Manual Therapy
Integrative Movement & Body Therapies
Systems working together create health
Structure determines function where no part functions independently. Based in osteopathic principles, manual therapy assists the bodys self healing and self regulating processes that are continually at work to maintain our health and function. Manual Therapies at IMBT unite physiology, structure and bioenergetic manifestations for health and healing and recognizes that our bodies function as integrated, systems that relies on the interaction between all systems:
•Central Nervous System• Autonomic Nervous System• Primary Respiratory System & Fluids •Muscleskeletal- Fascial Systems •Connective Tissues •Organ system •Cranial, Spinal &Peripheral Nerves •Circulatory •Bodymind •Bioenergetic.
Multiple evaluation and treatment approaches are applied to your unique circumstances drawn from the therapies below.
Therapeutic benefits
Stress is part of life. However how we hold stress within the body, from formative patterns in utero and birth to to life experiences can negatively impact health and function.The body’s ability to self-correct is diminished when it is overwhelmed by excessive tensions, including those of physical and emotional nature. Your bodys natural response to physical and emotional stress or injury is to contract and create negatively imprinted patterns in the brain and body. Strain anywhere within the system can induce and perpetuate imbalance in the rest of the body. The work involves the practitioner "listening through the hands" to to what is happening (or not happening) in the body's subtle physiologic rhythms, locating any patterns of inertia, tensions, congestion, or fixation and follow the deeper resources that are continually at work to maintain and regenerate health. Of particular importance are the subtle physiologic motions , strucuand energies that are critical to organizing the body and maintaining health and function. These subtle motions and dynamic processes can be percieved, palpated and appropriately worked with in a gentle healing relationship that is therapeutically beneficial and supports the bodys own dynamic processes for healing, as directed by your bodys physiology. Furthermore, when supported with a therapeutic contact, the bodys' innate intelligence is capable of presenting strains in priority of sequence in a way that doesnt overwhelm but naturally strengthens the whole system to express and reorganize health at the deepest resources as a catalyst for the body to heal itself.
The Therapies
Biodynamic Cranial Sacral Therapy (CST)has its traditional origins in the osteopathic work of William Garner Sutherland and has developed from his students such as Rollin Becker D.O. to present day practitioners. Biodynamic Cranialsacral therapy is a gentle, noninvasive whole body therapy that uses a gentle light touch to evaluate and enhance the functioning of an integrated physiological system, or primary respiratory system (PRM). Sutherland identifed a primary energy impulse in the body that he called the Breath of Life. This primary energy expresses a potency and organizing principle that generates and drives the living system, expressing a inherent ordering principle in the cerebrospinal fluid and structure of the body which is distributed throughout the body, in all cells, body fluids and tissues. It produces layers of subtle rhythmic motions originating from embryology that are of critical importance in determining our state of health as well as the physiologic and stuctural integrity of the body.These subtle motions arises at the core of the body, the brain and spinal cord and the cerebrospinal fluids which bathe them. It includes the movement of cranial bones, face, mouth and an integrated network of membranes that line the cranium and spinal cord down to the sacrum and tailbone, the spinal nerves to the fascia (a continuous web enclosing muscles, supporting organs, even the cellular matrix). BCST includes the many layers of craniosacral motion which reflects one of the deepest forms of cranial work. The primary respiratory system influences all systems in the body, as well having an extremely intimate relationship with the the regulatory systems of autonomic nervous system, central nervous system, all sensory and motor processing, nerves and circulation of the brain, hormonal and immune systems as well as a direct relationship with the movement of the bones, organs, fluids, fascias and membranes of the body
Craniosacral Biodynamics directly works in realtionship to both physiology and structure. It goes beyond more mechanical approaches in craniosacral therapy by emphasizing how health expresses itself in the body and its dynamic processes in the therapeutic process. Physical injuries, illness, trauma, and emotional stresses, birth trauma, toxicity become held in both the physical structure, emotional centers and energy dynamics of the body. Working with inherent life energy and its organizing capacity, BCST utilizes the individuals inherent resources for change and self healing to help conditions in the body reorganize into more open expressions of health and well-being health. When these rhythmsof PRM and the Breath of Life ( inherent core energies) are expressed in fullness and balance, well-being naturally follow in body, mind and spirit with therapeutic applications to a broad range of conditions.
BCST has been shown to be effective for all ages and a wide range of problems associated with chronic pain and dysfunction including sensory, motor, neurologic problems,musculoskeletal, orthopedic, connective tissue syndromes, TMJ, emotional inbalance, after effects of severe injury or surgery, birth trauma, immune related, general stress and tension, and enhancing vitality and overall health. It is particularly beneficial with infants and children, acute conditions, with the elderly, after pregnancy, surgery, trauma, accidents or falls. BCST deeply acknowledges the interconection of body/mind /spirit. Deeply conditioned patterns held in the central nervous system may limit the capacity for optimal function and personal growth. While traumatic states are often overwhelming, Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapy, enables trauma to be processed at a pace the body/mind can process. In turn, you move gradually toward deeper levels of harmony and integration resulting in further inner resources for facilitating the processing of trauma and/ or achieving more integrated, calmer, joyful states of being and sense of self.
Nancy began studies in Cranialsacral Therapy in 1998 and completed 700 hr coursework in Biodynamic Cranialsacral Therapy.
Visceral Manipulation/Nervous System (VM) Developed by French osteopath Jean-Pierre Barral, Visceral Manipulation is a gentle manual therapy that enhances the mobility and tissue motion of the visceral system. These delicate techniques improve the overall health of the body by enhancing the structure of the organs and the systems in which they function.
