ETHEREAL BODY

INtegrative healing

Manual Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy (CST) It is a light-touch approach that releases tensions deep in the body to restore the body’s homeostasis, relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole body health and performance.

   Craniosacral therapy works with the neurological and myofascial systems. Various parts of the body are gently touched to monitor the rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid that is surrounding the central nervous system.  By carefully listening with the hands to locate areas of weak fluid flow or tissue motion, the practitioner can trace areas of weakness through the body to the original source of dysfunction. Areas of the body are held to facilitate an unwinding of tissue tension and release of structural malalignments. Practitioners release restrictions of the cranial sutures to improve the functioning of the central nervous system.

   

Myofascial Release

muscles and fascia are gently stretched according to their orientation and course.

A techniques for stretching the fascia and releasing bonds between fascia, integument (skin), muscles, and bones are applied with the goal of eliminating pain, increasing range of motion and balancing the body. The fascia is manipulated, directly or indirectly, which allows the connective tissue fibers to reorganize themselves in a more flexible, functional fashion

Traction

Therapeutic spinal traction uses manually or mechanically created forces to stretch and mobilize the spine. Traction may alleviate back pain by stretching tight spinal muscles that result from spasm and widen intervertebral foramen to relieve nerve root impingement.

Strain Counter Strain

releases restriction by placing the affected muscle in the position of comfort.  The strain/counter strain technique was initially discovered by an osteopathic doctor named Dr. Lawrence Jones. Dr. Jones identified tender points, which are tiny tender spots on the body that result from an abnormal reflex (unnatural movement). When sloppy movements (for example bad posture) are carried on for a number of years, eventually strain and injuries will develop.

    Once the muscles are in their natural position, the strain/counter strain treatment is applied by the practitioner, who gently stretches the injured muscle in its natural position; while at the same time shortens the dysfunctional tender point so that it becomes rebalanced with the rest of the body. When the original position is resumed, the muscles are now realigned in their natural position and the pain should disappear.

Joint Mobilization

Mobilization is a passive movement or force applied by a clinician to a skeletal joint (at the surface of the articulating bones) to mimic the gliding that occurs between bones. It is used to manage musculoskeletal dysfunction an pain. Mobilizations are usually completed at slow speed, sometimes with oscillations, and even with a "hold" or stretch. This technique is used when range of motion or mobility is lacking as needed with releasing adhesions when there is lack of movement at a joint.

Muscle Energy Technique

Isometricly contracted muscles are used to release tension on a skeletal position and restore alignment and optimal movement.  It is based on reciprocal inhibition, where the muscles located to one side of a joint relax when the muscles on the other side of the joint contract.  It helps to re-establish muscular and postural balance in the body.

Neural glides

Neural glides mobilize a peripheral nerve to prevent or correct adhesions within the nerve sheaths and promote nerve signal transmission needed for sensation and movement. Postural deviations and compression of the nerve as well as muscle cramping around the nerve are released to reverse a compromised signal transmission.

ROM: Passive, Active, Active Asssisted ROM

ROM exercises help keep your muscles and joints as mobile and healthy as possible. ROM exercises may be active or passive. Active ROM exercises are done by a person who can do the exercises all by himself. Active-assisted ROM exercises are done by the person and a helper. Passive ROM exercises are done for a person by a helper. The helper does the ROM exercises because a person cannot do them by himself either because of pain, weakness or dysfunction.

    Active ROM exercises help build up or keep your muscles as strong as possible. They help keep your joints flexible (bending and moving in the right way). Doing ROM exercises will help keep good blood flow going to the joint area that is being exercised. They may help prevent blood clots as it keeps circulation from pooling in the venous system. Active- Assisted ROM is a movement in which a patient is assisted in moving a joint through the range of motion either by mechanical or manual means.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)

It is a combination of passive stretching, isometrics and resistance applied to the extremities in various movement patterns to encourage flexibility and coordination throughout the limb's entire range of motion.

Contract Relax

Is a form of proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation.  It involves the therapist asking the patient to fire the tight muscle isometrically against the therapist's hand for a few seconds. Then, the patient relaxes and the therapist lengthens the tight muscle and applies a stretch at the newly found end range of motion.

REIKI

Healing through compassionate touch. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy