Understanding Soft Tissue Injuries: How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Soft tissue injuries affect millions of Americans every year. The symptoms of soft tissue injury run from mild discomfort to debilitating pain. They often involve limitations on mobility and range of motion.
Metro Healthcare Partners, the top chiropractors in Brooklyn, NY, talks about the different types of soft tissue injuries and how various chiropractic treatments can be effective for recovery and restoring mobility and quality of life.
What Are Soft Tissue Injuries?
Soft tissues are the body’s connective tissues — muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Sudden force or prolonged overuse can damage these tough but delicate tissues.
Depending on the severity of the injury, these can take weeks or even months to heal, according to Cleveland Clinic.
However, without proper care, soft tissue injury often ends up causing chronic pain, reduced mobility, and reduced quality of life. Anyone with these types of injuries should promptly seek competent professional care. Chiropractic care is a core part of a comprehensive soft tissue treatment plan.
Common Types of Soft Tissue Injuries and Symptoms
Soft tissue injuries can manifest in several ways. The most common types include:
- Muscle strains. Strains occur when a muscle overstretches or tears. Sudden trauma or improper body movements under stress can cause muscle strains.
- Ligament sprains. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones together. Ankle sprains are an example of a common ligament sprain.
- Contusions (bruises). Bruising takes place when trauma or sudden impact damages small blood vessels. As blood escapes the damaged vessels, it pools under the skin and causes the discoloration associated with bruising.
- Tendon tears. These tissues connect muscles to bones. Tendon tears are notoriously painful and typically require medical intervention for proper healing.
- Lacerations. Cuts or tears in the skin are not always classified as soft tissue injuries, but they can sometimes affect underlying soft tissue that requires appropriate care.
Symptoms of Soft Tissue Injuries
Some of the most common symptoms of the injuries described above include:
- Pain and tenderness
- Swelling and bruising
- Stiffness or reduced range of motion
- Muscle weakness or spasms
- Difficulty using the injured body parts
How Chiropractic Care Can Help
Chiropractic care is an effective method for treating soft tissue injuries, with pain scores lowering from 55.3 to 24.5, according to one study in the National Library of Medicine. Chiropractors focus on the musculoskeletal system, particularly the spine, to restore proper alignment, reduce pain, and improve mobility.
Chiropractic Adjustment
Chiropractic adjustments involve professional alignment and manipulation of the spine and joints. Adjustments alleviate pain, correct misalignments, and improve overall function.
For soft tissue injuries that affect the neck and upper spine, like whiplash, gentle adjustments help relieve pressure on the affected tissues, easing pain and promoting faster healing.
Soft Tissue Therapy
Soft tissue therapy, including massage and myofascial release, is another treatment option that chiropractors use to address soft tissue injuries. These techniques target tight muscles, adhesions, and scar tissue.
They improve general circulation, reduce inflammation, and promote natural tissue repair. This therapy is particularly effective for muscle strains, ligament sprains, and contusions.
Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation
Chiropractors often incorporate physical therapy into their treatment plans. This may involve specific exercises and stretches designed to strengthen the injured areas and restore range of motion.
Chiropractors often work directly with professional physical therapists to create a tailored regimen that includes direct manual therapy, strengthening exercises, flexibility training, and balance improvement. All of these methods can promote recovery and protect against soft tissue reinjury.
Ultrasound Therapy
Ultrasound therapy is a non-invasive treatment that uses sound waves to generate heat deep within the tissues. Ultrasound reduces inflammation, increases blood flow, and improves range of motion.
Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS)
EMS is another common chiropractic treatment for soft tissue injuries. This method uses mild electrical impulses to cause the muscles to contract and relax. This can alleviate pain and reduce inflammation.
Heat Therapy
Heat therapy is often used to treat muscle strains and ligament sprains. Expertly targeted heat increases blood flow to injured tissue and relaxes tight muscles. In the proper measure, heat therapy effectively penetrates deeply into affected tissues.
Schedule an Appointment at Metro Healthcare Partners With the Leading Chiropractor in Brooklyn, NY
Metro Healthcare Partners specializes in treating common soft tissue injuries, especially those resulting from auto accidents and workplace injuries.
Our expert chiropractors provide expert care in our state-of-the-art facility. You’ll receive hospital-level services with the personal touch of a neighborhood office that provides every patient with individualized care.
Our doctors accept most insurance plans, including workers’ compensation, no-fault, and PIP (personal injury protection). Same-day appointments may be available.
Call Metro Healthcare Partners at (718) 395-9781 to schedule an appointment today and take the first step toward recovery.
Soft Tissue Injuries and Chiropractic Care FAQs
Here are some questions patients ask about chiropractic care for soft tissue injury treatment.
Can Chiropractic Care Prevent Soft Tissue Injuries?
Chiropractic care can help prevent soft tissue injuries by addressing underlying musculoskeletal tension and imbalances that can predispose someone to injury. Regular chiropractic adjustments can improve posture, muscle and joint function, and skeletal alignment.
This can reduce the risk of reinjury or new strains, sprains, or other soft tissue issues.
Is Chiropractic Care Safe for Older Adults With Soft Tissue Injuries?
Chiropractic care is safe for older adults with soft tissue injuries when performed by a qualified professional and is, in fact, used by up to 5% of older individuals, according to one study in the National Library of Medicine. Chiropractors often modify their treatment techniques to best match an individual patient’s age and condition.
Gentle adjustments and therapies like ultrasound, EMS, and physical therapy promote healing while minimizing discomfort for older patients.
Can Chiropractic Care Combine With Other Treatments for Soft Tissue Injuries?
Chiropractic care can combine with other treatments for soft tissue injuries, including physical therapy, acupuncture, massage therapy, and traditional medical interventions.
An integrated approach from practitioners focused on holistic, team-focused care often produces the best results by addressing multiple aspects of an injury, including pain management, tissue healing, and rehabilitation. Speak with the professionals at Metro Healthcare Partners about combined therapies and how they can benefit you.