Technician Blake Brightwell (center), pictured with Cathy Pierce (left) and physical therapist Mathieu Meyers, is undergoing dry needling for shoulder pain. Photo by Jane Kathleen Gregorio
Therapy First is among the first physical therapy clinics in Corpus Christi to incorporate integrative dry needling, cupping and the Graston Technique in its everyday treatment of patients. These latest advancements in the field are helping patients overcome and manage their pain for longer periods of time, said owner and physical therapist Cathy Pierce.
“It’s exciting to bring in new methods that seem to be helping people,” Pierce said. “‘We use them to supplement our traditional exercises and applications.”
DRY NEEDLING
Much like acupuncture, dry needling involves the insertion of a fine needle through the skin and and deep into tissues that are considered pain trigger points.
“Instead of the traditional Chinese method of meridian lines, [dry needling] is applied into the muscle and connective tissue to relieve spasms and pain,” Pierce explained. “We’re getting good results from it.”
The technique works by causing a microlesion within the tissue, which then breaks up shortened tissues that inhibit a reflex arc from the nervous system to the tissue.
“This normalizes the inflammatory response and centrally mediates the pain,” Pierce said. “By creating an environment that enhances the body’s ability to heal, this ultimately reduces pain.”
Dry needling was introduced to Therapy First by physical therapist Mathieu Meyers, who discovered the technique when it was used to solve a personal shoulder problem.
“It helped me a lot,” said Meyers, who graduated from the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. “I really liked what they were doing, so I decided to enroll in physical therapy school. While I was there, a teacher briefly demonstrated its use to give us some exposure to it. Once I got my degree, I went back to take the dry needling class and become certified.”
Patient Gary Childress said he has found no other place in Corpus Christi that is able to relieve his pain better than Therapy First.
“Every time Mathieu applied the dry needling technique to me, it’s helped me,” he said. “I’ve been coming here for several sessions. Not only are the services effective, the staff are very friendly.”
CUPPING THERAPY
Applying cups to the skin creates negative pressure and helps relieve pain. It relaxes rigid soft tissues, drains excess fluids, loosens adhesions, lifts connective tissue and circulates blood flow to stagnant skin and muscles, Pierce said.
“Michael Phelps was seen using the cupping therapy during the 2016 Olympic Games,” she said about the gold medalist swimmer. He would have these large round marks on his shoulders, and those were a result of the cupping.”
Physical therapy assistant Mylin Anandula is now certified in contemporary cupping methods at Therapy First.
“My patients really enjoy the cupping therapy,” Anandula said. “It’s very relaxing, non-invasive, and it’s very effective.”
Anandula has been with Therapy First for almost three years.
GRASTON TECHNIQUE
The Graston Technique is instrument-assisted, soft-tissue mobilization. It uses metal instruments to reduce swelling and tightness in the connective and muscle tissue.
“This helps relieve the hands of the physical therapists because, instead of pushing with our thumbs, we can use the instrument,” Pierce said. “It keeps the staff from putting too much wear and tear on their own bodies. Meanwhile, patients state that they feel like they’re getting better faster.”
This non-invasive technique uses specially designed stainless steel instruments to help clinicians identify and treat areas showing soft tissue fibrosis or chronic inflammation. The instruments are moved over the affected area with the adhesions to help break up scar tissue and fascial restrictions.
In time, this process will decrease or remove the adhered fibers, restoring range of motion and relieving pain while helping transform injured soft tissue into healthy functioning tissue.
MORE UPGRADES PLANNED
Pierce plans to have more of the staff licensed and certified in the newest treatments available so they can treat more patients. She and Meyers also emphasized the importance of identifying and treating the causes of pain as well as the symptoms.
Meyers gave as an example the case of a student-athlete who came to Therapy First with shoulder problems.
“The dry needling was the technique that helped him gain back his full range of motion and provided instant relief,” Meyers said. “However, he also had to supplement it with lots of stability exercises in his shoulders in order to fully recover. He was so impressed with the physical therapy that was done for him, he decided to pursue this as a career, and now he’s one of our interns.”
Therapy First is located in the Corpus Christi Athletic Club and uses the pool, indoor track and equipment in its practice. It stays open late so customers can come in for treatment after school or work.
“We are a very caring organization,” Pierce said. “We take the time to find out what the patient needs and provide the necessary treatment to help in their rehabilitation.
Therapy First is located at 2101 Airline Road inside the Corpus Christi Athletic Club. For more information, call (361) 993-4778 or visit therapyfirstcc.com. You can also find it on Facebook by searching for @therapy1st.
