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Category: Therapy

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By Ricardo Vargas 0 Comments Therapy, Uncategorized , ,

Traditional and Natural Medicine, Therapeutic Alternative

Traditional and natural medicine considers man in a holistic way, that is, in his totality and within an ecological aspect. It is based on the idea that poor health or illness comes from an imbalance in man in his total ecological system and not only from the causal agent and pathogenic evolution. To maintain adequate mental and physical health, there must be a biological balance; when this is broken, illness appears.

 

Traditional and natural Chinese medicine is an ancient science, the practice is as old as humanity, the most common related techniques of this science are: acupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, acupressure, therapeutic massages, herbal medicine, laser puncture, electroacupuncture, acupuncture analgesia and pharmacopuncture.

In natural medicine, different diagnoses are made, the main one being lifestyle, as it tells us how to walk, rest, whether or not we do physical exercise, habits and behavior patterns such as: managing stress, feelings, our relationships with others, with nature, all of this gives us an idea of where the patient’s problem lies and with a good physical examination and comprehensive observation it allows us to reach an adequate diagnosis and better treatment.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture (acu from Latin means needle and puncture means to prick), is an Asian therapeutic procedure that consists of applying very fine needles to certain points of the body, stimulating them in order to treat different illnesses, regulating the energy of the meridians, the excesses or gaps of energy, both in the meridian and in the organs, thus promoting their proper functioning. Acupuncture and other related techniques such as moxibustion, cupping, etc. are not only used in China and other Asian countries such as Japan, Vietnam and Mongolia, but were also later spread to Europe (France, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Russia) and to the American continent many years later. Acupuncture is also used in different specialties in Western medicine. the method of anesthesia with acupuncture is used in gynecological, ophthalmological operations, general surgery and in stomatology it acts in the remission of pain, regulates the excitation of the nerves as in neuralgia and paralysis by stimulating them to recover motility, helps the accelerated recovery of inflammatory diseases because it favorably alters the number of leukocytes and reinforces the function of phagocytosis, also regulates the functions of hormone excretion, acts on the immune system because acupuncture is applied for pain, high blood pressure, low back pain, tendonitis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, arthritis and many more diseases.

Contraindications of acupuncture : it should not be applied in patients with cancer and other malignant diseases, but it can be used for side effects such as: lack of sleep and depression; not for infectious contagious diseases, not for skin lesions such as burns, not for pregnancy, not for patients who use drugs, not for hemorrhages, not for very elderly patients or very weak people or for children under seven years of age.

Moxibustion

Moxibustion is a treatment method in traditional Chinese medicine that prevents or treats diseases by applying heat to the indicated acupuncture point using moxa or Artemisia tobacco. It can be applied directly to the skin or indirectly with salt, garlic, ginger, etc.

It is used to treat cold-related illnesses and chronic diseases. It influences the immune system by regulating energy and expelling cold and humidity. It can also be used for acute pain and promotes proper functioning of the digestive system.

Contraindications of moxibustion : do not apply to people with fever above 38 degrees Celsius, severe high blood pressure, children under seven years of age, people with fragile skin (diabetics, patients with skin lesions).

Cupping therapy

Cupping therapy, cupping is another technique of traditional Chinese medicine, it is a therapeutic method inherited from our ancestors, its main objective is to produce local congestion or extract blood with prior suction in the applied skin area.

There are different types of suction cups, made of bamboo, glass and plastic. They can be applied in combination with acupuncture. They can be applied with fire or with a suction pump.

Its action influences the skin, dilates the arteries and veins of the skin, activates blood circulation, raises the temperature of the skin by accelerating the metabolism, reinforces cutaneous respiration and nutrition, influences the muscles, joints and peripheral nerves, and also influences the circulatory system and blood.

Application in conditions such as: bruises, distortion, neuralgia, peripheral paralysis, sciatica, bronchitis, pneumonia, cough, bronchial asthma, kidney and gallbladder lithiasis, etc.

Contraindications : Do not apply to patients with high fever, convulsions, pregnancy, coagulation disorders, body regions with edema and skin conditions.

By Francisco Rodriguez 0 Comments Functional evaluations, Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Sports medicine, Therapy , , , , , , ,

Shoulder Dislocation. Bankart and Hill Sachs lesions

The shoulder is the most complex and mobile joint in the human body. As a result, it can suffer from a variety of problems. Many of the ailments are caused by inflammation or tearing of the tendon, as well as problems in the rotator cuff or the bone system.

Among the most frequent injuries we can highlight rotator cuff tear, dislocation, frozen shoulder, bursitis, tendonitis and fractures.

Today we want to focus on two of the most common shoulder injuries, especially in sports: the Bankart injury and the Hill Sachs injury.

