Electrical Muscle Stimulation

There are now many different treatments to help alleviate aches, pains, and injuries of the body. One such treatment we offer at Personal Care Chiropractic in Arlington, MA, is Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS). Your experienced chiropractor, Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos, uses EMS to help reduce pain, swelling, and recovery time in his patients. Dr. Stamoulos is committed to offering his patients different treatments and technologies to help them feel their best.

EMS works great for muscle spasms, soft tissue injuries, and athletes who are looking for a quicker workout recovery time. EMS is popularly used on the back and neck muscles and has been successful in relieving acute and chronic pain. EMS is a simple treatment that only takes a few minutes to perform. Electrodes are placed on the affected areas and an electrical current is transmitted into the soft tissue or muscle. The strength of the current depends on the type of injury, its location, and how deep the therapy is going to be. The muscles experience small but quick contractions, which may make the patient feel a prickly or tingling sensation.

EMS is a great option for patients suffering from:
-Arthritis
-Nerve inflammation
-Cancer-related pain
-Dysphagia
-Fibromyalgia
-Muscle injury from trauma
-Back pain
-Spinal cord injury
-Stroke recovery
-Muscle injury from disease
-Urinary incontinence
-Poor muscle strength
-Surgery recovery

Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage is located at 104 Massachusetts Ave in Arlington, MA 02474. To find out if EMS is right for you or to schedule an appointment, please visit painlessbody.com or call us at 781-641-4482.

Sports Injuries

Being active is a necessity if we want to stay healthy, but sometimes a healthy lifestyle comes with a price. With physical activity comes the risk of sports injuries, the most common being: sprains and strains, swollen muscles, fractures, and/or dislocations. Some sports injuries could result from accidents, while others are due to poor training practices, improper equipment, or lack of conditioning. Whatever the case, Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage can develop an individualized treatment plan to get you back on track and back on the field.

Whether an injury is acute or chronic, you should never “play through the pain.” If you get hurt, you should always practice the RICE method first. RICE stands for “rest, ice, compression, and elevation.” This method has the ability to relieve pain, reduce swelling, and speed up the healing process, but remember that it may be a temporary solution to a deeper problem. If you develop a symptom that hinders your athletic performance, you should visit us immediately for an evaluation. Treatment will depend on the severity of the injury and may include a combination of physical therapy, strengthening exercises, and bracing.

If you’ve recently suffered a sports injury and think you may benefit from chiropractic care, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage. in Arlington, MA, call 781-641-4482.

Auto Injury

Car accidents are a leading cause of injuries. In fact, a recent study reported that six million is the average number of car accidents that occur in the U.S. every year. At Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage, we understand that you are more likely to worry about the expense of your vehicle if an auto accident were to happen to you, but we would like to present the facts as to why your body and overall health should be a top priority.

One of the most common injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident is the damaging effect of whiplash. Whiplash occurs when a sudden, jarring movement of the head is sustained backward, forward, or even to the side. Whiplash destabilizes the spine and causes severe pain, as well as blurred vision, neck pain, headaches, and reduced range of motion in the neck. It is critical that chiropractic care is sought immediately after sustaining an injury, because whiplash can take days, weeks, or even months for these major symptoms to arise. Since chiropractors such as Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos , specialize in the care of bones, muscles, nerves, and connective tissue, it is important to schedule a consultation to keep these body parts in optimal health.

Chiropractic treatment after an auto accident is a step in the right direction in restoring the body. Depending on the severity of the case, Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos  may make necessary adjustments to align your spine and may suggest massage or other therapeutic techniques. The earlier the issue is detected, the earlier it can be treated, so don’t wait and give us a call today.

If you have questions about chiropractic care affecting your auto injury, please give us a call at 781-641-4482 or visit us at www.painlessbody.com

Chiropractic Adjustments

If you are seeking relief from back or joint pain, a chiropractic adjustment, also known as spinal manipulation is a safe and effective alternative treatment method that we utilize here at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage. A chiropractic adjustment refers to applying manipulation to the vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or fail to function normally. Since the adjustment technique varies by location of discomfort, it is best to schedule a consultation first.

