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Dr. Daniel Hoover

What Forms of Injury Does Physical Therapy Help With?

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Physical therapy is one of the most successful forms of recovery. With SOHMA winning the 2023 Best of Long Beach reader’s choice for a second year, we’re proud to help you on the road to recovery. Your injury will be evaluated, and we may recommend physical therapy. From there, the physiotherapist will further evaluate your physical condition and medical history to prepare a recovery program. 

However, not all injuries are made equal, and today we’ll go over what kinds of injuries physical therapy can help in recovery.

Sport Injuries

Some of the most common injuries that physical therapy can help with are a result of a sports injury. After suffering a soft tissue injury, you’ll want to protect it from further damage. Try to keep the injury elevated if possible. This can prevent fluids from gathering where you were injured.

  • Ankle Sprain
  • Rotator Cuff Strain
  • Shin Splints
  • Tennis Elbow (tendonitis)
  • Fractures
  • Muscle Tears
  • Ligament Tears

Although not life-threatening or life-altering, these injuries can be uncomfortable and painful. While some of these injuries may require surgery to be fully repaired, physical therapy is still valuable pre and post-surgery. Especially for injuries where muscles or ligaments tear or detach.

Work Injuries

Injuries at work are unfortunate but occur regardless of whether you work at a desk in an office, in a kitchen as a cook, or in construction. Many of the injuries you can suffer at work can result in the same types of injuries caused by sports. That being said, injuries from slipping, falling, overexertion, back pain, and accidents with workplace equipment can still happen and must be taken care of.

It’s very common for jobs where there isn’t a significant variety of movements for workers to deal with injuries from repetitive motion. This is similar to tennis elbow and can cause weakness and pain.

Surgery

Although surgery should be the last option for recovery, it is sometimes inevitable. For these cases, physical therapy is used after many surgeries. Physical therapy is crucial in ensuring the body heals without developing scar tissue for joint replacement, muscles, ligament, or tendon repair, and spinal surgeries. Physical therapy is also used before surgeries to help strengthen the body in preparation. A physical therapist can help you determine when you can safely resume certain activities and go back to work.

Concussions

A concussion occurs when the head receives a blow significantly hard enough to move the brain back and forth inside the skull rapidly. This can happen after a car accident, sports injury, or a slip and fall. Although concussions primarily affect the brain, they are known to cause issues with balance and coordination. Most concussions resolve themselves after a week or two, with no symptoms. If symptoms don’t go away on their own, physical therapy can help regain balance, stability, coordination, and focus.

Radiculopathy (Pinched Nerve)

Pinched nerves can cause severe pain. Depending on the nerve being pinched, it can make daily activities extremely painful or nearly impossible, including sleep. When the space where nerve roots exit the spine becomes narrow, the nerve can become irritated. The sciatic nerve, for example, travels from the lower back through the hips and down each leg. When it is pinched, the pain can make it difficult to walk. Physiotherapists can provide stretches and exercises to alleviate pressure from the nerve. However, there are some cases where surgery may be needed to remove some material.

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

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact 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, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

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

How Does Cupping Work?

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Woman Getting Cupping Treatment At a Spa. Cupping Therapy. Treatment used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for pain relief and other health benefits.

One of the oldest forms of medicine, cupping, has been used for thousands of years in Asian countries. Nowadays, you may see celebrities and athletes with round marks going down their backs. These are surely the result of cupping therapy. Although many patients report feeling better after cupping therapy, some people may not understand how cupping works.

Join us today as we go over how cupping therapy works and the benefits of cupping.

What is Cupping Therapy

For thousands of years, cupping therapy has used flames to heat a horn or glass cup, this heat creates a negative pressure in the cup, and once placed upon the skin, the soft tissue is pulled into the cup. Although some still use flames when performing cupping therapy, many now opt for plastic or silicone cups with a suction pump. This makes it easier for the practitioner to get the same amount of pressure on every cup, though some still prefer the traditional method, which provides a similar result.

How does it Work?

