Services

Acupuncture Techniques

Energy channels are accessed by stimulating acupuncture points with negative and positive pressure, electricity, and massage. The specific techniques are Gwa Sha massage, cupping, acupressure, and electric stimulation using point electrodes. We do not perform needling. Our acupuncture techniques may be used as an adjunct to regular physical therapy treatment. For traditional acupuncture, we refer our patients to Stas Gavronski, M.S., Lic. Ac of Acupuncture Specialties Group.

Blood Flow Restriction Training (BFRT)

Blood-flow restriction training (BFRT) can help patients to make greater strength training gains while lifting lighter loads, thereby reducing the overall stress placed on the limb.

Please visit the APTA website for more detailed information: APTA.org

(Information for the description was taken from the APTA website)

BFRT is provided in our Brookline, Somerville, and Wilmington offices.

Chiropractic

Chiropractic services are provided by Mael Chiropractic in our Allston office.

Compressive Cooling

Pressure with low temperature is more effective than cold packs alone in reducing swelling. We utilize a computer-controlled device that circulates ice water around the injured limb while applying intermittent massaging pressure. The pressure and temperature can be adjusted.

Using Cryotherapy to Reduce Pain and Swelling of Sports Injuries

Custom Orthotics

Boston Sports Medicine provides custom orthotic fabrication for a wide variety of conditions including flat feet, overpronation, plantar fasciitis, and joint pain. This service includes a full evaluation and gait or running analysis. We exclusively use the plaster casting technique as it provides the most effective orthotics. There is a wide selection of material available to provide the most comfortable and effective orthotic. We also make recommendations for over-the-counter orthotics as necessary. Please call for information and pricing.

Diabetes and Weight Maintenance Program

Boston Sports Medicine’s post-rehab programs address diabetes fitness and weight management by integrating the medical screening, monitoring, and exercise prescription of physical therapy with longer term fitness instruction by our Exercise Specialists.  We are able to collaborate with your Dietician or Nutritionist.   If you do not have one and need one, we can recommend a Dietician or Nutritionist.  A team approach is taken consisting of the referring physician, Physical Therapists and Exercise Specialists of Boston Sports Medicine, and your Nutritionist.  The goals of the program may include weight loss, increased health and fitness, and a reduction in prescription medications.  This is not typically covered by your health insurance’s physical therapy benefits.  Please see our self-pay rates and bundled packages. Contact us for more information.

DNA Analysis

If you are seeing physical therapy for a musculoskeletal condition, injury or pain, you are a good candidate for DNA analysis and to use the app between visits.
The DNA analysis covers Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis, Muscle Performance, Muscle Recovery, Exercise-Induced Muscle Damage, Flexibility, Tendon and Ligament Weakness, Sleep, and Major Depression. For more info click here.
In the app, people can set goals to help them with: *Pain Management * Sleep * Nutrition * Strength * Mobility * Stress Management

To sign up for DNA analysis click here.

Dry Needling

Dry Needling is a highly effective modality used in Physical Therapy for the treatment of a multitude of musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions. It is not appropriate for all conditions or pathologies and the use of the technique will be at the discretion of your physical therapist.
Dry needling is not acupuncture (traditional Chinese medicine); it is based on neuroanatomy and modern scientific study of the musculoskeletal and neuromuscular systems. It is a skilled intervention that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and stimulate underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular, and connective tissues. Dry needling works by causing a microlesion within the pathological tissue thus breaking up shortened tissues, inhibiting a reflex arc from the nervous system to the tissue, normalizing the inflammatory response, and centrally mediating the pain. This mechanical and neuromuscular effect provides an environment that enhances the body’s ability to heal which ultimately reduces pain.
Conditions that can be treated with dry needling include, but are not limited to neck, back, and shoulder pain, arm pain (tennis elbow, carpal tunnel, golfer’s elbow), headache to include migraines and tension type headaches, jaw pain/TMJD, buttock pain and leg pain (sciatica, hamstring strain, calf tightness/spasms), tissue specific lesions, tendinopathies (chronic/acute). We have an additional charge of $25 when Dry Needling is provided as an adjunct to a physical therapy session. Dry Needling is not currently covered by any health insurance carrier.

