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Articles
by
Geoff M. Lecovin
Applied
Kinesiology
Chronic
Pain
Cosmetic
Acupuncture
"Dry
Needling"
Exercise
Nutrition
for Pain
Therapy
for Chronic Pain
and Sports Injuries
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of page
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Pain is among the top reasons that patients visit
a physician. Many Physicians erroneously assume
that the source of pain is tissue damage or inflammation.
Consequently, there is a tendency to overprescribe non-steroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs. Unfortunately, this can lead to numerous
side effects (e.g. stomach irritation, liver toxicity, compromised
kidney, etc.) and in many instances can perpetuate the very
same pain that the patient originally sought care for.
Chronic
Pain
Chronic pain may arise from extrinsic sources (e.g. ongoing
injury or inflammation) or for intrinsic reasons (e.g. abnormal
hypersensitivity in the neuromuscular system). A pivotal component
of this type of pain is muscle spasm or shortening. Spasm
can cause pain localized to muscle in addition to its attachments
i.e. mechanically overloading tendons.
Since
chronic neuromusculo-skeletal pain differs by mechanism from
inflammation, its treatment is also distinct and often unresponsive
to anti-inflammatory medications or other conventional therapies.
Conventional
Treatment
Most physical treatment modalities commonly used for this
type of pain, such as heat, massage or TENS (transcutaneous
electrical nerve stimulation) work by reflex stimulation
of the affected part via its intact innervation. However
these modalities are passive and limited in scope. Stimulation
ends when their application is terminated. In contrast,
intramuscular stimulation (IMS) is more effective and long
lasting.
Intramuscular
Stimulation
IMS borrows its technique from traditional Chines medicine
(TCM) but modifies it by applying anatomy and neurophysiology.
It differs from TCM in that it does not rely on a Chinese
philosophy or pre measured acupuncture points located on
meridians. Rather, IMS requires a medical diagnosis and
examination and needle insertion is into muscle motor points
or “trigger points” (palpable bands) found in
radicular or segmental nerve patterns.
The Advantages of IMS Include:
Prompt subjective and objective effects
Stimulation
of the body’s healing bioelectrical energy
Stimulation
of tissue proliferation which can strengthen weak ligaments
and tendons by forming more durable collagen
Can
be used safely and effectively by practitioners well-versed
in anatomy, palpation and injection techniques.
Some
Common Indications for IMS Include:
 Sports injuries
Frozen
Shoulder
Arthritis
Joint Pain
Fibromyalgia/Fibrositis
Muscle
Imbalances
Chondromalacia/Knee pain
Headaches
Intervertebral
disc
Sprain/strain
Plantar
Fascitis
Rotator
Cuff Syndrome
Decreased
range of motion
Muscle
weakness
Shin
splints
TMJ dysfunction
Tennis
elbow
Whiplash
injury
Thoracic
Outlet Syndrome
Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome
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