Physical Therapy Services
Craniosacral Therapy (CST)
Craniosacral Therapy (CST) is a gentle, hands-on approach that can lead to significant improvements in your overall well-being. It works by releasing deep-seated tensions in the body, which helps alleviate pain and dysfunction, and enhances whole-body health. The body absorbs the stresses and strains of daily life, and there comes a point when the accumulated tension becomes too much. This can lead to the tightening of tissues, potentially affecting the brain and spinal cord, compromising the central nervous system and other bodily systems. CST helps release these tensions, allowing the body to relax and naturally correct itself.
By optimizing the central nervous system’s function, CST naturally reduces pain and stress, boosts immunity, and promotes overall health and well-being. Its gentle nature makes it suitable for individuals of all ages, from newborns to the elderly.
CST has been effective in addressing a wide range of conditions, including orthopedic issues, chronic neck and back pain, stress and tension-related disorders, spinal cord injuries, migraines and headaches, infant and childhood disorders, post-concussion symptoms, TMJ syndrome, scoliosis, central nervous system disorders, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, post-traumatic stress disorder, and many more.
Somato-Emotional Release
Somato-Emotional Release is a therapeutic process designed to help the body and mind release the residual effects of past injuries and negative experiences stored as energy cysts within the body’s cellular memory. This concept, developed by Dr. Upledger and Dr. Zvi Karni, describes two possible responses to trauma: the body either dissipates the physical forces from the injury, allowing natural healing to occur, or retains them, leading to stored tensions.
During a CST session, the release of these energy cysts may cause a person to re-experience the pain, fear, anger, or other emotions associated with the original incident. This re-experiencing is a positive sign that the treatment is addressing the retained issues. It is important not to suppress these feelings but to allow them to surface, with the therapist’s support, to facilitate healing and resolution.
Using the basics of Craniosacral Therapy under the premise that the human body wants to correct itself, and that both mother and baby know what needs to be undertaken to affect a successful delivery, CST can be applied prior to conception, through pregnancy, labor and delivery. CST techniques in pregnancy focus on mother and baby as individuals concurrently while functioning as one. CST helps strengthen the body’s ability to take better care of itself and helps alleviate pain and dysfunction, including but not limited to chronic neck, back and joint pain, headaches and migraines, morning sickness, fatigue, emotional difficulties, challenges with conception – getting the house in order to prepare for the baby, many other conditions related to pregnancy and postpartum including birth trauma for the mom as well as the baby.
Visceral Manipulation (VM)
Visceral Manipulation (VM) is a gentle manual therapy technique that targets the tension on the internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and intestines, etc caused at times by overused muscle groups, repetition of movement, strains or accidents which create internal pulling of the organs and their attachments which create pain or discomfort in connective tissues, muscles or the skeletal structures. Our PTs seek out these compensatory patterns and treat the corresponding tissues through gentle compression, mobilization, and elongation of soft tissues. As these underlying issues are addressed, symptoms begin to diminish.
VM can be beneficial for a wide range of conditions, including whiplash and seat belt injuries, carpal tunnel syndrome, digestive disorders, acid reflux, post-operative scar tissue pain, swallowing dysfunctions, women’s and men’s health issues, chronic pelvic pain, fibroids and cysts, pediatric health issues, colic, anxiety, depression, and many more.
Functional Manual Therapy (FMT)
Functional Manual Therapy (FMT) is an advanced therapeutic approach focused on restoring functional efficiency through three key pillars:
- Mechanical Capacity: This involves assessing and improving the quality and range of movement in muscles, joints, ligaments, viscera, nerves, and the vascular and lymphatic systems. The goal is to enhance the body’s ability to achieve and maintain functional postures and movement patterns.
- Neuromuscular Function: FMT addresses the body’s capacity to activate core muscles for stability and use phasic muscles for mobility. It focuses on ensuring proper strength, coordination, and endurance for specific tasks, optimizing the sequence of muscle activation.
- Motor Control: This pillar emphasizes the body’s ability to assume, maintain, and modify voluntary movement patterns and postures effectively. It is crucial for ensuring smooth, controlled movement and preventing injuries.
Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF): A core technique used in FMT, PNF helps retrain the connection between muscles, nerves, and the brain. This technique is particularly useful for overcoming compensatory patterns or injuries that disrupt normal neuromuscular function.
Core First Strategies (CFS): CFS is a progressive training approach that helps patients develop efficient postures and movement patterns. It involves integrating five principles:
- Base of Support: Establishing a stable foundation that supports the entire body.
- Alignment: Ensuring proper spinal alignment to distribute weight evenly.
- Automatic Core Engagement: Engaging core muscles reflexively during protective and reactive responses, as well as intentional movements.
- Weight Shift: Smoothly transferring weight between points of support.
- Weight Acceptance: Fully accepting weight into the base of support, ensuring stability and balance.
FMT is designed to address a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, post-surgical rehabilitation, sports injuries, and neurological conditions. By integrating these elements, FMT provides a holistic approach to treatment, helping patients achieve optimal movement and function.
