At Squak Mountain Physical Therapy, our holistic approach combines traditional and alternative therapeutic techniques in developing a treatment plan for the whole person. Our setting lends itself to a more quiet healing space where the patient can relax and receive treatment that is healing on many levels, mind, body, and spirit. The following techniques are used in combination to work on specific areas of concern and to look at these concerns as they relate to the whole body system.
Some of the techniques below are especially helpful for pain, stress, and tension issues, for example Jin Shin Jyutsu and Craniosacral work. This whole approach combined with some alternative treatment methods can be very helpful for conditions that have proved difficult to treat with only traditional techniques. The additional options and the way they are used in combination can provide the body with an opportunity to more fully release tensions, strains, and injuries. All the techniques from our list of manual and exercise therapies can be utilized in combination for a total body health program to support your body in healing and returning to function.
- Jin Shin Jyutsu
Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient Japanese acupressure art of harmonizing the body. Jin Shin Jyutsu brings balance to the body, which promotes optimal health and well being, and facilitates our own inherent healing capacity. It is a valuable compliment to conventional healing methods, reducing the effects of stress and inducing relaxation. It is a wonderful relaxing treatment technique for relieving stress in tense muscles and painful joints.
Jin Shin Jyutsu employs acupressure points along pathways in the body. When one or more of the paths becomes blocked, the resulting stagnation can disrupt the local area. Holding these acupressure points in combination can restore the flow in the area. It is a gentle treatment practiced by placing the fingertips on designated acupressure points to restore balance. This facilitates a reduction of tension and stress that may have occurred due to an injury or been accumulated during normal daily living.
There are many Jin Shin Jyutsu self care techniques that you can easily learn and apply to yourself. Your therapist can teach you the self help points to use for your specific condition. Jin Shin Jyutsu helps to decrease pain and stress to localized tissues. In physical therapy it is most often used to relax tight and sore muscles and joints. It can be used in combination with other physical therapy manual techniques to restore health and balance to your body. Jin Shin Jyutsu is especially appreciated for the sense of relaxation and relief of pain post treatment.
- Myofascial Release
Myofascial release is a soft tissue therapy used to treat a muscle/fascia dysfunction that has created pain and restriction of motion. Restricted muscle/facial tissues are relaxed, increasing circulation and lymphatic drainage and decreasing inflammation in the area. A gentle stretch is directed along the restricted tissue which allows the fascia/muscle to “unwind” itself. The gentle traction to the area results in increased circulation to the area. This process starts to allow the body’s inherent ability for self correction to return, decreasing pain, and restoring optimum body function. The myofascial tissue is stretched until a tissue release occurs. Myofascial rlease techniques seek to change the restricted myofascial structure by stretching, elongating and mobilizing adhered muscle/fascia tissues. The practitioner moves slowly through the myofascial layers until the tissues are fully released. The body’s posture and structure are realigned by bringing the myofascial system back toward its normal pattern.
- Craniosacral Therapy
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle hands-on method of body work that treats and assesses the craniosacral system and related structures. This vital system influences the performance of the brain and spinal cord. Imbalances in this system can potentially cause a number of sensory, motor, and neurological problems. First an evaluation is done of the craniosacral system which consists of the skull, spine, sacrum and the membranes and cerebrospinal fluid that surround the brain. Using a light touch the practitioner releases restrictions in the craniosacral system by gentle mobilization of the spine, skull, sacrum, and fascia. Craniosacral treatment promotes a deep relaxation that encourages your own natural healing mechanism to dissipate the negative effects of injury and stress on your system. Craniosacral therapy is a gentle subtle technique that people find relaxing and rejuvenating. Craniosacral therapy facilitates the body’s natural healing process and is effective for a wide range of problems associated with pain and dysfunction. Common applications for craniosacral therapy are for neck and back pain, pelvic pain, TMJ problems, headaches, and muscle and joint pain.
- Massage
Swedish massage is one type of massage used in physical therapy. In the physical therapy setting it is used to relax specific muscles. Swedish style massage is performed by gliding along the muscles with long slow strokes. Additional techniques include circular pressure applied by the hands and palms, firm kneading, and slow stretching. Massage increases the level of oxygen in the blood, decreases muscle toxins, and improves circulation and flexibility while easing tension. It is relaxing and gentle, with pain relief being another benefit.
Deep tissue massage is similar to Swedish massage but is used to target muscle knots and release chronic muscle tension more deeply in the muscle. Deep tissue massage uses strokes across the grain of the muscles, not with the grain as in Swedish massage. . Deep tissue massage uses strokes across the grain of the muscles, not with the grain as in Swedish massage. The more intense movements and techniques such as deep finger pressure may be slightly uncomfortable and cause soreness that lasts a couple of days before resulting in the desired relaxation and pain relief. Other benefits include reducing inflammation and helping to eliminate scar tissue. The focus is on the deeper layers of muscle tissue, tendons, and fascia (the protective layer surrounding muscles, bones and joints).
Massage treatment is complimented with stretching and range of motion of the effected muscles to restore length and flexibility and help maintain treatment gains over time.
