Tuesday, September 6, 2016

IASTM

Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization or IASTM uses various tools to help chiropractors locate and treat patients diagnosed with soft tissue injuries. The Graston Technique is one of the most popular style of IASTM and can be used to help alleviate limited motion, pain, motor control issues such as coordination and muscle recruitment problems. Common conditions treated with IASTM include rotator cuff injuries, plantar fasciitis, tendinitis, and tendinopathies. An Arlington Massachusetts professional such as Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos can help determine if IASTM is a viable treatment option for you.

About Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization GUASHA_ON_NECK11.jpg
Because most people don’t seek out help for soft tissue injuries until the body is far into the self-healing process, scar tissue forms. When this scar tissue is created, new cells are laid out in a disorganized pattern. This makes it necessary for a medical professional to remodel the tissues in the affected area. This is done by stimulating a local inflammatory response with Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization. This trauma helps the body to reabsorb inappropriate scar tissue and remodel the affected tissues. After this treatment, scar tissue is remodeled and movement is improved.

During an Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) treatment, mild discomfort can occur. Patients typically experience soreness for a day or two after their session. Also, bruising may occur too (if you bruise easily). Results vary from patient to patient, but most receive two treatments per week in a month’s time. Most patients have a positive response after the first week of treatments. During the session, the tissue is warmed up, the treatment is done and light exercise is done to promote proper movement.

To learn more about Instrument-Assisted Soft-Tissue Mobilization, call 781-641-4482 today.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Chiropractic effective in chronic pain unresponsive to Physical Therapy

I wanted to share this case with you because it highlights how Chiropractic and physical therapy are different and each excels at different things. Many people, especially primary care doctors, start off with physical therapy because of familiarity. This case is a perfect example of how not considering Chiropractic Care early on can lead to greater expense and a lot of wasted time.

This unfortunate patient had a fish hook go through the front of his ankle in Camp a year ago. He had the typical wound care to avoid infection of the puncture wound.  Shortly thereafter he developed paresthesia (almost like numbness) and tingling in the medial foot.  He also developed ankle pain on walking and he could not partake in running anymore. This was significant for the patient because he was a cross country runner on his school team.

He started care for several months of physical therapy but he's tingling and inability to walk long and run continued. He proceeded to have an MRI which showed nothing of significance aside from mild inflammation around a nerve at the ankle presumably causing the tingling.  

The patient was told he had to wait and that hopefully time will take care of it. This is after a year now! Fortunately for the patient one of the Orthopedic Physicians treating him in Rhode Island had heard of our practice and referred them to our office.

On examination the patient revealed the standing posture with pronation of the feet worse on the right side (another way to say flat feet), right lower hip - suggesting sacroiliac joint dysfunction. Range of motion evaluation revealed a 30% reduction in most ranges of motion especially lifting the toes up towards the head called dorsiflexion. This motion is noteworthy because your foot needs to go in that direction to push off when you're walking or running.

Joint evaluation revealed restricted or stuck joints in the right sacroiliac joint or belt line dimple above your buttock, and the subtalar joint at the ankle. I also located a small nodule or bump next one of the tendons that would reproduce the patient's foot tingling.  Very tight tender muscles were also noted at the right posterior calf, and on the leg muscles above the ankle.

Chiropractic management included correction of the sacroiliac joint and ankle joint dysfunction (chiropractic adjustments),  soft tissue mobilization/massage trigger point therapy of the leg muscles, myofascial release of the nerve at the ankle, (IASTM - instrument -assisted soft tissue mobilization that uses dull edge steel foods and ointment used to  break up scar tissue and properly orient muscle and connective tissue fibers).

Immediately after treatment the patient felt a lot better with walking. On the follow-up visit he demonstrated significant improvement in range of motion with only minimal restriction in dorsiflexion (moving foot up).  He was able to walk much better with pain.  

You may watch the follow-up visit with patient testimonial here:


Just one chiropractic manipulation did more then several months of physical therapy.  That's not to say that physical therapy is not effective. Rehabilitative exercise is very important in injury recovery and prevention, however if the structural foundation, (skeleton and joints), is not functioning properly there will be compensatory muscle imbalances that no amount of exercise will correct.  

That is why joint dysfunction chiropractic correction should be one of the first courses of care for musculoskeletal injuries (assuming contraindications like pathology, and severe nerve impingement/compression have been ruled out).  

This is what I tried to explain those not familiar. We do postural screenings in a gym and people will complain of shoulder or other back injuries and then say: "I don't understand why am having this. I exercise!".   If it's not the proper exercise, and the muscles compensate for joint dysfunction, your body will be out of balance and eventually break down some where.

If you're not familiar with chiropractic, or have not been to your chiropractor for a long time, do yourself a favor and go in for an evaluation whether you are in pain or not.  Regular chiropractic care not only optimizes joint mechanics and reduces wear and tear but reduces interference from the nervous system and optimizes function and health overall. 





Monday, July 18, 2016

Massage Treatment

There are many different ways that you can seek out pain relief, depending on the different types of pain that you are suffering from. If you’re struggling with pain and discomfort in your everyday life and you are looking for relief once and for all, then one of the options available to you is massage therapy treatments. When seeking out a licensed practitioner of massage treatments in Arlington, Massachusetts, make sure that you give consideration to Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage in East Arlington.

