousness, headache, neck pain, dizziness, nausea or vomiting, balance issues, irritability, fatigue, muscle weakness and spasms, and weight changes. Symptoms of concussion typically resolve in 7 to 10 days; however, actual brain recovery can take much longer.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Concussion Management

Physical therapy provides individualized care that addresses your physical, mental, emotional, and social needs, allowing you to safely return to sports, school, work, and play.

If you or a loved one has suffered a concussion, call Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy to learn more about our concussion management program.

The Role of Physical Therapy in Concussion Management

Your physical therapist will develop an individualized treatment plan, using a variety of techniques and exercises to address specific issues caused by your concussion, such as balance problems, vision disturbances, headache, neck pain, fatigue, and mood changes. Some common treatment options include manual therapy, vestibular rehabilitation, vision therapy, stretching and strengthening exercises, and cardiovascular exercise, as well as education and counseling for managing symptoms, returning to normal activities, and preventing further injury.

FOOT THERAPY

Your feet absorb the impact of each step you take. The lower part of your body is an intricate interplay of bones, tendons, and joints, so regardless of your activity level, you may experience some type of ankle or foot pain during your lifetime.

The physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy can determine the underlying cause of your foot or ankle pain and create an individualized treatment plan to decrease pain, improve function, and enhance your quality of life.

Types of Foot Problems

There are numerous foot problems; some of the more common ones include balance and mobility issues, heel spurs, bunions, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendonitis, sprained ankles, dropped arches, arthritis, sports injuries, post-surgical pain, and non-specific foot pain.

Causes of Foot Problems

Mechanical problems with your feet, including abnormal foot biomechanics, muscle imbalance, poor training technique, and improper footwear are common causes of foot problems. Other causes of foot problems include injury, aging, arthritis, illness, and infection.

The Benefits of Foot Therapy

Foot therapy helps to decrease pain, improve mobility, and restore the normal functioning of your foot. Foot therapy also helps to prevent foot problems by promoting good foot hygiene and advising on proper footwear.

Our team at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy can help manage your foot pain to help you enjoy pain-free walking.

If you or a loved one are suffering symptoms of a foot problem, contact us to learn more about our foot therapy program.

The Role of Foot Therapy for Foot Problems

Foot therapy addresses the underlying cause of your foot problem. Physical therapists use soft tissue and manual therapy, where they apply pressure and manipulation to specific areas of your foot. These techniques help to relax the muscles of your foot, improve blood circulation to the area, and restore normal movement of your foot. They may also use a combination of modalities, including ice, heat, ultrasound, or electric stimulation, to improve your symptoms. Stretching and strengthening exercises for the lower leg and foot, as well as gait retraining, may also be part of your foot therapy program. In some cases, your physical therapist may recommend an orthotic to help correct foot abnormalities, such as heel spurs and collapsed arches.

Your physical therapist will also advise you on preventive foot health. This includes advice on proper footwear, foot hygiene, and ways to avoid further injury.

Orthotics

Orthotics are customized shoe inserts designed to treat, manage or prevent various problems that may limit how you move and feel. Our physical therapists look at the big picture when deciding how to use orthotic therapy. Customization takes place throughout the entire process of orthotic development. It starts with how the mold is taken of your feet. Then a style of the orthotic is selected to best fit your shoes and treat the problem. Additional adjustments may be made once the orthotic has been fabricated to create the most comfortable fit possible. Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy has an in-house orthotics lab, allowing most adjustments to be made during your visit and reduces the turnaround time that it takes to make custom orthotics.

HEARING TESTS

Hearing tests, including pure-tone testing, speech testing, middle ear testing, and auditory brainstem response testing, are essential for determining the type and degree of your hearing loss. The certified audiologists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy will perform a comprehensive hearing assessment to create an individualized treatment plan that is tailored to your needs.

Pure-Tone Testing

This test allows your audiologist to evaluate unilateral hearing loss (hearing loss in only one ear). It determines the faintest tones that you’re able to hear at a variety of pitches.

For this test, you sit in a specially designed sound booth wearing headphones. A series of tones will be played through the headphones, and every time you hear a tone, you will either press a button or raise your hand. Your results are recorded at the end of the test on an audiogram, which provides a visual representation of how well you can hear.

