In Osteopathic Medicine, illness is seen as stemming from blockages and restrictions in the layer of myofascial tissue that connects the body. Health and healing are therefore accomplished through the physical manipulation of the body’s musculoskeletal system in the service of freeing up these blockages in support of the body’s ability to heal itself. Osteopathic Manual Medicine refers to the specific techniques used to accomplish this, of which we routinely use:

• Myofascial Release is a type of bodywork that releases adhesions in the musculoskeletal system. It is especially powerful in opening up tight areas while minimizing discomfort.

• Cranio-sacral Therapy focuses on restoring balance in the fluid dynamics of the skull, spine, and central nervous system through light touch. We use this technique in conjunction with other bodywork and exercises to facilitate deeper and longer lasting shifts in patients’ and clients’ postures, habits, and movement.

• Visceral Manipulation is a modality that releases restrictions through the viscera, or organs. Intrinsic visceral movement (motility) is restored through touch that moves in the direction of ease. Visceral restrictions often have structural or mechanical effects and thus this work is supportive to disorders such as whiplash, concussion, chronic pelvic pain, and neck pain among others.

• Neuromeningeal Manipulation works specifically with releasing impingements on nerves and dura as they relate to musculoskeletal symptoms. Neuromeningeal manipulation identifies and releases nerve restrictions in local sites in relation to their global effects on the rest of the body, thus comprehensively resolving dysfunctional patterns.

Additionally, we have each studied with highly regarded osteopaths in other Osteopathic Manual Medicine techniques, including visceral manipulation, neuromeningeal manipulation, and lymph drainage, among others.

Exercise Science deals with the practice and effects of exercise, from fitness and strength training to organized sports. To understand how the body is effected by exercise, practitioners study a wide-array of topics, including biomechanics, bioenergetics, the central and peripheral nervous system, cardiopulmonary function, skeletal muscle physiology, and neuroendocrine function. Our understanding of a mechanical and scientific approach to the maintenance and rehabilitation of the body runs throughout our practice and helps to ground the more holistic disciplines we incorporate into our work.

Somatics is a broad term used to describe any number of practices that shift dysfunctional patterns in a person’s use of their body and retrain the body on how to move naturally and freely again. Central to Somatics is the stimulation of peoples’ awareness of their bodies. We use somatic principles in exercises and trainings to help patients and clients become independent in their ability to heal and discover new levels of physical expression.

A branch of alternative medicine, Energy Healing encompasses a wide-range of practices that have in common a belief in the healing power of energy, such as Reiki. We have each studied in various forms of energy medicine, including Peruvian Shamanism, Chinese Medicinal Theory, Qigong, and Jin Shin Jyutsu. We integrate these techniques as a balancing force to the material or mechanical approach of western medicine and the hard sciences.