Deep Tissue Laser Treatments For IT Band Injuries
Cold Laser for IT-Band Treatment & Recovery
Anatomy
The IT band or iliotibial tract, is a large bundle of tissue that goes over the muscles on the outside of the thigh. It spans from the tibia in the lower leg to the hip muscles at the waist. It assists in movement of the upper leg.
For recent IT band injuries the initial treatment is quite simple. The RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation) is usually a sure-fire way to ease the pain from the injury. Rest will allow the injury to heal itself while also eliminating the risk of further injuring the area, Ice will help to stop the inflammation and reduce pain temporarily. Compression helps to stop the swelling like ice does, which allows the injury to heal faster. Elevation is also a way of letting all the excess swelling and fluids drain out of the injured spot. NSAIDs may be taken in moderation as well. It is important to listen to your body in this situation. If it hurts, it may be wise to continue using the rice method for a few more days until the pain subsides. If the pain lingers, however, other treatment options should be considered.
Conservative TreatmentAlthough the above treatment may help for short-term injuries, it will not suffice for chronic IT band injuries. For chronic IT band injuries there are several different methods that will help to treat this problem, such as Exercising to strengthen the injury, Graston Technique, Massage therapy, and the focus of the article; Cold Laser treatment.
Graston Technique is done using small metal instruments to manually rub against the outside of the injured area, which helps to break up scar tissue and promote healing. For a more in depth article on this practice visit: http://www.robertsonfamilychiro.com/graston-technique-chandler-az.htm
Exercises and StretchesExercises and stretches will be done in order to strengthen the injured area and regain range of motion. For information on exercises visit: http://chiropractorchandler.com/exercises/knee-ankle-and-foot-exercises/
Massage therapyMassage therapy is done using the hands to manually massage the injured area. This helps to break up scar tissue formation as well as speed up the healing process. Not to mention it relaxes the injured site too.
What exactly is Cold Laser Treatment? Cold Laser Treatment/Therapy is the process of using different lengths of light-waves in order to heal an injury. The ways that it helps to heal the injury are as follows:
However it is important to get the right type of laser treatment. Two types of treatment are Class III and IV lasers. Class IV are superior to treating leg injuries. One reason is because class IV provides more levels of therapy than class III does. Secondly, is that class IV provides more variation on Pulses per second. This variation allows the tissue to heal faster. The last reason Class IV lasers are better than Class III is the power difference. Most Class IV lasers have a big step-up in power allowing them to be much more effective in the healing process. For more on this process and treatments visit the Knee Pain Treatment Guide or Cold Laser for Shin Splints.
Our Chandler Chiropractic and Physical Therapy clinic treats patients with a variety of muscle, tendon, joint, and ligament injuries. The clinic provides treatment for runners, tri-athletes, and weekend warriors in addition to common headache, neck, and back patients traditionally seen in Chiropractic, Physical Therapy, Massage Therapy clinics. We work with all ages and abilities of the residents in Phoenix, Tempe, Gilbert, Mesa, and Chandler AZ.