Craniosacral Therapy

Myofacial Release

Visceral Manipulation

Strain & Counterstrain

Manual Traction

Muscle Energy Technique

Therapeutic Exercise

Joint Mobilizations

• Craniosacral Therapy: A gentle touch method of evaluating & enhancing the craniosacral system, the "housing" of the brain & spinal cord. This manual therapy technique encourages the body's natural healing mechanisms. Craniosacral Therapy treatments dissipate the negative effects of stress, disease, & injuries. The craniosacral system consists of the membranes & cerebrospinal fluid that surround & protect the brain & spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face & mouth, down the spine to the sacrum & tailbone. An imbalance or restriction in the craniosacral system may cause sensory, motor or neurological impairments. These problems may include chronic pain, scoliosis, migraines, motor-coordination impairments or learning disabilities. return

• Myofacial Release: A whole body hands on approach to evaluate & treat the muscle & connective soft tissues of the body. Restrictions in these tissues can lead to asymmetrics; postural misalignments & abnormal tensions/restrictions will be experienced. This leads to improve postural alignment & increased mobility with little or no pain. Myofacial release is not only helpful for chronic pain sufferers, but also to athletes. This technique will enhance their performance by allowing more freedom & fluidity of movement. return

• Joint mobilizations: This technique consists of gentle moving one on another in a specific joint. Mild stretching of the joint capsule & loosening of any adhesions is accomplished. This is done with gentle oscillating pressures. The result of this treatment is decreased pain & increased range of motion. return

• Visceral Manipulation (VM): A gentle manual therapy technique using light, specifically placed pressure to encourage normal mobility, tone, & inherent tissue motion of the viscera & their surrounding connective tissues & ligaments. Excessive tightness, displacement & adhesions can cause organs to work against each other & the body's muscular, bony, & connective tissues. These disturbances can create chronic irritation & fixed, abnormal points of tension. This can lead to subtle organ dysfunctions and/or musculoskeletal pain & problems. VM is especially helpful after abdominal or thoracic surgery, after pregnancy or after a lung or abdominal infection, (i.e. bladder infection leading to stress incontinence). return

• Manual Traction: Intelligently applied longitudinal force applied to a joint or body part to decompress this area. Manual traction is better than mechanical traction because the patient's tissue response is constantly monitored. Just the right amount of force at the most effective angle can be applied. This technique is very helpful with spinal pain, disc problems, & stiff joints. Osteoarthritis sufferers benefit greatly from manual traction. return

• Therapeutic Exercise: individually designed exercise for the patient's specific problem. These are pain relieving exercises not the usual exercise approach of "no pain, no gain." These exercises are intended to give the patient control over pain symptoms & allow them to do more activity with less pain. return

• Strain & Counterstrain: A gentle noninvasive manual therapy that enhances the biomechanics of the spine & extremity joints by eliminating tight muscle spasms. This will restore pain free movement. The therapist will passively place the patient's muscle to relax or unwind; (i.e. getting a "kink" out of a gold chain... stretching will only make it tighter). Strain &counterstrain will give immediate relief to muscle spasms & relax, even chronically, "tight" muscles. Have you been stretching your hamstrings forever with no relief? Counterstrain can help you. return

• Muscle Energy Technique: A direct, non-invasive manual therapy used to normalize joint position & increase range of motion. The therapist puts a joint into a precise position, and then the patient performs a gentle muscle contraction that helps correct the neuromuscular & joint dysfunction. return