Mobility Series Finale Pills, Tape and Lasers

 

"Our life is a creation of our mind" Buddha  

We have reached the end of the mobility road. Actually the journey has just begun, I like most of you have learned from this experience. It’s in the teaching that you truly learn and see it from a different angle. This last blog was done due to suggestion from a friend, he had questions about supplementation and nutrition in reference to injuries/dysfunction. So I figured why not take the idea to the next level and address some advanced techniques that are available to us as well. The expert I spoke with was Dr. Robert Silverman, a man to whom I am in debt. He has kept me in the game through all my injuries and helped guide me to lose 80 pounds all the while becoming a friend.

 One of the things I wanted to look at were some nutritional and supplement solutions we can use post soft tissue injury. I like to break down soft tissue injuries into three different phases; phase one also known as the acute phase, phase two soft tissue injury, phase three of soft tissue injury is wellness and prevention. The acute phase symptomatology is acute muscle-joint pain, sprain-injury due to trauma or repetitive motion, palpable swelling, inflammation, spasm in surrounding tissues, and loss of function. In a case like this we want to manage pain, reduce swelling, relax the tight muscles and use strategies to restore motion. Some of the nutrients to address swelling in the first 72 hours are Trypsin, Chromotrypsin and Bromelain. They are three proteolytic enzymes which some studies suggest that people who receive proteolytic enzymes showed reduced swelling, pain, inflammation also had faster healing and recovery rates, and must be taken in between meals. These natural anti-inflammatories are responsible for they known to decrease pain and promote healing they are Boswellia, Tumeric, Ginger, Cayenne and Quercitin. If the muscles need to be relaxed you can use Calcium, Magnesium, Lemon Balm and Valerian Root. Phase two will start around day four and last until eight weeks post injury the symptoms include continued joint or muscle pain, palpable inflammation surrounding the injury, range of motion may be compromise, and tissue repair and remodeling has begun. Our objectives are initial soft tissue support, to aid in collagen synthesis, improve joint stability, as well as control pain and inflammation. The soft tissue we will be supporting is the extra cellular matrix its the network that binds us together our tendons, ligaments, cartilage and the fascia. The tendons heal in overlapping phases inflammation, repair and remodeling. One of the strategies we use to support the health and integrity of the extra cellular matrix is to modulate expression of MMP’s or matrix metalloproteinases. They are the collagen digesting enzymes naturally produced at the time of injury if excessively released they can damage healthy tendon and cartilage tissue. But if controlled it can help to remodel connective tissue. The nutrients that modulate the mmps are Berberin, Thiaa, Selenium, along with Folic acid. Now you can address collagen synthesis with Amino acids, Vitamin C, B6, B5, L-Taurine, Silica, Zinc, and Copper. The nutrients you can use to support joint stability and the connective tissues is Glucosamine and Chondroitin. Onto Phase three this is the and ongoing care phase, the objectives are to achieve optimal issue remodeling, support wellness/prevention care by maintaining foundation nutrition and reducing the risk of re-injury and degeneration. Dr. Rob’s foundation 5 for foundation nutrition are a Multivitamin-Multimineral, Omega 3-fatty acids, Vitamin D, Probiotics and Phytonutrient supplement.

 The techniques we will be looking at are A.R.T., Kinesio/Rock Tape, and Laser Therapy. They are all highly successful techniques that have been used on me at different times, I can attest to the fact that the all have worked for me. Active Release is a highly successful approach to injuries of muscles, tendons, nerves, and the surrounding soft tissues. Active Release is not massage, physiotherapy, or chiropractic care. While those procedures relieve muscle and motion dysfunction, they do not necessarily address the underlying problems caused by scar tissue formation. A.R.T. or Active release is a 25 year old soft tissue management system developed and patented by Dr. Leahy. He noticed the his patients symptoms were related changes in their soft tissue that could be felt by hand. Through experimentation with observation of how muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves responded to soft tissue work. This led to the development of the protocols currently used with ligaments, muscle and nerves in the A.R.T. system. How does A.R.T. work? The basic ideas is to shorten the tissue, apply a contact tension and lengthen the tissue or make it slide relative to the adjacent tissue. This particular technique is not simple because each session is a combination of examination and treatment. The A.R.T. provider uses his or her hands to evaluate the texture, tightness and movement of muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and nerves. Abnormal tissues are treated by combining precisely directed tension with very specific patient movements. Most A.R.T. Practitioners claim up to a 90% success rate with the use of active release.

Kinesio Taping was also developed 25 years ago to support the body's healing process to restore normal function in myofascial tissues and joints. KT uses a tape design that was developed to mimic the qualities of the epidermis. It is approximately the same thickness of the skin and can be stretched between 130-140% of its static length which matches our skins stretching ability. It involves taping over and around muscles to assist and prevent over contraction, while allowing the flow of healing nutrients for a 24 hour period. The benefits of taping are that it supports normal muscle function, specifically its effective for reconditioning abnormal muscle tension and strengthening the weakened muscles. It assists in the reduction of abnormal accumulation of fluids by directing the exudates or discharge toward the lymph ducts. KT creates more space to decrease inflammation by lifting the fascia and soft tissue above the areas of pain/inflammation, helps correct joint restriction and improve proprioception and aligns fascial tissue. It also effectively used for preventative maintenance, and pain management , while withstanding athletic activity and showering. This non-restrictive tape that allows for a full range of motion, is highly effective and has been used in the Olympics, PGA Tour, NFL, NCAA Division 1 athletes as well as with Crossfit athletes as Rock Tape. As I have said before these techniques allow you to stay in the game or getting back as quickly as possible.

 Laser Therapy is one of the techniques allows for this. Sports injury trauma causes damage to soft tissues on a cellular level. The damaged cells release chemicals that initiate a natural inflammatory response in the body, resultant in redness, swelling warmth and pain in the affected area. Persistent or recurrent inflammation can predispose the athlete to early onset arthritis or degenerative changes in their joints. The usage of laser therapy reduces both the short term inflammation and the long term risk of arthritis commonly associated with sports injuries. Low level laser therapy stimulates cellular function at many levels, including metabolism,it promotes the initiation of multiple physiological and beneficial effects in the repair and function of human cells. It is widely used in the medical and cosmetic fields due to fact it is non-destructive to the target tissues, while positively affecting many functions such as collagen formation, cellular metabolism, angiogenesis, and lymphatic flow. It treats the injury by activating biochemical energy and accelerating the healing process resulting in the resolution of inflammation and the development of normal tissue rather than scar tissue. The key here is to use a low level laser therapy that is FDA cleared for treating pain and increasing range of motion. They are used by professional sports teams and athletes with great success.

Hopefully this series has helped you. In the coming weeks and months I will have a site and a new Facebook page. Also I have some workshops and seminars that will be rolling out soon. So please sign up for the mailing list.