Injury rehabilitation EMG biofeedback assists chiropractic care

For your injury rehabilitation EMG biofeedback will give you real time feedback on how well your muscles are working.   In this article we’ll explore the benefits of understanding your EMG biofeedback and how it can assist chiropractic care.

I  hear you say, “I have already had all the tests done.”  

Tests such as X-ray, MRI, ultrasound and C/T scans have one VERY MAJOR limitation.

In most cases they are done whilst you are still and therefore do not provide any real time information about what your body is doing in motion. Functional MRI scans are being used more and more but their use still tends to be limited to research facilities. Functional orthopaedic exams can give us some vital clues about our bodies in motion but can lack the sensitivity required to get the best result. This is where an EMG assessment can help provide some vital information about the cause of your problem and the best solution

“Oh, but I have been through a rehabilitation program already!” 

We regularly consult with people who have already been through a injury rehabilitation program only to have their problem return or just not get back to 100%. Proper exercise prescription and technique are paramount when exercising but subtle problems with muscle patterning can go by undetected. Muscle imbalances can persist or actually get worse as you get stronger even when doing the right exercises. The body has an amazing ability to compensate which means that good form and correct muscle patterning are not always one and the same thing.

So what is EMG?

Electromyography (EMG) uses surface electrodes to measure electrical muscle activity beneath the skin.

This technology is particularly useful both diagnostically and in a injury rehabilitation setting. To protect your joints nervous system all  muscles need to be finely co-ordinated to switch on and off at exactly the right time with exactly the right amount of force.

EMG allows us to measure imbalances between muscle groups by showing:

•  Timing differences in muscle activation
• Rate of muscle fatigue
• Individual and comparative muscle strength

During injury rehabilitation and re-training EMG allows us to be certain that your muscles are working exactly as they should. In cases where they are not, EMG allows us to pin point at which particular part of the movement weakness and imbalance is occurring  The power for you as a client is having instantaneous feedback and correction in real time.

People who benefit from EMG assessment are those with:

• Recurrent joint and muscle sprain/strain type injuries
• Poor posture
• Chronic muscle tension
• Tendonitis and RSI
• Structural imbalances
• Joint osteoarthritis (wear and tear)
• Patella tracking disorders
• Iliotibial band (ITB) syndrome
• Rotator cuff tendinitis
• Spinal disc and facet joint injuries
• Hip related injuries such as trochanteric bursitis and groin strain
• & those looking for increased performance and injury prevention

 

How do I make an appointment?

Just call us on 9518 0722 for an initial consultation. You do not need a referral. Mention that you are interested in a biofeedback examination so that our receptionist can direct you to a specialist practitioner

 

Yours in Better Health

Dr Andrew Richards (Principal Chiropractor)