What is active muscle gel used for?
The new Active Muscle Gel formula was designed to help relieve tired and achy muscles after you work out. Since it's a gel, it's less greasy than a traditional balm or cream formula, and it can be applied more easily over larger muscles.
Should you use a balm or gel for muscle pain?
Other balms or gels, especially those containing menthol, provide more of a cooling sensation. While they may not treat the acute inflammation at the heart of your injury, they can help tame some of that pain. Plus, the act of massaging the cream into your muscles may also loosen you up a bit.
How does the two wands facial tightening work?
It’s a simple tool, really. Two wands, negative and positive, and electrical current running between—exponentially less than could even power a light bulb. Put both wands on your face, and electrical current flows through the skin and facial muscle, causing not so much a contraction as a tightening. It doesn’t feel like anything's happening.
What is OTC treatment for muscle spasms?
OTC treatment is recommended as first-line therapy for muscle spasms caused by conditions such as acute lower back pain or tension headache. This means you should try OTC treatments before prescription medications.
What do you do after iontophoresis?
Many times, withholding ice or heat treatments after iontophoresis is recommended since these treatments alter circulation to the injured area. This altered circulation might “wash away” the medication that was just introduced to your body.
What are the side effects of ultrasound therapy?
Therapeutic ultrasound has no known harmful effects when done right by your therapist. The therapy will help alleviate body pain in the affected areas. Ultrasound physical therapy is noninvasive; hence, it's safer than other methods.
What is the difference between iontophoresis and phonophoresis?
Iontophoresis and phonophoresis are technologies that are capable of enhancing drug penetration through the skin. Phonophoresis uses ultrasonic waves to transmit molecules of drug through the skin, as opposed to iontophoresis, which uses low level electric current.
How does ultrasound therapy reduce inflammation?
The sound waves, or ultrasound rays, penetrate within the body generating heat increasing blood flow, and relaxing muscles and connective tissues thereby reducing pain and muscle spasms. The stimulation of these tissues in this way encourages repair and can greatly reduce the healing time of certain injuries.
How often should you do ultrasound therapy?
According to Rosenzweig, “Therapists use ultrasound anywhere from six to 12 sessions – it's part of the patient's therapy, so therapists might do it for five minutes, then perhaps twice a week anywhere from thee weeks to six weeks.
Does ultrasound help torn muscles?
Conditions Treated with Ultrasound Muscle Strains and Tears – The use of ultrasound therapy can reduce the number of time sprains, strains, and tears take to heal. Muscle Spasms – Heat applied at various places on or near the site can help relax the muscles and decrease spasms.
How long does iontophoresis treatment last?
Most iontophoresis sessions for hyperhidrosis last 25 to 45 minutes. However, you'll likely need more than one session to notice a change in your symptoms. Some people with hyperhidrosis require treatments on a regular basis. Your doctor will schedule a series of sessions based on your symptoms.
Is phonophoresis the same as ultrasound?
Phonophoresis, also known as sonophoresis or ultrasonophoresis, is when an ultrasound is used to maximize the effects of a topical drug. The ultrasound waves push particles of a pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory drug deeper into your skin tissues.
How effective is phonophoresis?
How effective is phonophoresis? Some research suggests that phonophoresis may not be any more effective than typical ultrasound therapy for conditions like myofascial pain syndrome (MPS). Other research shows that phonophoresis is more effective than ultrasound therapy for conditions like knee osteoarthritis.
What is the difference between ultrasound and laser therapy?
One of the biggest differences between cold laser and ultrasound therapy is that ultrasound creates heat and cold laser does not. Because of this, ultrasound has more limits and contradictions of how it can be used.
What are cryo treatments?
Cryotherapy is a treatment where your healthcare provider applies extreme cold to freeze and destroy abnormal tissue. To create this severe cold, your provider will use a substance like liquid nitrogen or argon gas.
What is IFT therapy?
