Structural alignment is employed after an injury has taken place. Not only is it important to provide proper care at the injury site, but injuries lead to compensations of uninjured muscles which can displace bones of the spine, sacro-iliac joints of the pelvis, destabilize the scapulae (shoulder blades), and create intervertebral disc irritation, all of which can delay the healing process.
Chiropractors use manual manipulation to align the spine and sometimes other bones of the body. The techniques we employ in our clinic utilize specialized equipment that, when applied to strategic areas along the spine or pelvis, gently but effectively release trigger points and relax muscles allowing the body to reinstate it's natural alignment.
Benefits of structural alignment is essential for the proper function of the entire body, and it can be experienced by everyone whether or not you have an injury.
Pelvic Balance
Pelvic balance is a simple technique in which the practitioner directs the athlete through isometric
exercises in which specific small, deep muscles of the pelvis are isolated and strengthened. This is very important because the relationship of the leg muscles to those of the pelvis determine how the pelvis is balanced in every activity. An imbalanced pelvis creates an imbalanced spine and serious muscle compensation throughout the leg which can lead to injury, chronic pain and health problems, but can also delay the healing process.
Cranio refers to the cranium or head, and sacral refers to the sacrum located at the base of the spine. The craniosacral system is comprised of the brain, spinal cord, meninges (membranes surrounding the spinal cord and brain), cerebrospinal fluid which bathe these structures; as well as the skull and spinal bones.
There is a rhythmic motion in the craniosacral system created by the rise and fall of cerebrospinal fluid pressure. An increase in this pressure occurs as cerebrospinal fluid filters from the blood stream and enters the craniosacral system, causing a predictable movement in the cranial bones. The pressure diminishes as the fluid is reabsorbed into the bloodstream allowing the bones to return to their normal position. The therapist monitors this wavelike motion to determine any restrictions or dysfunction in the craniosacral system. This subtle rhythm ranges from six to ten cycles per minute.
The therapist is trained to "palpate" or feel with their hands, the motion of the craniosacral system as a unified, integrated movement. The touch is extremely gentle and sensitive, allowing the therapist to locate critical points of restriction.
Restrictions that result from injury, inflexibility of the spine or cranium, or dysfunction in other parts of the body, can all cause abnormal motion in the craniosacral system. Abnormal motion leads to stresses in the cranial mechanism that can contribute to dysfunction and poor health, especially in the brain, the spinal cord, and glands of the head (pituitary and pineal, hence the entire endocrine system).
C/S Therapy focuses on releasing restrictions of the cranial sutures by locating the points of restricted movement and facilitating the release by gently tractioning and elongating the meningeal membranes.
C/S Therapy is so gentle it can be used to treat people of all ages, including infants. The conditions that benefit from this type of therapy are so numerous only a few can be mentioned here. They are: birth traumas (use of forceps), sleep disturbance, back and neck pain, headaches, chronic ear infections, behavioral problems such as ADD, joint pain syndrome, fatigue, TMJ syndrome, genitourinary problems, head traumas, injuries slow to heal, edema, high blood pressure, PMS, post traumatic stress disorder, ear nose and throat problems, digestive problems and chronic pain syndrome.
Preventative Care Through Education
Prevention of injury takes place through the education of proper exercise including strengthening and toning, namely how to execute the exercise correctly to ensure proper use of the muscles. Education in nutrition that meet the individual needs of the athlete is an integral part of preventative care.
