Therapy

Massage Therapy

Research on massage therapy

A July 2001 survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association found that the number of adults receiving massages from a massage therapist more than doubled since 1997.

Most healthcare providers are recognising massage therapy as a legitimate aid for lower back pain and an effective adjunct to lower back treatments. Fifty-four percent of healthcare providers say they will encourage their patients to pursue massage therapy in addition to medical treatment.

A study on massage and back pain conducted at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami in 2001 found that: “Massage lessened lower back pain, depression and anxiety, and improved sleep. The massage therapy group also showed improved range of motion and their serotonin and dopamine levels were higher.” (International Journal of Neuroscience, 106, 131-145.)

Benefits of massage therapy

According to the American Massage Therapy Association, research shows that massage therapy provides several important health benefits, including:

Massage improves blood circulation, which aids in recovery of muscle soreness from physical activity.
Massage relaxes muscles for an improved range of motion. The muscle relaxation also helps with insomnia.
Massage leads to increased endorphin levels. The increase of endorphin levels is actually one of the greatest benefits of massage therapy. Endorphins are the chemicals the body produces that make you feel good, which is very effective in managing chronic pain.

Chiropractic Therapy

What is Chiropractic Therapy?

The World Federation of Chiropractic defines chiropractic as "A health profession concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system, and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal manipulation or adjustment."

Chiropractic is a drug-free, non-surgical science and, as such, does not include pharmaceuticals or incisive surgery. Mr. D'Urso may recommend Chiropractic therapy for certain patients and conditions.

Education and Training

To become a registered chiropractor in Australia you must have studied an accredited 5-year chiropractic program conducted at a University within Australia, or have completed an accredited program overseas that satisfies the requirements set by the Australian Chiropractors Registration Boards.

Currently there are three universities in Australia that have chiropractic degree programs. The RMIT University in Melbourne, Victoria has a 5-year integrated double Bachelor Degree in Clinical Science/Chiropractic Science. The Macquarie University in Sydney, New South Wales has a 3 year Bachelor of Chiropractic Science which provides the basis for entry into a 2-year Master of Chiropractic which is the qualifying degree for professional registration as a chiropractor. In 2002 a chiropractic program commenced at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia.

What should I expect at a Chiropractic session?

Firstly, a thorough health history is taken and your major concerns as discussed. During this time, it is determined whether Chiropractic may help you with your concerns. Then you are taken through an extensive examination of your spine and nerve system. This helps identify exactly how your health concerns may be affecting your spine and how your spine may be affecting your overall health. The examination may also include looking at x-rays or scans of your spine. The approach in managing these concerns may include inter-referral to other health professionals. The approach in providing care may include gentle adjustments to the spine, pelvis or other joints of the body as seen necessary.

Exercise for recovery after spine surgery

Exercise is vital to getting better after spine surgery. It is the key to eliminating fatigue, getting patients back to activity safely, and avoiding re-injury. Ultimately, exercise is critical both in helping the body heal from the original injury and in preventing (or minimising) future episodes of back pain.

A physiotherapist develops an individually tailored exercise program based on knowledge of the exact type of spine surgery, and the forces that are most beneficial for the patient’s spine under different conditions. Patients will typically learn the exercises with the physiotherapist and then do them on their own at home.

There are many choices of exercise available for patients. If a therapist and patient work together, they can find alternatives that will greatly benefit the patient’s physical condition and capability for resuming activities to almost any level.

Patients often wonder if and when they can return to certain activities after spine surgery. A lot of that depends on how they respond to exercise and can prepare the muscles to protect the spine during that activity. The patient/ therapist team works well in this situation, as the therapist has the opportunity to observe the patient’s movement and force tolerances over time.

Education about exercise following spine surgery

With one-on-one physical therapy sessions, patients have plenty of opportunity to ask questions of the therapist. Therapists can explain exactly what changes have occurred as a result of the patient’s specific surgery, and what can be done to maximise the benefits from that surgery.

