Therapy modalities

Soft tissue mobilisation

The use of hands on, manual therapy techniques to release muscular tension, clear scar tissue and promote healing. This can be achieved through the use of:

• Massage
• Myofascial trigger point release
• Muscle energy techniques
• Soft tissue release techniques
• Cross friction

Joint mobilisation and manipulation

The use of passive physiological and accessory joint mobilisations in order to improve the mobility of restricted joints. A high velocity, low amplitude mobilisation is also known as an ‘adjustment’ or ‘manipulation’.

Mobilisations can also stimulate mechanoreceptors to reduce pain, muscle tension, increase joint mobility and improve proprioception

Medical acupuncture

The use of fine needles inserted into the muscle to reduce pain, stiffness, nerve sensitivity, to release trigger points and to increase local blood flow which promotes healing.

Medical acupuncture is an adaptation of Chinese acupuncture using current knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, and the principles of evidence based medicine.

More info available from The British Medical Acupuncture Society.

Exercise rehabilitation

The use of bespoke rehabilitative exercise programmes designed to restore strength, endurance, proprioception and thereby function of the body.

This is a crucial component of the therapy process for those who want long lasting improvements to make sure chronic pains don’t keep coming back.

IDD spinal decompression

Non-surgical spinal decompression treatment that uses precise angles, and computer controlled, oscillatory traction to target specific segments of the spine in order to alleviate pressure on compressed discs & trapped nerves (e.g. sciatica) to promote natural healing and pain relief.

More information available from IDD Therapy.

Shockwave

The use of compressed air the deliver acoustic pulses (shockwaves) in order to stimulate the remodelling of scar tissue, calcified tissue, to promote blood vessel and collagen formation, to reduce pain signals from the nerves.

Shockwave is especially effective for treating tendinopathies and fasciopathies (e.g. plantar fasciitis).

TECAR

A type of diathermy that uses high frequency currents to stimulate deep tissues within the body to promote the natural healing response and reduce inflammation.

TECAR is ideal for ionic, high water content tissues and is most suitable for targeting deeper structures in the body as it has the greatest depth of penetration out of all the electrotherapy modalities.

Laser

The use of monochromatic, collimated, and coherent infrared light to promote local blood flow, treat inflammation, give pain relief and to stimulate natural healing.

Laser is great for treating superficial, vascular tissues. It is also commonly combined with shockwave therapy in order to improve tolerance.

Ultrasound

The use of high frequency sound waves, beyond the range of human hearing in order to stimulate the natural healing process and to enhance the quality of repair of the damaged tissues.

Ultrasound therapy is most suitable for targeting dense collagen based tissues such as ligaments and tendons.

Footscan Gait analysis

Advanced clinical gait and movement analysis to assess lower limb biomechanics. Footscan has been utilised in more than 3,000 scientific studies and is trusted by state-of-the-art movement labs and elite sports teams worldwide, from Team GB to Manchester City FC.

The high tech movement data is used to create a bespoke, 3D printed orthotic that is specifically designed around your movement deviations in order to optimise your foot function.