Med1Care Therapy Partner’s physical therapists are trained to provide Spinal Mobilization to promote spinal movement in stagnant tissues and joints from the neck to the low back. The technique utilizes special tools to physically move and stretch muscles, tendons and joints.
Mobilization decreases pain and improves range of motion for traumatized soft tissues, strained muscles, pulled ligaments and restricted joints.
By applying small amounts of manual pressure to tight and tender areas, increased blood flow speeds the healing process. Reduced lower back pain and improved lumbar range of motion are common outcomes of Spinal Mobilization.
How does Spinal Mobilization work?
Reducing the restriction of joints, connective tissues and muscles with gentle mobilization techniques decreases pain. More forceful spinal mobilization supports joint mobility.
Range of motion in the joint can be increased through stretching fibrous tissues and causing temporary creep.
Pain relief may be achieved in various ways, including:
- Pain gating to stimulate afferent nerves in the muscles and inhibit the transmission of pain through smaller nociceptive nerves to the brain.
- Activating descending mechanisms and supraspinal regions to stimulate pain-inhibitory pathways between the mid-brain and spinal cord and suppress central pain processing.
- Adapting the nervous system to decreased levels of neural input from the painful site and increasing pain thresholds.
Read more about Spinal Mobilization here.
How We Can Help
Med1Care Therapy Partner’s experienced therapists are trained in Spinal Mobilization to reduce pain found between the neck and lower back by mobilizing stagnant tissues and joints. Mobilization improves the range of motion for traumatized soft tissues, strained muscles, pulled ligaments and restricted joints. We will partner with you and your physician to create a treatment plan that helps you build a road to recovery.
Call us at 419.866.0555 to schedule a consultation.
Our specialists will help you chart a course forward.
A 2018 RAND expert panel found general clinical agreement that mobilization is appropriate to treat joint dysfunction, acute back pain, and chronic back pain.
However, mobilization was considered inappropriate for clients with conditions, such as:
- Abdominal aortic aneurysm
- Radiographic contraindication
- Major neurological findings
Read more at page 29 in the report here.
Pain arising between the lower back and up to the neck can be treated with mobilization. Common conditions supported by mobilization include:
- Arthritis
- Auto injury
- Compression fractures
- Degenerative disc disease
- Herniated disc
- Kyphosis
- Myelopathy
- Pinched nerves
- Sciatica
- Scoliosis
- Spinal stenosis
- Spondylolisthesis
- Spondylolysis
- Sports-related injury
- Strained muscles and tendons
- Trauma
- Whiplash
Physical therapists use a variety of techniques to improve range of motion and promote spinal movement in stagnant tissues and joints in the lower back, mid-back and neck.
Traumatized soft tissues, strained muscles, pulled ligaments and restricted joints can be treated with many techniques:
- Dry needling releases muscle tension and decreases spasms by inserting a thin needle into the affected muscle.
- Soft tissue and joint mobilization utilizes special tools to physically move and stretch muscles, tendons and joints.
- Laser therapy penetrates deep into the skin to promote healing with light.
- Aquatic therapy builds strength and flexibility while reducing pressure on compromised areas.
- Negative pressure (vacuum) massage activates the lymphatic system to help move metabolic waste, the buildup of which creates pain.
- Shockwave therapy breaks down scar tissue with physical and mechanical pulses.