What Manual Therapy Techniques We offer

Myofascial Release Therapy (MFR) is a hands-on, manual therapy technique aimed at relieving tension and pain by targeting the myofascial system—a network of connective tissues (fascia) that surrounds and supports muscles throughout the body. Fascia can become restricted due to trauma, inflammation, poor posture, or repetitive movements, leading to pain and dysfunction. MFR uses gentle, sustained pressure and stretching to release these restrictions, improve movement, and restore tissue health.

The effectiveness of MFR is rooted in its ability to influence physiological gradients, which are essential for tissue function and healing. These include pressure gradients, fluid dynamics, electrical potentials, and mechanotransduction:

Pressure Gradients & Interstitial Fluid Movement

• Fascia is a viscoelastic tissue that holds interstitial fluid. Restrictions in fascia can cause localized pressure imbalances, limiting circulation and fluid exchange.
• MFR applies gentle pressure to stretch the fascia, reducing local resistance and re-establishing fluid flow within the extracellular matrix. This helps clear metabolic waste and improve nutrient delivery to cells.

Mechanotransduction & Cellular Response

• Fascia contains fibroblasts, which respond to mechanical forces. MFR creates mechanical stress that stimulates these cells to produce collagen and proteoglycans, which contribute to tissue remodeling.
• This process also alters cytoskeletal tension, affecting gene expression and promoting the repair of injured fascia.

Electrical & Piezoelectric Effects

• Fascia exhibits piezoelectric properties, meaning it generates an electrical charge when stretched or compressed.
• MFR may enhance bioelectric signaling, promoting tissue regeneration and altering pain perception by modulating the nervous system’s response.

Neuromuscular and Proprioceptive Regulation

• Fascia is highly innervated and integrates with the nervous system. Dysfunctional fascia can cause excessive muscle tension or poor proprioception.
• By restoring tensional balance in the fascia, MFR helps reset neural feedback loops, reducing pain and improving motor control.

Myofascial Release Therapy works by restoring normal physiological gradients, improving fluid dynamics, cellular activity, and neurological signaling. This leads to pain relief, better mobility, and long-term tissue health, making MFR an effective approach for addressing chronic pain, musculoskeletal disorders, and postural dysfunction.

Trigger point therapy is a hands-on treatment that targets areas of muscle tightness and dysfunction, often referred to as "knots." These trigger points are hypersensitive spots in muscle tissue that can cause local or referred pain, restrict movement, and contribute to chronic tension. By applying precise pressure, we aim to restore balance to the body’s natural movement patterns and relieve pain.

Physiological Gradients and the Need for Time Under Tension
Muscle dysfunction doesn’t resolve instantly—it responds to gradual change. The body operates under physiological gradients, meaning that tissue adaptation occurs progressively over time rather than all at once. This is why sustained pressure (time under tension) is often necessary during trigger point therapy. Mechanical force applied to a muscle in a chronically shortened (concentric) position creates a shift in these gradients, allowing for a reduction in excessive motor output. By decreasing motor drive to the overactive areas, we can restore normal muscle tone, improve circulation, and facilitate tissue relaxation.

Common Misconceptions About "Adhesions"
Many people believe that muscle adhesions—often described as “knots” or “scar tissue”—are physical structures that must be broken apart. However, this isn’t entirely accurate. What feels like adhesions is often a lack of viscoelasticity in the muscle, meaning the tissue has lost its ability to stretch and move fluidly. This can happen due to dehydration, prolonged tension, or inefficient movement patterns. The real goal isn’t to break adhesions but to reduce excessive motor output to these areas, allowing the tissue to return to a more functional state.

The Role of Hydration and Muscle Positioning
Healthy muscle tissue is well-hydrated and adaptable. When muscle fibers lack hydration or remain in a shortened, concentric position for too long, they become stiff and unresponsive. Applying targeted mechanical force to these areas helps alter the physiological gradients, reducing motor output and promoting relaxation. True restoration comes from rehydrating the tissue, improving movement patterns, and gradually restoring elasticity. Trigger point therapy, combined with movement-based strategies, helps retrain muscles to function efficiently through eccentric loading—where muscles lengthen under tension—rather than staying locked in a contracted state.

What to Expect from Treatment
During a session, you may feel deep pressure or mild discomfort, but this is a sign that your nervous system is adapting. We work within your comfort level, applying sustained pressure and guiding your muscles back to optimal function. Our approach doesn’t just mask pain—it addresses the root cause by reducing excessive motor output, restoring proper tissue mechanics, and improving hydration balance.

If you're experiencing chronic tension, limited mobility, or persistent pain, trigger point therapy can help you move better, feel better, and restore your body’s natural resilience.Fascia is a viscoelastic tissue that holds interstitial fluid. Restrictions in fascia can cause 

Positional Release Therapy (PRT) is a gentle, hands-on technique designed to reduce muscle tension, pain, and dysfunction by placing the body in a position of ease. Unlike more aggressive manual therapies, PRT works by passively positioning the affected muscle or joint in a way that minimizes stress on the tissue. This reduction in strain allows the nervous system to downregulate excessive muscle activity, leading to a natural release of tension and improved movement.

The Science Behind Positional Release Therapy
PRT is based on the concept of proprioception and neuromuscular reflexes. When muscles become overactive due to injury, poor posture, or repetitive strain, they generate excessive neurological signals, keeping them in a state of tension. By placing the muscle in a shortened, relaxed position, PRT alters the sensory input to the nervous system, reducing the overactive motor signals that contribute to tightness and discomfort.

