soft tissue therapy

 

​Soft tissue therapy is a targeted treatment designed to alleviate muscle tension, improve mobility, and promote faster healing by focusing on the muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

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What is the purpose of soft tissue therapy?

Soft tissue therapy is a broad term for the manipulation of the body's soft tissues.

 

Muscles, connective tissue/fascia, tendons, ligaments, nerves, and joints are all examples of soft tissues.

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Soft tissue therapy is intended to help relieve soft tissue discomfort caused by daily and occupational stresses, muscle overuse, and a variety of chronic pain conditions.

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Treatment for soft tissue​

 

Assessments of posture, biomechanics, range of motion, and the nervous system, among other things, usually preclude Soft Tissue Therapy.

 

Massage, exercises, stretching, and other physical therapy techniques may be used in soft tissue therapy.

 

Soft tissue therapies come in a variety of forms that are usually tailored to the individual and their level of comfort.

 

If the results of an assessment indicate that the client has a condition that is beyond the scope of the practitioner's skill-set, the practitioner will refer the client to the most appropriate healthcare professional. 

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Contusions, sprains, tendonitis, bursitis, strains, and stress fractures are all examples of soft tissue injuries.

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What is a contusion?
A soft-tissue injury induced by a blunt force, such as a kick, a fall, or a strike, is known as a contusion (bruise). There will be pain, swelling, and discoloration as a result of the bleeding into the tissue. Contusions can be treated with rest, cold, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E.).

More serious contusions may require medical attention.

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What is a sprain?
A sprain occurs when a ligament is partially torn as a result of a twist or a wrench.
Sprains are common and include ankle sprains, knee sprains, and wrist sprains.
Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are used to treat a sprain (R.I.C.E.).
If the ligament is completely ripped, surgery may be required.

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What is tendinitis?
Tendonitis is a condition in which the tendon, a flexible band of tissue that connects muscle and bone, becomes inflamed.
A repetitive motion injury in the afflicted area is the most typical cause of tendonitis.
Elbow, hand, wrist, shoulder, hip, knee, ankle, and foot are all affected on a daily basis.
Tendonitis is named after the sport or exercise that causes the inflammation, such as tennis or golfer's elbow, swimmer's shoulder, and jumper's knee.

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The inflamed area is treated with rest, compression, elevation, and anti-inflammatory medications. Ice can be used to treat an injury in its early stages.
Stretching and strengthening activities can be gradually incorporated to avoid further injury. Steroid injections may be used to treat some types of tendonitis if chronic pain persists. If a tendon is completely ripped, surgery may be required.

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What is bursitis?​

Bursitis is an inflammatory condition that affects the bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between bones and muscles or tendons.
Bursitis, like tendonitis, is commonly caused by overuse damage, although it can also be caused by direct joint trauma.
Bursitis affects the shoulder, elbow, knee, hip, ankle, and foot most commonly.

Rest, compression, elevation, and anti-inflammatory medication are all used to treat the condition.
In the acute period of an injury, ice can be used to minimize swelling.
If the discomfort and swelling do not go away, injections may be required.
If an infection is the source of your bursitis, your doctor may prescribe medicines.

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What is a stress fracture?​

A stress fracture is a small crack in a bone that most commonly affects the weight-bearing bones of the lower extremities, such as the legs, hips, and feet.

Stress fractures are most commonly caused by overuse and increased physical activity.

First-line therapies include halting the action that caused the fracture, elevation, ice, and anti-inflammatory medicines.

Rest, weight-bearing restrictions on the affected area, shoe inserts or braces, and even cast immobilization are all part of the ongoing treatment.

If the split in the bone progresses to a full break, surgery may be required.

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What is a strain?​

A strain is a type of muscle or tendon injury caused by overuse, force, or stretching.

A strain is treated with rest, ice, compression, and elevation (R.I.C.E). A muscle tear may necessitate surgical intervention.