A comprehensive total body evaluation to develop a holistic treatment plan of care in partnership with a patient’s goals and expectations is performed. One on one treatment, in a private room, is provided as a Total Body Approach with full attention always directed towards the patient’s needs.
Cindy’s 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 manual techniques are not just directed towards treating the symptoms, but most importantly, she identifies and then corrects the underlying contributions and causes of the symptoms. Because of the intimate interconnectedness of the body system, Cindy locates and addresses restricted areas that are often farther away from where the symptoms are. With this Total Body Approach, the body is better equipped to recover and heal completely with the benefits of optimal success and prevention.
The core of Cindy’s manual approach is Integrated Manual Therapy Techniques that make her unique to other Physical Therapy practices. She also makes use of Other Manual Therapy Techniques as needed as an adjunct to her Integrated Manual Therapy Approach. Patient Education and Home Exercise Programs are also a necessary complement to Cindy’s manual treatment approach in order to reach the goals of pain relief, improved function and wellness.
Integrated Manual Therapy Techniques:
Myofascial Release
Craniosacral Therapy
Visceral Manipulation
Lymph Drainage Therapy
Somato Emotional Release
NeuroStructural Therapy
Other Manual Therapy Techniques:
Soft Tissue Mobilization
Joint Mobilization
Muscle Energy Technique
Strain and Counterstrain
Therapeutic Exercise
Patient Education:
As Physical Therapists, patient education is a very important aspect of our treatments. Education for stress management, lifestyle support, proper nutrition, self-care, proper postural alignment and body mechanics is essential for the optimal healing of our patients. We help our patients 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 patient to practitioners we know and trust. Some of these specialists include, but are not limited to, Orthopedists, Neurologists, Physiatrists, Acupuncturists, Holistic M.D.’s, Nutritionists, Certified Health Coach and/or Psychotherapists.
Home Exercise Programs:
Patients are routinely instructed in individualized Home Exercise Programs including stretching, strengthening and cardiovascular exercises. Patients 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 and healing. Exercises are taught in coordination with the patient’s breath to facilitate mind, body and spirit integration.
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 to the intracellular 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.
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. Cindy is able to identify and assess by palpation these areas of restrictions, and then apply specific gentle myofascial techniques to mobilize, release and balance these restricted areas that produce pain and have a negative impact on function in daily and/or recreational activities.
Myofascial Release is
useful for almost 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 in which we specialize.
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 the 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 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 pro
cess 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 the other integrative manual therapy techniques, but can be applied separately as well.
Visceral Manipulation
Visceral Manipulation gently addresses restrictions around the organs (viscera) and the connective/fascial tissues that surround 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 efficiently and harmoniously. Each organ has its own rhythm or motility around a specified axis of motion. Abnormal tone, tensions and adhesions cause 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 or can relay thru the interconnectedness to other body parts (ie: back, a knee, a shoulder, neck or head).
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, scar tissue, post surgery, cystitis, functional digestive issues, non-cardiac chest pain, and dysmenorrhea. It is typically integrated with the other integrative manual therapy techniques.
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, M.D, D.O. from France and Phoenix, Arizona.
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 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 and purified in the lymph nodes, and then ultimately drained into 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.
Cindy, 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. It is typically integrated with the other integrative manual therapy techniques.
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 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 a more complete and lasting structural release along with the necessary healing process. SER can be used alone or in conjunction with our other manual techniques.
NeuroStructural Therapy
NeuroStructural Therapy is an advanced level technique that addresses the Central Nervous System, (the brain and spinal cord) and its related pathologies. This approach was uniquely developed by Bruno Chikly, M.D. D.O. from France and Phoenix, Arizona.
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is like the Central Processing Unit (CPU) of a computer, as it is the control center or CPU of our body. Restrictions and abnormal tensions can and do occur within the brain and the spinal cord that can cause impairment in normal body function including motor, sensory and autonomic functions. Diagnoses such as closed head injury, whiplash, headaches, dyslexia, cerebral palsy, cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Parkinson’s, Multiple Sclerosis and Alzheimer’s disease are brain and spinal cord pathologies that present with these restrictions.
Trained hands are able to pinpoint these restricted anatomical structures to apply focused, gentle and specialized techniques that release these centrally located restrictions and the damaging effects that these restrictions cause. Cindy is able to connect safely and effectively with the microanatomy and microphysiology of the CNS to facilitate the body’s own self healing and self corrective capabilities.
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 more superficial fascia that surrounds the muscle or muscle groups.
Joint Mobilization
Joint Mobilization is a technique that addresses individual joints that have been rendered hypomobile (loss of mobility) with joint capsule tightness. 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 untreated. 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 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 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. and can be useful in many musculoskeletal and joint problems.
Therapeutic Exercise
Therapeutic Exercises are specific exercise techniques that help to restore muscle and joint function by increasing flexibility and strength. These exercises can be active, active assistive, resistive and/or passive and require the patient’s full participation under Cindy’s close guidance. Cindy often uses visual, verbal and/or manual cuing to achieve the goal of optimal, pain free function.
Wellesley, MA 02482
T: (781) 263-9977
F: (781) 943-4228