Physicians Plus Chicago - Bird-Dog Core Stabilization Exercise

Article of Active Release Techniques (ART) in Competitor Magazine

Physicians Plus Chicago - Hip Stabilization Exercises

Physicians Plus September 2011 Newsletter

Scapular and Vastus Medialis Obliquus Stabilization Exercises

Last month Dr. Tim and Paul Marando had the opportunity to speak to the members of CrossFit Chicago about common CrossFit injuries and how to overcome them.  The Docs spoke about shoulder impingement, ITB and patellofemoral syndromes.

In addition to talking to the group about common injuries, they offered stabilization exercises that can be done in the comfort of your home which help to prevent injuries from occurring.  Below you will find the handout that was given to the CrossFit members.

It is important to remember that shoulder, knee, back and other injuries are not limited to athletes.  These injuries affect everyone and anyone from day to day.  So if you have any questions about injuries you may be suffering from, please don't hesitate call, 773-349-0033.

Physicians Plus August 2011 Newsletter

Physicians Plus July 2011 Newsletter

Graston Technique Used for Breast Cancer Post-Mastectomy

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  Graston is a form of tool assisted soft tissue therapy that is directed at effectively breaking down scar tissue and fasical adhesions.  Scar tissue and fascial adhesions develop most commonly in the muscles, tendons and ligaments because of overuse and injury.  Graston is directed at both diagnosis and treatment, where the tools help to detect soft tissues fibrosis and chronic inflammation, as well as therapeutically work to correct the dysfunctional tissue.
  

  
  

  What injuries does Graston therapy treat?

  Graston is a quick and effective treatment for injuries that involve reduced range of motion, acute/chronic pain, swelling and scar tissue.  Graston has been used to treat various conditions such as tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, plantar fasciitis, neck/back pain, fibromyalgia and rotator cuff syndrome to name a few.

  
  

  What are the benefits of Graston Therapy?

  • Reduces Overall Treatment Time
  • Quick Rehabilitation/recovery 
  • Increased Range of Motion
  • Pain Reduction
  • Enhanced Performance
  The Future of Graston Technique Applications
  For some time now, we have known that Graston is more than effective at breaking up scar tissue and fascial adhesion's due to chronic inflammation.  But recently Graston has been astonishingly effective at relieving breast cancer post-mastectomy scar-tissue adhesion's.  This type of application can be applied to almost any post-surgical scar tissue development
  
  CLICK BELOW TO WATCH AN ABC REPORT ON GRASTON,
  
  http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/health&id=7879903
  
  
  More information available on Graston Techniques Website

Physicians Plus May 2011 Newsletter

Vision Quest Expert Series: Injury Prevention Presentation

Dr. Timothy Marando and Dr. Paul Marando had the opportunity to speak to the members of Vision Quest Coaching about chronic persistent pain and various treatment options on Wednesday May 11th.  Since not everyone in the public could attend we thought we would give a brief overview of our presentation.

We can group injuries into two major classes, acute and chronic.  As a basic description, acute injury involves inflammation and pain along with the initial tissue repair and adhesion formation to strengthen the area of injury.  Chronic injury can briefly be described as an injury that is long-lasting or recurrent.  We will look at the chronic injury as repeated low grade injuries that can be called the cumulative trauma disorder.  What this involves is a cycle of improper tissue healing involving adhesion formation due to repeated tearing and inflammation.  The adhesion formation creates discontinuous and disorganized connective tissue that results in altered function of the tissue including pain, weakness, reduced range of motion and possible numbness and tingling.

A simple way to help understand the cumulative trauma disorder (CTD) is by looking at a mathematical equation:

Greater the # of repetitions

  x Force of the repetitions

↑ tissue pressure leading to CTD

So for all the athletes that are wondering why that nagging iliotibial band syndrome or Achilles tendinosis won't go away, or why it occurs 5-10 minutes into the run.  Think, possible adhesion formation and cumulative trauma disorder as your answer.

It can be said that not every acute injury or chronic injury fits this model, but it definitely fits the profile for many of the injuries athletes tend to endure.

Treatment should be aimed at breaking up the adhesions and repairing the insulted tissues rather then masking the symptoms.  Three treatment options that we have found success with are Active Release Techniques (ART), Graston Technique and Kinesio Taping.

Active Release Techniques (ART):

• Diagnostic and therapeutic technique the doctor uses to determine the adhesions locations
• Muscles, nerves, tendons, ligaments, fascia and blood vessels build up adhesions within and between them over time and use
• Works to lengthen and break up adhesions with a combination of over 300 specific protocols that are directed at the area of dysfunction
• Functionally directed at specific tissues to abolish pain and increase range of motion rapidly

Graston Technique:

• Soft tissue tools engineered to break up fascial adhesions and reconstruct the fascial alignment
• Used diagnostically to locate adhesions, chronic inflammation and scar tissue
• Fascial trains are found throughout the body, lining muscles, tissues, ligaments, nerves and skin
• Used to reduce pain, increase range of motion and improve tissue function

Kinesio Tape:

• Functional taping technique using hundreds of specifically designed protocol for almost every condition
• Due to it's elastic nature, the tape supports structures during the healing process which does not restrict the range of motion of daily activities and sporting activities.
• Facilitates the healing process by lifting the skin above the inflamed tissue to reduce inflammation and swelling
• Provides treatment even after a visit to the office

As one of the few clinics that offer all three of these treatment options, we have found that having the potential to combine the three techniques yields the best results.  If you have any questions about the techniques we offer and if they might be the answer you are looking for please give us a call at 773-348-0033 or contact us through our website www.TheSportDocs.com.

