The “niche” of our practice is the implementation of a unique manual technique called Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT). IMT is a unique set of diagnostics and treatment methodologies that address pain, dysfunction, disease, and disability.
IMT is based on the premise that the body has the potential to self-heal under right circumstances. A cut or fracture for example may heal on own but sometimes pain & dysfunction has had too much tissue damage to restore health on it’s own.
Practitioners of IMT assess and treat by using their hands. The assessment and treatment is integrative by addressing all body systems. Some of the anatomical systems that may need intervention include but not limited to: musculoskeletal, nervous, gastrointestinal, circulatory/cardiovascular, lymph, and urogenital. The intervention generally involves gentle manipulation to promote tissue healing.
Recognizing that all systems in the human body are inter-connected and influence each other, we implement a “whole body” approach to evaluation and treatment. The IMT approach allows the practitioner to look beyond the area of pain and find the root cause of pain & dysfunction. Integrative Manual Therapy is a true integrative approach that combines manual and functional medicine in addition to nutritional support with skilled hands guiding all care.
What to expect in an IMT Treatment
Treatment is manual with the IMT practitioner placing his/her hands on your body. You are fully clothed and receive the treatment generally lying down on a comfortable treatment table.
Integrative diagnostics attempts to discover what systems are involved. The practitioner applies gentle pressure with his/her hands. By doing so the therapist can “feel” and “listen” for impairment or restrictions and determine which structures are contributing to pain and dysfunction. This listening extends from superficial tissue such as muscles, joints and bones to deeper tissue such as lymph, arteries, veins and nerves.
Based on the diagnostic results, the practitioner will recommend a comprehensive treatment plan to correct tissue dysfunction and restore balance and symmetry to the body. Treatment is similar to diagnostics in that the practitioner uses his/her hands to manipulate dysfunctional tissue. There are literally hundreds of treatment techniques with the IMT practitioner implementing the most effective ones for each client.
Treatment plan will often include dietary and lifestyle changes with support from your therapist to optimize these changes. Additional health specialists such as nutritionists, acupuncturists, and chronic pain specialists will be added to support treatment plan as needed.
Again, the key to treatment is “whole body” systems approach. By restoring balance to all systems of the body, ultimate healing and health can occur…a more “FLUID” you is attained.
