Structural
Integration:
Our body structure is determined by the “web”
of myofascial tissue that surrounds our muscles and bones
and every organ in our body. Skilled manual manipulation
of this tissue corrects structural compensations, increases
range of motion, and relieves sources of pain. Fascia is
a dynamic, complex tissue that self-organizes on the principle
of tensegrity.
All of us live in gravity, a force
that our body has evolved with over time to create a being
that moves in an efficient, coordinated manner, distributing
physical forces (vectors) evenly to support structures such
as our skeleton and dynamic movement components, such as
our muscles, ligaments, and tendons. Structural integration
is the study of the relationship of these forces to the
human body and how to best facilitate the most efficient
myofascial web of connective tissue for each person.
This is what drives the structure
of the human body, be it functional or dysfunctional. The
body is always adapting and compensating to its environment.
Forces of stress and gravity are distributed throughout
the body, each point absorbing or transferring energy to
the other. It is always in balance, but not necessarily
to our functional well-being.
Fascia is composed primarily of collagen
fibers, elastin fibers, and ground substance, the liquid biochemical
solution that bathes the matrix of fibers. Manual structural
integration therapy highly influences the relationship of
the ground substance with the matrix of fibers, changing the
biochemistry of the fascia and the other systems that communicate
and integrate with the fascia. Often, this has one of the
greatest effects on the client's structure, well being, and
energy levels, especially for clients with fibromyalgia, neuropathy,
MS, chemotherapy, or restless leg syndrome.
General Principles
of Structural Integration Therapy:
Fascia has the tensile strength
of steel, so one of its natural properties is to resist
stretching. That is how it is able to build a balanced structure
in your body and transfer and dissipate stress and force
through your body.
With manual myofascial structural
integration therapy, your therapist is able to move and
manipulate your fascia in a systematic manner to create
a more functional balance within your body. It is not only
the movement of the fascia, but the knowledge of where to
move the fascia and in what sequence.
There are five main reasons why
fascia needs to be manually manipulated, and its benefits:
- fascia is in the wrong place
(cannot function as intended)
- fascia is too short (tight and
compression)
- fascia is too long (tight and
jams)
- fascia has formed scar tissue
(binding structures or tissues)
- fascia is biochemically dysfunctional
(ischemic tissue)
Your therapist will evaluate your
fascial structure and determine what is going on with your
fascia in different parts of you body.
Treatment will include releasing
fascia that is short, providing more room for the joints,
bones, muscles or organs to move. It will also reduce compressive
loads on joints and vertebrae and potential compression
or entrapment of nerves. For some clients, it may provide
more room for normal organ mobility and motility..
Treatment will include releasing
fascia that is "locked long" to remove compensation
patterns that cause jamming of joints, movement of limbs,
impingement of nerves, or interference with normal organ
mobility and motility.
Movement of the fascia in a systematic
manner from dysfunctional patterns to normal functional
patterns will enable efficient range of motion of joints,
provide appropriate and efficient neuromuscular proprioreception
(full muscle action and strength), a more balanced integrated
structure (good support and posture), create the most efficient
distribution of forces through your body (less chance of
injury to specific areas of your body), and remove fascial
blocks that prevent flow of energy (chi) in your body.
Treatment enhances and helps bring
back normal biochemical function of the fascial tissue,
including removing ischemic regions (restricted oxygenation
of the tissue), increased lymphatic function of the interstitial
spaces in the tissue, a greater sense of lightness and energy
(quality of tissue), less pain and aching (enhances lymph
system to remove toxic metabolic byproducts), and a softer
more pliable tissue.
Treatment addresses scar tissue
in two ways: helping to reduce unwanted scar tissue and
restructuring existing scar tissue. Scar tissue is the process
of laying down collagen fibers from the inflammation process,
an essential natural part of the healing process.
Visceral
Manipulation:
The web of fascia of our musculoskeletal system is connected
to, and fully integrated with the visceral fascia of our
organs. Each system of fascia influences the other, including
creating fascial holding, organ motility dysfunction, and
structural dysfunction. Emotional holding in the viscera
can often be a key element in chronic pain, tension or dysfunction,
both internally in the gastrointestinal system, and the
musculoskeletal system.
The body will protect organs and viscera
at the expense of musculoskeletal function. Therefore, the
body may create fascial patterns that cause the body to move
around the internal visceral dysfunction. By releasing the
visceral dysfunction, either through mobility or motility,
the musculoskeletal system is affected.
There are significant connections
between the musculoskeletal system and the visceral system.
Our integrated soft tissue treatment program addresses both
in an integrated manner.
Neural
Manipulation:
The nervous system is one continuous network of nerves that
originates in the brain and inervates and branches into
every tissue. Even nerves have have a system of nerves that
monitor their condition. Every nerve needs a blood supply
to function normally. The nerves and their supporting vascular
system all are embedded in connective tissue that supports
and protects the nerves.
If the connective tissue is compromised
through restrictions, adhesions, or entanglements with other
connective tissues, the result is not only dysfunction within
the nervous system, but it also has the capability of significantly,
if not severely restricting or contorting the musculoskeletal
system. Many issues are incorrectly attributed to the musculoskeletal
system or fascia that are actually attributable to the nerves
themselves or the fascial tracts that surround them.
Neuromanipulation provides a means
to very specifically, within a millimeter at times, identify
the location of the restrictions, the severity, and a means
to release and integrate the tissues. Neuromanipulation
is often very effective in releasing pain or a structural
integration problem when other means are not effective,
including standard structural integration therapy.
Vascular
Manipulation:
The vascular system includes the heart, arteries that supply
the blood to all tissues, the veins that return the blood
to the heart, the capillaries and associate lymph system
that scavenges intercellular spaces as part of the immune
system.
Each vessel is supported and protected
by connective tissue. In addition, the walls of the vessels
have physical properties that change the rigidity, tension,
and torque within the body. The amount of blood flow and
blood pressure are critical to the health and function of
the supplied tissues and organs. Veinous backflow pressure
is one of the most critical control aspects of blood supply
to specific tissues.
Vascular manipulation provides a
means to monitor pressure differentials, blood supply, tension
and torque in specific vessels, and balance the flow of
blood, remove restrictions and integrate the soft tissues
with the rest of the body.
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