Kinesio taping was created with the idea that the body is capable of healing itself but has to overcome obstacles in order to do this.  Health care providers are able to help the body overcome these obstacles in a variety of ways to help speed up the healing process.  Kinesio tape is one of the ways that can help speed up the recovery process.  This method is used to aid in soft tissue injury recovery by increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage while helping promote correct muscle and joint functionality. 

Kinesio tape is different from all other tapes because of its ability to stretch and mimic the qualities of the skin on our bodies.  When the tape is applied to the skin at the site of the injury it lifts the skin in order to increase circulation to the area and increase the lymphatic drainage from the area. 

Muscle relaxation for tired or overused muscle can be helped when the tape is applied to the skin form the end of the muscle (insertion) to the beginning of the muscle (origin).  This helps to take some of the tension off of the muscle and allow it to relax.  If a muscle is underused or weak following an injury the tape can be applied from origin to insertion to help increase its ability to function correctly and add some stability to the area.  There are very specific ways that the tape can be manipulated to achieve these goals. 

Kinesio tape must be cut and applied specific ways to each area of the body to get the desired results.  If the tape is not applied correctly it is just tape on your skin and will not help speed up recovery.  If you have been recently injured or have a reoccurring injury make an appointment with Dr Gabriel Caraway D.C. to see if you will benefit from this functional bracing technique.

When people think of injuries they usually think of damage to the bones and joints but don’t consider the damage that is done to the soft tissues that support the bones and joints.  The soft tissues I refer to consist of muscle, ligaments, tendons and fascia. 

Soft tissue injuries can usually be classified as an acute injury (trauma that causes injury instantly) or repetitive micro trauma injuries (repeated minor injuries to the same area that result in a significant injury over time).  When the body repairs soft tissue injuries it forms scar tissue or fibrous adhesions (a mass of tissue made up of collagen and fibrin that fills a tissue gap created by cell death or trauma) in the injured area of soft tissue. 

The problem arises when the repair tissues are not laid down in the same direction or in a smooth fashion like the original soft tissues.  This new tissue helps to stabilize the soft tissue and strengthen the injured area but it can also inhibit the normal function of the tissue due to the added tension and decreased flexibility.  Decreased function will cause pain and inflammation at and around the injury site which can continue to cause pain after the healing is complete.  The normal soft tissue function can be restored with the correct soft tissue manipulation or myofascial release technique. 

The goals of soft tissue techniques are to break apart or release the adhesions that have built up in the injured area to increase range of motion and restore normal function.  As the adhesions are released the injured area will be able to function more efficiently and will alleviate tension and pain.  There are a variety of techniques used to obtain this goal.  Some techniques do this by stretching the injured tissue while pressure is applied to the tissue to break apart the built up adhesions.  Another technique uses specialized instruments that are designed specifically to break apart the adhesions.  These instruments are effective in locating and treating adhesions when they are used by someone with proper training.  Massage is another popular treatment for general muscle tension but it is not always specific enough to get the results one is looking for.

If you are suffering from continued pain following an injury you may need soft tissue manipulation to reduce soft tissue dysfunction.  Call and schedule an appointment with Dr. Gabriel Caraway Chiropractic Physician to let him determine if you can benefit from soft tissue therapy.   

Most adults in the United States are employed and some work as much as fifty percent of their waking hours. Employment allows for individuals to provide for their basic need of food, clothing, shelter and can be uplifting for individual’s self-esteem. Employment does not come without risk. Accidents happen.

Work related injuries are a normal part of the employment environment, and in 2007 in the United States its prevalence was 4.2 per 100 full time workers. This number was down from 4.4 in the year prior. Louisiana followed the declining pattern and its rates decreased from 3.0 to 2.9 per 100 full time workers. The vocations with the most injuries in the magnolia state are truck drivers, nursing aides, orderlies, and stock and material movers. Once an employee is injured there are a wide variety of treatment options, and initial treatment depends on the severity of injury.

Any injury that is potentially life threatening should be immediately seen in the emergency room. Less severe injuries can be evaluated and managed by ones family doctor, chiropractor, or physical/occupational therapist, or a combination of these providers. Commonly recommended medical care includes over the counter and prescription pain medications, anti-inflammatory medication, and muscle relaxers.

Chiropractic care is the drug free, non-invasive form of health care that works to restore normal joint motion and alignment to decrease pain and promote healthy bodily function. Your chiropractor may use a wide variety of passive therapy (such as hot/cold packs, ultrasound, electrical stimulation, mechanical traction) and active rehabilitation to restore the injured worker to pre-injury status.