Interferential therapy (IFT) is a commonly used modality in physiotherapy practice for pain relief. Pain relief is believed to be achieved through the production of endogenous opioids like endorphins and enkephalins.
How does joint mobilization work?
Joint mobilization occurs when your physical therapist passively moves the joints of your body in specific directions. This can help to decrease pain and improve mobility. 5 While we often think of our joints moving as hinges, there is a gliding motion that also occurs between the joints of the body. This gliding motion is increased during joint mobilizations. The degree to which your therapist moves each joint depends on the amount of pressure and the direction of force applied to the joint.
What is ultrasound treatment?
Ultrasound is a deep heating treatment used to treat many musculoskeletal conditions like sprains, strains, or tendonitis. 1 Ultrasound is administered by your physical therapist using an ultrasound machine. A wand called a sound head is pressed gently against your skin and moved in small circular sweeps near the site of injury. A small amount of gel is used so the ultrasound waves are absorbed into the skin and muscles.
How long does light therapy last?
Light therapy involves using light at a specific wavelength to help improve the healing process of injured tissues. 8 The treatment is painless and usually lasts for approximately one to three minutes. To apply light therapy, your physical therapist will hold the light-emitting wand directly over your injured body part and press a button to activate the light.
What are physical agents used for?
Physical agents and modalities are often used by your physical therapist to augment your therapy and to help achieve rehab goals. They may be used to decrease pain and inflammation. Exercises may be prescribed to help improve endurance, strength, or range of motion. Your physical therapist should be prepared to explain to you ...
What is lumbar traction?
Brett Sears, 2011. Traction is used in the treatment of low back pain 4 and neck pain to help decrease pain and improve mobility in the spine. To use lumbar traction, you must be strapped into a mechanical machine. There is a vest that helps support your ribs and another device that wraps around your pelvis.
What is light therapy?
Light therapy can be used in the treatment of chronic pain, inflammation, or wound healing. The theory behind light therapy is that photons of light carry energy, and this energy applied to injured tissues can help improve cellular processes and speed healing or decrease pain. 11.
What is a hot pack in a physical therapy clinic?
In a physical therapy clinic, hot packs are kept in a device called a hydrocollator. This is a large tank of hot water. The hot packs are cloth packs filled with a sand, clay and silica mixture. The hot pack absorbs the hot water, and then it is wrapped in terry cloth covers and towels before being applied to your body.
What is the best cream for aching muscles?
This muscle rub from doTERRA feels seriously cold on contact. It comprises a blend of peppermint, wintergreen, and blue chamomile to cool and soothe aching muscles and joints. And, as the name implies, this cream will target the deep spots that others have a hard time reaching.
What is the best muscle rub for sore muscles?
From creams to gels to balms, apply one of these top-rated muscle rubs to ease your sore muscles and aching joints. This paraben-free, medical expert-recommended muscle rub has both fast- and long-acting effects, so you'll get lasting relief from muscle and joint pains.
Does menthol help with muscle pain?
This paraben-free, medical expert-recommended muscle rub has both fast- and long-acting effects, so you'll get lasting relief from muscle and joint pains. The menthol has a rather pleasant odor that dissipates quickly, leaving your aching body feeling cool and calm.
Can you take NSAIDs with muscle rubs?
According to research, some muscle rubs that do contain topical pain relievers like NSAIDs may be helpful if you're injured (and especially if you can't take oral pain relievers due to gastrointestinal issues). Other balms or gels, especially those containing menthol, provide more of a cooling sensation.
Does muscle rub help with stiffness?
Whether you pushed yourself to the limit during your new at-home workout routine or are just feeling stiff and sore from a weekend full of yard work, your body deserves a little TLC. Applying a muscle-rub cream, gel, or balm is not going to magically cure the stiffness you're feeling, but it may provide some relief.
Does Biofreeze gel rub work?
It will, however, warm quickly when you rub it on, helping to relieve inflammation and minor pains. If you'd rather not get your hands messy from applying muscle rub cream, this Biofreeze gel rub goes on mess-free with a massaging roller ball, making it ideal for on-the-go application.
