Aug. 1, 2021- Philanthropist and medical publisher Dr. Robert L. Bard helped to spearhead the formation of a brand new network dedicated to a grouping of pain and injury care professionals. IPHA - the Integrative Pain Healers Alliance is a private self-funded professional community assembling a synergistic collective of clinical specialists, therapeutic technologists, diagnosticians, innovators, public educators, advocates and patient resources dedicated to supporting physiological care.
Thanks to the endorsement from various orgs including NANCYSLIST, the AngioFoundation, F.A.C.E.S. Foundation (Firefighters Against Cancer & Exposures), MOVEMBER Foundation and the NY Cancer Resource Alliance, IPHA was formed under tremendous support from the cancer community due to the wide exposure to post-treatment pain and injuries of patients. Moreover, the establishment of IPHA is highly supported by community groups battling the OPIOD CRISIS. Inspiring members including Dr. Andrew Rochman (Plainview, NY), a staunch advocate against "America's addiction to pain meds" echoes the need to unite the healers community for one voice. “It is this very attitude about pain that has driven our society into a misguided dependency for the quick fix and has created a major traffic gridlock in information and solutions. Where a western society that once ran a healthy existence on a lean diet and a proactive lifestyle, today's response trend to any discomfort is meds or visiting a specialist.”
IPHA's catalogues all pain therapy innovations as part of awareness 101. The athletic community also has a leadership role in this group; Dr. Noelle Cutter, clinical researcher and top triathlete & Iron-Man runner from Long Island, NY. is a staunch advocate in the IPHA message of alternative and ‘smarter’ treatment solutions. "Numbing the pain is not therapy"... It's time we adjust the way we face our injuries - by focusing on intelligent choices... drugs and surgery are not the only answers to pain!"
THE FUTURE IS NON-INVASIVE MEDICINE
As with most brainstorming relationships, medical pioneers often unite in exploratory research projects. In the spring of 2021, IPHA supported MedTech Reviews, partnering Dr. Bard's investigative report validating AXIOBIONICS neurostim therapy on MSK pain and injury through the use of real-time ultrasound imaging. This confirms how pain healing can be tackled non-invasively.
Through this project, we found remarkable advantages and endless rehabilitative possibilities to Philip Muccio's many innovations in NEURO-PROSTETHICS- the science of integrating advanced wearable therapeutic technology to improve limb performance and to address a wide array of physiological and neurological injuries. For the past 30 years, Mr. Muccio he has been producing custom wearable & intelligent neurostim powered devices for countless patients with major issues where his innovations have brought remarkable results and adding significant improvements to their quality of life. Just some of the disorders he has addressed. The effects include: SPINAL CORD INJURIES, MSK INJURIES, TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURIES, CEREBRAL PALSY, STOKE etc. (See his work at www.AxioBionics.com)
IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE: Axiobionics Arm BioSleeve helps a US Veteran regain arm function after a brain injury. Sgt. Shannon Mcallister was injured in an IED blast in Iraq causing a traumatic brain injury and left side paralysis. For more than a year the arm remained frozen and lifeless until he began wearing the Axio BioSleeve muscle stimulation system. "Sgt. McCallister realized that this technology was going to offer him the hope that he was looking for. And so I convinced Sergeant McAllister to let me design a wearable therapy sleeve, what we call an upper extremity neural prosthesis. We targeted three muscle groups and I wanted to rebuild these muscles for him. So he would have improved upper extremity, strength and control and function. It didn't take very long for him to actually get to the point where he was using the arm again, functionally."
WHAT IS BIOFEEDBACK? IPHA is also underway a similar research initiative to confirm other innovations including the widely recognized PEMF (Pulse Electromagnetic Frequency) and BIOFEEDBACK treatment. A recent IPHA member, Dr. Silvia Binder (CEO of ONDAMED) offers an expanded healing capacity to include a full-body diagnostic scan to identify and target disfunction such as Soft Tissue Injuries, internal wounds, inflammation, infection, scars or cellular memory of unresolved shock and trauma. This biofeedback technology is also known to “successfully manage depression, PTSD and other mental health issues”, according to NY psychiatrist, Dr. George Tawfik.
Biofeedback is a mind-body technique that involves using visual or auditory feedback to gain control over involuntary bodily functions. This may include gaining voluntary control over such things as heart rate, muscle tension, blood flow, pain perception, and blood pressure. This process involves being connected to a device with sensors that provide feedback about specific aspects of your body.
While stimulating the body with gentle focused pulsed electromagnetic fields similar to what your own body uses for communication purposes, it helps identify stressed areas in the body with the help of the patient's pulse feedback (vascular signal). The identified stressed areas are brought to the patient's attention and stimulated for repair and regeneration of such tissue areas, which are potentially responsible for patients' symptoms and disease processes. This therapy is especially helpful to balance parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems, impacting the psyche, immune system, and endocrine system.
HOW IS BIOFEEDBACK USED?
Biofeedback has been used for a range of applications, including:
- Treating tension headaches, migraines, and other pain
- Controlling high and low blood pressure
- Alleviating digestive disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome
- Helping patients control physical reactions to stress or anxiety
- Aiding in relaxation and stress management
EEG feedback has also been shown to be beneficial in managing symptoms of certain brain injuries and attention deficit disorder, and there is some evidence suggesting it might be efficacious in depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Biofeedback is particularly useful for managing stress as well as symptoms of conditions that may be exacerbated by stress. For example, therapists might use biofeedback to help patients control their responses to stress. Chronic stress can have a wide range of negative health effects including decreased immunity, heart disease, depression, digestive problems, and sleep disorders. By learning how to manage the stress response using biofeedback, patients are able to decrease the harmful physical and psychological effects of stress.
For more information on Biofeedback, visit: ondamed.net