Personal and Performance Training

Boston Sports Medicine currently offers personal and performance training and stretching classes in all offices led by one of our Exercise Specialists. Stretching classes are low impact and low intensity and designed to address the most common link to most injuries, loss of flexibility. It is an easy way to start to regain your flexibility.

Strengthening, performance and power training are offered in our Allston office.  Stretching and flexibility programs are available in all locations.

Gait Training/Gait Analysis

By observing an individual’s walking pattern, problems with flexibility, strength, and posture can be identified and addressed to eliminate pain and restore normal movement.

Graston Technique

Graston is a specialized form of deep tissue massage using instruments like the one pictured above. Visit our blog for discussion about Graston.

Click here for more explanation.

Independent Medical Examinations (IME) and Record Reviews

Boston Sports Medicine providers are recognized by major insurance carriers as an unbiased expert physical therapy examiners and record reviewers.

Iontophoresis

The use of electric current to deliver medication through the skin. Typically, prescription steroidal anti-inflammatory or analgesics drugs are used. Medication is delivered directly to the area of injury in an attempt to control pain and inflammation. The problems that oral medication can cause are eliminated.

Joint Mobilization

When a joint becomes tight, self-treatment is ineffective. The most common symptom is pressure or pain with movement and a loss of range-of motion. Specialized manual techniques are used to increase the flexibility of the thick connective tissue around a joint. These techniques are most commonly performed on the shoulder, ankle, knee, and spine, but can be performed on any joint.

Laser Therapy

What is Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) or Cold Laser Treatment?

LLLT is far more than an invisible flashlight! In fact, low-level lasers are yet another pain-free, sterile, non-invasive tool we use to help facilitate the healing process. Photons of visible and invisible light supply energy to the body by traveling through the layers of skin to the injured area. Unlike surgical lasers, low-level lasers do not produce heat, cut or damage tissue. Instead, cold light from the low-level laser is absorbed through the skin, increasing the cellular activity of tissue surrounding the injured area.

What injuries are treated with Low Level Laser Therapy?

Tendonitis, sprains, strains, back pain, neck pain, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, stress fractures, and many more.

How does it work?

How can light possibly be absorbed by the body and converted into something useful? The human body has been converting light energy since the beginning of time. Our ability to use sunlight to aid in the production of Vitamin D, “the sunshine vitamin,” is a perfect example of how our body is able to transform light into something beneficial. With LLLT, photons are absorbed by cells. Energy is transformed, powering metabolic processes. Beneficial proteins and enzymes needed for cellular repair are created. This leads to the regeneration and repair of damaged tissues and the modulation of pain.

What does the research say?

Advances in medicine are being made every day that help improve our practice and push us into new frontiers. The verdict is in! LLLT is part of that movement. It has been found to be extremely beneficial in the treatment of:

• 1. Inflammatory conditions – bursitis, tendonitis, arthritis, etc
• 2. Tissue damage – fractures, tendon ruptures, ligament tears, torn cartilage, etc
• 3. Pain conditions – low back pain, neck pain, pain associated with inflammatory conditions

Research has provided strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of laser therapy in accelerating tissue repair, bone healing, increasing circulation, increasing production of ATP, increasing cell metabolism, releasing growth factors, increasing collagen production, and stimulating the immune system. Although there are no known or documented harmful effects from the use of LLLT in physical therapy, precautionary measures are taken to avoid exposure during pregnancy, over known cancerous tissue, or over suspected active bleeding.

How does LLLT it fit into the treatment plan? Here at Boston Sports Medicine, we use LLLT as part of a comprehensive treatment approach when appropriate. As always, we design and implement treatment plans that are tailored to each individual’s needs and personal goals. Laser therapy has been proven effective at BSM in treating ligament sprains, tendonitis, muscular strains, joint pain, reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD), and post-operative healing. The results have been faster injury and wound healing, decreased inflammation, and a reduction in pain. Patients who have failed with other non-invasive therapies often have demonstrated remarkable results with LLLT therapy. We have experienced no adverse effects with LLLT.