It is always wise to report all injuries to your employer no matter the severity of the accident. Any symptom that persists should be evaluated by a licensed health care provider. 

Car wrecks are a common occurrence in today’s society.  These accidents contribute to chronic pain and many lost days of work.  The Spine Research Institute has indicated as much as 45% of today’s chronic neck pain sufferers are ailing as a direct result of a previous motor vehicle collision (MVC).  It is estimated that between one and three million automobile crashes occur annually that result in bodily injury.  

Whiplash injuries (acceleration / deceleration injuries) are the most common cause of bodily damage following a vehicular crash.  These type injuries are the result of rapid forward acceleration of the body at the time of impact, then deceleration of the body, which is accomplished by the bodies own reflexes to slow down the forward acceleration.  It takes only a few hundredths of a second for this injury mechanism to occur.  Research is ongoing to develop new safer methods and equipment to reduce the incidence of these type injuries.                 

New research emphasis to reduce the number and magnitude of automobile occupant injuries involves two approaches.  The first involves technology and equipment to reduce the number of crashes due to human error.  A few examples of this include: more clearly marked road signs, brighter road reflectors to distinguish lanes, better road drainage to reduce water build up on roads, and more user friendly inside automobile control dials to aid in safer operation of the vehicle while driving.  The second approach involves vehicle design.  Manufactures are placing a higher priority on avoidance of crash and occupant safety by designing the vehicles to absorb more of the impact during collisions, thus diverting the danger away from the occupant, and improving the vision of the driver.  This has been accomplished by using new composite material designed to absorb more of the impact, safer bumpers, collapsible engines, improved windshield design, and better headlamps.  These are a few of the ongoing safety approaches that have been documented to save lives and reduce occupant injury.            

More common safety devices used in automobiles include airbags, seat belts, harnesses, head restraints, antilock breaks, and child seats.  Airbags are deployed to protect the occupant from striking hard surfaces such as steering wheels, dash boards, and windshields.  Airbags are most effective when used in conjunction with a seat belt and harness and is deployed toward the occupant at somewhere between 165 and 210 mph.  Because airbags are deployed at such a great speed, their force sometimes causes injuries that would have otherwise been avoided.  Head restraints have been mandated in all passenger vehicles in the United States since 1969.  Head restraints, specifically designed to reduce whiplash type injuries, are the adjustable cushions attached to the seat behind the head.  The purpose of head restraints are to reduce backward movement of the head during rear impact collisions.  Antilock breaks are designed to allow maximum breaking on dry or wet surfaces while at the same time, allowing the driver to steer normally.  Child safety seats are designed to function with the same safety features as an adult seat, without the airbag.  Although all the above devices are designed to protect the occupants against death and bodily damage, multiple injuries producing multiple symptoms do occur.           

The most common symptoms associated with whiplash injuries are; headaches, neck pain, back pain, arm pain, leg pain, dizziness, and blurred vision.  Other symptoms may not be so obvious.  Symptoms may be experienced immediately following a collision, or develop weeks later.  The severity of the injuries and the duration of the symptoms are dependent upon numerous factors.  Some obvious factors include: size of the vehicles involved in the collision, direction of the impact, position of the neck at time of impact, the age of the occupants, occupants gender, preexisting health conditions, and any previous injuries.  Once an accident has occurred, it is important all occupants be thoroughly evaluated for bodily injuries.  

Proper identification of an injury following evaluation is important in deciding appropriate treatment to allow the best recovery possible.             

Treatment duration for whiplash injuries can range anywhere between ten weeks to a life time.  Unfortunately some injuries are permanent and do require a life time of treatment management.  Other more serious injuries may require surgery to repair the damages, however, most injuries respond best with more conservative care including chiropractic management accompanied by other physical medicine modalities, therapeutic exercise, acupuncture, prescription and over the counter medications, home self help treatment, and rest.  The goal of whiplash injury recovery is reduction of internal bleeding (inflammation), reduction of muscle spasms and muscle hyper toxicity, diminish scar tissue formation, restoration of normal posture, and restoring normal spinal and extremity motion.             

The skilled doctors at Caraway & Branch Chiropractic Clinic have extensive training and experience in the evaluation and management of whiplash injuries.  For more information about whiplash injuries, or chiropractic care, go to our website at caraway branch.com.