Many patients ask the same types of questions about back surgery, so the therapist will usually have enough knowledge to be able to answer most questions right away. Often, if the therapist doesn’t know the answer to a question, he or she can speak with a spine surgeon to get the answer. Most therapists will encourage patients to ask as many questions as possible.

Any patient’s success in recovery from spine surgery depends on his or her willingness to work hard at home as well as with the therapist. Ideally, the surgery will take the patient a great deal of the way on the road to recovery, and then the patient and therapist team can work together to make the recovery the best possible.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy involves exercise and physiotherapy in a swimming pool. Hydrotherapy is extremely effective in aiding pain relief and rehabilitation, and promoting general fitness and a sense of well-being. The benefits of water therapy are well documented. Research has shown that hydrotherapy is extremely effective in aiding pain relief and rehabilitation, as well as promoting general fitness and well-being.

Hydrotherapy is also a particularly effective form of rehabilitation, as the therapeutic effects of buoyancy and turbulence, combined with warm water, help reduce pain and muscle spasm. In other words, hydrotherapy is a particularly effective form of both exercise and rehabilitation, because it helps to keep muscles toned which maximises balance and mobility.

One of the greatest benefits of hydrotherapy is its potential to reduce falls, as it helps to keep muscles strong which maximises balance and mobility. This gentle form of exercise is recognised as one of the most beneficial physiotherapy techniques in the treatment of:

Post-op orthopaedic conditions
Osteoporosis
Neurological conditions
Arthritis
Cardiac rehabilitation
Musculoskeletal and soft tissue injury
Acute and chronic back pain
Ante and post natal care
And range of work-related injuries

Each hydrotherapy program is individually tailored to meet the needs of the patient. Sessions are conducted by physiotherapists who specialise in hydrotherapy.

Regular hydrotherapy can help you maintain quality of life. With the aid of hydrotherapy, you will experience a greater level of well-being and fitness which promotes an active lifestyle.

Osteopathy

Osteopathy is a distinctive and complete system of health care, based on broad principles that "offer a way of thinking and acting in relation to questions of health and disease". Upon release of Mr. D'Urso's care an Osteopathic practitioner will dedicate treatment and healing to be of global relevance, rather than focusing on one system or body part. The theory behind being that to promote healthy functioning in a person, correcting mechanical imbalances within and between the structures of the body is required. By structures we mean the muscles, bones, ligaments, organs, and fascia.

Osteopaths are highly trained (University based 5 year double degree) practitioners who are able to diagnose, treat, and offer rehabilitation advice to patients who have recently completed care through Mr D'Urso. Following patients who undergo varying surgical procedures, it is imperative to resume a form of health care which aims to increase mobility and strength, whilst decreasing pain - Osteopathy can offer this immediately.

What should I expect from my Osteopath?

Upon visitation, an Osteopath will assess the patient using palpation, Orthopaedic tests and active and passive ranges of motion to determine their limitations. Treatment begins immediately and usually carries techniques such as soft tissue massage, articulation, adjustment manipulation, stretching and counter-strain.

Treatment is non-invasive and usually gentle, making it a viable option for patients who could be compromised post surgery or for children and the elderly. Patients who have had corrective surgery through Mr. D'Urso follow up to see an Osteopath to further support and quantify the changes, these specifically include muscle strength, joint mobility, pain perception and finally general well-being.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy (also known as Physical Therapy) can form a critical part in recovery from certain conditions. Mr. D'Urso will advise for what conditions and surgeries this is relevant. When recovering from back surgery, your physiotherapist will assist you with getting out of bed and moving around as normal. They will also assist you with an exercise routine to assist in rehabilitating your back.

Physiotherapy is an important treatment option for most back pain sufferers. A physiotherapist is trained to carry out Mr. D'Urso's orders to stretch, strengthen, and exercise your back in a safe and effective way. It is important that physiotherapy is coupled with education, so that patients can be empowered to take charge of their own recovery.