What is Visceral manipulation? At optimum health there is an interconnected motion between all the body’s organs that remains stable even as the body moves. Hypertonicity, displacement and adhesions, however, can all cause organs to work against each other, as well as the body’s muscular, membranous, fascial and osseous structures. These disturbances in turn can create chronic irritation and abnormal points of tension that pave the way for disease and dysfunction. Indeed, the organs and their connective tissues and fascial relationships are often referred to as the “missing link” to other mechanical structures and recurring musuloskeletal pain, postural distortions and biomechanical dysfunction. Taught throughout the U.S. since 1985, Visceral Manipulation continues to expand the field of manual medicine.
Life and motion are intertwined. Although we can have motion without life, we cannot have life without motion. Of particular importance are those motions – not ordinarily visible – that take place within the human body. They’re linked to many levels of activity, from cellular pulsations to rhythmic contractions of the heart, diaphragm, even the craniosacral system.
The visceral system relies on the interconnected synchronicity between the motions of all the organs and structures of the body. At optimal health, this harmonious relationship remains stable despite the body’s endless varieties of motion. But when one organ cannot move in harmony with its surrounding structures due to abnormal tone, adhesions or displacement, it works against the body’s other organs and muscular, membranous, fascial and osseous structures. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. And that chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for disease and dysfunction.
Imagine an adhesion around the lungs. It would create a modified axis that demands abnormal accommodations from nearby body structures. For example, the adhesion could alter rib motion, which could then creates imbalanced forces on the nerves around the clavicle and on the vertebral column, with time, possibly develop a dysfunctional relationship with other structures. This scenario highlights just one of hundreds of possible ramifications of a small dysfunction – magnified by thousands of repetitions each day. Alternatively, an injury in the muscleskeletal system can result in a change in the functioning of an organ. This disharmony creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body is forced to move around. That chronic irritation, in turn, paves the way for dysfunction and potential health problems.
Visceral Manipulation relies on the palpation of normal and abnormal forces within the body. By using specific techniques, therapists can evaluate how abnormal forces interplay, overlap and affect the normal body forces at work. The goal is to help the body’s normal forces remove abnormal effects, whatever their sources. These gentle techniques can potentially improve the functioning of individual organs, the systems the organs function within, and the structural integrity of the entire body. Those effects can be global, encompassing many areas of bodily function.
Therapeutic benefits . VM is effective because we assess and treat the source of pain and dysfunction. For example, we can have patients do postural strengthening for years and the symptoms will return. However, releasing the pericardial ligaments or the fascial connection between the pericardium and the bladder will allow the patient to have erect posture without the posterior muscle groups getting so fatigued fighting for it. They then maintain this with the postural exercises. Due to the delicate and often highly reactive nature of the visceral tissues, gentle force precisely directed reaps the greatest results. As with other methods of manipulation that affect the body deeply, Visceral Manipulation works only to assist the forces already at work. Because of that, trained therapists can be sure of benefiting the body rather than adding further injury or disorganization.
Nancy has studied Visceral Manipuation, since 1998.
Neural Manipulation
Therapeutic benefits
Neural Manipulation as developed by Barral and Croibier examines mechanical relationships between the cranium/spine/ hard frame to the dura and neural elements( crania nerves) and the perpipheral nerves of lower and upper body. It provides assessment and treatment approaches to address restrictions of the dural and neural components not commonly focused on with musculoskeletal symptoms. Neural Manipulation identifies and releases local nerve restrictions while at the same time examines the effect these local fixations have on the rest of the body, and by accessing this relationship, resolves the more comprehensive (global) dysfunctional patterns.
A nerve only functions correctly when it is able to move feely within its surrounding structures. The modality of Neural Manipulation facilitates nerve conductivity and intraneural blood supply for local and systemic responsiveness. By understanding the detailed anatomy of the neural manipulation, one can clearly see the potential for pathological change when nerves are restricted.
Manual therapy, as it applies to the treatment of nerves, follows the standard principles of mobility and function. For optimal function nerves must be able to move freely within its surroundings. This freedom of movement is essential for:
-nerve conduction
-electromagnetic conduction
-intraneural blood supply
-intraneural nerve supply
-local and systemic responsiveness
Nancy has studied with Dr. Alan Crobier D.O. Neural Manipulation NM1, NM2, NM3 and NM4.
Fascial and Membrane Techniques developed by Peter Shwind Phd, certified Advanced Rolfer, combines an Osteopathic and Structural Integration perspective with a holistic mutisystems approach towards stability and mobility in the body. Nancy has studied FM 1 and FM2
Biovalant®Manual Therapy® inspired by principles of cranial and visceral osteopathy, and developed by Frank Lowen. Nancy has studied *Biovalant System™ and Biologic Analogues with Frank Lowen from 2000-03 including Connective Tissue Regulators 1&2, Biomechanical Regulators 1 &2, Manual Perceptions 1&2, Neurologic, and Advanced Hand Skills. Biovalent® Systems Manual Therapy is a gentle form of manual intervention aimed at all elements of the body and assisting the natural corrective processes that the body continuously undertakes to achieve balance and restore health.
Global Joint & Joint Mobilization utilizes specific knowledge of biomechanics to help generate joint space primarily between the bony structures anywhere in the body so that the joints can function correctly through their range of motion. The result is increased range of motion, which will decrease muscle compensation, spasms, pain and inflammation. With a loss of joint motion, protective muscular “guarding” or tightening often occurs. Chronic soft tissue, ligamentous, nerve or vascular tension"guarding' or tightness can cause or occur along with chronic loss of joint motion. Thus, treatment of joints integrates all aspects of the joint including the nerve, artery, bone, capsule, and ligaments, as well as visceral and emotional connections. Combined treatment of the joint itself and its structural interrelationships yeilds better outcomes.