How to heal muscle strain?
Most muscle strain injuries will heal with simple treatment steps, but performing the right steps, at the right time, can be critical to ensuring the fastest possible recovery. As with many injuries, there is a balance between doing too much, or too little, early after the injury.
What is the best way to prevent muscle strain?
Gentle Stretching. Stretching and strengthening are useful in the treatment and prevention of muscle strain injuries. Muscles that are stronger and more flexible are less likely to be injured.
Why is it important to use caution when a muscle is fatigued?
6 . Athletes should use caution, especially as they become fatigued, as the muscle becomes more susceptible to strain injuries.
How long should you ice a muscle pull?
Ice applications can be done frequently, but should not be done for more than 15 minutes at a time. 3 . How to Ice an Injury the Right Way.
What is pulled muscle?
Jason DelCollo, DO, is board-certified in family medicine and on the faculty of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. A muscle strain, also called a pulled muscle, occurs when a muscle is stretched too far, and microscopic tears occur within the muscle fibers.
What are the symptoms of muscle strain?
The usual symptoms of this type of injury include pain, spasm of the muscle, swelling, bruising, and limited mobility. Often an athlete will feel a sudden grabbing or tearing sensation in the muscle, and then be unable to continue their activities. Muscle strain injuries are graded by severity: 1 .
What to do if your pain won't quit?
If your stubborn pain just won’t quit, it might be time to bring in the big guns and talk with your doctor. He or she can help you solve the problem of your nagging pain and might even prescribe a prescription based topical pain reliever. Advertising Policy.
Can you use topical pain reliever on a sore neck?
So if you have a nagging sore neck or pulled a muscle in your shoulder, you might benefit from slathering on a layer.
Can you mix a topical pain reliever with a heating pad?
Advertising Policy. Never mix these products with heat, such as from a heating pad. Doing so could cause the product to be absorbed into the blood stream at a faster rate. If you use a topical pain reliever be sure to: Read the label carefully before applying the product.
When should I start microcurrent facial?
She recommends starting microcurrent in one’s late 20s, with monthly maintenance facials, and speaks reverently about its “cumulative effect”.
Is gel good for electrical shocks?
Besides being unpleasant, this is also counterproductive—that electricity’s pricking skin’s surface instead of going deep into the muscle. The gel helps with electrical penetration and makes the shocks un-feel-able. The actual administration is sort of soothing, the repetitive up-and-out.
Do you need to do conductive gel every day?
The pro: you don’t need to do it every day. The con: you don’t get to do it every day. Also, the temptation to preserve the super-expensive gold-laced conductive gel will be overpowering. But a paper-thin layer will make the device prickly, just like the NuFace sans gel.
What is the best treatment for a muscle spasm?
If you have a persisting muscle spasm, especially if it’s severe, your doctor may prescribe a muscle relaxant or a pain medication. Muscle relaxants used for muscle spasms are called centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxants (SMRs), and are often only prescribed for 2- to 3-week periods.
What to do if you have muscle spasms?
ask you about your symptoms. ask about your diet and any medications or supplements you’re taking.
How to prevent muscle spasms in legs?
doing light stretching before and after you exercise. eating a healthy diet. Using kinesio tape or compression stockings may help prevent muscle spasms in your legs, according to a small study on runners. You may want to keep a record of when you get a muscle spasm, to see if it’s related to a particular activity.
How long does a muscle spasm last?
But any muscles, including your back, hands, feet, or toes can spasm. Muscle spasms can last anywhere from a few seconds to 15 minutes. If you experience chronic muscle cramping, you may want to see a doctor. Specific home treatments are recommended ...
How to stretch a spasm in the back?
The first and easiest way to stretch a back spasm is to walk around, which can loosen your back muscles and relieve a spasm. Walk at a slow, steady pace to loosen your back muscles.