Physiotherapists are trained to give instruction on posture, educate patients about basic anatomy and physiology, and instruct patients in body mechanics, stretching, strengthening and conditioning exercises. The physiotherapist also works with Mr. D'Urso or your local doctor to determine if other types of treatments including ultrasound, heat, diathermy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), electrical stimulation, hydrotherapy, massage or spinal manipulation may be indicated.

What should you expect from a visit to the physiotherapist?

The physiotherapist will do an evaluation and will determine if there are any joint limitations or muscle weakness as well as pinpointing the pain distribution in your back. Heat therapy and massage, as well as ultrasound may be used to ease back pain. In the past these types of treatments, which demanded little from the patient, and soothed the pain were used as the mainstay of treatment. Unfortunately, while these "modalities," as they are called by physiotherapists, feel good at the time, the pain relief produced by massage and ultrasound treatments are often only temporary.

More recently physioherapists have demanded physical activity from their patients, which may cause minor pain at the beginning of the course of treatment, but has longer lasting therapeutic effects: strengthening the back and relieving pain in the long run. Physiotherapists that treat patients with movement, exercise, strengthening and conditioning, encouraging gradual increase in activity, are usually the most successful.

Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation for Spine Surgery Recovery

Spine surgery is a major undertaking, and rehabilitation is an important part of helping patients get the most possible benefit from their surgery. Essentially, rehabilitation (physiotherapy, exercise) can help patients recover from spine surgery as quickly and completely as possible.

It can be thought of as alignment and balance for your body. If you buy new tires for your car, they won’t last as long if they are not aligned and balanced and the new tires will be a waste of money. Your spine surgery is like new tires, and a physiotherapist’s role is to do the alignment, balance, and engine tuning to make sure that the effects of the surgery are as positive as possible.

There are several ways that a physiotherapist typically will work with a patient to help him or her get back into good physical condition and heal from the injury and back surgery.

1. Pain Control after spine surgery
A physiotherapist is trained to help manage pain following back surgery. Controlling pain is an important first step in allowing patients to regain their strength, as it is very difficult to complete a rehabilitation program if one is in a great deal of pain.

While a certain amount of pain is common in the recovery process, there are several means that a physiotherapist may use to help minimize pain, such as:

Ice application
Certain positions of the spine
Certain types of movements
Electrical devices (e.g. TENS units)

Many of the techniques for back pain relief are simple and easy to learn and can be done at home or at work throughout the day. For many patients, it is surprising to learn how much simple use of ice packs and/or changes in movements and positions can help alleviate post-operative pain.

Ideally, a physiotherapist will also provide information and education to improve a patient’s overall health and recovery after spine surgery through lifestyle changes, such as drinking enough water throughout the day and finding a comfortable sleeping position.

2. One-on-one training after spine surgery
The therapist will typically develop a training program tailored for the patient, taking into account the patient’s specific surgery, body type and tissue conditions.

Therapists focus on muscle facilitation with areas where the muscles may need special retraining to gain strength and provide stability following the back surgery. This type of exercise therapy may focus on:

Muscles in the incision area
Muscles that may have been weakened by nerve problems before the surgery
Small muscles that work around each vertebra and help stabilize the spine. Most people (even those without spine problems) do not use these muscles very often. However, if these small muscles are trained properly, they can provide excellent stabilization that can protect the spine and protect the newly operated area to prevent future problems.

Individualised physical therapy may also help with areas where the patient’s mobility and flexibility has been limited by spine surgery. Many spine patients have problems with restrictions in their hips or shoulders or other areas of the spine. In these cases, the therapist can help the joints and the muscles involved regain the movement in relation to an individual’s body type and physical activities, and will work in the best way with the newly operated spine.

Physiotherapists are trained to be sure to select movements that can be done safely around the spine surgery