What are soft tissues?

Soft tissue is a collective term used to refer to ligaments, muscles, and tendons. These soft tissues attach the vertebrae (spinal bones) and help to control movement of the joints. Injury causes inflammation which typically results in pain and can create trigger points or fibrous adhesions. This fibrous adhesions can be thought of as glue that holds the soft tissues together. These tissues need to be able to move, bend, and flex- they do not want to be immobile! Have you ever had a "knot" in your back? That's a trigger point.

Soft Tissue Therapy

Soft tissue therapy is an imperative part of your chiropractic treatment. At Complete Chiropractic & Rehabilitation, we believe in treating the area as a whole and not singling out only the bones. We're addressing the whole joint- bones, muscles, ligaments... you name it. We treat these soft tissues using manual or instrument assisted therapy. These techniques are different than massage therapy. The goal of this aspect of treatment is to break apart (yes, break apart!) these trigger points and keep the tissues elastic and healthy. Trigger points can weaken the muscle and may prevent full lengthening of the muscle. Using our hands or a small handheld tool, we can break apart these painful adhesions.