Puretone testing can evaluate children as young as 5 years old. In children younger than 5, the test needs to be modified to the child’s ability. For example, children aged 2 to 5 years can be tested with conditioned play audiometry, which involves the child performing a task, such as stacking a block, every time they hear a tone.

Speech Testing

This test allows your audiologist to measure your ability to understand speech. Your audiologist reads a list of words and then asks you to repeat the list of words back to them. Speech testing determines your speech reception threshold (SRT) and your word recognition score (WRS), which are recorded on your audiogram.

Middle Ear Testing

Middle ear testing includes tympanometry and acoustic reflex testing to determine how well your middle ear works. This testing is especially important in children, as they are prone to middle ear infections.

Tympanometry is an exam to determine if there is earwax or fluid buildup within the middle ear or a perforated eardrum. For this test, air is gently introduced into the ear and the amount the eardrum moves is measured and recorded on a tympanogram.

Acoustic reflex provides your audiologist with further information about the location of your hearing issue. The acoustic reflex is when a muscle in your middle ear contracts in response to hearing a loud sound. A probe is placed in your ear, and a range of tones is played to measure your acoustic reflex.

Benefits of Hearing Tests

Hearing tests help to detect and identify the cause, type, and degree of your hearing loss. This allows your audiologist to determine the best solution to improve your hearing and quality of life.

If you’re suffering from hearing loss, contact the certified audiologists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy to receive a comprehensive hearing test and get started on the path toward better hearing.

Auditory Brainstem Response

The auditory brainstem response (ABR) test provides your audiologist with information about how well your cochlea and auditory pathway are working. Electrodes are placed on your head to record brain activity while a series of tones is played.

ORTHOPEDIC HEALTH

Orthopedic health encompasses the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Having a healthy musculoskeletal system is important for performing activities of daily living, working, exercising, and enjoying your hobbies. Orthopedic issues can have a negative impact on both your physical and mental health, leading to pain and decreased mobility, stress, anxiety, and depression. Therefore, it’s important to consult a qualified orthopedic specialist if you are experiencing musculoskeletal symptoms. The skilled Physical Therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy can help you overcome your pain or mobility issues.

The Musculoskeletal System

Your musculoskeletal system helps to provide stability and support to your body and allows you to move. It’s divided into two systems: the muscular and the skeletal systems.

• The muscular system includes all types of muscles in your body, as well as the tendons that attach your muscles to your bones.
• The skeletal system includes the bones of your body, which connect to form joints that provide your body with a skeleton. Accessory structures, including cartilage, ligaments, and bursae, provide form and function to your bones and joints.

Symptoms of musculoskeletal problems include pain, loss of motion, inflammation, stiffness, numbness, weakness, instability, or deformity.

Benefits of Orthopedic Health

Musculoskeletal conditions can be managed and even reversed with proper exercise and movement. The physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy can help accelerate your body’s natural healing processes and get you moving again.

At Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy, we offer free consultations to determine if your condition may benefit from a Physical Therapy visit to evaluate and diagnose your musculoskeletal pain. Our skilled physical therapists will create an individualized treatment plan tailored to your needs and establish goals to help manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life.

If you or a loved one are suffering from musculoskeletal pain or mobility issues, contact us today to learn more about our orthopedic health program.

What Is Orthopedic Health?

Orthopedic health covers a variety of conditions, including arthritis, osteoporosis, spinal pain, fractures, sprains, strains and tears, work and sports injuries, and joint replacements, as well as congenital deformities.

The goals of orthopedic physical therapy are to decrease pain, restore motion and improve function, which allows you to return to your normal activities. Orthopedic specialists use a variety of techniques, including education, manual therapy, and exercises, as well as orthopedic devices, including orthotics, prosthetics, casts, braces, taping, and splints, to achieve these goals.

VESTIBULAR REHABILITATION

Vestibular rehabilitation therapy (VRT) is a type of physical therapy that helps treat dizziness, vertigo, and balance problems. VRT involves specific exercises that stimulate your vestibular system and train your brain to adapt to changes in your inner ear and visual fields to reduce your risk of falling and improve your quality of life.

The physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy will perform a thorough assessment of your condition to develop an individualized treatment plan that may include VRT to manage your symptoms.

The Basics of the Vestibular System

The vestibular system is part of your nervous system and helps to maintain your balance and orientation in space. Your vestibular system is essential for performing many tasks, such as standing, walking, and running.

