Physical Medicine

Physical medicine includes various specialized mechanical or manual procedures to aid in alignment, motion or function of spinal joints and their relationship with the muscular and nervous system. The procedures consist of physical manipulation, physical therapy, acupuncture and massage. The sessions may be supplemented with exercise, physiotherapy modalities, and nutritional recommendations. Claims made for the benefits of spinal, joint, and muscular adjustments range from temporary analgesic or pain relieving effects to long term wellness and preventive care.

In general, chiropractic care refers to the treatment of the musculoskeletal systems (including the spine and other joints) & its connection to the nervous system. Our chiropractic care includes non-invasive, drug-free treatments in which doctors will get hands-on to align the spine or joints, restoring function and allowing your body to heal itself.  Depending on what your needs are, it can be used alone, or along with other medical treatments.

The most common practice in chiropractic care is for the spine, providing adjustments to the proper joints in order to relieve back pain caused by stand-alone injuries, or long-term, repetitive stress. In addition to back pain, our chiropractors can also treat:

• Sports injuries
• Migraines
• Neck pain
• Arthritis and joint pain
• Scoliosis
• A variety of other ailments such as ear infections, asthma and blood pressure

The original physical manipulation was a variation of a procedure known today as spinal manipulation. Manipulation of the spine and joints is documented as far back as Hippocrates and the ancient Egyptians and was carried through the ages and to this day, is one of the best tactics to help treat back pain and overall vitality. At Texas Regional Health, we are avid supporters of the physical medicine philosophy, which puts great emphasis on your body’s innate healing wisdom and does not rely on “Band-Aids” like drugs and surgery.

The problem is that a lot of people ignore such practices, thinking that it’s just “pushing bones into place.” However, there’s a whole lot more.  In fact, one of the basic foundations of this health system is “vitalism” – recognizing that the human body has an innate healing intelligence or ‘life force’ that guides and directs your body’s healing process.

Our qualified physicians and practitioners are reliable, as they have received extensive training in the management of musculoskeletal disorders.  Many studies have confirmed that physical manipulation is much safer and less expensive than allopathic medical treatments, especially when used for low-back pain treatment.

What’s more, researchers have also found that adjustments may affect the chemistry of biological processes on a cellular level and can affect the basic physiological processes that profoundly influence oxidative stress, immune function and DNA repair. This means that aside from addressing any immediate spinal misalignment that might cause back pain, physical manipulation care can also help address, prevent and treat deeper dysfunctions in your body.

Our Laser Therapy treatment is phenomenal results for pain relief and rejuvenation. Infrared laser therapy works by stimulating the cytochrome oxidase enzyme in your cells’ mitochondria.  It enhances microcirculation and stimulates the red blood cell flow in the area being treated. Laser therapy helps reduce pain and inflammation and enhances tissue healing in hard and soft tissues, including your muscles, bones, and ligaments. It also returns venous and lymphatic function, as your tissues become oxygenated.

Our laser therapy utilizes three infrared wavelengths that can deeply penetrate into your body to reach areas like your spine and hip. It also costs just a fraction of surgery without exposing you to the side effects of surgery or infections.

Physical Rehab and Therapies attempt to address the illnesses, or injuries that limit a person’s abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Therapists use an individual’s history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan and, when necessary, incorporate the results of laboratory and imaging studies like X-rays, CT-scan, or MRI findings. Electrodiagnostic testing may also be used for nerve conduction velocity testing. Therapy management commonly includes assistance with specific exercises, manual therapy and mechanical devices such as traction and physical agents including heat, cold, electrotherapy and other interventions. In addition, our providers work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles. Functional movement is central to what it means to be healthy.

Getting a massage is another simple strategy we recommend to help ease not only your back pain (and other types of pain), but anxiety as well.  Massage offers real health benefits that are being recognized even by conventional hospitals, making it a standard therapy for surgery patients. Massage releases endorphins that help induce relaxation, relieve pain, and reduce levels of stress chemicals, such as cortisol and noradrenaline. It also reverses the damaging effects of stress by slowing your heart rate, respiration, and metabolism and lowering raised blood pressure.

Massage can:

• Ease your tense and knotted muscles and stiff joints, improving mobility and flexibility
• Relieve pain caused by migraines, labor, fibromyalgia, and even cancer
• Relax and soften your injured and overused muscles, reducing spasms and cramping
• Stimulate your lymph system, which is your body’s natural defense against toxic invaders
• Reduce recovery time for strenuous workouts and eliminate subsequent pains of the athlete at any level
• Provide arthritis pain relief by increasing joint flexibility
• Reduce and realign scar tissue after healing has occurred
• Reduce post-surgery adhesions and edema
• Boost your level of alertness and attention
• Contribute to shorter labor and reduce tearing for expectant mothers
• Decrease symptoms of PMS
• Reduce stress, anxiety and depression, and ease insomnia

At Texas Regional Health, acupuncture is used as a safe and effective natural therapy to heal illness, prevent disease and improve well-being. Research suggests that Acupuncture produces the same effect as some drugs that we consume, such as the increased production of endorphins and the neurogate theory. Acupuncture improves circulation of blood and qi in the body, which has multiple benefits such as reducing pain and inflammation, relieving stress, improving the body’s metabolism and bringing balance and improved functioning to the body’s different systems.

Tiny, hair-thin needles are inserted into specific points in the body, where they are gently stimulated to trigger the body’s natural healing response through returning balance and homeostasis to the body.