Definitions :
Craniosacral Therapy and Somatoemeotional Release
Shiatsu, and Acupressure Massage
Questions :
What types of insurance do you accept ?
What should I expect at my physical therapy visits ?
What will the therapist do to me ?
Definitions
Craniosacral Therapy and Somatoemeotional Release :
(CST/SER) The craniosacral system consists of the membranes & cerebrospinal fluid that surround & protect the brain & spinal cord. It extends from the bones of the skull, face & mouth, down the spine to the sacrum & tailbone. An imbalance or restriction in the craniosacral system may cause sensory, motor or neurological impairments. When trauma is involved, body memory can be trapped in the tissues, perpetuating restrictions. Resulting problems may include chronic pain, scoliosis, migraines, motor-coordination impairments visual and hearing problems, or learning disabilities. CST is an extremely gentle indirect technique which encourages the body's natural healing mechanisms. CST and SER treatments dissipate the negative effects of stress, disease, & injuries.
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Myofascial Release :
(MFR) A whole body hands-on approach to evaluate & treat the muscle & connective soft tissues of the body. Restrictions in these tissues can lead to postural misalignments & abnormal tensions that cause a lack of mobility & pain. Using specific positioning and intelligently placed gentle pressures, a release of these abnormal tensions, as well as restrictions will be experienced. This leads to improved postural alignment & increased mobility with little or no pain. Myofascial release is a necessary part of a comprehensive healing program for clients with fibromyalgia and chronic myofascial pain. It is not only helpful for chronic pain sufferers. Elite athletes, dancers and healthy active people benefit by the enhanced performance allowed through more freedom & fluidity of movement.
Neuralfascial Release is a special type of fascial release which targets the nerve tissues and their sheaths. This can be very helpful in relieving spinal, central and periferal nerve pain and dysfunction.
Joint Mobilization :
(Jt Mob) This technique consists of gently moving one joint surface on another in a specific joint. Mild stretching of the joint capsule helps reset the joint and tissue proprioceptors , loosen any adhesions and restore biomechanical alignment. This is done with gentle oscillating pressures or muscle contractions. The result of this treatment is improved balance, decreased pain & increased range of motion
Manual Traction :
(M-Tx) An intelligently applied longitudinal force applied to a joint or body part to decompress the area. Manual traction is much safer than mechanical traction because the patient's tissue response is constantly monitored. Just the right amount of force at the most effective angle can be applied. This technique is very helpful with spinal pain, disc problems, & stiff joints. Osteoarthritis sufferers benefit greatly from manual traction
Therapeutic Exercise :
(T-Ex) An individually designed exercise program is developed to correct a client's specific imbalances and achieve the functional goal of allowing more of your desired activity with less pain. Exercises are “no pain, ALL gain” used to relieve pain, eliminate stress and restore the energetic and biomechanical balance of the body. Carolina’s therapeutic exercises include specific breathing techniques, body awareness training, and mental intention used to focus your energy give you more control over pain symptoms . Special attention is given to performing any desired activity such as water aerobics, Pilates classes, yoga, T’ai Chi, dance, weight training etc with the appropriate techniques to prevent further injury and promote balance, strength and flexibility.
Strain & Counterstrain :
(SCS) Orthobionomy and positional release, Gentle indirect manual therapy techniques that enhance the biomechanics of the spine & extremity joints by eliminating tight muscle spasms. This will restore pain free movement. The therapist passively places the client's muscle or joint into a position of "ease or slack" that allows the muscle to relax or unwind; (i.e. getting a "kink" out of a gold chain... stretching will only make it tighter). giving immediate relief to muscle spasms & relax even chronically "tight" muscles. Have you been stretching your hamstrings forever with no relief? Strain Counter strain can help you.
Muscle Energy Technique :
(MET) A direct, non-invasive manual therapy technique used to normalize joint position & increase range of motion. The therapist puts a joint into a precise position, then the client performs a gentle muscle contraction that helps correct the dysfunctional interaction between nerves, muscles, & joints.
Zero Balancing :
A gentle manual technique in which the therapist provides gentle fulcrum support to the skeletal system allowing full body reorganization and balancing. The therapist will reach under the feet hips pelvis spine, shoulders and neck , supporting each skeletal structure.
Shiatsu and Acupressure Massage :
Shiatsu and Acupressure Massage involve from very light touch on acupressure points to very deep tissue work. In Zen Shiatsu, the energy balances of the meridians of the body are assessed according to oriental medicine theory to whether they are Kyo (too empty), or Jitsu (too full) and then the treatment is applied to tonify or sedate the particular channels restoring energetic flow and balance.
