Craniosacral therapy is the use of light touch techniques to make safe manipulations to the sacrum, cranium and spine that will help alleviate tension in your central nervous system (Nerves!) Craniosacral therapy (CST) specifically works as a gentle hands-on technique that works with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid between the head and the base of the spine through the soft tissue structures of the body. Craniosacral therapy helps by relieving tension in the central nervous system and promotes a feeling of well-being by eliminating pain and boosting health and immunity. CST can help with various conditions including but not limited to:

• ADD/ADHD

• Anxiety and panic attacks

• Autism

• Brain and spinal cord trauma

• Central nervous system disorders

• Chronic (long-term) neck and back pain

• Dyslexia

• Fascial pain

• Fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue

• Learning disabilities

• Migraines and headaches

• Motor-coordination impairments

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Scoliosis

• TMJ disorder

Dry needling involves inserting a small solid filament needle through the skin into the underlying muscle tissue with a goal of releasing trigger points. Trigger points are areas of thickened bands of tissue in the muscle that produce pain locally and in a referred pattern and often accompany chronic musculoskeletal disorders. Releasing a trigger point can lead to less pain and improved mobility. In addition to the dry needle, electrical stimulation can be added which will help “reset” the muscle contraction due to improved synapse at the neuromuscular junction.

The dry needling technique can be used for many musculoskeletal conditions including but not limited to: Low back pain, sciatica, headaches, shoulder pain, tennis/golfer’s elbow, knee pain, hip pain, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis issues, muscular strains/ligament sprains, chronic pain.

Dry needling results in the deepest tissue release allowing for improvements in movement and pain. It is called “dry” needling because there is no solution injected as with a hypodermic needle during a flu shot. With dry needling, the needle itself and the effects it produces within the tissue is the treatment. Dry needling can cause muscle soreness that will last for a few hours up to 48 hours following treatment. The goal of dry needling is to improve flexibility and decrease pain as it allows the therapist to target tissues deeper than manual techniques alone.

This therapeutic approach is known as Gua sha which involves use of a stainless steel instrument to target scar tissue and adhesions found throughout the body. The tool is specially designed, shaped and sized to allow the practitioner to target these adhesions more directly to stimulate new oxygenated blood flow to the areas, thus promoting repair, healing and recovery to the underlying tissue and cells. Gua sha is sometimes referred to as “scraping”, “spooning”, “coining”, or in this case “gliding” as lubrication is placed on the skin first to allow the tool to glide smoothly across the skin to target underlying areas that are compromised. Areas that are compromised will show “bright red” dots indicating inflammation in the underlying tissue, tendons and cells due to adhesions, scar tissue and poor oxygenated tissue. In order to resolve these compromised tissue layers it is recommended to perform this technique three times weekly to deliver more oxygenated blood to the tissue layer for metabolic cell repair until those tissues feel have improved flexibility and no pain with movement.

Dry cupping is a technique that uses glass, silicone or plastic cups on the skin where there is a vacuum effect created causing the skin to be suctioned. This suctioning of the skin will bring increased blood flow to the underlying tissue, muscles and tendons. This increased blood flow will provide nutrients to the tissue to help regeneration in addition to moving stagnated inflammation from the affected tissue. Dry cupping will leave a circular mark on the patient after use that will last for 3-7 days depending on the amount of suction used during the treatment and length of time of the treatment. Dry cupping is a non-invasive approach to decrease pain and improve circulation to the affected areas. Dry cupping does not include penetrating the skin with any objects and is a different technique compared to wet cupping. Dry cupping is only practiced at this clinic.

Manual therapy includes a variety of hands on/non-invasive techniques including: soft tissue massage, joint mobilizations, passive range of motion, stretching techniques and muscle energy techniques to loosen tissue and improve joint health. Many musculoskeletal issues are related to adhesions or scar tissue that has built up over time from injury to the tissue. Neglecting these adhesions will begin to cause biomechanical issues in the tissue when they contract and perform normal functions of living. After days, weeks or months of this inefficient mobility in the tissue from scar tissue/adhesions, pain will set in and cause dysfunction in the joint and surrounding areas. Manual techniques can help release these adhesions/scar tissue by inducing an inflammatory healing response. This will then stimulate the production of new collagen and proper, functional, pain-free healing.

Stabilization techniques further improve your mobility and decrease pain after being treated by your physical therapist. Stabilization exercises are geared towards getting your body “back on track” through corrective exercises that assist in moving your body better. Often times pain in the body results in shutting off key stabilizers in the joint which in turn will lead to poor movement patterns. When the body is not moving properly, other areas of the body will begin to compensate causing more tightness or pain. The goal of stabilization exercises are for the body to understand how to move properly again. These exercises are a main component in alleviating your pain from returning again. Becoming consistent on a stabilization program will initiate your steps to recovery. Here at Iron Lion Physical Therapy, you will have a specific exercise program formulated to you to improve you body mechanics and movement patterns that will get you back on your trail to recovery.