The vestibular system consists of two main components: the central vestibular system and the peripheral vestibular system.

• Central vestibular system — located in the brainstem and cerebellum, this system receives signals from the peripheral vestibular system and other sensory systems, including proprioception and vision. The central vestibular system processes these signals and sends commands to your eyes and muscles to adjust your eye movements and posture.
• Peripheral nervous system — located in your inner ear and includes the semicircular canal, the utricle, and the saccule. These structures contain sensory cells, called cilia, that detect movement and the position of your head.

Injuries, infections, tumors, or aging can interfere with the normal functioning of your vestibular system, leading to symptoms such as dizziness, hearing loss, tinnitus, and nausea. These symptoms can lead to an increased risk of falling.

BPPV

Benign Positional Proximal Vertigo (BPPV) is a specific type of vestibular disorder for which physical therapy is very effective in its treatment. In BPPV, people describe a feeling of spinning or an illusion of movement with head and positional changes.

BPPV is…

Most common cause of vertigo in adults.
Cause of 50% of all dizziness in adults over 65 years old.
Age of inset commonly between 50 and 70 years old.
Can be associated with head trauma/concussion.

Our physical therapist will perform an assessment including a detailed history of your symptoms and their pattern, medication use, what prior treatment you have, and relevant past medical history. Once we understand you and your symptoms we will then select the appropriate tests to help us determine the cause of your symptoms and then provide an individualized treatment and home exercise program to meet your goals.

Conditions Treated With Vestibular Rehabilitation

Vestibular rehabilitation can be beneficial for numerous conditions, including benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson’s Disease, inner ear issues such as labyrinthitis and vestibular neuritis, dizziness associated with migraine, post-concussion, traumatic brain injury (TBI), musculoskeletal balance disorders, and neck-related dizziness and vertigo. Vestibular rehabilitation can also be beneficial for seniors who are at risk of falling.

BACK & NECK

Lower back pain is a common condition, with more than 80% of the population experiencing an episode of back pain at some point in their lives. Most cases of lower back pain subside within a few weeks; however, if the pain persists for more than 3 months, it is considered chronic. Chronic lower back pain negatively impacts your daily activities, work, sleep, and overall quality of life.

The physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy can determine the underlying cause of your chronic lower back pain and create an individualized treatment plan to decrease your pain, improve function, and enhance your quality of life.

Symptoms of Chronic Back Pain

Symptoms of chronic lower back pain vary depending on the underlying cause and severity of your pain. Common symptoms of chronic lower back pain include a deep pain or ache in your lower back and pain that increases with certain movements, including bending, twisting, or lifting. The pain may radiate down into your buttocks, legs, or feet and may be accompanied by weakness, tingling, or numbness. You may also experience lower back stiffness, muscle spasm, or muscle tightness. Symptoms of chronic low back pain can cause difficulties sleeping or resting and can make performing daily activities difficult.

Causes of Chronic Back Pain

Chronic lower back can be age-related, but can also occur due to pregnancy, overuse, injury, poor posture and body mechanics, unstable core muscles, gait abnormalities, and prolonged mental health conditions, such as stress or depression. Additionally, spinal conditions such as spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal), compression fractures, or osteoarthritis, as well as disc issues, such as disc bulging or herniation, can cause chronic low back pain.

Benefits of Physical Therapy for Chronic Back Pain

Physical therapy helps to reduce chronic lower back pain, improve function, prevent further injury, and enhance quality of life.

If you or a loved one are struggling with chronic lower back pain, contact the physical therapists at Proliance Pacific Rim Physical Therapy today to get started on a path toward pain-free living.

The Role of Physical Therapy for Chronic Back Pain

Physical therapy addresses the underlying cause of your chronic lower back pain. Physical therapists use a combination of therapies, including appropriately dosed exercise, manual therapy including manipulation, dry needling, electric stimulation, soft tissue therapy, and class IV Laser to relieve symptoms. Scientifically dosed stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as specific postural exercises to promote core stabilization, are the key to long-term functional improvements and prevention of further injury. Patient education in the science of pain is also extremely important as individuals with back pain often become very anxious and hyper-focused on their symptoms, resulting in fear avoidance behaviors.. Physical therapists educate patients on strategies to manage symptoms and prevent further injury so that they can continue to function and avoid the reoccurrence of pain.