How to stretch back muscles?
foam roller for back stretch. exercise ball for back stretch. 2. Massage. Massage can be a great way to relieve physical pain and muscle cramps. Gently rub the muscle that’s in spasm. For a persisting back spasm, try pinching the area around it hard and holding the pinch for a few minutes.
How to stretch your leg to stop spasms?
To do the first stretch: Lie down, stretching your leg by pointing or pulling your toes toward your head. (Pointing the toes toward you is called dorsiflexion .) Hold for a few seconds or until the spasm stops. You can also use a strap or belt looped around your foot to gently pull the top of your foot toward you.
How to treat muscle spasms?
Your muscle spasms or spasticity are likely treatable with rest, physical therapy, medications , or all of the above. Work with your doctor to put together a care plan that can ease your pain and get you moving comfortably again.
What is a muscle relaxer?
Muscle relaxers, or muscle relaxants, are medications used to treat muscle spasms or muscle spasticity. Muscle spasms or cramps are sudden, involuntary contractions of a muscle or group of muscles. They can be caused by too much muscle strain and lead to pain. They’re associated with conditions such as lower back pain, neck pain, and fibromyalgia.
What is the term for a muscle spasm that causes stiffness, rigidity, and tightness?
Muscle spasticity , on the other hand, is a continuous muscle spasm that causes stiffness, rigidity, or tightness that can interfere with normal walking, talking, or movement. Muscle spasticity is caused by injury to parts of the brain or spinal cord involved with movement.
What is Gabapentin used for?
Gabapentin (Neurontin) is an anticonvulsant drug typically used to relieve seizures. It’s not fully known how gabapentin works to relieve muscle spasticity. Gabapentin is available in brand-name and generic versions.
Does dantrium cause muscle spasms?
It’s not fully understood how it works, but it seems to block nerve signals from the spinal cord that cause muscles to spasm. Side effects can include drowsiness, dizziness, weakness, and fatigue. Dantrolene: Dantrolene (Dantrium) is used to treat muscle spasms caused by spinal cord injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, or MS.
Do antispasmodics work better than acetaminophen?
While antispasmodics can be used to treat muscle spasms, they have not been shown to work better than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or acetaminophen. In addition, they have more side effects than NSAIDs or acetaminophen. The more common side effects of centrally acting SMRs include: drowsiness. dizziness.
Can antispasmodics be used for muscle spasms?
Antispasmodics are used to treat muscle spasms, and antispastics are used to treat muscle spasticity. Some antispasmodics, such as tizanidine, can be used to treat muscle spasticity. However, antispastics should not be used to treat muscle spasms.
What is cryotherapy facial?
Some people undergo cryotherapy facials, which apply cold to the face only. Others use a cryotherapy wand to target specific areas, such as a painful joint. Most people use the term cryotherapy to refer to whole-body cryotherapy. This is non-medical treatment in a spa or similar setting.
Why do doctors use cryotherapy?
A doctor might use cryotherapy to freeze off cancer cells on the skin or cervix and occasionally to remove other cancers. 6. Reducing anxiety and depression. Research findings that cryotherapy may reduce inflammation suggest that it could treat mental health conditions linked to inflammation.
Does ice help with muscle pain?
The research found that cryotherapy with ice packs could reduce the damaging effects of intense exercise. People who used cryotherapy also reported less pain. Another 2017 study also supports the benefits of cryotherapy for relieving muscle pain and speeding healing.
Can cryotherapy be used for warts?
Doctors, however, also use cryotherapy. For instance, very cold temperatures can be used to freeze off warts or cancerous cells. Though unpleasant to begin with, cryotherapy tends to get better with each treatment, as the body adjusts to the low temperature.
Is cold water cryotherapy better than whole body cryotherapy?
However, the study found that cold water immersion was more effective than whole-body cryotherapy. Not all studies support the role of cryotherapy in muscle healing. A 2015 Cochrane Review. looked at four studies of cryotherapy for the relief of muscle pain and found no significant benefits.