Counter Strain
This type of manipulation uses gentle positioning to influence the nervous reflex that is preventing the somatic dysfunction from correcting itself. The clinician slowly moves the client into a position where these abnormal reflexes are “turned off.” As this is a position of comfort, the technique is not painful. The position of comfort is held until the nervous system “resets” itself. The clinician is then able to slowly move the client so that the muscle returns to its normal length. This technique uses almost no force.
Muscle Energy
The client’s muscles are actively engaged from a precisely controlled position, in a specific direction, and against an exact counterforce. With post isometric relaxation a joint is freed up by the relaxation of specific muscles after contraction. Reciprocal inhibition takes advantage of the fact that when a muscle’s antagonist is contracted, the muscle is inhibited and relaxes. This work mobilizes restricted joints, lengthens tense muscles and fascia, strengthens to address asymmetrically weak muscles, decreases hypertonicity, and improves circulation and respiration. This technique also takes advantage of neurological reflexes that occur with muscle action.
Myofascial Release
Is a subtle technique of direct and indirect palpation that treats myofascial (muscle & fascial sheath around muscle) structures and related neural and vascular components to elongate myofascial structures and relax muscles, improve cellular nutrition, oxygenation, and waste removal by enhancing circulation and unlocking deep tension. Whereas muscles can be contracted, fascia cannot – it can, however, be torqued, twisted and elastically deformed. As a result, fascia can retain tension due to physical and emotional trauma. The clinician manually reduces these with slow gentle and sometimes very deep steady gliding palpation.
Cranial Manipulation
Is a specific approach within the osteopathic concept. It influences the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord, creating an impact on the total body and initiating the body’s inherent capacity to heal itself. Fascial connections throughout the body are contiguous with the lining around the central nervous system. Practitioners of cranial manipulation in the osteopathic tradition utilize a manual approach to evaluate and harmonize very deep rhythms and correct subtle malposition and articulation of the cranium and its primary rhythmic impulse to the whole body.
Lymphatic Activation
This manual procedure is designed to promote circulation of the lymphatic fluids and can be used to support the body’s natural defenses. One technique is pressure applied with the clinician’s hands to the supine patient’s upper anterior chest wall. When the force is applied to the chest reaches its maximum on expiration, the clinician’s hands are removed suddenly. This increases negative pressure of the chest to assist the body’s respiratory mechanism to move Iymphatic fluids. In addition to working with respiration, direct manual stimulation is applied to lymph centers throughout the body making this a more intensive treatment.
Tuina (pronounced “twee-nah”)
Is an important part of traditional Chinese health care. Tuina makes use of pressing, kneading, rolling, grasping, scrubbing, stretching and shaking strokes that are applied vigorously to the meridians and muscles through out the body. Central to this approach is the manipulation of the body’s subtle energy as well as the physical tissue, joints, internal organs and fluids. Tuina can be likened to traditional Chinese physical therapy, and very specific protocols have been established for orthopedic and neurological complaints.
Reiki and Therapeutic Touch
Are forms of energetic healing that use very light touch and sometimes the hands are even off of the body. They induce deep relaxation and are very pleasant and rejuvenating. The idea is to move forms of electromagnetic energy about the body.