SOHMA Integrative Medicine

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How Long Does Physical Therapy Usually Last?

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Senior man after stroke at nursing home exercising with professional physiotherapist

Physical therapy is a treatment used to aid in the recovery of various conditions and injuries. It uses different forms of passive mobilization, facilitated stretching, therapeutic massages, electrotherapy, ultrasound therapy, and targeted exercises to help muscle imbalance re-education aimed at a full recovery to prevent further injury and pain.

All body parts can be treated with physical therapy. Every case is different, and some patients may feel there isn’t progress. This isn’t true, as physical therapy often has minor improvements that are not immediately noticed. For significant injuries, it can take numerous months before treatment ends. Many patients might be under the impression that it may not be worth the time needed.

Today we’ll review how long physical therapy lasts and when to know your body is ready to stop.

What does Physical Therapy Treat?

As previously stated, physical therapy can aid in the recovery of nearly every body part and injury to a certain extent. For example, after a bone breaks, it needs to remain immobilized in a cast while the bone heals. After the bone is repaired, you’ll need to strengthen the muscle around it to not re-injure the healed bone. Other conditions physical therapy can treat include:

  • Muscle sprains
  • Muscle tears
  • Tendonitis
  • Bone Fractures
  • Post Surgery Recovery
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

As well as several other conditions. When recovering from injuries, physical therapy is one of the most common forms of treatment, often avoiding surgery altogether. Though some situations may still require surgery, physical therapy can help you develop supporting muscles to help with post-surgery recovery. After surgeries, physical therapy is used to help reduce swelling and inflammation caused by the surgery. Some patients fear that physical therapy can cause more pain, which is generally untrue as physical therapy is designed with your current conditions in mind.

How Long Does Physical Therapy Last?

There’s no exact metric for this. Physical therapy can take months to recover fully. Every patient will have a unique program based on strengths and weaknesses to help their specific condition. Other factors include lifestyle, physical condition, age, and mindset.

Although there is no accurate number for calculating how long your physical therapy treatment will take, there are general time frames you can consider. Minor injuries can be treated with as little as 2 or 3 sessions. Injuries in the tendons and muscles may take 1 to 2 months. At the same time, chronic conditions and serious injuries can take much longer. For example, patients who undergo ACL reconstruction surgery may be required to do physical therapy for up to 6 months before regaining the full range of motion needed to relieve knee pain and strengthen the joint.

Post Treatment

Once you’ve recovered and reached the end of your physical therapy program, your therapist will give you additional instructions for using what you learned during the sessions in your day-to-day life. However, no longer part of physical therapy itself. Some of these instructions are meant for you to keep strengthening the injury and ways to ease back into activities that put some strain on the treated area. This can include stretches, exercises, and rules to avoid pain and re-injuring yourself.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach and Lakewood, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

Top 5 Benefits of CTP Therapy

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CTP therapy can be a tool to help with recovery prior and after surgery

Cellular tissue product (CTP) therapy is a new approach to repairing the body. It aims to replace, regenerate and reconstruct the body’s tissues. This can be a game changer if you have suffered from an injury or chronic pain. CTP stimulates your cells to regenerate into normal healthy cells. Resulting in the body’s healing.

CTP therapy is an amazing non-surgical form of relief, and today we’re going to go other five benefits of CTP therapy

Benefit #1 Arthritis

If you’re dealing with arthritis, you’re not alone. Arthritis affects nearly 25% of all adults in the US. Although usually caused by just aging, some arthritis can also be caused by tears, infections, and underlying diseases. However, symptoms often include pain, swelling, stiffness, and a decreased range of motion in the affected joints.

Though arthritis most commonly affects the hands, hips, and knees, CTP injections can help treat all major joints, including the ankles, wrists, elbows, and shoulders. Pharmaceuticals and over-the-counter medication are typically used to manage a bit of the pain caused by arthritis and rarely work to solve the issue or prevent future damage. CTP injections can prevent inflammation and stimulate your tissue cells to regenerate.

Benefit #2 Chronic Pain

If you have felt pain for an extended period, you may suffer from chronic pain. Often caused by inflammation of dysfunctional nerves, chronic pain can be felt in many different areas of the body. Though the underlying causes of chronic pain can be difficult to understand, research shows that the number of people suffering from chronic pain has significantly increased for all US adult demographics. Primary care providers may recommend painkillers or surgery to help deal with chronic pain. An alternative is the use of CTP. CTP may help naturally heal damaged tissue, reducing inflammation which can help reduce pain.

Benefit #3 Knee Injury

Knee injuries can be excruciating and debilitating. Often tied to sports injuries, a knee injury can be caused by vehicular accidents, or in the case of seniors, a slip on uneven ground can cause a knee injury. Surgery may be required in some cases, while in others, treatment with CTP injections in conjunction with physical therapy can forgo the need for an invasive procedure.

Benefit #4 Low Risk

With the variety of benefits and conditions, CTP can help patients. The side effects of CTP injections are infrequent. Patients have stated that there is occasional mild discomfort in the treated area. 

While over-the-counter pain medication and pharmaceuticals only mask the pain, CTP has been used to resolve some issues. It has also been used to help patients avoid going through invasive surgeries.

