Rowe Physical Therapy - Treatment Approach

Holistic Physical Therapy for Body, Mind and Spirit

TREATMENT APPROACH

Our specialized Therapists perform a comprehensive total body evaluation to develop a treatment plan in partnership with our clients.

Gentle hands-on therapy Our specialty is the integration of gentle hands-on manual therapy techniques that are always applied with great care and expert skill to meet each individual's unique needs. These techniques are not just directed towards treating the symptoms, but most importantly, identifying and treating the underlying contributions and causes of the symptoms. Because of the intimate interconnectedness of the body system, we locate and address restricted areas that are often farther away from where the symptoms are. With this Total Body Approach, the body is better equipped and able to recover and heal completely with the benefits of optimal success and prevention.

The core of our manual approach is Integrated Manual Therapy Techniques that makes us unique to other Physical and Occupational Therapy practices. We also make use of Other Manual Techniques as needed as an adjunct to our Integrated Manual Therapy. Client Education and Home Exercise Programs are also a necessary complement to our manual treatment approach in order to reach our goals of pain relief, improved function and wellness.

Integrated Manual Therapy Techniques:

Myofascial Release	Lymph Drainage Therapy
Craniosacral Therapy	Somato Emotional Release
Visceral Manipulation

Other Manual Techniques:

Soft Tissue Mobilization	Strain and Counterstrain
Joint Mobilization	Therapeutic Exercise
Muscle Energy Technique

Client Education:

As Physical and Occupational Therapists, client education is a very important aspect of our treatments. Education for stress management, self-care, proper Client Education postural alignment and body mechanics is essential to the optimal healing of our clients. We help our clients understand the areas of their lives that need adjustment or change and how to achieve this. If we feel that an additional consultation with another specialist would be helpful for recovery and optimal health, we will refer the client to practitioners we know and trust. Some of these specialists include, but are not limited to, orthopedists, neurologists, acupuncturists, holistic M.D.'s, nutritionists and/or psychotherapists.

Home Exercise Programs:

Clients are routinely instructed in individualized home exercise programs including stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular exercises. Clients are taught how to most effectively and efficiently perform these exercises by instructing them how to tune in and connect with their body with increased body awareness. Learning how to focus and become one with their body is a learned skill that facilitates holistic health. Exercises are taught in coordination with the client's breath to facilitate mind, body and spirit integration.

Myofascial Release

Myofascial Release Myofascial Release is an approach that engages the fascial system of the body. The fascial system is a continuous, laminated connective tissue sheath that spreads uninterrupted throughout the entire body in a three dimensional web. The fascial system extends from front to back, side to side and superficial to deep. The fascia wraps around, invests with, and becomes an integral part of every anatomical structure in the body all the way down into the cellular level. The fascial system is an integral part of organs, blood vessels, lymph vessels and nodes, muscles, bones, peripheral nerves as well as the central nervous system. It is this intricate and complex connective tissue system that plays such an important role in the function of the body. Likewise, when this system is not properly mobile and balanced any number of mild to severe structural and/or physiological problems can develop.

Myofascial Release Postural imbalances, asymmetries, gravitational pulls, micro or macro trauma (whether internally or externally induced), inflammation, surgery, and/or abnormal tensions and pressures are some of the causes of fascial restrictions or patterns of restrictions. Our trained physical therapists are able to identify and assess by palpation these areas of restrictions. They then apply specific gentle myofascial techniques to mobilize, release and balance out these restricted areas.

Myofascial Release Myofascial Release is useful for most all acute or chronic musculoskeletal problems that cause pain, weakness and dysfunction. It also is useful for some neurological problems such as stroke, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's. Typically, Myofascial Release is used in conjunction with the other manual techniques that we specialize in.

Craniosacral Therapy

Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle hands-on technique that works with the core layer of the fascia (the dura mater) otherwise known as the craniosacral system. Craniosacral Therapy was developed by John Upledger, D.O. from the Upledger Institute in Florida.

The craniosacral system is a membranous semi-closed hydraulic system that surrounds and protects the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord), and has a vital physiological function of pumping the cerebrospinal fluid. Its membranes attach to the bones of the skull, face, and mouth, and then extend along the spinal cord as the dural tube down to the sacrum and coccyx (at the base of the spine).

Restrictions and imbalances can develop within this core layer that can have an impact on the functioning of the central nervous system as well as the entire body. Craniosacral Therapy uses light touch with gentle pressures to stretch, release and balance out these craniosacral restrictions and imbalances. This technique assists and facilitates improved function both structurally and physiologically within the craniosacral system as well as beyond its anatomical borders.

Craniosacral Therapy Craniosacral Therapy can be applied to a number of problems including, but not limited to, a variety of pain and dysfunctions, headaches, TMJ dysfunction, ear infections, tinnitus and vertigo as well as certain neurological disorders. It complements the body's own natural healing process and is also used as a preventive health measure as it boosts the function of the immune system. Many people recognize its therapeutic value for their overall general health and wellbeing and seek treatment on a regular basis to promote this. It is usually integrated with other manual therapy techniques, but can be applied separately as well.

Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation gently addresses restrictions around the organs (viscera) and the connective tissue that surrounds them. Visceral Manipulation was developed by Jean- Pierre Barral, D.O., P.T. from France.

