It is no secret that among the keys to good health are proper nutrition, exercise, a stress-free lifestyle (to the extent that is possible) and steering clear of harmful habits—elements dependent largely upon outside factors and behaviors.  But what about that aspect of health that originates from inside, within our internal self-healing system?  We know that the body is designed to defend us from disease and assist in healing, as evidenced every time a cut heals or we “fight off” a cold. 

What we may not be aware of are the innovative hands-on techniques available to facilitate that process. Here at Manual Therapies of Gresham, I focus on problems that seem resistant to other forms of therapies.  Chronic pain and dysfunction syndromes due to repetitive injury, trauma, illness, diseases, and even syndromes of mysterious or unrecognized causes can often evade progress unless a whole body approach is taken. 

My tendency to succeed is rooted in this whole body/whole person approach combined with extensive training in a wide array of hands-on techniques. 

Among the methods used are Myofascial Release, CranioSacral Therapy, Strain and Counterstrain Technique, Muscle Energy Technique, Functional Indirect Technique, Mobilizations with Movement, Visceral Manipulations, and others.  A brief description of each of these techniques follows.  What they all have in common is the goal of making therapeutic change by following subtle cues from the body itself instead of attempting to force it to do one thing or another. 

Each individual has different needs and no one technique or sequence of treatments will help everyone.  Each treatment session is tailored to meet the needs of that body at that moment.  While the focus of treatment is to uncover the deeper causes of the problem, symptom relief is also a major objective.  The number of sessions needed is extremely variable and depends on, among other factors, the complex layers of injury and trauma that may mask the original cause of the problem.

In many situations of injury, joint and muscle length dysfunctions are due to a strain pattern set up in the nervous system which mistakenly tells a muscle to be the wrong length.  This tight/strained muscle pattern may persist for weeks, months, or even years and proves to be resistant to treatment through stretching, massage, or exercise.  Utilizing strain and counterstrain technique, the therapist positions the body in such a way that the neurologic input to the problem area is shut off for a period of time, which resets it back to normal.  In this process, the therapist will frequently monitor various tender points that specify muscle or joint dysfunction.  These points are often distant from the problem area.  The technique is gentle and often very subtle yet extremely effective when administered appropriately.

This complex and sophisticated method of resolving dysfunction in the musculoskelatal system utilizes a combination of position and pseudopassive movements to guide and at the same time follow body tension patterns enacting a sequence of releases.  With the client usually sitting or laying on the back, the therapist will monitor specific locations and move body parts into ranges of ease.  He/she will be following subtle movements and shifts that occur naturally.  By following these movements, not only is the desired body segment mobilized but it is also integrated with the rest of the body above and below that segment.  The result is lasting functional improvement.

Muscle Energy Technique can simply be considered as an effective and gentle form of joint mobilization.  The therapist will first assess and identify specific joint restrictions.  Then he/she will place the patient into a position that brings the joint closer to proper alignment – this is similar to what is done to “crack” or “pop” a joint “back into place.”  The difference is that the force causing the actual change is generated by the patient contracting specific muscles for a brief period instead of by the therapist. The two main advantages to Muscle Energy Technique over manipulation are that the gentleness will not harm the patient and that the muscle contractions help to balance the change with the adjacent structures.

This effective technique combines two standard treatments with a result that is far greater then the sum of the two.  In this technique, the therapist aligns joints and tissues until the painful movement can be performed without pain.  The motion is then repeated several times, which creates a lasting change in the balance of tissues and/or joint position.  Dramatic improvements in pain and/or motion are common.

CranioSacral Therapy is a gentle yet powerful technique that is effective in releasing neck pain, back pain, and mental stress (among other things). It does this by optimizing the movement of cerebrospinal fluid through the spine and around the skull. Developed by physician William Sutherland, this therapy provides a very soothing and relaxing healing experience.

Myofascial release is a form of soft tissue therapy intended to eliminate pain, increase range of motion, and rebalance the entire body. It does this by using techniques to stretch the fascia and release the bonds that exist between the fascia, muscles and bones. Fascia is the connective tissue that connects and covers all muscles, organs, and skeletal structures of the body. Indirect release applies light pressure and gently stretches the fascia; this allows for increased blood circulation and relief from pain.

It may be difficult to picture initially, but the internal organs (also called viscera) can have a great influence on the musculoskelatal system.  Much like joint surfaces must slide properly in order for bones to move, organ surfaces must also slide in just the right sequence and without resistance.  Additionally, just like joint restrictions can create misalignment, internal organ adhesions can pull the body out of alignment causing dysfunctions that may seem unrelated.

 

A second method of influence from the internal organs is through complex neurologic reflex arcs, which run between muscle and organ. This is why it is common to see a combination of visceral and skeletal problems such as irritable bowel syndrome and low back pain.