• Frequency Specific Microcurrent

• Light Therapy

• Zero Balancing

• The Bowen Technique

• Craniosacral Therapy

• The Alexander Technique

• Therapeutic Exercise

• The Pilates Method
   

MANUAL THERAPY

Manual Therapy is a form of Physical Therapy intervention that encompasses various hands-on techniques that decrease pain and minimize soft tissue and joint restrictions. Arlene Ross, our Physical Therapist, employs the following gentle Manual Therapy techniques:

• Zero-Balancing

• The Bowen Technique

• Craniosacral Therapy

• Zero-Balancing – Zero-Balancing (ZB) is a hands-on bodywork system designed to work simultaneously with the structure and energy of the body.  Zero-balancing works through a touch at “interface”, where the hands of the therapist and the body of the patient meet mutually.  In the ZB system, this interface occurs at specific bony points, referred to as foundation or semi-foundation joints.  Foundation joints are the cranial sutures, sacroiliac articulations, symphysis pubis, and intratarsal and intracarpal articulations.  They are unique because their motion is of extremely small range, involuntary and outside conscious awareness. A small dysfunction here may result in a significant limitation of the movement potential of the individual.  Semi-foundation joints are the intervertebral articulations, rib joints, clavicular articulations and costochondral joints.  They differ from the foundation joints only in their slightly larger range of motion and muscular attachment.  When imbalance is detected, a specific method of contact called a fulcrum is used to restore balance.  In a Zero-Balancing session the client remains clothed.  The session proceeds through a protocol, with the therapist contacting specific points at the pelvis, mid-back, low back, hips, feet, ribs, shoulders, neck and occiput.  Areas of the body where there is a loss of function or movement potential through stress, injury or habit may be restored to full vitality.  Zero-Balancing is particularly effective for treatment of neck pain, back pain, upper trapezius pain and headaches. Arlene Ross, P.T., is a Certified Practitioner of Zero-Balancing and is a member of the Zero-Balancing Association.
  
  

• The Bowen Technique  is a gentle form of body work in which very subtle moves performed over the muscles and connective tissue send messages to the nervous system to reset tissue tension.  There are frequent but very essential pauses throughout the session that allows the body to respond to the gentle intervention.  The practitioner can target a specific problem or address the body as a whole.

  The Bowen Technique can be helpful for the following conditions:
   

  • Back Pain and Sciatica
  • Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
  • Migraines
  • Knee, Ankle and Foot Problems
  • Neck and Shoulder Problems
  • Groin Pain
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome and Tennis Elbow
  • Sports Injuries
  • Traumatic Injuries

  Accredited Bowen Practitioners are registered with Bowen Associations affiliated with the Bowen Therapy Academy of Australia .  Arlene Ross, P.T., is a Certified Bowen Practitioner and has trained in Advanced Bowen Techniques.

MODALITIES

Physical Therapy Modalities used at the RiverHill Wellness Center include:

• Frequency Specific Microcurrent

• Light Therapy

• Frequency Specific Microcurrent is a physical therapy modality providing electric current in millionths of an ampere.  It has the ability to relieve pain, increase the rate of wound healing, increase protein synthesis, stimulate the regeneration of injured tissue, stimulate lymphatic flow and relieve myofascial trigger points.  Because microcurrent flows at one millionth of an ampere, it is delivered on the same scale as the current the body produces on its own in each cell, and it is therefore physiologic.  Microcurrent is subsensory and cannot be felt while it is being delivered because there is not enough current to stimulate the sensory receptors.  Traditional electrotherapy units such as TENS, interferential and high volt deliver current in milliamps, which a higher level of current.  They can cause muscle contraction and microcurrent cannot.

  Microcurrent increases ATP production by 500%.  ATP is the primary molecule from which our body produces energy, and it is found in every cell of the body,  In a study done by Ngok Cheng, M.D. entitled “The Effects of Electric Current on ATP Generation, Protein Synthesis and Membrane Transport in Rat Skin”, it was demonstrated that ATP production increased five times with currents from 50 uA to 1000 uA.  With currents exceeding 1000 uA, which is the milliamp range, ATP production leveled, and with 5000 uA ATP production was reduced slightly.  Microcurrent was also shown to increase protein synthesis and amino acid transport.

  Frequency Specific Microcurrent applied to injured tissue supports the natural current flow in the tissue, allowing cells in the traumatized area to regain their capacitance, or flow of electrons.  Trauma affects the electrical potential of the damaged cells.  The injured area has a higher electrical resistance than the surrounding tissue.  This decreases electrical conductance through the injured area, and decreases cellular capacitance, leading to impairment of the healing process and inflammation.  When microcurrent is applied, resistance is reduced, allowing bioelectricity to flow through and reestablish normal function.  This process helps to initiate and perpetuate the many biochemical reactions that occur in healing.  In Frequency Specific Microcurrent, specific frequencies are used for varying tissues and conditions, often providing softening of the tissue and decreased pain.  This softening and the pain relief that comes with it seems to be long lasting and in many cases permanent.

  Frequency Specific Microcurrent may be beneficial for the following conditions:

  • Chronic and Acute Spinal Pain

  • Chronic and Acute Low Back and Neck Pain

  • Orthopedic Injuries

  • Fibromyalgia  

  • Myofascial Pain

  • Tendon and Ligament Repair

  • Fractures

  • Edema/Lymphatic Drainage

  Arlene Ross, P.T., is a Certified Practitioner of Frequency Specific Microcurrent.

  Light Therapy is a Physical Therapy modality that uses the photon, the basic unit of light, to heal and repair tissue in the body.  Light energy is absorbed within mitochondria and cell membranes, and is stored as ATP in the body cells.  The absorbed energy is used to repair tissue, reduce pain, and restore normal functioning to impaired body tissue.  Light Therapy is painless, safe, and can facilitate the healing process for many different problems. 

  Light Therapy can be helpful for the following conditions:

  • Facial Pain/ TMJ Pain Syndrome
  • Headaches
  • Neck and Shoulder Pain
  • Frozen Shoulder
  • Medial & Lateral Epicondylitis
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Sciatica
  • Hip Pain
  • Knee Pain
  • Achilles Tendonitis
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Wound Care

POSTURAL EDUCATION & THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE

Postural Education & Therapeutic exercised offered at the RiverHill Wellness Center include:

THE ALEXANDER TECHNIQUE is a form of postural re-education directed at improving our daily movement activities.  Poor postural habits are a primary cause of pain and injury.  F. Matthias Alexander, an actor who solved his own problem of repeated loss of voice, developed the technique in the 1890’s.  Students of the Alexander Technique learn to observe themselves in action and to become aware of their particular tension and movement patterns.  Activities such as walking, standing, sitting at a computer, driving a car, playing a musical instrument, cooking, lifting, jogging, playing golf, etc., are observed in the patient and evaluated as to their potential to cause pain and dysfunction if not performed correctly.  Once the patient becomes aware of their incorrect performance of any particular activity, they can begin to change the organization of their movement behavior.  The patient is encouraged to become aware of their movement habits and to change to newer and easier ways of moving that they have learned from the therapist.

The Alexander Teacher guides the patient to direct their energy and movement for all areas of the body and for any activity that the patient performs.  After repeated guided kinesthetic experiences, students of the Alexander Technique come to sense their former static tensions as uncomfortable and alien.  New movement patterns replace old patterns of misuse that may cause pain and dysfunction.  These new movement patterns facilitate the improvements that the patient is making in physical therapy, and help to prevent problems from arising in the future.  Arlene Ross, P.T., is a Certified Practitioner of The Alexander Technique.