Hands-On Physical Therapy
We Treat What Other People Don't Treat!
Here is one example... Chronic headaches, knee pain, ankle pain, shoulder pain? Doesn't matter where, a large part of the problem is coming from your spine, and we know how to treat it!
Counterstrain-ing the Spine
Treating the spine is essential for chronic pain and wellness! We treat these structures everyday with our patients and help them in ways that no one else has.
Sympathetic Nervous System:
This is the fight or flight part of your nervous system and it is structurally located in your spine. You've probably heard that your sympathetic nervous system turns on or takes over when you're in situations like being chased by a bear, or have a gun to your head. While this is true, your sympathetic nervous system also turns on during stressful times at work, emotionally stressful days at home, close calls on the road, playing or watching sports. ect... The problem occurs when the sympathetic nervous system gets stuck on, and when it does, it causes very predictable vascular problems in your spine, head, arms, legs, and joints. This means you now how poor blood flow to your knee for example. A knee with poor blood flow degenerates. You also have poor drainage of inflammation out of your knee. A knee that is inflamed will hurt, ache, and seem fragile.
The Sympathetic Nervous System is the most important thing that we treat with Counterstrain that nobody else treats.
Ligaments in the Spine:
One of the major ligaments in your spine is called the ligament flavum. It runs from the base of your head all the way down to your tail bone. When it spasms, it can cause pain in the spine (commonly neck and low back), but also in joints in your arms and legs. If you've had an MRI of your spine, the imaging report may have used words like ligamentum flavum hypertrophy, or spinal stenosis. These are diagnosis caused by dysfunctions in the ligamentum flavum that are treatable with Counterstrain. When dysfunctional, the ligamentum flavum will also cause very predictable joint restrictions. For example, the knee joint will get tight from a ligamentum flavum spasm at the L3, L4 level of your low back. If any joint in your body is tight and restricted, it's likely the ligamentum flavum in your spine needs treatment.
Bones of the Spine:
The bones in your spine, called vertebrae, and your ribs can twist and torsion. When they do, they put tension through your sympathetic nervous system. Anytime tension is transferred through the sympathetic nervous system it will effect blood flow to and from any part of your body including your head, torso, arms, and legs.
Spine and Rib Cartilage:
The cartilage in your rib cage and spine can also spasm. When it does it again puts tension through the sympathetic nervous system and effects blood flow to the body. Cartilage also specifically effects the function of your internal organs making it a critical structure to treat for wellness!
“If your spine is inflexibly stiff at 30, you are old. If it is completely flexible at 60, you are young. ”
— Joseph Pilates