WHIRLPOOL
Whirlpool therapy is non-invasive and gentle. It is used for many patient conditions such as arthritis, sprains, strains, fibromyalgia, and other foot and ankle injuries.
Whirlpool therapy helps reduce swelling, inflammation, pain, and stiffness while at the same time increasing range of motion and local circulation. It is particularly useful in wound care as it removes necrotic tissue, cleans the wound, and improves healing.
With the ability to facilitate tissue healing, reduce muscle soreness and spasms, whirlpool therapy is able to cut down on recovery time for most patients. This is significant not only for patients with injuries, but those with chronic issues too, because whirlpool therapy can help them return to their baseline function faster.
At Westchester Foot Care we use whirlpool prior to cutting thick and hard toenails and painful calluses. This allows for patients to have a much more pleasant experience during their treatment, with less discomfort, as their softer nails and calluses are debrided.
ULTRASOUND THERAPY
Therapeutic ultrasound is a tool used as one part of an overall treatment plan. It is normally used in conjunction with orthotics, supportive shoe gear, exercising, stretching, oral anti-inflammatories, and other focused activities and treatments.
Ultrasound therapy uses sound waves produced by a transducer head (looks like a microphone) to penetrate soft tissues. Ultrasound may be applied in either continuous or pulsed wave form. The sound waves cause microscopic vibrations in deep tissue molecules, increasing heat and friction. The warming effect encourages healing in soft tissues by increasing metabolism at the cellular level.
The sound waves also cause expansion and contraction in tiny gas bubbles in soft tissues. This decreases inflammation, which reduces swelling and decreases pain.
When you go in for ultrasound therapy, the medical assistant will apply a gel either to the transducer head or to your skin, which helps the sound waves evenly penetrate the skin.
During your treatment, the transducer head will continually be moved around the selected area, on the skin, for 10 minutes. Some people feel a mild pulsing during therapy, while others may feel a slight warmth on the skin. Ultrasound therapy, however, is not painful.
ELECTRICAL STIMULATION
Electrical stimulation is a non-invasive therapy that sends mild electrical pulses through the skin to help stimulate injured muscles or manipulate nerves to reduce pain. It is used in conjunction with other forms of treatment and is not usually a first-line treatment.
E-stim may be used to treat peripheral neuropathy, joint pain, arthritis, muscle injury, poor muscle strength, fractures (not acute), fibromyalgia, back pain, surgery recovery, etc….
During your therapy, the medical assistant will apply electrodes to your skin. These electrodes are connected via a wire to the e-stim machine. You will feel a slight tingling (pins and needles) sensation.
The sensation will increase until it feels strong but comfortable. You may feel a muscle twitch or contract repeatedly. The therapy generally will last 10 minutes.