We use a Vectra Genisys 850nm cold laser system with 670nm LEDs. The combined output is 1040mW.

Read more HERE.

Massage Therapy

Soft-tissue mobilization can be a component of a physical therapy treatment plan when indicated.

Manual or Mechanical Traction

A therapist administers a gentle pulling force on the spine to correct disc problems, alleviate pain, stretch muscles along the spine, and improve mobility. This can either be done manually or with a device like the one pictured above.

McKenzie Protocol

Phonophoresis

Post-Rehab Personal Training Program

Boston Sports Medicine has a Post-Rehabilitation and Personal Training program for patients who want to continue to improve their overall fitness after they meet their physical therapy goals. The program is designed specifically tailored to the needs of each individual’s cardiovascular conditioning, balance, strength, and agility.

Progressive Resistance Exercise

A program of strengthening is developed and progressed by the physical therapist. Exercises are chosen based on the injury, phase of rehabilitation, and goals of the patient. A vast array of equipment and manual techniques are used to provide the resistance.

Pre-Operative Conditioning Program to Prepare for Joint Replacement

Boston Sports Medicine has a pre-operative conditioning and strengthening program for those scheduled for joint replacement. Research has demonstrated that people who participated in a pre-operative physical therapy program to strengthening muscles associated with the joint to be replaced, have less complications after surgery and a shorter and easier post-operative course of rehabilitation.

Please review our Joint Replacement Program Brochure.

Running Evaluations

Running evaluations are performed to analyze a runner’s gait. Each running evaluation includes a complete assessment of strength, ROM, and other measures to identify factors that might impair performance. The therapist will also analyze shoe wear patterns and orthotics. We make recommendations on footwear, orthotics, and running shoes.

Taping

Taping is a sports medicine technique to provides stability and support to a joint. Taping is not a long-term solution, but rather a temporary one until a patient can transition to a brace or to a point when external support is no longer needed. Taping will create joint awareness by bringing the patient’s attention to the taped area.

Please see Dr. Merson’s blog on taping.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) / Neuromuscular Stimulation

Electricity is administered to the surface of the skin to retrain muscles, alleviate pain, and reduce swelling.

See Dr. Fox’s blog on electrical stimulation.

Ultrasound

There are two types of therapeutic ultrasound used in the Physical Therapy clinic: pulsed and continuous.

Continuous ultrasound can produce heat. The effects are increased circulation, increased tissue extensibility (ability to stretch), acceleration of cell metabolic rate and pain reduction. One might ask, why not just use a hot pack for heating the body part? Continuous ultrasound is actually much better at heating deeper, smaller areas, and tissue with high collagen content such as fascia, tendons and ligaments.

Pulsed ultrasound is delivered in waves, in an on/off cycle. It does not raise the temperature of body tissue, but it still has other useful treatment benefits during the inflammatory phase of tissue injury and repair. Pulsed ultrasound has been shown to increase cell membrane permeability, increase the rate of collagen synthesis by fibroblasts (collagen is the dominant protein in tendons, ligaments and fascia), and increase macrophage responsiveness (macrophages are white blood cells that promote healing and digest cellular debris). So in a nutshell, pulsed ultrasound enhances the cell activity necessary for tissue repair.

In summary, therapeutic ultrasound promotes healing with high-frequency sound waves that penetrate deeply into injured tissues. It can generate increased temperature and blood flow. Ultrasound disperses stagnant fluid that accumulates around an injury.

Work Reconditioning

An exercise program is designed and prescribed to strengthen and condition muscle groups specific to an individual’s occupation. Work reconditioning programs are significantly longer than typical physical therapy sessions. The entire fitness facility is available to the client and therapist during work reconditioning sessions.