Spinal manipulation is suitable for conditions such as acute low back pain caused by daily activities, or neck pain, headaches, and osteoarthritis. The objective of this treatment method is to reduce the subluxation, while increasing range of motion, reducing nerve irritability, and improving overall function. No special preparation is required before a chiropractic adjustment and depending on the individualized treatment plan Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos  provides for you, chiropractic treatment may require a series of visits to our office.

If you think you may benefit from a chiropractic adjustment, please give us a call. To learn about services we provide at our practice, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage in Arlington, MA, call 781-641-4482. 

Electrical Muscle Stimulation

At Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage, Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos and staff promote a multifaceted approach to chiropractic health. Electrical Muscle Stimulation is a therapy recommended for patients with chronic pain, injuries to soft tissue, and muscle spasms.

The body’s natural electric current is disrupted when injury or disease occurs. Electrical Muscle Stimulation is administered by placing electrodes directly on the body and sending a small electrical current to the affected soft tissue or muscle. The current works by mimicking the signals that occur naturally in a healthy body, causing the targeted muscle to experience small contractions. The muscles contract and then relax, which helps reduce swelling and releases any trigger points that may be causing muscles to lock up.

This treatment helps an injured body heal faster, and relieves pain and muscle spasms. Endorphins, the body’s most powerful natural pain relievers, are also released as a result of this process. The amount of electricity used in electrical muscle stimulation is small but enough to be effective for treating spasms and other chronic or acute pains.  This treatment is usually scheduled in short sessions over a period of weeks depending on the location and severity of the pain or injury.

To learn more about electrical muscle stimulation and all the services provided by Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage, visit https://www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at the practice in Arlington, MA, call 781.641.4482.

Back Pain

Back pain is something that many people suffer from at some point in their lifetime. It can stem from a vigorous workout, lifting something heavy, moving the wrong way, or as a result of sleeping in a wrong position. When the pain in your back is uncomplicated it will usually heal on its own in a couple of days with rest. However, joint mechanics or muscle balance may still be off making another injury easier and more likely to happen.

If your pain lingers or if it is a result of a spinal disc injury, the condition may be more troublesome. Spinal disc injuries are quite common and can be really painful. They come in different shapes and sizes:

• thin in height and bulge broadly like a squished ice cream sandwich 

• air bubble from a scuffed car tire 

• herniated and pronounced like a mushroom shape

The bigger the disc herniation the greater chance it puts pressure on nerves (sciatic nerve) affecting buttocks, the groin or the legs all the way to your toes causing:

• pain

• tingling / pins and needles

• numbness (can’t feel touch)

• muscle weakness 

In either case, it means that it’s time to visit Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage. Finding the exact source of your back pain can be difficult but you can rely on our multifaceted training, expertise and over 2 decades experience.  Our facility also offers specific hand guided traction equipment that specializes in reducing disc bulging and herniation and reduces pressure on the sciatic nerve.

Depending on the cause and severity of your back pain, Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage may recommend a spinal adjustment and spinal manipulation of your vertebrae to alleviate your symptoms. An adjustment refers to Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos applying manipulation with their hands to vertebrae that have abnormal movement patterns or fail to function normally. The objective of this treatment is to reduce the subluxation with the goals of increasing range of motion, reducing nerve irritability and improving overall function. As a result, this enables you to get back to living your life without having to rely on painkillers. 

If you are struggling with back pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn about services we provide at the office, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage in Arlington, MA, call 781-641-4482.

Chiropractic Examinations

At Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage, the focus of Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos is to provide superior care for each patient to achieve full recovery from aches and pains. Even if you think you feel good, our staff is here to make you feel better. When you first visit our office, you’ll notice that a chiropractic examination is very similar to a standard examination that you may receive at your primary care physician’s office. An initial chiropractic exam will typically have three parts: a consultation, case history, and physical examination.