Upcoming Video self-help tips.

Dr. Paul and Dr. Tim Marando have been working hard to develop self-help video's.  Over the course of the past year we have been determining which topics will be best to present on and give easy to understand information.  Watch for periodic video's to pop up on both our website and Vision Quest Coaching Youtube page.  If any of you have any idea's about topics you would like to learn about please email us, through the contacts section of our website.

Our first video clip was based on plantar fasciitis and can be found below:

Physicians Plus
Chiropractic & Sports Rehabilitation1700 W. Diversey Pkwy
Suite 2W
Chicago, IL 60614
P: 773.348.0033 | F: 773.348.0553
www.TheSportDocs.com

April 2011 Physicians Plus Newsletter

If you would like to sign up for this newsletter, follow the link to email us. www.physicianspluschicago.com/contact_us

Physicians Plus and Girls on the Run

Physicians Plus is proud to announce that they sponsor Girls on the Run Chicago.  Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, spiritual and physical development.

Physicians Plus, Active Release Techniques® and Tennis Elbow

Lateral Epicondylitis (Tennis Elbow)

The elbow is comprised of an articulation of three bones, the humerus, ulna and radius.  The lateral epicondyle is the most lateral aspect of the humerus where there is a common muscular insertion point of the forearm extensors.

Lateral epicondylitis (tennis elbow) is a condition that is associated with repetitive motions most commonly occurring through sports or occupation.  This repetitive motion causes small tears in the tissues surrounding the lateral epicondyle of humerus.  Initially starting as a mild discomfort then slowly building into a chronic pain that will not resolve with each subsequent tear and repair. This process is called cumulative tissue disorder or CTD.  CTD is a process of chronic inflammation that develops over time.

Let's look at the CTD process in several steps:

Step 1: overworking and micro-tears to the tissue leads to weak and tight tissues which over time develop friction, pressure and tension on the area.

Step 2: Friction, pressure and tension reduces the circulation to the area leading to adhesions/fibrosis of the tissues.

Step 3: Repeated step one with overworked and micro-tears to the tissues.

What becomes important in the CTD is to break the cycle and repair the tissues.  Lengthening and breaking up fibrosis and adhesions in the tissues will interrupt the cycle.  Active Release Techniques® has clinically been proven to be the most effective at breaking the CTD inflammatory cycle rapidly and effectively.

For more information about Active Release Techniques® (ART®), Tennis Elbow or related conditions, contact Physicians Plus by visiting our website at www.TheSportDocs.com or call us at 773-FIT-0033.

Chicago Athlete Magazine, Dr. Paul and Active Release Technique

In the not so distant past, Dr. Paul was featured in the Chicago Athlete Magazine talking about the benefits of Active Release Technique (ART). CHECK IT OUT.

http://www.thesportdocs.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/September2006.47153114.pdf

Welcome to Physicians Plus Chiropractic and Sports Rehabilitation

Physicians Plus is a progressive physical medicine and sports rehabilitation center that treats musculoskeletal injuries from the feet to the head. Dr. Paul Marando and Dr. Tim Marando emphasize thorough, comprehensive evaluations to provide individualized rapid treatment programs that keep our patients doing what they love.  When combining detailed patient education, our patients learn to take care of themselves and see us less often.

No therapist referrals will be necessary as we are your doctors and rehabilitative therapists in one.  Our goal in working with you is to improve performance and provide you with quick, easy access to care.

We provide a combination of the most advance therapy options including Active Release Technique (ART), Graston Technique, Kinesiotaping, McKenzie Method, functional rehabilitation, spinal manipulations, custom foot orthotics and naturopathic medicine.  For years, Physicians Plus has enjoyed treating professional and Olympic athletes, as well as providing the same standard of care to all our patients. 

Physicians Plus provides performance care to athletes looking to get an edge on the competition.  We are part of the ART Ironman Performance Care Team and can be found on the Ironman Provider Network.  Performance care is a system of treatment which helps lengthen and strengthen muscles before they become injured which results in improved athletic performance.

Dr. Tim being a naturopathic physician also works with internal medicine and natural therapies to treat patients.  Using lab testing, botanical medicine, nutraceuticals, homeopathy, dietary and lifestyle modifications to treat medical conditions from diabetes, autoimmune disorders, gastrointestinal conditions to the common cold.