Bankart lesion involves the rupture of the glenoid labrum which is a fibrous capsule that is located where the head of the humerus sits. It surrounds the base of the shoulder joint and is responsible for giving it greater stability. This usually results from an anterior dislocation of the shoulder, in other words, when the shoulder moves forward, usually due to trauma, the head of the humerus takes the labrum with it, it tears it off.

 

Hill Sachs ‘ injury Hill Sachs fracture is a depression of the posterolateral part of the head of the humerus. It is caused by the impaction of the head of the humerus against the glenoid rim. anteroinferior following a traumatic event that causes a dislocation of the shoulder. During shoulder dislocation, the head of the humerus is crushed against the glenoid, depressed, and deformed.

 

Symptoms

Patients suffering from Bankart and Hill Sachs lesions experience acute pain and a feeling of shoulder instability. If the lesion is small it may not cause any symptoms, but we will generally find the following symptoms:

  • Persistent shoulder pain.
  • Instability.
  • The patient describes how he feels that “his shoulder is coming out.”
  • After the first dislocation, it is common for further episodes of shoulder dislocation to occur.

Treatment

Conservative treatment includes anti-inflammatory drugs, rest, cold application and physical therapy. If this is not sufficient, surgery will be necessary. The patient usually wears a sling for the first week, although it may be necessary for longer.

In most cases, physiotherapy is recommended to help with pain and postoperative sequelae. Physiotherapy treatment will be based on:

  • Mobilization of the glenohumeral and scapulothoracic joints mainly in all their ranges of motion.
  • Myofascial Treatment.
  • Therapeutic massage.
  • Analgesic and anti-inflammatory treatment through physical agents such as:
  • Shortwave
  • Ultrasounds
  • Laser
  • Analgesic Currents
  • Exercise to strengthen the rotator cuff, all the stabilizing muscles of the shoulder and the scapula.
  • Scapular control and stabilization exercise.
  • Stretching of the shoulder and upper limb muscles.
  • Proprioception exercise and conditioning for normal activity.

By Ricardo Vargas 0 Comments Therapy, Uncategorized , , ,

La Medicina Natural y Tradicional, Alternativa Terapeutica de Multiples Patologias

La medicina tradicional y natural considera al hombre de manera holística, es decir, en su totalidad y dentro de un aspecto ecológico. Parte de que la falta de salud o la enfermedad proceden de un desequilibrio del hombre en su sistema ecológico total y no solo del agente causal y la evolución patógena. Para mantener una adecuada salud mental y física debe existir un equilibrio biológico, cuando este se rompe aparece la enfermedad.

La medicina natural y tradicional China es una ciencia milenaria, la práctica es tan antigua como la humanidad, las técnicas afines más frecuentes de esta ciencia son: acupuntura, moxibustión, ventosas, digitopuntura, masajes terapéuticos, fitoterapia, láserpuntura, electroacupuntura, analgesia acupuntural y farmacopuntura.

En la medicina natural se realizan diferentes diagnósticos siendo el principal el estilo de vida pues nos habla de cómo caminar, descansar, si hacemos o no ejercicio físico, hábitos y patrones de conducta como: manejar el estrés, los sentimientos, nuestras relaciones con los demás, con la naturaleza, todo esto nos da una idea donde se encuentra el problema del paciente y con un buen examen físico y la observación integral nos permite llegar a un adecuado diagnóstico y un mejor tratamiento.

Acupuntura

Acupuntura( acu del latín significa aguja y puntura punzar), el proceder terapéutico asiático consiste en aplicar agujas muy finas en determinados puntos del cuerpo estimulándolos para tratar diferentes enfermedades, regulando la energía de meridianos, los excesos o vacíos de energía, tanto en el meridiano como en los órganos, así propician su buen funcionamiento. La acupuntura y las otras técnicas afines como la moxibustión, ventosas etc… no solo se aplican en China y otros países de Asia como Japón, Vietnam y Mongolia, también fue difundido con posterioridad en Europa (Francia, Italia, España, Suiza, Alemania, Holanda, Rusia) y al continente americano muchos años después. En la medicina occidental también se aplica la acupuntura en diferentes especialidades. el método de anestesia con acupuntura se utiliza en operaciones ginecológicas, oftalmológicas, cirugía general y en la estomatología actúa en la remisión del dolor, regula la excitación de los nervios como en las neuralgias y en las parálisis estimulándolos para recuperar la motilidad ,ayuda a la recuperación acelerada de las enfermedades inflamatorias porque altera de manera favorable el número de leucocitos y refuerza la función de fagocitosis, regula también las funciones de excreción de hormonas ,actúa sobre el sistema inmunológico pues se aplica acupuntura para el dolor ,la hipertensión arterial ,las lumbalgias ,tendinitis, bursitis, artrosis, artritis y muchas enfermedades más .