The skin, fascia, connective tissue, and muscle can become stuck and reduce the range of motion. Think of it as though you were wearing a sweater. If it’s too small and tight, it can restrict mobility, and if you force it, you can damage or tear the shirt. The cups use negative pressure to pull the soft tissue under the skin. This improves blood flow to the area being treated. The new blood flow brings fresh oxygenated blood full of nutrients. The added blood flow promoted healing and quicker repair of the damaged tissue. Alternatively, you may also receive a cupping massage, and this is where the cups are slid around the areas being treated. These results are more akin to a deep tissue massage, except a cup is used instead over the area of pain or concern.

When visiting SOHMA Integrative Medicine in Long Beach, CA., you’ll be evaluated by the therapist to see the extent of damage to the injury. If, during the evaluation, it is discovered that there is shooting pain or an issue directly involving the spine, Cupping may not be the correct method to aid recovery. 

What do the Marks Mean

The common concern about cupping therapy is the round marks left behind after treatment. Many people see people on TV with round marks and wrongfully assume they are bruises. These aren’t bruises and are more like hickies caused by the suction. This can give the misconception that cupping therapy is painful. On the contrary, many patients find cupping relaxing and satisfying when cups are released.

Not all the marks are the same; some are darker, while others are lighter. The scars left behind on the cups are more than just the result of cupping therapy. They can help you learn how you’re progressing and how long it takes to recover fully. The darker the mark, the longer for it to fade away. This also means more attention will be needed in that area. These marks often take about a week to fade. Lighter marks disappear entirely after a couple of days and tend to signify that that area is working correctly. 

What does Cupping Help with?

While most people look at cupping therapy to help with muscle pain in their back, cupping therapy has been used to help with a variety of conditions, such as:

  • Fevers
  • Poor Appetite
  • Nasal Congestion
  • Cramping
  • Leg Pain
  • Joint Pain
  • Headaches
  • Mental Health

For many conditions, cupping can help by increasing blood circulation. Nonetheless, you need to be able to clear out stagnation and toxins for the body to recover naturally. While cupping has shown beneficial effects on the physical health of a patient, due to the relaxing nature of cupping, it can help people with their mental health. By improving sleep quality, the body can physically and mentally recover better, alleviating stress and anxiety.

Conclusion

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

Our goal is to help you improve your health. You can contact 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, 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 Myths About Chiropractic Care

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Chiropractic care has become a widely accepted practice over the years. Many myths and misconceptions have deterred people from participating in chiropractic care during that time. Many people have reported on the health benefits of chiropractic care and how it’s a great alternative to drugs and surgeries for managing pain and aiding recovery.

Today we’ll review five of these myths and clear up some misunderstandings about chiropractic care.

Myth # 1: Chiropractic Care is Only for Back Pain 

Chiropractors are most commonly known for dealing with back pain. While they can help you manage your back pain, there are many reasons to see a chiropractor. Chiropractic care is used to treat many common ailments, such as:

  • Neck Pain
  • Back Pain
  • Knee pain
  • Leg Pain
  • Headaches
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Breathing Issues
  • Joint Pain
  • Insomnia

With a wide variety of ailments, chiropractic can help with, be sure to ask the helpful staff at SOHMA Integrative Medicine at Long Beach, CA, to see if chiropractic can help treat your specific issue.

Myth # 2: You’ll Need Chiropractic Care for Life

A common misconception is once you’ve begun chiropractic care, you’ll have to rely on adjustments for the rest of your life. They are concerned their body can unlearn how to preserve the correct alignment a chiropractor sets. They fear that without consistent visits, their symptoms may return. There is some truth in that spinal problems may need a program with frequent stops, but as you progress through your regimen, the visits will be more sparse.

This myth may have begun to circulate simply because many patients continue to use chiropractic care after their original program is done. This can be because they want to work on other body parts or to maintain a healthy posture. The human body can become misaligned at any time during our day-to-day life, and many patients who previously used chiropractic care may return for some maintenance.

Myth #3: You Need a Referral for Chiropractic Care

Although communicating with your primary care provider about your physical well-being is always a good idea, you don’t need a referral to receive chiropractic care. You can walk right into SOHMA and ask about receiving chiropractic care.

