The selected types of manual treatments include deep tissue massage, chiropractic treatment and acupuncture. Deep tissue massage is a type of massage therapy that entails application of firm pressure and use of slow strokes to reach the inner layers of muscles. According to Riggs, this type of massage is used for in chronic pain, stiff neck, back pain, tightness in leg muscle and sore shoulders (Riggs, 2007). The clinical goal of deep tissue massage is to cause an improvement in the functioning of the muscle tissue and ease of motion, breaking of scar tissue and reduced amount of pain. It is believed that in instances where muscles are tensed up, there is poor circulation of oxygen and nutrients and this leads to inflammation and toxins building up. A deep tissue massage helps relax the muscles and improves blood and oxygen circulation. In addition, it leads to release of toxins embedded in the muscles ( Riggs, 2007).
From research, deep tissue massage can cause side effects which include sore muscles on the area treated using deep tissue massage, pain and sleepiness due to fatigue experienced during the massage. The procedure may also cause bruising; hepatic hepatoma, and therefore caution should be taken with patients on anti-inflammatory and painkillers (Trijffel et al., 2014). These drugs cause changes in tissue response and therefore the therapist should take care while exercising pressure. The patient should therefore be informed on the side effects and the interactions the therapy may have with the drugs being taken. Charges for deep massage therapy range $49 to $100. The two clinics contacted, one was charging $49 for 60 minutes and $60 for 90 minutes. The other one charged $50 for 60 minutes and $80 for 90 minutes. The sessions can be done once or twice a month depending with the condition. A massage therapist trains in a massage therapy course which can be a bachelor’s degree, certificate or associate degree. The variations in the charges in the two clinics may have been a result of the levels of education for the practitioners. One had a certificate while the other holds an associate degree.
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Chiropractic treatment involves manipulation of the spine and the associated areas around the spine (Sutton, 2010). This type of treatment is used in pain reduction and relief, and other health problems such as sciatica. The clinical goal of this treatment is to treat spinal disorders that cause pain. There are side effects related to this treatment which in most cases last for just a few days after the treatment. They include pain on the treated parts, headache and a feeling of tediousness (Trijffel et al., 2014). On average, the charges for the services are $30 to $200 for each session. One of the clinics contacted offers an initial consultation for free and $75 for ever therapy session. The other one charges a consultation fee of $30 and $70 per session. From the clinics contacted, most of the common conditions are treated with just a few sessions of the treatment which include one session per week. From both clinics, the chiropractors have a Doctor of Chiropractic degree. Chiropractors are not medical doctors because they do not study in the field of medicine but they just get through training on chiropractic treatment (Sutton, 2010).
On the other hand, acupuncture is a type of treatment that entails penetrating the skin with very thin needles at specific points to certain depths (Sutton, 2010). Acupuncture is commonly used to relief pain and treats musculoskeletal problems. The clinical goal of this treatment is to improve the functioning of the body and promote healing of the body through stimulation of acupoints. Most common side effects of this type of treatment include little bleeding on the points where the needles were inserted, soreness on the treated areas and small bruises (Sutton, 2010). Therefore, patients need to be informed of not only the benefits but what to expect during the procedure and the possible side effects after the treatment so that they are well prepared. The number of sessions depend on the condition but they mostly are once every two weeks or once per month. Treatment charges range from $75 to $95 per session. The clinics differed in their charges with one charging $95 for consultation and session and the other one charging $90 for the same. Both charge $75 for routine sessions. The difference in the charges is due to variations in their consultation plans. The practitioners offering this kind of treatment have training from an ACAOM-accredited program and certification in oriental medicine and clean needle technique.
Reference
Riggs, A. (2007). Deep tissue massage: A visual guide to techniques . Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books.
Sutton, A. L. (2010). Complementary and alternative medicine sourcebook: Basic consumer health information about ayurveda, acupuncture, aromatherapy, chiropractic care, diet-based therapies, guided imagery, herbal and vitamin supplements, homeopathy, hypnosis, massage, meditation, naturopathy, Pilates, reflexology, reiki, shiatsu, tai chi, traditional Chinese medicine, yoga, and other complementary and alternative medical therapies ; along with statistics, tips for selecting a practitioner, treatments for specific health conditions, a glossary of related terms, and a directory of resources for additional help and information . Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics.
Trijffel, E. V., Lindeboom, R., Bossuyt, P. M., Schmitt, M. A., Lucas, C., Koes, B. W., & Oostendorp, R. A. (2014). Indicating spinal joint mobilisations or manipulations in patients with neck or low-back pain: Protocol of an inter-examiner reliability study among manual therapists. Chiropractic & Manual Therapies,22 (1), 22. doi:10.1186/2045-709x-22-22