Benefits of Massage Treatment
Many people surprisingly have never had a massage treatment, and so they do not realize how many therapeutic benefits can be found in something so simple. Massage carries with it many benefits, including the reduction of anxiety, fibromyalgia pain, headaches, insomnia, digestive disorders, myofascial pain and more. Massage therapy can help with sports injuries, soft tissue strain, soft tissue injury, temporomandibular joint pain and more. There are many different types of massage treatment including trigger point massage, Swedish massage, deep massage, and sports massage, so it is important to make sure that you are getting the right type of massage to meet your needs. Choose a massage treatment therapist who is going to address your specific needs and concerns and who will deliver a treatment for the condition that you are looking to have treated for the best results.

Are you ready to overcome what ails you with a comfortable and rewarding massage treatment? Give us a call today at 781-641-4482 to find out about our massage treatments and the other services that we offer at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage.

Saturday, April 23, 2016

Small changes in your morning routine can transform your day and you life!


The quoted article is categorized under productivity and addresses practical issues like time management and scientific health benefits of the recommended changes.  More importantly it offers concrete simple steps that are easy to incorporate and beyond their long lasting health benefits I believe they can actually make you a better person. 

Beyond the basics of proper nutrition and making time to exercise it highlights in an inspirational way the often neglected virtues of meditation, and not neglecting your "passion".  

Everything we do is meaningless routine unless there is a purpose or joy in it.  As I write this I am reminded of finding my purpose, joy and passion in life through meditation many years ago.  Sadly the routine has gotten the better of me lately.  This post motivated me to start again and I hope it may do the same for some of you.  Let's make some positive change together! 

Your in Health

Dr. Nick

http://www.fulfillmentdaily.com/rise-shine-take-control-mornings-transform-entire-day/?utm_content=bufferfa6e5&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Thursday, April 21, 2016

How to transition to a standing desk!

http://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-minute-tips-for-transitioning-to-a-standing-desk/?linkId=22626899
I often joke with patients that the chair and the computer are great for business...because they are horrible to our bodies.  I have been a proponent of getting variable height working surfaces for years to counteract this.  Even if you get up frequently from your desk you are still sitting for too long.  Just standing at your work for 20 minutes / hour can reduce your sitting by a  third of the day - that's significant!  These tips should help you make the transition easier.  Combined with proper stretching and regular chiropractic adjustments they should keep your spine healthy and pain free!  For more information please visit: 

Friday, April 15, 2016

Effective treatment for knee pain without surgery!



With warmer weather finally arising more of us hit the pavement as a great way to enjoy the outdoors and get some exercise. No gym membership needed! The freedom and convenience of walking or running do not come without any downside. Whether you are a weekend warrior, new to running, or switching exercises for the season, you may soon start being limited by knee pain.

Many factors can contribute from foot strike, footwear, running surface, muscle imbalances, hip mechanics or poor conditioning. You may try a typical approach – medicate the pain! However keep in mind medication usually only masks the symptoms of the problem and the underlying mechanical imbalance and the problem can become worse.  In contrast, several studies have shown Chiropractic care to be more beneficial than medication especially in the long run. The following study: (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23026869

Spinal high-velocity low amplitude manipulation in acute nonspecific low back pain: a double-blinded randomized controlled trial in comparison with diclofenac and placebo.) did a 12 week follow up and found : “ spinal manipulation was significantly better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac and clinically superior to placebo.”

Another study dealing with Arthritic Knee pain found that those treated with Chiropractic had increased function (were able to do more) and had less clicking and grinding.

In my own practice of over 20 years I have had several patients that elected to have surgery before following my recommendations. The knee pain continued even after Surgery! Luckily, after proper chiropractic treatment the condition resolved. Don’t expose your health needlessly to the harmful side effects of medication or any drawn out invasive surgical procedures. My approach is very comprehensive, effective, and in many cases we help patients make small lifestyle changes, that create a big difference in their symptoms.

Whether you have knee pain or not, you would benefit from an evaluation / adjustment to get you up and “running” with your outdoor exercise plans. By all means do not go “under the knife” until all the functional issues surrounding the knee have been resolved first!
Enjoy Spring everyone!

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Nicholas Stamoulos, D.C. of Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage in Arlington, MA Utilizes More than Chiropractic Adjustments to Help Patients Feel Better Faster and Stay That Way Longer

At Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage, our mission is to address your health care needs in the best way possible. Your body is a machine and the musculoskeletal system is what keeps this machine running on a daily basis. As a chiropractor, it is Nicholas Stamoulos, D.C.’s job to improve the functionality of your “machine” by removing nerve interference from improperly moving or misaligned spinal joints. Even though Chiropractic Treatment is a powerful therapeutic modality in same cases relief can be only partial or temporary.

Dr. Stamoulos specializes in identifying complicating factors that delay recovery or promote recurrence. Many times simple everyday activities - but done improperly - are the very ones that complicate matters.   Each patient is individually coached in what particular postures, activities, or ergonomic factors need to be corrected. Some can be quick one time changes, others little habits that need to be changed over time. 

By utilizing a combination of manipulation (passive care) and exercise (active care) with specific lifestyle factor changes (changing postures, shoes, pillow, mattress, etc.) Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos, D.C. can restore function that has been lost due to injury, degenerative disorders, or other musculoskeletal conditions. The goal of this comprehensive approach is to give you quickest relief possible (without the harmful side effects of medication or injections). At the same time, establishing better lifestyle habits keeps you pain free and functioning better for the long term.  More importantly we help eliminate or modify activity problems before they turn into disabling or difficult to manage, repetitive strain or chronic pain syndromes.

To learn more about chiropractic treatments, conditions treated and services offered at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage visit www.painlessbody.com for more information.  Our website also features several educational videos, exercise videos, and several other informative resources to improve your health, including links to our facebook, tweeter, and Google+ pages.  To schedule a consultation or to make an appointment with Dr. Stamoulos please call 781-641-4482.