Benefit #5 Post Surgery Recovery

Some patients may still require surgery. CTP therapy can help your body recover sooner after surgery. Physical therapy is sometimes recommended before surgery. CTP can buy valuable time before surgery to help the body prepare.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach and Lakewood, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

7 Reasons to See a Chiropractor

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Chiropractors help with various ailments that range from small injuries to helping with mobility.

It’s common to see Chiropractors online adjusting and manipulating patients and hearing satisfying cracks. Many times patients will feel an instant wave of relief other times it may take a few chiropractic adjustments to see improvements in your condition.

Chiropractors are healthcare professionals who specialize in manipulating the spine to help reduce pain, treat pain, and improve mobility and functionality of patients. On your first visit you may be asked about your general health, diet, daily activity and what conditions you have been dealing with. 

When should you see a chiropractor though? Today we’re going to give you 7 reasons you may want to consider seeing a Chiropractor.

Back and Neck Pain

The most common reason to visit a Chiropractor is when you’re dealing with neck and back pain. Though neck and back pain is common for nearly everyone, when you wake up several mornings dealing with that pain it may be time to visit a chiropractic office. Oftentimes after having a car accident you may be recommended to see a Chiropractor to avoid long-term damage. 

Difficulty Sleeping

Sleep is one of the most important aspects of recovery. If you are unable to sleep, your body will have a difficult time healing naturally. However, even if you feel like you’ve slept over 7 hours but have difficulty waking up or feel tired after you wake up you may have poor sleep quality. While you’re asleep your body is busy recovering from the day, and if your spine is misaligned it can cause your body to stress over the pain. This can also cause irritation and stiffness in the neck as well as pain in your arms and legs. A chiropractor can realign the vertebrae in your spine to reduce pain, increase sleep quality allowing you to rest better.

Headache Pain

Headaches can be caused by a variety of reasons, some can have them after poor sleep, staring at computer monitors for hours, allergies, subluxations or simply just because you ate too much ice cream. The severity of headaches can range from a mild brain freeze to a crippling migraine. Although you can take an ibuprofen or aspirin to help with the pain you may be ignoring underlying problems if it happens often. For some people headaches occur because of pressure built up in their neck and spine, a chiropractor can adjust the neck to release tension and relax the neck muscles reducing the frequency and strength of headaches.

Alternative Medicine

Many people mask their pain symptoms with pain pills which rarely deal with the root cause of their physical pain. It’s not uncommon for Americans to take over the counter pain relievers in the morning to help them deal with chronic pain.

What if instead of just dealing with the symptoms you do something about the reason for the pain?

Back pain can be caused by compressed or slipped discs, spinal adjustment or spinal decompression can help with long-term pain relief. Chiropractic adjustments can also help improve your posture which can benefit the rest of your body as well. 

Mental Health

When making chiropractic care a regular part of your health routine many patients express how great they feel. Chiropractors relieve pain in your back and neck allowing you to get out of pain and into balance, and back to play. Feeling less pain means you no longer have to fight your body to perform activities and focus on the moment and fun and enjoy yourself again.

Improved Physical Health

While you may not be looking to be a professional athlete, chiropractic adjustments can help you improve your physical health. A Chiropractor understands the human body and how it’s supposed to move and will be able to test your range of motion and determine if you are dealing with any issues. If you enjoy an active lifestyle a chiropractor can help you to continue to enjoy it with less pain.

Overall Health

Chiropractors specialize in the spine, which connects to the rest of your body. Even if you are not suffering from debilitating pains, a chiropractic adjustment may make you feel holistically better. Patients who have regular chiropractic adjustments report improvements in their daily lives. From feelings of well-being and happiness to increased strength and a stronger immune system. 

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach and Lakewood, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

5 Benefits of Medical Massages

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A professional Medical can have many positive impacts on the body and your health

Before getting into the benefits of medical massages, first we need to differentiate between a regular massage and a medical massage. A normal massage will usually focus on relieving tension in the soft tissue, and is generally used to relax and reduce stress in the body. Generally speaking a traditional massage will be pleasant but won’t really address the same things that a medical massage will.

A medical massage, also known as a deep tissue massage can cause discomfort and a little bit of pain in some people, however it has been described as a “good pain” where the patient feels relief alongside the discomfort. Today we’re going to go over 5 benefits of medical massages.

Pain Management

Medical massages is a non-pharmaceutical alternative to pain management. Medical massage techniques tend to be slower and use more strength in order to target the deeper layers of hurt or injured muscle and connective tissue. Though commonly used to treat injuries, medical massages can also be used to loosen up muscle tension that can build up when suffering from chronic pain. Medical massages can also be used to treat pain caused by:

  • Lower Back Pain
  • Torticollis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Plantar Fasciitis

For chronic pain, medical massages have been shown to be as effective as some medications while being more cost effective.

Increased Mobility

When receiving regular medical massages, it can help break up scar tissue by promoting lymphatic circulation. The lymphatic system being your body’s way of getting rid of unnecessary byproducts of the body. This may improve range of motion and flexibility in the injured area.

