Beginning With A Personal Assessment
At the heart of my treatment, is a total body evaluation which guides me in identifying the underlying problem areas which are contributing to the physical symptoms of pain and limitation. Along with traditional Physical Therapy tests and measures, I am trained in diagnostic techniques (Integrative Diagnostics) which evaluate the anatomy and mechanics of the entire body in order to paint a comprehensive clinical picture of the client. Uniting these distinctive evaluation approaches permits me to discern complex patterns of dysfunction and develop specific treatment plans for each individual.
Providing Integrative and Diverse Treatments
Integrative Manual Therapy is the primary treatment modality utilized at my clinic. Integrative Manual Therapy is a specialty that finds its roots in osteopathic medicine and provides gentle hands on techniques to change posture, biomechanics, muscle spasm, neural tissue tension and circulation.
I follow the tenet that “structure dictates function”…. We are only able to function as well as our structures permit. Therefore, the goal is to restore structural integrity (restore joint and spinal alignment; reduce soft tissue restrictions, etc.) with gentle hands on techniques (manual therapy). This in turn opens the potential for improved function.
Treatment is based on the Integrated Systems Approach where all the systems of the body ( muscular, connective tissue, biomechanical, vascular respiratory, immune, lymphatic, neural, visceral etc. ) are assessed and treated as needed.
Treatment techniques used are:
Craniosacral Techniques – The objective is to restore functional symmetries to distorted cranial bone positioning and movement with the use of the palpating hand. Specifically directed pressures are applied to the cranium or sacrum to redirect cerebral and spinal flow, as well as cerebrospinal fluid fluctuation. Congestion or retardation of venous drainage or cerebral spine fluid within the cranium and spinal column is hypothesized to be the cause of local biomechanical changes which lead to tissue irritability. Treatment would then prevent stasis and help to lubricate inflamed irritable nerves and membranes.
Myofascial Realease – A form of joint tissue therapy which is based upon neuroreflexive responses that reduce tissue tension. The appropriate application of manual contact requires the determination of the best entry point into the musculoskeletal system, selection of the most suitable types of stress induced inhibitory effect, and the result is the relaxation of tissue tension and subsequent decrease in myofascial tightness. Positional and function symmetries improve as a result of balancing myofascial tension in the involved area.
Strain/Counterstrain – The passive placement of the body in a position of greatest comfort to reduce pain. This is a positional release therapy in which pain release is achieved by the reduction and arrest of continuing inappropriate proprioceptive activity, which maintains the motion dysfunction. The principal is sponataneous release, resulting in pain reduction that is typically away from the motion restriction or in the direction of the ease or comfort . This allows gamma motor neuron activity to the intrafusal fibers of the shortened muscle to decrease, which allows the spindle to reset to normal activity status . Advanced strain counterstrain addresses autonomically innervated tissues and allows those tissues innervated by the hyperfacilitated muscle spindle to relax and reset allowing for decreased pain and increased function.
Joint Mobilization – The principle objective is to restore range of motion to a joint with altered motion and restricted function, improve joint positions or alignment, and distribute mechanical stress to a joint more evenly. The result is improvement of joint function, which often leads to a reduction in pain, increased joint adaptivity to mechanical stress, and reduction of the possibility of re-injury.
Visceral Mobilization – A hands on approach to assist in the restoration and function of the visceral system. Organs that remain in good health have physiological movement; visceral mobilization therapy is utilized to administer gentle force which revitalizes the mobility and motility of the tissues. Subtle mobilizations are used to heighten the workings of the individual organs and systems. Visceral mobilization also produces structural integrity to the whole body. This treatment is used as a catalyst for the client’s body to correct itself without excessive force.
Neural Tissue Tension – Adverse “neural tissue tension” can be defined as “abnormal physiological and/or mechanical responses from the nervous system that limits its normal range of motion or stress capabilities” The brain, spinal cord and nerve are continuous and are surrounded by connective tissue which can develop tension or tightness often contributing to nerve symptoms experienced as radiating pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. Neural tissue mobilization is a gentle technique to relieve this tension and its symptoms. Neural tissue tension therapy allows prolonged nerve tension to be released which produces relaxation and can ultimately improve musculoskeletal function such as range of motion, biomechanics, circulation, muscle tension and more.
Lymphatic and Venous Drainage – Strain and Counterstrain techniques are used to treat venous and lymphatic dysfunction. Treatment of this type of vascular dysfunction restores the normal “pump mechanics” of the lymphatic system and dramatically improves venous and lymphatic drainage in the affected area.
The objective is to restore functional symmetries to distorted cranial bone positioning and movement with the use of the palpating hand. Specifically directed pressures are applied to the cranium or sacrum to redirect cerebral and spinal flow, as well as cerebrospinal fluid fluctuation. Congestion or retardation of venous drainage or cerebral spine fluid within the cranium and spinal column is hypothesized to be the cause of local biomechanical changes which lead to tissue irritability. Treatment would then prevent stasis and help to lubricate inflamed irritable nerves and membranes.
A form of joint tissue therapy which is based upon neuroreflexive responses that reduce tissue tension. The appropriate application of manual contact requires the determination of the best entry point into the musculoskeletal system, selection of the most suitable types of stress induced inhibitory effect, and the result is the relaxation of tissue tension and subsequent decrease in myofascial tightness. Positional and function symmetries improve as a result of balancing myofascial tension in the involved area.
The passive placement of the body in a position of greatest comfort to reduce pain. This is a positional release therapy in which pain release is achieved by the reduction and arrest of continuing inappropriate proprioceptive activity, which maintains the motion dysfunction. The principal is sponataneous release, resulting in pain reduction that is typically away from the motion restriction or in the direction of the ease or comfort . This allows gamma motor neuron activity to the intrafusal fibers of the shortened muscle to decrease, which allows the spindle to reset to normal activity status . Advanced strain counterstrain addresses autonomically innervated tissues and allows those tissues innervated by the hyperfacilitated muscle spindle to relax and reset allowing for decreased pain and increased function.
The principle objective is to restore range of motion to a joint with altered motion and restricted function, improve joint positions or alignment, and distribute mechanical stress to a joint more evenly. The result is improvement of joint function, which often leads to a reduction in pain, increased joint adaptivity to mechanical stress, and reduction of the possibility of re-injury.
A hands on approach to assist in the restoration and function of the visceral system. Organs that remain in good health have physiological movement; visceral mobilization therapy is utilized to administer gentle force which revitalizes the mobility and motility of the tissues. Subtle mobilizations are used to heighten the workings of the individual organs and systems. Visceral mobilization also produces structural integrity to the whole body. This treatment is used as a catalyst for the client’s body to correct itself without excessive force.
Adverse “neural tissue tension” can be defined as “abnormal physiological and/or mechanical responses from the nervous system that limits its normal range of motion or stress capabilities” The brain, spinal cord and nerve are continuous and are surrounded by connective tissue which can develop tension or tightness often contributing to nerve symptoms experienced as radiating pain, numbness, tingling or weakness. Neural tissue mobilization is a gentle technique to relieve this tension and its symptoms. Neural tissue tension therapy allows prolonged nerve tension to be released which produces relaxation and can ultimately improve musculoskeletal function such as range of motion, biomechanics, circulation, muscle tension and more.
Strain and Counterstrain techniques are used to treat venous and lymphatic dysfunction. Treatment of this type of vascular dysfunction restores the normal “pump mechanics” of the lymphatic system and dramatically improves venous and lymphatic drainage in the affected area.