Organs should have the necessary mobility and freedom to move in order for the body to work most Visceral Manipulation efficiently and harmoniously. Each organ has its own rhythm or motility around a specified axis of motion. Abnormal tone, tensions and adhesions causes asymmetry and lack of mobility and motility. When one organ is restricted and not mobile, undo stress is placed on other structures thru the interconnectedness of the fascial system. This can potentially contribute to pain and dysfunction of the body as a whole or can relay thru the interconnectedness to other body parts (ie: back, a knee, a shoulder, neck or head).

Visceral Manipulation Visceral Manipulation is applied after assessing the mobility and motility of the involved organ(s) and how this relates to the presenting signs and symptoms. Specific but very gentle forces are applied to release the abnormal tensions and restrictions in and around the targeted organ(s). This potentially allows for functional improvement in the organ itself, the system the organ is a part of, as well as the structural integrity of the total body.

Visceral Manipulation is helpful in a wide variety of cases that include, but are not limited to, orthopedic problems, headaches, pelvic pain, post surgery, cystitis, functional digestive issues, non-cardiac chest pain, and dysmenorrhea.

Lymph Drainage Therapy

Lymph Drainage Therapy Lymph Drainage Therapy is a gentle and relaxing technique that supports the function of the lymphatic system. It was developed by Bruno Chikly, MD, of France.
The lymphatic system is comprised of lymphatic vessels, lymphatic fluid, lymphatic nodes, and lymphatic organs. The lymph system has a vital function that the body relies on. It can be quite detrimental to the workings of all body parts if its function is in any way compromised.

Lymph Drainage Therapy Lymph vessels are designed to remove the fluid that surrounds the cells of the body once the cells have completed their metabolic process that includes eliminating wastes and toxins. These by-products are removed by the lymph vessels to be purified in the lymph nodes and then ultimately returned to the heart to be absorbed into the bloodstream. This process can slow down as a result of muscle tension or spasm, trauma, inflammation, surgery, or other disease processes. If this system is not working efficiently and is not draining the surrounding fluid quickly enough, back up of fluid or congestion will result. The surrounding body tissues will become toxic and overloaded with resulting muscle spasm and tightness.

Lymph Drainage Therapy The trained therapist, using a very light touch, will map the flow of the lymphatic fluid, reroute it as necessary and then support this new route by carefully flushing the system to remove the congestion and stagnation. This technique is good for reducing swelling from various causes, reducing muscle spasm, facilitating tissue healing, detoxifying the body, and assisting in the healing process of pain syndromes.

Somato Emotional Release

Somato Emotional Release is a therapeutic process that facilitates the release of emotions that may be trapped in the body's soft tissue. Since research has proven that soft tissue has cell memory, emotions for various reasons can either consciously or unconsciously exist in the restricted and traumatized tissue and thereby perpetuate the pain and dysfunction. By releasing these emotional components, the tissue is better able to rebalance itself on a hormonal, cellular, structural and energetic level to allow for a deeper healing. This technique is useful for integrating the body, mind, and spirit along with assisting the client to heal from the residual effects of trauma.

Somato Emotional Release Somato Emotional Release is done in conjunction with manual techniques and often includes non invasive dialoguing (either verbal or nonverbal), visualization, and/or guided imagery. A safe, non judgmental environment is always established for each client to allow for a gentle and respectful process of releasing suppressed emotions that may be inhibiting complete structural release.

Soft Tissue Mobilization

Soft Tissue Mobilization Soft Tissue Mobilization is a hands-on technique with application that is a little more aggressive than the Integrative Manual Therapy Techniques. It is directed more locally and with relatively more pressure. Its access to deeper and more core layers of the fascia are limited, but still is very useful in cases where there is scar tissue from injury, scarring from surgery or local trigger points and knots in the fascia that surrounds the muscle or muscle groups.

Joint Mobilization

Joint Mobilization Joint Mobilization is a technique that addresses individual joints that have been rendered hypomobile (loss of mobility). This is a common phenomenon that can happen at any joint in the body. The body is able to compensate for this loss of mobility to a certain degree, but then it can ultimately become problematic with pain and dysfunction when left unattended. The technique involves gentle oscillations of the involved joint(s) to restore the normal joint play or mobility within the joint. It is useful in many musculoskeletal and joint problems.

Muscle Energy Technique

Muscle Energy Technique Muscle Energy Technique is a technique that is applied to a joint that has lost its proper congruency and alignment. The technique involves using muscle contraction to correct the misalignment of the joint surfaces and to restore the normal balance to the joint as well as the muscles attached to the joint. It can be useful in many musculoskeletal and joint problems.

Strain and Counterstrain

Strain and Counterstrain Strain and Counterstrain is the process of relieving spinal or other joint pain by passively putting the joint into a particular position of comfort that allows for interruption of a strain reflex or inappropriate nerve activity. This technique was developed by Lawrence Jones, D.O. It can be useful in many musculoskeletal and joint problems.

Therapeutic Exercise

$Therapeutic Exercise$ These are specific exercises that help to restore muscle and joint function. It is an active technique that requires the client's full participation under the guidance of the Therapist. These exercises generally are a combination of joint and muscle stretching and strengthening and can be applied for functional movement.