Medical massages can be used to treat a variety of symptoms caused by arthritis including reduced mobility, pain in joints, stiffness and swelling. For people suffering from arthritis, massages with moderate pressure can reduce pain and tension making movement less painful.

Improves Heart Health

Blood pressure can be affected by tension, stress among other reasons. As previously stated, medical massages can be used to reduce both stress and tension. It has been shown to have a beneficial impact on systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure. They also increase the production of serotonin, which is the hormone that makes us feel happy and promotes a positive mood. A negative or stressful mood can produce hormones that can temporarily increase blood pressure.

Injury Rehabilitation

When injured, the soft tissue can become twisted or tense. A medical massage can help in stretching, loosening and straightening deep soft tissues causing pain. The increased blood circulation to the area can help decrease inflammation in the muscle or joint injured. Though often used to treat injuries related to sports, regular medical massages can help prevent muscle injuries and reduce muscle fatigue. Stretching connective tissue with medical massage helps improve circulation and promotes tissue repair.

Mental Health

Medical massages can reduce physical pain, tension and stress. By reducing the pain caused by these physical conditions it allows the patient to be more relaxed. Reducing heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen use may reduce mental stress and anxiety which are commonly associated with depression. It is believed that massages reduce levels of cortisol, known as the stress hormone. Massage therapy in general has been known to lower stress,  reduce anxiety and make people less irritable.

Sleeping helps the body recover physically and mentally. Poor sleep can lead to poor health which can make it harder to sleep. It has been shown that medical massages can improve sleep patterns in patients of all ages. Lack of sleep has been shown to be linked with anxiety disorder.  When able to rest properly patients notice an improvement in their mood. 

Medical massages may not be for everyone, though it being a low-risk treatment option means it’s available to most people dealing with stress and pain.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach and Lakewood, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

Can Cupping Help with Anxiety?

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Undergoing cupping therapy has additional benefits for both the body and mind.

In recent years the importance of mental health has been made clear. Every day more and more people are being diagnosed with some kind of mental health condition like anxiety. Today we want to share with you how cupping therapy can help reduce anxiety and alleviate some of the stress that comes with it.

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety has many forms of manifesting itself and acts differently depending on each person. Everyone feels anxious from time to time. It is normal for most people to have feelings of anxiety, it is the brain’s way of reacting to things that can be stressful. It is meant to alert you if there is any potential danger near. It is okay to feel anxious before making important decisions, when facing difficult work problems, or for students about to take a difficult test.

When anxiety becomes a mental health disorder is when you feel the symptoms of anxiety more regularly and more intensely. Excessive and constant worry and fear about everyday situations. Higher heart rates, hyperventilating, tension, exhaustion, and sweating can occur. Often causing panic attacks. You should seek your primary care provider if you can not work, complete daily tasks, find it difficult to maintain relationships, or are abusing substances. It’s important for us to know the degree of anxiety to properly treat each individual patient.

What is Cupping Therapy?

Cupping therapy is a Chinese traditional medicine when a small vacuum is formed within a cup whether by heating the cup or using a pump and placed atop the skin. The vacuum formed then sucks the skin into the cup along with the fascia, muscle, and other soft tissues. The cupping process causes vasodilation, which increases blood circulation to the treated areas. Removing stagnant toxins and circulating fresh oxygenated blood to the affected area. 

When performed by a well-trained practitioner such as the ones staffed at SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Lakewood and Long Beach CA, the risks and side effects are minimal. The only thing left behind is round marks left by the cup which can give an insight into how well the therapy is working. Darker marks may require more treatment in that area than lighter marks.

Cupping Therapy and Mental Health

You may be wondering how getting your skin and soft tissue pulled into a cup can help with anxiety. Cupping therapy helps indirectly by activating your parasympathetic nervous system as the cups glide over your body. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for lowering your heart rate and helping with digestion. When active the parasympathetic nervous system produces a calm and relaxing feeling in your body and mind. This reaction can loosen tension in your body which may result in a reduction in stress and anxiety.

Additionally cupping therapy promotes better sleep quality by reducing pain and removing toxins from the body. Allowing for longer consistent sleep helps with mental and physical recovery. It is well documented that there is a correlation between the lack of sleep and people who are prone to suffering from anxiety. As well as people suffering from anxiety have a hard time staying asleep. Without the rejuvenating effects of a good night’s sleep, it is possible for people to spiral into an unhealthy cycle that can be dangerous for their mental health.

Is Cupping Therapy Right for You?

Cupping therapy is a safe practice although there are some exceptions. If you have bleeding disorders like Hemophilia or blood clotting issues like deep vein thrombosis. If you have a history of strokes or seizures you should ask about your condition before receiving cupping therapy. If you have skin conditions like psoriasis or eczema your skin may become irritated when having cupping therapy.

Take the Next Step In Improving Your Health by Contacting SOHMA Integrative Medicine

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can reach out to us and ask us about the Myers Cocktail, IV Therapy, Chiropractic care, or how our other health service lines can help you with your journey to improved health. 

Located in Long Beach and Lakewood, CA we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

We look forward to helping you take the next step in your journey to better health.

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