The RSI Clinic Treatments:

RSI Clinic Services
The RSI Clinic and the Southwest Integrative Pain Clinics are innovative medical centres specializing in the assessment, treatment, and research of Musculoskeletal Disorders, Repetitive Strain Injuries and Pain Management. Services include:

• Integrative Medicine
  Years ago, a medical physician and a naturopathic one would sit on two different sides of a spectrum. The end result was that the patient would have to choose between one or the other. The new frontier of medicine suggests a different relationship, working from an underlying principle that healing is always possible, even when curing is not. The practice has become known as Integrative Medicine. According to studies reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), for the last 10 years there have been more visits to complementaryand alternative medicine (CAM) practitioners than to primary care physicians.
  
  When treating chronic pain, other contributing factors that can hinder the healing process need to be taken into account:  celiac disease, chronic or inflammatory conditions, toxicity, misuse of the muscles (ie. poor posture), hidden injuries that have not been properly diagnosed, poor diet, smoking and pre-diabetes (also called metabolic syndrome which causes generalized inflammation). Hormonal imbalances can also contribute to feeling unwell and even to increased pain. Dr. Tick works with Bio-identical Hormones when necessary to achieve optimal health. Dr. Tick takes a unique, holistic approach to the practice of medicine, skillfully merging conventional medicine with alternative therapies to address the root cause of the problem, and its contributing factors.

• Gunn IMS- Intramuscular StimulationGunnIMS is a technique, which uses acupuncture needles to treat pain.  There are similarities to acupuncture in the tools used, but a world of difference in the technique and the results.Intramuscular Stimulation (GunnIMS) is a technique of placing acupuncture needles into over tightened parts of the muscles called Trigger Points.  This causes a release of the tight bands, lengthening of the muscle, improved circulation, the release of growth factors and the beginning of a healing cycle. The needle is left in the muscle until the Trigger Point releases—usually only a few seconds. Treating pain is a complex undertaking and needs to include efforts to both reduce ongoing injuries and increase the potential for healing. The GunnIMS technique provides the most effective form of treatment for the myofascial component of pain syndromes and provides some astonishing results, even in cases where pain has been present for decades.
  
  
• Massage Therapy
  Massage therapy is a hands-on manipulation of soft tissues and joints of the body, specifically, the muscles, connective tissues, tendons and ligaments. Massage therapy treatment has a therapeutic effect on the body and improves health and well-being by acting on the muscular, nervous and circulatory systems. It can be an effective tool in soft tissue pain management and rehabilitation. Our therapists are experienced in providing relief for a wide range of conditions such as repetitive strain injuries, sciatica, tendonitis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, as well as many other common conditions related to muscular and joint dysfunction.

• Laser/Light Therapy
  Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) treats tissues using light energy. It is non-toxic and non-invasive. The uses scientifically developed and clinically tested protocols to treat acute and chronic injuries by reducing pain and inflammation and accelerating the healing process. It involves the application of red and near infra-red light over injuries or lesions to improve wound and soft tissue healing and give relief for both acute and chronic pain.
  
  LLLT is also an effective therapy for many cases of swollen joints, for wound healing and scar improvement.

• Alpha-Stim
  Alpha-Stim uses microcurrent technology to treat pain through 2 means.  There are probe and pads for home microcurrent applications for the local treatment of painful areas. There are also ear electrodes that induce Alpha Waves in the brain:  the same waves produced by meditation.  There are many scientific studies showing improvement in pain levels, insomnia, anxiety and depression.

• Far Infrared Sauna
  Far Infrared Sauna (FIR Sauna) is a “cool” sauna which is dry and comfortable to sit in.  There is no steam or humidity, just heating of the body through infrared light.  The light penetrates deeply into tissues and helps with pain.  FIR Sauna also helps reduce the load of toxins in the body through release into the sweat.

• Nutriceuticals
  Research studies are showing the importance of Nutriceuticals. The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA 2002) has reversed its long held opinion that supplements are not necessary, and have now recommended supplementation. The article concludes that "insufficient vitamin intake is apparently a cause of chronic diseases. Recent evidence has shown that suboptimal levels of vitamins (below standard), even well above those causing deficiency syndromes, are risk factors for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and osteoporosis”
  
  The factors which characterize quality supplements are as follows:

  • guaranteed potency, verified by a third party laboratory
  • guaranteed purity (no contamination) verified by a third party lab
  • bioavailability: products that can be absorbed by the body USP (United States Pharmacopoeia) method which is the accepted quality standard for dissolution and disintegration for pharmaceuticals