Contraindicaciones de la acupuntura: no se debe aplicar en pacientes con cáncer y otras enfermedades malignas, pero sí en los efectos secundarios como: falta de sueño y depresión; no en enfermedades infecto contagiosas, no en lesiones de la piel como quemaduras, no se aplica en el embarazo, no en pacientes que consumen drogas, no en hemorragias, no en pacientes muy ancianos o personas muy débiles ni en niños menores de siete años.

Moxibustión

Moxibustión es un método de tratamiento en la medicina tradicional china con el cual se previene o se tratan las enfermedades mediante el calor que se produce con una moxa o tabaco de Artemisa en el punto de acupuntura indicado, puede aplicarse directo sobre la piel o indirectamente con sal, ajo, jengibre etc….

Se aplica para tratar enfermedades por insuficiencia debido al frío y en enfermedades crónicas, influye en el sistema inmunológico al regular la energía, expulsar el frío y la humedad, también se puede aplicar en dolores agudos, promueve el buen funcionamiento del sistema digestivo.

Contraindicaciones de moxibustión: no aplicar en personas con fiebre superior a 38 grados centígrados, hipertensión arterial grave, niños menores de siete años, personas con piel frágil (diabéticos, pacientes con lesiones en la piel).

Ventosas (cupping therapy)

Ventosas (cupping therapy), las ventosas es otra de las técnicas de la medicina tradicional china, es un método terapéutico heredado de nuestros ancestros, su objetivo principal es producir congestión local o extraer la sangre con previa succión en la zona de la piel aplicada.

Existen diferentes tipos de ventosas, de bambú, cristal y plásticas. Se puede aplicar en combinación con la acupuntura. La forma de aplicar puede ser con fuego o con bomba de succión.

Su acción influye en la piel, dilatan las arterias y venas de la piel, activan la circulación de la sangre, elevan la temperatura de la piel acelerando el metabolismo, refuerzan la respiración cutánea y la nutrición, influyen en los músculos, en las articulaciones y en los nervios periféricos, influyen además en el sistema circulatorio y la sangre.

Aplicación en afecciones como: contusión, distorsión, neuralgias, parálisis periférica, ciatalgia, bronquitis, neumonía, tos, asma bronquial, litiasis renal y vesicular etc….

Contraindicaciones: no aplicar en pacientes con fiebre elevada, convulsiones, embarazo, trastornos de la coagulación, regiones del cuerpo con edemas y afecciones de la piel.

By Luzmila Lagares Pedrozo 0 Comments Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine, Therapy

Laser Therapy

What are the effects of using lasers?

The use of laser in physiotherapy, if it has these characteristics, increases metabolic activity by acting on the mitochondria, which can reduce healing times. In addition, it produces an increase in vasodilation, improves lymphatic drainage, reduces inflammation and increases the pain threshold. Photomechanical stimulation inhibits pain sensation and provides immediate relief.

Toral points out that laser therapy “has no absolute contraindications.” Laser therapy is painless, and although it increases the temperature of the treated area, it is not invasive. The laser acts on the cell membrane generating a photochemical effect, which facilitates tissue regeneration, pain reduction and remodeling of inflammatory effects.

All these characteristics allow to obtain a series of effects that were not achieved with the low-power laser.

  • The biostimulant effect accelerates the production of fibroblasts with the consequent production of collagen in order to rebalance the extracellular matrix and to remodel the tissues. This is only achieved by long pulse continuous or pulsed emission.
  • The anti-inflammatory effect is the result of biological stimulation of the tissues, which triggers vasodilation.
  • Stimulation also produces a neoangiogenesis phenomenon that has an anti- edema effect .
  • High-powered laser therapy also has relaxation effects by modulating the release of oxygen.
  • Finally, the analgesic effect allows to reduce pain without collateral effects, optimizing the interaction with the peripheral nervous system.

 

What can laser be used for in physiotherapy?

With these functionalities, the laser covers a wide spectrum of applications.

