Treatments

Western Medical Acupuncture

Western Medical Acupuncture can be helpful for:

• Pain relief, particularly when pain is chronic (>3 months duration) e.g. heel pain, shin splints, stress fractures
• Tendon injuries, particularly Achilles and Patellar tendinopathy by stimulating the healing process
• Myofascial release of tightened muscles. Tight calf muscles are a factor in many lower limb and foot problems. Release of the these muscles often results in significant reductions in pain

How does Acupuncture work?

• Local effects – Stimulates nerve fibres in area needles inserted, improving blood
  supply & promoting healing
• Segmental Analgesia –  Insertion of needles stimulates the local nerve all the way up to its specific segment at the spinal cord & has an analgesic (pain relieving) effect in any bone or soft tissue that is supplied by that segment of the spinal cord. This is the main effect of Acunpuncture
• Extrasegmental Analgesia – Nerve impulses stimulated by needles travel to the spinal cord and then to the brainstem. The brainstem has the ability to suppress pain throughout the whole body
• Central regulatory effects – Nerve impulses from Acupuncture needles also go to a part
  of the brain called the Cerebral Cortex where the sensation of needling is registered. This in turn stimulates deeper structures in the brain, the Limbic system and Hypothalamaus, where mood and emotion are regulated. Acupuncture can therefore have a calming effect and improve a patient’s sense of wellbeing.
• Myofascial Trigger Points – When muscles are injured or work in a less than ideal position (i.e. shortened due to tightness in a muscle group), painful knots can develop called trigger points. These taut bands of sensitised muscles may refer pain to other nearby areas. Insertion of needles deactivates trigger points and promotes self healing of the body.

Foot Mobilisation Techniques (FMT)

Are your feet stiff?

Suncoast Podiatry’s Maria Zauner and Chloe Potter are trained in Foot Mobilisation Techniques (FMT)

FMT is a painless and effective method of treating a number of foot and leg disorders. Mobilisations of restricted or stiffened joints are performed in conjunction with strengthening programs to restore joint mobility and flexibility. This treatment is particularly helpful for joint stiffness following immobilisation or disuse.

When joints become injured, through either an acute injury or chronically abnormal loading, connective tissue contractures occur.

Mobilisation of these joints helps break the collagen fibre cross linkages in the connective tissue, thereby freeing the joint.

Patients typically report a feeling of ‘looseness, freedom or smoothness of movement’ after treatement.

Therapeutic Ultrasound

Ultrasound may be used for pain relief in the management of acute injuries. It is thought to improve cellular function by making microscopic gas bubbles near your injury expand and contract rapidly.  This expansion and contraction is thought to speed up the healing process in your injured body part. It is safe and painless.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

Passing a current through soft tissue via electrodes placed on the skin can be useful for the management of acute and chronic pain. The electrical impulses seem to override the pain messages travelling along the nerve pathway to the brain, triggering the brain to release pain killing chemicals.