Therapy for Chronic Pain & Sports Injuries

Article by Geoff M. Lecovin

Pain is among the top reasons that patients visit a physician. Many Physicians erroneously assume that the source of pain is tissue damage or inflammation. Consequently, there is a tendency to overprescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Unfortunately, this can lead to numerous side effects (e.g. stomach irritation, liver toxicity, compromised kidney, etc.) and in many instances can perpetuate the very same pain that the patient originally sought care for.

Chronic Pain
Chronic pain may arise from extrinsic sources (e.g. ongoing injury or inflammation) or for intrinsic reasons (e.g. abnormal hypersensitivity in the neuromuscular system). A pivotal component of this type of pain is muscle spasm or shortening. Spasm can cause pain localized to muscle in addition to its attachments i.e. mechanically overloading tendons.

Since chronic neuromusculo-skeletal pain differs by mechanism from inflammation, its treatment is also distinct and often unresponsive to anti-inflammatory medications or other conventional therapies.

Conventional Treatment
Most physical treatment modalities commonly used for this type of pain, such as heat, massage or TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) work by reflex stimulation of the affected part via its intact innervation. However these modalities are passive and limited in scope. Stimulation ends when their application is terminated. In contrast, intramuscular stimulation (IMS) is more effective and long lasting.

Intramuscular Stimulation
IMS borrows its technique from traditional Chines medicine (TCM) but modifies it by applying anatomy and neurophysiology. It differs from TCM in that it does not rely on a Chinese philosophy or pre measured acupuncture points located on meridians. Rather, IMS requires a medical diagnosis and examination and needle insertion is into muscle motor points or “trigger points” (palpable bands) found in radicular or segmental nerve patterns.

The Advantages of IMS Include:
Prompt subjective and objective effects
Stimulation of the body’s healing bioelectrical energy
Stimulation of tissue proliferation which can strengthen weak ligaments and tendons by forming more durable collagen
Can be used safely and effectively by practitioners well-versed in anatomy, palpation and injection techniques.

Some Common Indications for IMS Include:
Sports injuries
Frozen Shoulder
Arthritis
Joint Pain
Fibromyalgia/Fibrositis
Muscle Imbalances
Chondromalacia/Knee pain
Headaches
Intervertebral disc
Sprain/strain
Plantar Fascitis
Rotator Cuff Syndrome
Decreased range of motion
Muscle weakness
Shin splints
TMJ dysfunction
Tennis elbow
Whiplash injury
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Therapy for Chronic Pain & Sports Injuries Article by Geoff M. Lecovin