  • In traumatology it is used for post-trauma recovery , because it allows the possibility of modeling the emission according to the desired physiological effect.
  • In pain therapy, because it is capable of generating a rapid decrease in joint and muscle pain through the stochastic emission patented by Mectronic, which acts on the peripheral nervous system.
  • In the prevention of accidents, because if they undergo laser therapy treatments before the sporting event, the musculoskeletal structures will be vascularized and perfectly oxygenated, reducing the risk of micro-injuries.
  • To speed up recovery , because the multi-modal emission allows the therapy to be personalized according to the need.
  • To quickly eliminate edema, because it allows you to customize the therapy according to the somatic characteristics of the patient and their pathological state.
  • To heal muscle injuries, because it allows the metabolic activation of all microbiological processes that return the intracellular and extracellular balance to the cell, in order to rapidly rebuild muscle tissue.
  • To treat acute pathologies, because it modulates, in the water phase of the pathology, the inflammatory effects through a stimulating action of the deep tissues.
  • To treat tendinopathies, because it exerts a biostimulant action and rebalances the correct balance of muscle forces through deep and complete oxygenation of the muscle fasciae.
  • As a physiological accelerator , because it allows the correct biostimulant therapy to be applied by defining the energy dose and the mode of emission depending on the pathological condition of the patient.

Most common applications

  • Deep tissue penetration with power up to 12 W in continuous mode
  • Pulsating mode for immediate pain relief
  • Painful shoulder
  • Hip arthrosis
  • Epicondylitis
  • Carpal tunnel syndrome
  • Patellar tendonitis
  • Lumbar pain
  • Achilles tendonitis
  • Back pain

 

By Francisco Rodriguez 0 Comments Sports Massage, Therapy , ,

Cupping Therapy

What exactly is cupping in the context of massage?

A treatment for cupping that is therapeutic includes warming and placing cups, usually made of glass, on the skin. In the process of warming the air in the cup, a vacuum is created, and when it is applied to the skin tissues are drawn to the cup. This promotes healing, increases blood flow, and also reduces the tension in connective tissue. It is similar to deep tissue massage, which can help reduce pain and to break down scar tissue. Cupping is commonly applied to areas of pain, such as the back, neck, and shoulders. The cups can cause temporary soreness or bruise dependent on the strength of suction created by vacuum as well as the degree of internal stagnation. This would indicate that the treatment has eliminated stagnation and toxins, according to TCM. The cups are removed by lifting one edge and allowing air to enter and breaking the seal and vacuum.

What exactly is cupping therapy??
TCM believes that stagnation in blood or qi is what is the cause of the disease. Cupping stimulates the local circulation of blood and qi around the area of treatment. This helps to relieve the swelling, tension, and discomfort. It draws impurities to the surface and removes toxic substances. According to Western science, cupping improves the flow of blood and relaxes connective tissue. Cupping stimulates tissue relaxation and better cell-to-cell communication. The work of U.S. physiologist and acupuncturist Helene Langevin has documented cell-level changes using an ultrasound camera. She has proven the effects of cupping, acupuncture, and massage relax tissue and reducing markers of inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines (chemical messengers) are reduced, while the cytokines that aid in healing and relaxation are increased.

What are the benefits of cupping?

The advantages of cupping include local pain relief and relaxing muscles. Cupping helps improve overall health by removing the blockages in energy that TCM practitioners consider to be obstacles in the flow of energy or Qi. In the case of athletes, cupping may assist in increasing the flow of blood to a specific muscle region or help reduce discomfort. Cupping was used by a variety of athletes during the Rio Olympics 2016. This can be seen in circular markings on some members of the U.S. swim team members.

How long will the cupping of bumps require?

The bruises that result from cupping last from a few days to a couple of weeks. According to TCM practitioner Casco, it is expected that after several weeks of repeated cupping treatments the bruises will reduce as the stagnation is eliminated. This is an indication of a successful cupping protocol.

By Francisco Rodriguez 0 Comments Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Studies, Therapy ,

Seven Myth about Physical Therapy is only for accidents and injuries

Physical therapists are specialists in the movement who assist people in reducing pain, improving or restoring mobility, and remaining active throughout life. However, there are a few myths that frequently discourage patients from seeking treatment. It’s time to dispel 7 common myths about physical therapy:

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By Ricardo Vargas 0 Comments Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Studies, Therapy , ,

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: Therapy is effective

What you might be experiencing

Classically, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is characterized by needles or pins, numbness burning, or pain in the thumb and index fingers. The swelling, the difficulty in distinguishing between temperatures that are hot and cold, and a decrease in coordination can all be symptoms. Patients with this disorder often wake up at night with serious symptoms. They may be required to hold their hands in order to relieve themselves.

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By Francisco Rodriguez 0 Comments Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Therapy ,

Physical Therapy can provide Relief for Lower Back Pain

What type of work is most appropriate depends on the cause

If you’re suffering from low back pain that lasts longer than a few weeks Your doctor may recommend you to a physical therapist. While simple methods like applying heat or cold or using pain relief pills available over the counter might help, the best treatment for back pain is to exercise and other treatments under the direction of physical therapy.

“First and foremost, we attempt to figure out the kind of back pain we’re experiencing,”  Are you dealing with chronic or acute pain, and what’s the root of the problem? “We perform tests to determine the type of treatment that will perform best,”.

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