Soft Tissue Techniques

 

Consist of a rhythmic stretching, deep pressure and traction. Their purpose is to move tissues and to relax tight muscles and myofascial layers associated with somatic dysfunction. 

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HVLA (High-Velocity Low-Aplitude)

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Joint manipulation is often referred to by Osteopaths as an High velocity, low amplitude or ‘HVLA’. This is a gentle, safe and effective technique designed to restore the normal movement to a joint (spine, ribs and limbs) that is stuck or not moving properly. 

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Visceral Techniques

 

These techniques are applied both directly and indirectly to organs in the abdomen (eg. stomach, liver and intestine) or chest (eg, lungs and oesophagus). They are used to evaluate and treat the relationship causing restricted mobility to the rest of the body's structures. Visceral Osteopathy is safe gentle and suitable at any age including infants. 

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Cranial-Sacral

*Please note only Fiona, Raoul, Brita and Martina are qualified in cranial techniques. 

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Inside the skull there is a covering over the brain, the dura, that continues down inside the spine to the tailbone (sacrum) It protects and supports the central nervous system. The central nervous system controls the functioning of every organ, muscle and nerve in the body.

 

Cranial Osteopathy is a specialist field of Osteopathy that follows all of the same principles but includes the anatomy and physiology of the head. 

 

Techniques are performed using a highly trained sense of touch to feel subtle changes of tension and tissue quality within the body and to diagnose areas of strain or dysfunction.  

 

Fascial Techniques

 

Fascial techniques work on the connective tissue which can be found all throughout the body. The connective tissue (fascia) is like a glove the wraps around every muscle, organ, nerve and bone. The connection of these structures means that sometimes we may feel pain in one area of the body, but it's actually being caused by another area.  

 

Fascial techniques work to find the cause of the dysfunction and to release it. Fascial techniques are gentle, safe and are suitable for all ages including infants. 

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Muscle Energy Techniques

 

Involving a powerful yet gentle series of techniques that can be utilized on any muscle of the body to restore normal range of motion and mechanical function.

 

These techniques use activation of the muscle, followed by a gentle stretch and often performed with guided breathing. 

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Nerve Manipulation

Nerves are the body’s great communicators, conveying vital information between the brain and all other structures of the body.  A nerve only functions optimally when it is able to move freely in its surrounding tissues. There are many reasons why a nerve can lose its mobility. Several common reasons include physical trauma, poor posture, infections, scar tissue from a surgery or accident, sedentary lifestyle, and pregnancy. If a nerve becomes “fixed,” there is loss of mobility, and typically associated sensitivity and pain.  Performing a mobilization on the nerve fixation will free the nerve and will help restore the proper signaling to the compromised structures it innervates and therefore improve the function of those structures, such as muscle, organ, or fascia.