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You will be taught the do's and dont's of home care. Ice or heat? Rest or exercise? All concerns will be addressed. You will be given instructions on stretches and exercises specific to your condition which will control pain and facilitate tissue healing. RETURN TO FUNCTION Driving, bending, lifting, reaching, etc. These are known as ADLs (Activities of Daily Living). Returning to these activities will not only improve your psyche but will also help with pain control. Dr. Ruck will get you back to ADLs as safely and quickly as possible. PREVENT RECURRENCE Once out of pain and back to function, you will be given specific exercises to perform at home, at the gym, or with your personal trainer, yoga or pilates instructor. This will help keep your back and body strong so as to minimize the chance of recurrence. ATHLETES You will be guided back to your sport. Dr. Ruck will help design a safe, "return to play" strategy to follow. Treatment approach: Musculoskeletal conditions typically have a variety of causes (poor posture, repetitive strain, previous injury, training errors, etc.) It takes a multifaceted treatment approach to troubleshoot the problem and address it accordingly.
The spine consists of a series of bones (vertebrae) stacked on top of one another, separated by shock absorbing discs and joints called facet joints. Following injury, repetitive stress, or postural dysfunction, the muscles surrounding the joints of the spine may become stiff and tight. Chiropractic manipulation is the application of a force through a joint the purpose of which is to increase range of motion, decrease pain, and reduce muscle tension. Manipulation is appropriate for some conditions but not for others. Utilization is determined on a case by case basis.
ART® is a patented system of detecting and treating problems with soft tissue (muscles, tendons, ligaments, fascia, and nerves). Following injury and inflammation, scar tissue accumulation results in tissues that are not as flexible or pliable as they were prior to injury. This may lead to persistent pain, nerve irritation, and decreased range of motion. ART® involves the patient performing active movement of the treated area through various ranges of motion as the practitioner applies specific tension along muscle fiber orientation. This is different than massage in the specificity of its application. There are over 300 specific muscle and fascia techniques and over 100 nerve entrapment techniques. Dr. Ruck is one of a handful of providers in the area with full body certification in ART®. Therapeutic Rehabilitation Exercises Muscle imbalance, muscle weakness, inflexibility, postural dysfunction,and improper muscle control are often the underlying factors which predispose one to injury. Uncovering one or more of these problems is often the key link to addressing the underlying dysfunction. Studies have consistently shown that patients improve quicker and results last longer when exercise is added to the treatment program. Dr. Ruck has compiled information on the most effective spine and extremity rehabilitation protocols. Exercise balls, rubber band resistance, balance boards, and body weight training are utilized.
Utilizing a special table, the doctor applies a gentle force to the spine. For certain disc injuries, this distractive force helps decrease disc pressure, drawing fluid and inflammatory products away from the nerve. The technique is also used to stretch soft tissues surrounding the spine. Orthopedic supplies Straps and braces are sometimes utilized to help support the tissues as they are healing. Dr. Ruck has a stock of affordable, quality products.
Therapeutic modalities include electric muscle stimulation and ultrasound therapy. These are used as an adjunct to hands on work. Electric muscle stimulation applies low level electrical impulses to the injured region to reduce pain, swelling, and muscle spasm associated with many common conditions. Pain control is achieved via the release of the body's natural pain killers, called endorphins. Electrical therapy can also be used to rehabilitate weak muscles following injury or immobilization. Electrical stimulation is used for: -control of acute or chronic pain -reducing edema (swelling) -reducing muscle spasm -increasing blood flow Ultrasound therapy utilizes sound waves to treat soft tissue injuries. It has both thermal (heating) and mechanical effects. The thermal settings apply deep heat to muscle tissue to help reduce trigger points and chronically tight areas. The mechanical settings apply pulsed sound waves which vibrate connective tissue and muscle cells. The goal is to "pump out" unwanted stagnation of inflammatory products from swollen tissues. Ultrasound is used for: -reducing edema (swelling) -stimulating tissue healing -increasing blood flow -The value of Ice therapy, is often overlooked. Ice is applied to all acute injuries or re-exacerbation of old injuries. It works by causing constriction of blood vessels which carry inflammatory products to the site of injury. While it is a necessary process, prolonged or excessive inflammation can prolong healing. -Moist heat is typically used for tight muscles and chronic pain. It acts as a vasodilator, increasing the width of vessels thereby increasing blood flow to the region. Heat should not be used while inflammation is present (1-3 days following injury). Inflammation is characterized by swelling, redness, pain, heat, and loss of function. Nutritional recommendations What we eat does affect the way we heal. Poor dietary choices (the typical American diet) places us in a pro- inflammatory state. Inflammation is a culprit in a wide variety of conditions. The appropriate dietary modifications can shift our body to an anti-inflammatory state. Knowledge of this is helpful during inflammation associated with acute muscle or joint injury. Home care Patients are instructed on measures which he/she can take at home to not only increase their level of comfort but to actively facilitate the healing process. Early and appropriate home care will decrease pain and speed recovery. You, the patient will be empowered to take an active role in your recovery. Dr. Ruck will teach you the most efficient and productive ways to do this. Referral If you do not improve as anticipated, further tests will be ordered (X-Ray,MRI) or you will be referred to the appropriate health care professional. Dr. Ruck often co-manages cases with orthopedists, podiatrists, internists, etc. |
| “While training for the NYC being able to do it. With Dr. bad that I was giving up hope of being able to do it. With Dr. Ruck's therapy and guidance I was able to continue training and was able to continue training and run the marathon! Not only run the marathon! Not only that, my recovery time was minimal and I still feel great”. JH |
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"Dr. Ruck is very
knowledgeable, takes the time to
discuss the issues at hand and
educates you on how to heal up
and take care of yourself beyond
the office. He's checked up on
me (wow, how many doctors of
any kind do that nowadays?!)
and I know I can contact him at
any time if I have any
questions".
AS
knowledgeable, takes the time to
discuss the issues at hand and
educates you on how to heal up
and take care of yourself beyond
the office. He's checked up on
me (wow, how many doctors of
any kind do that nowadays?!)
and I know I can contact him at
any time if I have any
questions".
AS