Is a gentle, hands-on approach that releases tensions deep in the body to relieve pain and dysfunction and improve whole-body health and performance. It was pioneered and developed by osteopathic physician John E. Upledger after years of clinical testing and research at Michigan State University where he served as professor of biomechanics.
Using a gentle, non-invasive touch generally no greater than 5 grams - about the weight of a nickel - practitioners release restrictions in the soft tissues that surround the central nervous system. By complementing the body's natural healing processes, CST is increasingly used as a preventive health measure for its ability to bolster resistance to disease, and it's effective for a wide range of medical problems associated with pain and dysfunction.
Few structures have as much influence over the body's ability to function properly as the brain and spinal cord that make up the central nervous system. And few systems have as much impact on the central nervous system as the Craniosacral system the membranes and fluid that surround, protect and nourish the brain and spinal cord.
Every day your body endures stresses and strains, and your structures work to compensate for them. Unfortunately, these changes often cause body tissues to tighten and distort the Craniosacral system, which can then cause tension to form around the brain and spinal cord. The result is a barrier to the healthy performance of the central nervous system, and potentially every other system it interacts with.
Fortunately, such restrictions can be detected and corrected using simple methods of touch. Generally using about 5 grams of pressure roughly the weight of a nickel the CST practitioner uses his or her hands to evaluate the Craniosacral system by gently feeling various locations of the body to test for the ease of motion and rhythm of the cerebrospinal fluid pulsing around the brain and spinal cord. Soft-touch techniques are then used to release restrictions in any tissues influencing the Craniosacral system.
By normalizing the environment around the brain and spinal cord and enhancing the body's ability to self-correct, Craniosacral Therapy is able to alleviate a wide variety of dysfunctions, from chronic pain and sports injuries to stroke and neurological impairment.
The Integrating Touch of CranioSacral Therapy
Biodynamic craniosacral dives right into the fluids releasing old straining patterns that pull on fascial systems.
The cranium has an integrated web of blood supply and nerve branches that easily get tight, impinged, and compressed. When the soft tissue gets tight, this can pull on the plates in the skull and actually distort their shape, which then disrupts neurological communications between the brain and the cells, tissues, and organs of the body.
Because of the anatomy of the nervous system, this compression or distortion will effect the entire body of the horse. Tissue injury can be caused from a single event, such as pulling back while tied, or some other head trauma such as hitting their head in the trailer, or getting kicked. Or it can become damaged through repetitive stress such as tight nose bands, wearing head gear, rein use, dental procedures, etc. In either case, injured tissues undergo physical and chemical changes that can cause inflammation, pain, and diminished nerve function. Relieving tightness or compression in the head, TMJ, and poll area, takes the pressure off of the nerve branches that pull on the dura and effect the central nervous system of the horse. Sometimes these injuries go unnoticed because there was no broken skin and no outwardly signs of trauma, but a good therapist can identify and open up the areas where the compressions disrupt neurological communications.
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Barral's clinical work with the viscera led to his development of a form of manual therapy that focuses on the internal organs, their environment, and the potential influence on many structural and physiological dysfunctions. The term he coined for this therapy was Visceral Manipulation (VM). The purpose of VM is to re-create, harmonize, and increase proprioceptive communication in the body to enhance its internal mechanism for better health, thereby revitalizing a person, and relieving symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture. Visceral Manipulation treats a person's functional and structural imbalances with an aim to affect their musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic dysfunction.
Jean-Pierre Barral's famous dictum, “Only the tissues know,” expresses that the tissues in the body have a deep and innate intelligence. Everything that has happened in our lives—injuries, diseases, stressors, etc.—is recorded in our tissues. At the core of Visceral Manipulation (VM) is 'listening' to the tissues with our hands. Through manual listening techniques, trained hands of a skilled practitioner feel where the tissues are pulling toward the areas of restriction, the areas where the body is not moving, and the areas of the greatest impact on the person's wellbeing from the manual therapy perspective.
Integrated Positional Therapy is a gentle, effective therapy for the treatment of chronic and acute muscular pain and for increasing range of motion, this treatment includes careful observation and evaluation of posture and joint alignment followed by placing the affected muscles in a position of comfort for 90 seconds to 2 minutes. Positional Release Therapy achieves its benefits by means of an automatic resetting of muscle spindles. Relief is immediate and long lasting. These techniques are very effective in the treatment of pain due to injury, stress, repetitive strain, postural distortion, and chronic neuromuscular conditions.
This advanced neuro-muscular technique uses a combination of joint compression, passive stretching, isometric contractions (gentle resistance) to break neuromuscular holding patterns, to re-set correct muscle patterns and overall length of muscles. It is used to make quick gains in range of motion to help relax muscles and improve performance. With proper muscle resting length and good joint range of motion, you’ll have better biomechanics, less fatigue and decrease overuse injuries.
Used to treat tissue injuries and chronic pain. This techniques manipulate muscles, tendons and connective tissues to heal and balance the muscular-skeletal system. Injury and various traumas may cause pain and interfere with nerve transmitters; neuromuscular therapy works to stabilize neurological activity and repair and re-train for correct plane of muscle movement and soft tissue function.
DBT has specialized training and background for Medical Massage Therapy. This massage can be specifically directed to treat the client who may have been diagnosed or prescribed massage by a physician and or psychologist or counselors for directed work in a site-specific area or the whole body with specific parameters. Trauma, joint repairs, joint replacements, amputees just to name a few. A variety of manual therapy modalities or techniques are used during the treatment session. Medical Massage Therapists work with your doctor and other allied health professionals.
Whether you are you are trying to find a brace on your own or have a Dr.'s Order for a brace/splint DBT can assist with navigating correct type and fit of orthopedic braces, wearing rationale and schedules to allow for greater outcomes and proper fit for safety and function.
Many physical disabilities, like Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Parkinson’s disease, have symptoms such as tremors, spasticity, rigidity of muscles and uncoordinated movements. Loss of balance, slowness of movement and inability to walk, as well as pain and stiffness of muscles throughout the body are also symptoms of these conditions. Many developmental disabilities also have physical symptoms, but are commonly accompanied by emotional and behavior problems. Those with Cerebral palsy, Autism, Attention-Deficit or ADHD, and other conditions that affect mental and intellectual development. Sessions are designed to assist with nervous system and muscle relaxation to increase ease with positioning, donning doffing orthopedic devices and increased comfort with day to day task.
DBT can help design and implement safer body mechanics tech for joint protection. DBT can teach and assist with implementing Energy Conservation/ Work Simplification Techniques in clients homes.
Used to address the vascular component. As such, DBT does not use Hot Stone treatments. DBT instead uses cold stone to reduce inflammation that contributes to swelling, pain and inflammation. Requires informed consent.
This tool can be set for steady suction or a pulsing action both with intensity settings ranging from subtle to strong. Releasing taut bands of muscles and connective tissue, proving to be a powerful tool to relive pain and discomfort. DBT uses cupping with light to medium suction for short durations. Requires informed consent.