Assistive Modalities
If you have back pain,
And don’t want to seek Traditional Western medicine treatment options such as medication and surgery, are Assistive Modalities actually effective?
Do chiropractors provide these services?
What are Assistive Modalities?
There are many generic “pain centers” that offer assistive modalities treatment services, the most common being shockwave therapy, ultrasound therapy, and interferential therapy. Other assistive modalities can include electromagnetic waves, high-energy lasers, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation pain relief machines.
Among the various modalities, shockwave therapy is the most common. Shockwaves are high-energy sound waves that can break calcification and fibrosis at the affected area, improve blood flow and neovascularisation, thereby stimulating the tissue regeneration. Shockwave therapy mainly targets conditions of the feet and hands, such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, carpal tunnel syndrome, and patellar tendinitis (knee tendon).
Ultrasound is a high-frequency sound wave generated by electric current passing through a conductor, which promotes blood circulation and metabolism of the affected area, alleviating and reducing redness and inflammation. Ultrasound mainly targets inflammatory conditions, such as frozen shoulder, arthritis, tendonitis, and damage to ligaments or muscles.
Interferential therapy uses two sets of different frequency currents to stimulate nerves and muscles, reducing muscle inflammation and relaxing muscles tightness, while also relieving pain. Interferential therapy mainly targets soft tissue injuries, such as muscles, ligaments, and fascia.
In summary, most assistive modalities primarily aim to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, relax, and improve recovery (such as blood circulation and metabolism) at the patient’s affected area. Before choosing an assistive modality, it is important to ensure that the service provider is a registered healthcare professional to avoid the risk of complications after treatment.
Spinal traction therapy
In addition to the assistive modalities mentioned above, spinal traction therapy is also a common assistive device that has gained popularity in recent years. Spinal traction therapy uses a large mechanical bed to apply external force to pull apart the patient’s spinal joints, achieving decompression and relaxation of the spinal muscles. The patient is first secured to the mechanical bed with straps, and then the therapist activates the bed to pull on the patient, achieving the traction effect.
Chiropractor's treatment methods
Doctors of Chiropractic (registered chiropractors) primarily use manual adjustments to address conditions of the spine bones, spinal joints and the spinal nervous system. Before providing appropriate treatment recommendations, chiropractors will first examine in detail about the patient’s medical history and conduct a series of thorough assessments of the entire spine and body, perform spinal thermography scans, and order imaging diagnostics (if applicable).
Based on the results of the examinations and imaging findings, chiropractors will adjust the spine and spinal joints, correcting the root cause of the problem. Although chiropractors may provide some recommendations for musculosketetal (soft tissue) rehabilitation, their work mainly focuses on the spine, spinal joints, and the spinal nervous system. In contrast, most assistive modalities primarily promote musculoskeletal (soft tissue) rehabilitation, reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and provide relaxation.
If you have any questions about your condition and/ or treatment, it is recommended to seek professional advice from a registered healthcare provider first.
How to choose the right chiropractor
Choosing the right chiropractor in Hong Kong is an important decision. You can find a suitable chiropractor for yourself and your family by evaluating the chiropractor’s qualifications and educational background, treatment methods and his reviews. An initial consultation with the chiropractor can also give you a better insight to his professionalism.
Considering the geographic location and accessibility of the clinic in Hong Kong is also crucial for treatment visits. If regular treatment is needed, choosing a nearby chiropractor can save travel time and related inconveniences. Additionally, the clinic building’s accessibility features are factors also worth considering.
Unregistered Therapists
Source：
Chiropractors Council
https://www.chiro-council.org.hk/tc/intro.php
Physiotherapists Board
https://www.smp-council.org.hk/pt/index.html
Union Hospital Physiotherapy Department
https://www.union.org/new/sc_chi/health_info/files/shock_wave_therapy.pdf
https://www.qhms.com/health-info/health-article/shockwave-therapy