The consultation will consist of the patient meeting with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos to provide a brief synopsis of the pain he or she is experiencing and/or what brings them to the office in the first place. This is when you describe your areas of pain, as well as your duration and frequency of symptoms. During the second part of the exam, you will discuss your case history. This provides patients with the opportunity to outline the family history, dietary habits, and occupational history. The final step of the chiropractic exam includes the physical examination to test your range of motion. Dr.Nicholas Stamoulos will have you perform a series of mobility tests before recommending treatment options.

If you think you may benefit from chiropractic treatment, please give us a call. To learn about the services we provide at our office, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at Personal Care Chiropractic & Massage in Arlington, MA, call 781.641.4482.

Custom Foot Orthotics

Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos of East Arlington Chiropractic promotes a multifaceted approach to chiropractic wellness. Custom foot orthotics are just one option that can benefit our patients. Orthotics can be a great solution for patients experiencing discomfort or imbalance while walking. The customized support they provide can help correct issues related to walking and alignment. Custom foot orthotics fit into a pair of shoes like inserts you can find in a pharmacy but are prescribed by a chiropractor to target a patient’s specific needs.

When worn consistently, they often help realign bones in the foot and ankle. This can take pressure off of other problem areas like the back, neck, shoulders, and hips. When a chiropractor prescribes custom orthotics, a foot computerized scan impression is taken from the patient. This impression allows a custom product to be made for the patient’s particular needs.  Customization is important since most people’s foot imbalance is not symmetrical - any off the shelf correction would be symmetrical and will not provide proper correction. Orthotics are made to be worn on a daily basis during almost any activity, and one pair typically lasts several years.

Custom foot orthotics are just one of many ways to care for your chiropractic health. To learn more about custom foot orthotics and all the services provided by Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos of East Arlington Chiropractic, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule an appointment at the practice in Arlington, MA, call 781-641-4482

How Chiropractic Care Affects Your Overall Wellness

Receiving chiropractic treatment goes well beyond improving your spinal care; it works wonders for your overall health. When you visit Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos of East Arlington Chiropractic, for a specific problem, or if you desire to improve your overall well-being, you are already taking a step in the right direction. This is because the doctor prides himself on taking a natural, drugless approach to helping you achieve your health goals.

Benefits of routine chiropractic care are endless, but the most common include improved nerve communication in the body, improved joint motion and coordination, improved physical function and performance, and improved posture. If you’ve never visited a chiropractor before, you may also miss out on improved sleep, an improved mood, and higher energy levels. Whereas a medical doctor might prescribe pain medicine, a chiropractor such as Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos will treat your back and neck problems by hand. Chiropractic care plays a strong role in keeping your body balanced, flexible, and functioning at its highest peak.

If you think you may benefit from chiropractic treatment, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at East Arlington Chiropractic, in Arlington, MA, call (781) 641-4482.

Neck Pain Treatment

Whether it’s whiplash from an accident or strain from sitting at the computer all day, cervical neck pain is one of the most common aches that Americans face today. While getting a massage might help with the pain temporarily, depending on the severity of the pain, seeing a chiropractor about getting an adjustment done to your cervical spine can help relieve some discomfort for good. Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos of East Arlington Chiropractic explains the different types of cervical pain and how a chiropractor can help ease those cramps in your neck.

There are many different types of cervical pain, but there is a couple that most chiropractors can handle. Fortunately, these two types of neck pain are the most common.

1. Mechanical Neck Pain – This type of pain is developed from the joints, muscles, tendons and the fascia. It’s the most common type of neck pain and it’s usually caused by a neck strain.
2. Cervical Disc Pain -  This happens when there is a tear in the disc and herniated through the outer part that pinches the root of the spine

While X-rays and other tests may be required to diagnose the pain, it is possible that cervical spinal manipulation can help treat the issue.

