Erik D. Lee, D.C. provides safe, gentle care blending advanced soft-tissue techniques, gentle chiropractic adjustments and physical therapy modalities such as exercise/rehab therapy, interferential electro-therapy, trigger point therapy, ultrasound, superficial heat, and cryotherapy.
Spinal joints that are “locked up,” fixated or not moving right can affect your health by “choking” or irritating nearby nerve tissue. Chiropractic adjustments add motion to these stuck areas. This helps restore nervous system integrity and can improve the healing process. After the brief thrust, many patients report a sense of well-being or a feeling of calmness. Others feel improved mobility. Dr. Lee excels at making adjustments comfortable and effective.
Dr. Lee has specialized in soft-tissue injuries since the early 1980’s. He was the Director of the largest, oldest massage school in Los Angeles for nine years and as lead instructor he has taught chiropractors, physical therapists, acupuncturists, nurses, and thousands of massage therapists. He is a state-certified instructor of deep tissue, sportsmassage, myofascial release [also called "Rolfing"], shiatsu, myofascial trigger point therapy, thai massage, tui na, swedish massage, acupressure, anatomy & physiology, and advanced techniques in low back and neck relief. He is an advisor/consultant to numerous day spas throughout the Beverly Hills and Los Angeles areas. He is author of several professional articles on advanced soft-tissue injuries and therapies for industry publications and was himself written up as “Therapist to the Stars”. Finally, he has lectured on advanced soft-tissue injuries and therapies at national conferences such as the American Massage Therapy Association.
Question: Why is it useful to have a doctor with an extensive knowledge
of soft-tissue dysfunction?
Dr. Lee: "As an example, let's say a new patient came into my office
with numbness and/or tingling in the hands, over 50 and with a neck that is
occasionally painful or stiff. Most chiropractors would suggest, ' a
disorder of the nerves and bones in the neck.' Or, 'cervical disc problem.'
Or, 'you have a pinched nerve.' A knowledge of soft-tissue dysfunction would
be useful, because, in this very common situation, the numbness and/or
tingling in the hands and a neck that is occasionally painful or stiff can
very easily be soft-tissue in origin. It may not be a disorder of the nerves
and bones in the neck. It may not be a cervical disc problem. Or a pinched
nerve. It might originate in the soft-tissues in the neck, or around the
shoulder blade, or even in the lower back! [See,
Frequency Asked Questions]. This is the main reason why patients, who
have been seeing another chiropractor for years with less than optimum
results, get better when they come here after only a few visits."
Question: Don't all chiropractors have an extensive knowledge of
soft-tissue dysfunction?
Chiropractic is about bringing motion to fixated spinal joints thus
helping to restore nervous system integrity. Chiropractors have an extensive
knowledge of spinal and nervous system dysfunction, not soft-tissue
dysfunction.
Question: Do massage therapists have an extensive knowledge of
soft-tissue dysfunction?
Most licensed massage therapists have around 300 hours of soft-tissue
instruction. Dr. Lee has around 3,000 hours of instruction in just
soft-tissue. This doesn't include the 5,000 hours of instruction in
chiropractic.
Interferential electro-therapy.
Interferential electro-therapy is a therapeutic treatment to aid in the
relief of pain and the promotion of soft tissue healing. Tiny amounts of
electrical impulses are induced into the tissues in the vicinity of the
injury. Where these waves intersect below the surface of the skin, a
low-frequency stimulation is created. This prompts the body to secrete
endorphins and other natural pain killers to help relieve pain. Most
patients find interferential electro-therapy to be extremely beneficial and
describe the treatment as a faint “pins and needles” sensation.
Interferential electro-therapy is most often used for pain relief and to aid
in reducing the swelling of soft tissues. Ligament sprains, muscle strains
and spasms often respond to this treatment, helping to reduce atrophy and
increase blood circulation.
Trigger point therapy.
A trigger point is an area of uncontrolled muscle tightness causing
tenderness which interferes with normal muscle function. This restricts
normal range of motion, weakens the muscle, and may refer pain to other
parts of the body. Trigger point therapy is a highly effective way to reduce
muscle spasms and relax hyperactive muscles. This helps restore normal range
of motion and promote faster healing.
Ultrasound.
Ultrasound is a therapeutic treatment using high frequency sound waves
administered in the region of soft tissue injuries. Sound vibrations, as
fast as a million times per second, penetrate the tissues deep in the body,
creating a heat response. These vibrations and heat help break down and
disperse unhealthy scar tissue, calcium and other hard tissue accumulations.
Ultrasound treatment can usually be administered directly to the area of
complaint, penetrating deep into the body. The rise in temperature,
increases blood flow, relaxes muscles spasms, massages damaged tissues, and
speeds the healing process.
Superficial heat.
Hot packs, warm moist towels, heating pads, water bottles and infrared
lamps are often used to help raise the temperature of soft tissues directly
below the surface of the skin. Heat applied to the surface of the skin
enlarges blood vessels below the surface, relaxing tissues and can
temporarily relieve painful symptoms. Increasing circulation and relaxing
muscles is helpful before or after chiropractic adjustments, exercises, and
other treatments. Heat is usually recommended for the relaxation of tissues
in spasm and temporary relief of the symptoms associated with chronic pain
and muscle tightness.
Cryotherapy.
Cryotherapy is a term that describes the application of ice, cold
towels, ice massage and compresses to reduce the temperature of tissues
directly on or below the surface of the skin. Surface cooling constricts
blood vessels, numbs painful areas, and helps relax muscle spasms. Cold
temperatures reduce nerve transmission of painful symptoms and provide
temporary relief.