Specialized Treatment Approaches
MYOFASCIAL RELEASE
MFR is a 2 hands on technique. The therapist uses her hands to sink deeply into the body, feel for tension or restriction and using therapeutic pressure or pulling, to wait for the release to occur in the affected soft tissue. Soft tissue refers to any living tissue in the body, except bone. Fascia is known as connective tissue. It integrates, separates, protects and provides structure for our blood vessels, nervous system, organs, muscles and bones. Unless disrupted by surgery or significant trauma, it is continuous.
When applied, MFR is generally slow, steady and relaxing, but sometimes is more stimulating; and is always individualized. The patient is asked to quiet down and feel into his or her body for maximum therapeutic effect. No oil or cream is used. It is best skin on skin.
MFR tends to provide more lasting and meaningful results than traditional massage or stretching. This is because pressure is sustained, and the therapist waits for the physical response of the body. The therapist never forces anything to happen in the body. Stretches (hamstring stretches, i.e.) are held for at least 2 minutes in MFR.
If you want to know what it costs – and what availability we have, then please just click the button below and complete the short form.
FUNCTIONAL MANUAL THERAPY
An approach integrating Manual therapy, Therapeutic exercise and Functional Movement as well as patient education.
Functional Movement is simple, yet complex. It is our every-day type of motion; therapists call these ADLs. Walking, squatting, kneeling, hands and knees, transitioning from lying to sitting. Some times due to injury or illness or pain, our body develops inefficient ways of moving or compensating. This is especially common after a back injury or sciatica. Our deep abdominal muscles, which should fire automatically before we even move, need to be reawakened. After knee or hip surgery, our quadriceps atrophy very quickly, and need help to regain not just full strength, but coordination and control.
With manual therapy, including Myofascial release, we free up restrictions not allowing the muscles to contract and our tendons to glide. Once we have that moving, we work on using the new range of motion and teaching our body to move in-to it again. Gains made with passive stretching (although can relieve pain temporarily) do not last and are not functional.
The therapist and the patient are a team, and our therapists wish to empower their patients to maintain their gains long after their therapy session. Active participation in therapy is a requirement, and will lead to long term gains.
If you’re not quite ready to book an appointment yet and have some questions you would like answered first, click the link below to complete a form to get the conversation started.
ACUPUNCTURE
Benefits of Acupuncture with Physical Therapy:
- Comprehensive evaluation of your body as a WHOLE with personalized treatment sessions
- Pain management for: Low Back Pain, Neck and Shoulder Pain, Soft Tissue Pain and Weakness, Pre/Post-Operation Arthritis.
- Naturally stimulate biochemical changes to promote physical and mental well-being.
- Acupuncture w/ Electric Stim
- Auricular Acupuncture
- Facial Rejuvenation
- Gua Sha
- Suction Cupping/Sliding Cups
POSTURAL RESTORATION
PRI is an integrated approach which views the body as a whole. It is innovative and science based.
We are conditioned to thinking of our bodies as symmetrical. And they are not.
It may take a while for your perception to change, but starting in our internal organs, such as our heart, liver, lungs and diaphragm, we are different on the right side and on the left side. We are all one sided dominant. So, we use and live in our bodies in a patterned way. Sometimes, when we cannot reverse the pattern and we get stuck, we have pain.
PRI is a system of recognition of our patterns, weaknesses and strength and learning to balance our two sides, by doing what is called, reciprocal motion.
This technique on its own is wonderful. Combined with our other approaches is amazing.
Are you unsure if physical therapy is right for you? Would you prefer to talk with a PT before making a decision? All you have to do is click the link below to fill out a simple form.
** Note: there is no treatment given at one of our taster sessions. It’s for you to ask us more questions and for us to confirm whether or not we think we can help you.
Hear From Happy Clients of Ours
Please take a moment to enjoy reading about other people, who like you, came in to see the team at Higher Physical Therapy – and left much happier