Neck Injuries (Cervical OrthoBionomy)

Do you have pain in your neck? Do you have a sensitive neck or had whiplash. Then this therapy is for you. It is a gentle and non-forceful therapy which promotes a spontaneous self-correction. It helps the nervous system to release dysfunctional holding patterns, thus increasing blood and oxygen to muscles and allowing for an increased comfortable range of motion.

Myofascial Dry Needling

Myofascial Dry Needling is a treatment approach adapted from acupuncture that applies fine needles to the musculoskeletal system to deactivate trigger points. Myofascial dry needling is used in the treatment of chronic pain syndromes such as fibromyalgia and back pain. Some authors argue that myofascial dry needling is more effective in treating chronic back pain than commonly employed manual therapies. In my clinical experience, it often yields dramatic results where other manual methods have failed, but not always.

While myofascial dry needling employs the tools of acupuncture practice (acupuncture needles), the paradigms that underpin myofascial dry needling and acupuncture are completely different. In contrast, the acupuncture paradigm is based on thousands of years of clinical observation and involves a systemic approach to the diagnosis and treatment of disharmonies within the body.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release is a sustained pressure and kneading manipulation that gently stretches you. It is a very effective technique that provides sustained pressure into area requiring treatment which helps to restore motion and eliminate pain. This stretch is held for a couple of minutes until a softening or release is felt. It gives the benefits of a deep tissue massage without the pain of hard pressure. This therapy utilizes kneading manipulation that gently stretches tissue found along the direction of the muscle fibers, it softens, lengthens and realigns fascia.

The theory of Myofascial Release requires an understanding of the fascial system (or connective tissue). Fascia resembles a body stocking that is very densely woven, covering and interpenetrating every muscle, bone, nerve, artery and vein as well as all of our internal organs including the heart, lungs, brain and spinal cord.

The most interesting aspect of the fascial system is that it is not just a system of separate coverings. It is actually one structure that exists from head to foot without interruption. In this way you can begin to see that each part of the entire body is connected to every other part by the fascia, like the yarn in a sweater. Any trauma, be it physical, emotional, mental or even spiritual will cause a distortion in the form of this fabric.

Ortho-Bionomy

Ortho-Bionomy is a gentle, non-forceful body techniques, osteopathic-based form of body therapy to stimulate awareness and relaxation. It’s highly effective in working with chronic stress, injuries and pains or problems associated with postural and structural imbalances and stress-related symptoms.

The practitioner uses gentle movements and positions of the body to stimulate our natural, self-corrective reflex ability with comfortable positions, gentle movements, subtle joint compression and timing to change stress and pain patterns in the body. There are no rapid adjustments, painful contortions, or deep muscle probing.

The client and practitioner work together to find these areas, thereby verifying the discomfort. Then through preferred gentle positioning or movement techniques done with the practitioner, the client can experience the release of these painful spots. The release is accompanied by structural realignment and re-education of muscles and nerves.

 

Cupping

Cupping or Suction Cup Therapy has been around for more than 5000 years - invented before acupuncture and originally Water Buffalo horns were used. This ancient method of alternative medicine is a time-honoured treatment that remains favoured by millions of people worldwide because it's safe, comfortable and remarkably effective for most health disorders.

Cupping is a mild vacuum inside glass or plastic cup that is placed on the skin. The vacuum effect of the cups creates suction that softens tissues and increases the circulation of chi, blood, and fluids. By stimulating the skin and underlying muscles, it helps release stubborn knots and area-specific toxins that have accumulated and encourages circulation of both blood and lymph vessels.

Cupping has also been found to affect the body up to four inches into the tissues, causing tissues to release toxins, activate the lymphatic system, clear colon blockages, help activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries, activate the skin, clear stretch marks and improve varicose veins. Cupping, the technique, is very useful and very safe.

After your treatment, you will immediately feel the results. You will feel a lot looser and the muscular pain will be relieved quite considerably or eliminated completely. The feeling of sore, aching muscles will be replaced with a deep feeling of relaxation and well-being.

Cupping Massage

Massage Cupping is a Negative Pressure Massage and is a combination of massage movements and negative pressure with the use of a suction device on the skin. A cup is positioned at the area to be treated and, depending on the type of cups being used; a vacuum is created within the cup to draw the skin and underlying tissue into the cup. The produced vacuum creates a suction effect that increases blood and lymphatic circulation systemically and to the local area, relaxes muscle tissue and support, draws stagnation, pathogenic factors and toxins out of the body and releases a myriad of pain causing factors.

The intended suction can range from light to heavy. This, along with the movements performed and areas treated by the therapist will produce stimulating (toning) or sedating (draining) effects. Cupping massage applies negative pressure, rather than tissue compression for superior bodywork. Suction cups rapidly facilitate rigid soft tissue release, loosens & lifts connective tissue, breaks up and drains stagnation while increasing blood & lymph flow to skin & muscles in ways not possible using compression.

Another benefit of Negative Pressure Massage is that it really feels great. The pulling action engages the parasympathetic nervous system, thus allowing a deep relaxation to move through the entire body. It is not unusual to fall asleep when receiving this treatment. Clients are surprised at how relaxed, warm and light they feel - hours, sometimes even days afterwards.

Trigger Point Therapy

A trigger point (TP's) is simply a small contraction knot in the muscle. These nodules can be as small as a pin head or as big as a thumb, and are a common cause of local pain and sometimes distant referred pain. TPs may cause numbness, tingling, weakness, or lack of normal range of movement. TP's can also cause earaches, dizziness, sinus congestion, nausea, heartburn, and false heart pain.

Compression of a trigger point may elicit a local twitch response. These trigger points in muscles and in the thin wrapping around each muscle [called fascia] are called myofascial trigger points, to distinguish them from trigger points which can occur in other soft tissues such as skin, ligaments and tendons, and also in scar tissue.

Trigger point practitioners can use various methods to eliminate Trigger points. These can be static finger pressure, specific trigger point massage, Dry Needling with acupuncture needles, Cupping, use of a cold spray or cold pack whilst activating or stretching the muscle. Self-treatment of TP's 6 to 12 times a day with deep breathe and consciously relax between each cycle will speed up your recovery and help you get rid of your own pain.

It is important to realize that the TPs themselves do not hurt, [other than when you are actually pressing firmly on them.] Most patients are surprised when I locate a very painful tight spot in a muscle well away from where they tell me their pain is. They were usually completely unaware that this painful tight spot even existed, let alone that such a small spot could be the cause of all their pain.

Unfortunately, many general practitioners and orthopaedic surgeons do not know about TP's, and as TP's do not show on XRays or scans, the patient may be told there is nothing wrong with them or that there is nothing that can be done to help fix their pain.