THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

Swelling From Blood Vessels

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

STAGES OF TISSUE HEALING – STAGE I: ACTIVE SWELLING

1.Swelling occurs for 12 to 72 hours / 2.Motion is lost and pain increases Goals of Care: Minimize pain, swellingCare:

1.Rest & support of injured area / 2.Ice to block swelling, pain, and spasm

Muscle

Spasm

Restricts

Motion

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

STAGE II: PASSIVE CONGESTIONFluid trapped in tissues restricts motion, causes pain, & delays healing, Begins by 2nd to 4th day

Goals of Care for Passive Congestion:

1. Remove fluid 2. Pain relief 3. Begin to restore motion

Motion Helps to Remove Wastes and Improve Nutrition

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

Care:

1. Chiropractic Adjustments help

a. restore motion

b. block pain

c. restore normal sensation

d. relax tight muscles

c. remove swelling

e. accelerate healing

2. Heat and cold to remove fluid

3. Controlled Motion Exercises

4. Physical therapy help in some cases

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

TISSUE INJURY CAUSES RESTRICTION OF MOTION DUE TO:1. Inflammation & swelling 2. Pain 3. Muscle spasm

Excess scar tissue with no motion

With motion, healthy connective tissue strengthens joint

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

The Major Goals Of Chiropractic Care:

1. Relieve pain 2. Promote full healing 3. Restore & maintain full function 4. Reduce

the likelihood of reinjury 5. Prevent accelerated degeneration

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

Chiropractic Care should continue throughout the repair stage. It takes longer for tissues to heal & normal function to be restored than it takes for pain relief. Pain relief is not the only goal, Chiropractic helps:

1. Restore normal motion, function & biomechanics

2. Improve alignment of new connective tissue

3. Prevent shortening of scar tissue & chronic stiffness

4. Restore & maintain flexibility of ligaments and muscles

5. Restore normal muscle toe & coordination

6. Promote quicker, more effective healing

7. Restore & maintain normal sensation

8. Reduce the risk of reinjury and degeneration

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

Excess scar tissue with no motion

With motion, healthy connective tissue strengthens joint

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

Beginning 5 days after injury, scar tissue is made for up to 6 weeks.

Lack of motion causes excess scar tissue in dense patterns disrupting normal function causing:

1. Excess scarring 6. Weak muscles & ligaments

2. Chronic stiffness 7. Loss of normal sensation

3. Limited range of motion 8. Poor nutrition

4. Poor biomechanics 9. Increased risk of reinjury

5. Chronic pain 10. Accelerated degeneration

STAGE III: REPAIR

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

If motion is restored & maintained, tissues heal in a much more functional way

Chiropractic

Relaxes,

muscles

Restores

normal

position

and

movement

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

GOALS OF REPAIR STAGE: RESTORE NORMAL MOTION, SENSATION, PROMOTE FULL HEALING, RELIEVE PAIN.

THE ROLE OF CHIROPRACTIC IN MANAGING INJURIES

Connective tissue remodels for better strength & flexibility. This often takes 3 to 14 weeks but may take up to 1 year with severe injury.

Chiropractic helps to achieve these goals:

1. Improve and maintain motion and flexibility

2. Restore & maintain function

3. Reduce chronic pain

4. Reduce risk of reinjury & degeneration

STAGE IV: REMODELING