WHAT IS SOFT-TISSUE THERAPY?

"Soft-Tissue Therapy involves various forms of hands-on therapy that are

directed at treating injured, inflamed or fibrotic soft-tissues in the body including

muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and other non-bony structures."

Soft-tissue therapy targets injured, inflamed or fibrotic soft-tissue in the body.  Many different types of soft-tissue therapies exist including Myofascial Release Therapy, post-isometric relaxation and neuro-dynamic mobilization therapy.  Directing treatment at injured muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia and other soft-tissues in the body is an important part of a comprehensive treatment plan. 

Soft-Tissue Therapy is often effective in providing relief for:

• neuromusuculoskeletal conditions

• many forms of tendinosis
• strain/sprain injuries
• muscle spasm
• chronic pain syndromes
• bursitis
• and many other soft-tissue conditions and sports injuries

Here are a few examples of conditions that respond very well to Soft-Tissue Therapy:

• tennis elbow
• Achilles Tendinosis
• rotator cuff injuries
• hamstring strains
• neck & shoulder muscle tension
• arch/heel pain - plantar fasciitis
• TMJ disorders

Myofascial Release Therapy and other forms of soft-tissue therapy are safe and non forceful.  They can be used effectively on a broad range of patients, from infants to seniors. Soft-tissue therapies offer an alternative to treating neck pain without manipulation/adjustment.

Cumulative sessions of soft-tissue therapy can often lead to faster recovery times, less pain and good patient outcomes.

Soft-Tissue Therapy often necessitates patient participation, thus patients are active participants in their own treatments.

Neurophysiological vs. Mechanical Treatment 

While other some manual therapies use a mechanical model for their treatment protocol, some soft-tissue therapies target the neurophysiological mechanism of the human body.  These may include targeting receptors in human tissues such as Golgi tendon organs, Paccinian corpuscles and especially muscle spindles.

What Makes Soft-Tissue Therapies Different?

Less pain and/or less discomfort is often experienced when soft-tissues are treated instead of inflamed joints.  Myofascial restrictions that prevent full or pain-free range of motion may also be eliminated that can help accelerate the healing process.