Depending on your condition, your primary care provider may consider prescribing pharmaceuticals to help manage your pain until you either show signs of getting better or decline. This can sometimes lead to the need for surgery. It’s best practice to have multiple opinions from a variety of professionals. A chiropractor can assess your symptoms using similar techniques as most medical practitioners and begin an adjustment program to help manage pain.

Myth #4: Chiropractic Care Hurts

Chiropractic care is designed to manage or eliminate pain, not cause it. During adjustments, there should be little to no pain. A patient may often anticipate pain and be startled by the sudden movements. Although some patients have reported minor discomfort after chiropractic adjustments, most leave feeling much better than when they arrived. At worst, most patients may feel sore for a couple of days afterward, but this is normal. A licensed professional shouldn’t cause you any pain when adjusting your back. 

Myth #5: Chiropractic Care can be Dangerous

The worst misconception is that chiropractic care is dangerous to patients. The main danger comes from unlicensed chiropractors performing adjustments. This is why it’s essential you only work with licensed chiropractors. Chiropractic care provides a safe way to manage pain. There is no data surrounding injuries caused by chiropractic adjustments.

Though it’s not without risk, while sporadic, some patients have experienced a stroke after manipulation. Vertebral dissection is when the inner lining of the vertebral artery tears, which can lead to a blood clot causing a stroke. However, vertebral dissection can result from car accidents, contact sports, roller coasters, and mechanical stress. If you notice slurred speech, difficulty walking, sensory loss on one side of your body, or trouble swallowing, call 911 immediately, as every minute counts.

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, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

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

What are the Top 5 Questions to Ask Before Starting Myer’s Cocktail?

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We’ve all seen an IV drip on tv shows or in hospitals used to deliver fluids and medicine to patients. But the same kind of IV can be used therapeutically. Though instead of providing medication, Myer’s cocktail IV therapy offers a perfectly crafted blend of vitamins and minerals directly to the bloodstream for its beneficial properties.

It’s natural for you to have questions about how this is possible, and today we’ll try and answer the five questions patients have before starting Myer’s cocktail IV therapy.

What is Myers Cocktail IV therapy?

Myer’s cocktail IV therapy is a great way to administer a high dose of vitamins and minerals directly to the bloodstream so the body can use them immediately. The blend of vitamins and minerals in Myer’s cocktail includes Vitamin C, Vitamin B Complex, Magnesium, and Calcium—nutrients the body needs to manage energy levels and proper immune system health. As we get older, the way our bodies absorb nutrients begins to change. While for some people a simple multivitamin will suffice to keep their body in balance, some people may need to be more direct. IV therapy delivers the vitamins and minerals directly to the bloodstream, this means it completely bypasses the digestive system. This system can sometimes not absorb the nutrients at their fullest concentration; sometimes, the nutrients aren’t absorbed. By going straight to the bloodstream, the body can make immediate use of the vitamins and minerals and their fullest concentration providing their benefits quickly.

What is Myer’s Cocktail IV Therapy Good for?

The benefits of the Myer’s cocktail IV therapy are numerous and based on how out of balance the nutrient in one’s body is. Some of the benefits Myer’s cocktail can provide include:

  • Boosts Immune System
  • Improves Blood Circulation
  • Enhances Mood
  • Alleviates Migraines
  • Rehydrates
  • Helps with Hangovers
  • Fights Fatigue
  • Improves Skin Health
  • Promotes Relaxation
  • Reduces Anxiety and Stress

IV therapy can be incredibly versatile. Depending on each case, Myer’s cocktail IV therapy can help based on the body’s needs.

How Long Does Myer’s Cocktail Take to Work?

There isn’t an exact timeline for every patient. Everybody is unique and will respond differently. Once Myer’s cocktail IV therapy is administered, some patients report a difference within 30 to 45 minutes, usually the amount of time the body needs to absorb nutrients. However, some patients may require more time and visits to see a significant difference.

