Musculoskeletal Conditions

Musculoskeletal complaints can involve bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and other soft tissues. Some of the most commonly occurring musculoskeletal conditions include:

• Arthritis
• Low Back Pain
• Osteoporosis
• Bursitis
• Shoulder Complaints
• Tendonitis
• Sciatica
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Tennis Elbow
• Neck Pain
• Myofascial Pain
• Joint Pain
• Disc Herniations

Acupuncture: Studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have been conducted in the areas of pain control and have shown acupuncture to be a safe and effective treatment. Acupuncture not only reduces pain, it also promotes the healing process. Research has shown that acupuncture stimulates the release of neuro-chemicals aiding in the reduction of pain and inflammation. Acupuncture can be especially helpful in dealing with many musculoskeletal problems. For instance, Traditional Chinese acupuncture can be an effective complement to conventional osteoarthritis treatment and can be successfully employed as part of a multi-disciplinary approach to treating the symptoms of this condition. The NIH recently reported that patients who underwent acupuncture treatment experienced a 44% average reduction in pain and a 40% improvement in mobility.

Massage Therapy: Massage is well known for relieving pain in injured tissues and muscles. In addition to helping heal the injury itself, massage relieves discomfort in surrounding areas that often tighten in response to pain. Sudden trauma or chronically shortened muscles and fascia can result in structural misalignment. By lengthening shortened muscles and releasing fascial adhesions, massage can help your body return to and remain in healthy alignment. Massage compliments chiropractic and physical therapy in that it helps to retrain the muscles that would otherwise pull the bones out of place. An increase in body awareness attained through massage can play a vital role in healing by illuminating habitual movement patterns that contribute to pain. Because massage therapy promotes flexibility, movement can feel more comfortable right away and the likelihood of future injury is often reduced.

Naturopathy and Arthritis: Slowing the degeneration of joints can be achieved through the use of individually formulated diets. Certain foods and nutrients can modulate the complex cellular metabolism that sustains chronic inflammation. Thus, an anti-inflammatory diet can be beneficial in eliminating foods that trigger the inflammatory response. Slowing down the degenerative process can be further achieved with nutritional supplementation. Botanicals may be used adjunctively for their anti-inflammatory properties to reduce the pain and discomfort often associated with musculoskeletal conditions.

Self Treatment Techniques: Like all pain, musculoskeletal pain reflects an imbalance in the body’s systems. Hence, it becomes essential to bring awareness to one’s whole body by evaluating dietary patterns, genetic predispositions, sleep habits, posture, stress levels and other lifestyle components, such as physical activity and overall sense of wellbeing.

Your body is a unique entity, thus your treatment should be tailored specifically to your needs. You should always seek the advice of your health care practitioner to guide you along the path of optimal wellness.

We recommend Epsom salt baths for pain relief. The heat of an Epsom salt bath increases circulation and reduces pain. The magnesium found in Epsom salt has both anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties. Also, it is essential to incorporate gentle stretching and deep breathing techniques into your daily routine.