Lymphatic Drainage :
Lymphatic Drainage is extremely light touch massage work (like petting a cat) and involves use of the lymphatic system anatomy and function to assist in drainage of toxins and proteins from the periferal lymphatic system. It is extremely helpful when lymph nodes have been disturbed or removed by injury or surgeries which require removal of the lymph nodes (breast cancer)
Neuromuscular reeducation :
The body’s neuromuscular system can be likened to your town’s power system. The Grid is like the brain that sends power to the muscles to do the work. The brain and muscles in your body send information back and forth all the time by electrical signals, along electrical lines or pathways called nerves. When the power goes out (like when a transformer blows, or a circuit trips), the electrical flow is cut off to certain lines. Later the power comes back on; because it has been re-routed by the “Brain” at the power company along alternate lines, until the transformer can be replaced by a new one, or the lines can be repaired. So too, in the human body the lights can come on, by re-routing the electrical impulses to alternate nerves enervating alternate muscles to perform needed body functions.
Like the power company system, the body’s neuromuscular system is in a constant state of repair and transformation. The current “wiring” is the result of how we have used (or abused) our bodies in the past, performing our habitual everyday activities. We all have a somewhat “unconscious” pattern of muscle tone we feel is required to hold ourselves up in gravity, and do certain activities. Often the level of tone actually required by physics is much less when the body is balanced and aligned.
Neuromuscular reeducation is the process by which new neuromuscular pathways are allowed to form in the body. Often more balanced, pain-free, elegant and efficient movements result when these new pathways are assisted in forming through qualified manual therapy. A skilled manual practitioner uses the feedback from a relaxed muscle to help form a new movement pathway while performing body awareness training. Tactile facilitation is required to assist a muscle which has never actually felt a complete relaxation, to go there for the first time. With increased body awareness, the person can then go there independently. There are an unlimited number of new patterns available. We can reverse time and gravity induced postural changes, by choosing and practicing the best pathways for our own particular body’s needs.
Feldenkreis, Alexander, Bartenioff, Laban, Pilates, PNF, NDT, Yoga, Chi Kung, T’ai Chi and other types of balance and movement training are all forms of neuromuscular reeducation used by Carolina Manual Therapy.
Questions
What types of insurance do you accept ?
Carolina Manual Therapy is a participating network providers for Medicare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Tricare, Vocational Rehab, accepting all major insurance.
Workers compensation, auto insurances, and commercial insurances will normally accept our billing. b) We also offer cash payment arrangements for patients without insurance coverage. c) There is a payment scale for cash paying patients who wish to have a "massage" session that would include such techniques as Cranio-Sacral Therapy, Shiatsu or Watsu.
What should I expect at my physical therapy visits ?
If you are a physical therapy patient referred to us by a physician, you will receive a comprehensive 60-90 minute evaluation on your first visit. The results of the P.T. evaluation will be used to design an individualized treatment plan to address your specific problems. Follow up visits, lasting one hour, one to three times per week, will consist of: assessment of your progress, patient education (about what is causing your pain), therapeutic exercises to help you manage your pain symptoms, & gentle hands-on manual therapy techniques. The manual techniques will help balance your structure & decrease your symptoms. You will be able to increase your functional level with less pain & discomfort. Treatment usually lasts 4-8 weeks.
What will the therapist do to me ?
The hands on portion of a visit consists of mainly gentle touch techniques (patient is usually fully clothed), that will facilitate your body's tissues to release abnormal tensions & restrictions. The entire body & its interrelationships will be assessed & treated. The interconnected relationships of your structure & various systems of the body will always be considered. The mind-body connection is vitally important also. You will be educated about your condition and learn things you can do on your own, during your normal life to help correct any asymetries or imbalances found during your course of treatment.
Our goal is not to “fix” you. Though a quick manual adjustment can sometimes provide instant pain relief, the mental approach of “fixing”often results in short term benefit. You have to keep returning on an on going basis every week to get your fix.
Our goal is to listen to you and your inner wisdom, and help you to hear, understand, and put into practice what your body is telling you. You will not have to wonder if something is good or bad for you. You will find out and practice in therapy the right way to move and use your body for all your desired activities without causing it further harm. This knowledge helps give you the freedom and the confidence to take control of your own health and physical program in the way that you need to truly heal yourself.