If you suffer from neck pain and think you may benefit from chiropractic care, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at East Arlington Chiropractic, in Arlington, MA, call (781) 641-4482.

Workers Compensation

If you had a back injury related to your work environment, you may be entitled to workers compensation. Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at East Arlington Chiropractic explains what workers compensation is and how you can benefit from chiropractic treatment.

Back injuries are the second most common injuries in the workplace (formally called an occupational injury).  Lifting heavy things, repetitive reaching bending twisting or typing, poor sitting posture or prolonged sitting while exposed to vibration (driving a truck or a snow plow) all make your back vulnerable to injury. Your spine is normally protected by jelly filled discs (imagine a jelly doughnut) in between the vertebrae. All of the above sudden or repetitive/cumulative stressors weaken the outside fibers of the spinal discs making them prone to rupture. When these discs rupture or slip, they can cause damage to your spinal nerve, called sciatic nerve.

Although back injuries are very common other areas are also frequently affected by repetitive strain. With pervasive use of the computer in our culture many are starting to develop tendinitis in their elbows (tennis elbow) and wrists or even carpal tunnel (numbness and burning and weakness in the thumb side of the palm). Contractors, carpenters, plumbers, electricians or mechanics can also develop the same problem from repetitive squeezing and twisting of wrenches or screwdrivers. Electricians or mechanics can develop rotator cuff tear or tendinitis from prolonged work overhead. Prolonged looking down to an improperly set up computer monitor or keyboard can develop neck strain and headaches.

If the injury happens at work or while working, you can qualify for workers compensation. the injury has to be reported quickly to a supervisor or manager. The initial report must be filled out on a DWC-1 form by your supervisor, where you will be required to fill out the details of your injury. You may get a list of physicians to choose from by your company but you have the right to go to a physician of your choice. If your physician determines your MMI (maximum medical improvement), he or she will then determine if you are ready to go back to work.

If you suffered a back injury, next strain or headaches, tendinitis, rotator cuff tear, carpal tunnel, tennis elbow or other muscle / tendon injury in the workplace please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at East Arlington Chiropractic in Arlington, MA, call (781) 641-4482.

Spinal Decompression Therapy

Is it hard for you to lift heavy items because of your back? What about bending over to pick up items off the floor? If you have pain in your legs (sciatica) and /or lower back from lifting, an accident or just gradual chronic pain, then spinal decompression might be right for you. Spinal decompression therapy is when our doctor places you on a motorized device that stretches your spine. Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at East Arlington Chiropractic explains the benefits of this treatment method.

Spinal decompression therapy works best if you have a bulging or herniated disc or spinal stenosis (narrowing from bone spurs or arthritis around a nerve). This type of therapy has been used by many chiropractors and therapists alike for years. Spinal decompression therapy creates a negative pressure inside the disc which helps the out of place disc re-align or get sucked back in place. In case of stenosis or other nerve pressure it opens up the spine and takes pressure off the nerve. It also promotes healing to the spine overall. This treatment does not hurt at all, especially if it’s applied to the general lumbar region. Most people with spinal issues are good candidates but if you have the following, spinal decompression therapy is not recommended:

• Pregnancy
• Broken spinal vertebrae
• Failed back surgery
• Multiple surgeries with slow recovery time

In addition, spinal decompression therapy is not recommended for those who have or had spinal tumors or infections, osteoporosis or if the patient is taking blood thinners.

If you suffer from spinal pain and think you may benefit from spinal decompression therapy, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.painlessbody.com for more information. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Nicholas Stamoulos at East Arlington Chiropractic, in Arlington, MA, call (781) 641-4482.

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

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.

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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:

https://youtu.be/aUmXcjfOlLo

https://youtu.be/LAEcnGgaPCA

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. 

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.

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