How Often Should I Do a Myer’s Cocktail IV Therapy Protocol?

This, too, depends on each person and condition. Typically the regularity of the IV therapy will be discussed. Some patients use Myer’s cocktail IV therapy to maintain a healthy lifestyle and may receive a session once or twice per month.

If you are doing IV therapy as a program for recovery, you may be recommended to receive more. Based on how you feel and how well you respond to treatment, visiting us at SOHMA twice weekly is recommended until your condition improves. After which, the frequency will be adjusted or terminated based on how you feel.

Does Myer’s Cocktail IV therapy have any Side Effects?

Trained professionals should always administer Myer’s cocktail IV therapy to reduce the risks of infections. Though much like many treatments, there is always an inherent risk. This is why you should communicate your medical history with our staff. Vitamins are natural and known to be safe, but the vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes in the IV blend may interact with prescribed medications. Some medications can have a contrasting effect with the nutrients provided in the IV therapy which can cause potentially unsafe conditions. It’s best practice to let us know what medication you’ve been prescribed, and we can let you know if there may be any potential harm.

Myer’s Cocktail Right for Me?

If you want to return to balance and play, ask us about Myer’s cocktail IV 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 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 Beac, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

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

How Does Physical Therapy Help In Rehabilitation?

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Physical therapy helps millions of people annually manage their pain and rehabilitate injuries in most cases without the need for potentially addictive pain medications. And oftentimes, physical therapy can help a patient avoid surgery altogether.

Join me as we discover how physical therapy works and how it has helped many in rehabilitation.

What is Physical Therapy?

Physical therapy is a treatment that addresses illness, degenerative disease, or injury limiting a patient’s ability to move or perform daily activities. While many other forms of pain management only cover pain symptoms, physical therapy uses the patient’s history and in-person examination to arrive at a personalized program to help with recovery. Physical therapy most commonly uses stretches, exercises, and movements to manage pain though not exclusively. In recent years physical therapists have employed a variety of new techniques, including:

  • Manipulation
  • Spinal Traction
  • Electric Muscle Stimulators
  • Acoustic Sound Wave Therapy
  • Hot/Cold Therapy

Physical therapy can be used preventatively by developing a dedicated program to promote wellness and fitness. And it can be used as a treatment for people suffering from acute and chronic pain.

Physical Therapy for Rehabilitation

When using physical rehabilitation therapy, you’ll first talk with your physical therapist to review your history and your injury. Our main goal is to get you back to your previous activity levels. After evaluation, your physical therapist will develop a program tailored to your case. Although every case is different, the target is the same, to prevent further injury while accelerating recovery. Physical therapy has been used to help in the treatment of many conditions, such as:

  • Chronic Pain
  • Acute Pain
  • Tendonitis
  • Sports Injury
  • Back and Neck Pain
  • Osteoporosis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Sprains

Although physical therapy is a great way to treat many conditions, sometimes surgery may be required. It’s not uncommon for patients to be prescribed physical therapy before the procedure to strengthen the body in preparation for the surgery. Depending on the type of surgery, physical therapy may also help speed up rehabilitation.

Unfortunately, there is no guide for how long physical therapy will take before you fully recover. There are many variables, including age, sex, weight, fitness level, and dedication.

How does it Work?

Our physical therapists at SOHMA at Long Beach, CA, have expertise and knowledge of how the body works as a unified system. When combining their knowledge and your medical history, a physical therapist can create a program to care for you and help you reach your goal. They understand how a body part should move and what is needed to get it to move correctly. The exercises a physical therapist will prescribe help correct limited and inefficient movement patterns. 

Physical therapists will provide exercises and movements to do on your own time. Following their instructions is crucial in rehabilitating an injury and can be the difference between healing swiftly or adjusting your program and managing your pain for longer. Even if there is pain or discomfort initially, you must stick with the program for the best results. Once you’ve progressed, it’s common for patients to feel like they can do more than the recommended amount of exercise. This isn’t recommended as it may result in setbacks and, in some cases, cause further damage to the injury.  

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, CA, we help individuals from the surrounding cities.

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