This works through a process called "strain-counterstrain," where shortening a muscle temporarily changes the input from muscle spindle fibers—receptors that detect stretch and tension. By holding this position for a sufficient time, usually 60-90 seconds, the nervous system recalibrates, signaling the muscle to relax and restoring proper function.

The Benefits of Positional Release Therapy

• Pain Reduction – By calming overactive muscle signals, PRT effectively reduces pain and discomfort.
• Improved Mobility – Releasing tension in affected muscles restores movement without forceful stretching.
• Reduced Muscle Spasms – By decreasing excessive neurological drive, PRT helps stop involuntary contractions and spasms.
• Gentle and Non-Invasive – Unlike deep tissue techniques, PRT is comfortable and well-tolerated, even for highly sensitive individuals.
• Enhances Recovery – By resetting dysfunctional neuromuscular patterns, PRT supports faster recovery from injury and chronic pain conditions.

What to Expect from Treatment
During a session, the practitioner will identify areas of discomfort and gently position the affected muscle or joint into a place of minimal tension. You will typically feel a sense of relief as the muscle relaxes. Unlike forceful stretching or deep pressure techniques, PRT works with the body's natural reflexes to restore balance without causing additional discomfort.

If you're struggling with chronic muscle tightness, restricted movement, or persistent pain, Positional Release Therapy offers a gentle, effective solution to help reset your body's natural state of ease and function.

Cupping is a therapeutic technique rooted in ancient healing traditions and widely used today in holistic and sports medicine. This practice involves placing cups on the skin to create suction, which increases blood flow, promotes tissue expansion, and influences the body’s physiological responses. Cupping is often used to support muscle recovery, enhance mobility, and temporarily reduce discomfort.

The Science Behind Cupping
Modern research into cupping therapy has provided valuable insights into its physiological effects. The suction created by the cups generates negative pressure, which gently lifts the skin and underlying tissue. This expansion stimulates blood circulation, facilitates interstitial fluid exchange, and influences neuromuscular signaling. Some key physiological responses to cupping include:

• Increased Blood Flow: The suction effect draws blood to the targeted area, delivering oxygen and nutrients essential for tissue repair.
• Fascial Decompression: By creating space between the layers of fascia and muscle, cupping helps alleviate tightness and improve mobility.
• Pain Modulation: The mechanical stimulus of cupping can activate sensory pathways that influence pain perception, potentially reducing discomfort through neuromodulation.
• Anti-Inflammatory Effects: Research suggests that cupping can stimulate local immune responses, aiding in the body's natural healing processes.
• Improved Microcirculation: Cupping may help promote lymphatic drainage, reducing fluid stagnation and supporting overall circulation.

What to Expect from a Cupping Session
During a cupping session, a trained practitioner places cups—made of glass, silicone, or plastic—on specific areas of the body. The cups are either left stationary or moved across the skin using oil for gliding techniques. The suction sensation can range from mild to firm, depending on the method used and individual tolerance levels. After treatment, temporary discoloration or circular marks may appear due to the increased blood flow, but these typically fade within a few days.

What Cupping Is Not: Dispelling the Myths
Despite its benefits, cupping is often surrounded by misconceptions. One common myth is that cupping “pulls toxins to the surface.” Scientific evidence does not support this claim, as the body’s primary detoxification organs—such as the liver and kidneys—are responsible for removing metabolic waste. The discoloration seen after cupping is not the result of toxins being extracted but rather the effect of localized blood pooling due to the suction process.

Another important consideration is the duration of cupping application. Prolonged or excessive cupping can cause tissue damage, including bruising, capillary rupture, and skin irritation. If suction is applied for too long or with excessive intensity, it may lead to unnecessary inflammation and even compromise tissue integrity.

Conclusion
Cupping therapy offers a unique approach to enhancing circulation, promoting mobility, and supporting recovery. While it has demonstrated various physiological benefits, it is essential to approach cupping with a clear understanding of what it can and cannot do. Working with a qualified practitioner ensures a safe and effective experience tailored to your specific needs.

Unlock your body’s full potential with Reflexive Performance Reset (RPR), a revolutionary system designed to enhance movement, optimize performance, and prevent injuries. Whether you’re an athlete, a fitness enthusiast, or someone struggling with chronic pain and tension, RPR helps reset your nervous system, activating optimal movement patterns for greater strength, mobility, and resilience.

RPR is a unique system of neurological wake-up drills that reprogram faulty movement patterns, ensuring that your body moves efficiently and pain-free. The method is based on the science of the nervous system, utilizing specific breathing techniques and manual activation of key points to restore proper muscular function. Unlike traditional stretching or strength training, RPR works by addressing the underlying neurological dysfunctions that cause compensation patterns, imbalances, and injury.

A core principle of RPR is its foundation in Thomas Myers’ Anatomy Trains, a groundbreaking system that maps the body's myofascial connections and how they influence movement and function. Myers’ research identifies the interconnected web of fascia that links muscles and joints, demonstrating that dysfunction in one area can lead to compensatory movement patterns elsewhere. RPR leverages this knowledge to reset these dysfunctional patterns, restoring efficiency and balance throughout the entire body.

RPR sessions involve targeted self-applied or practitioner-applied activations of key reflex points along the body’s fascial lines. By stimulating these points, RPR reactivates inhibited muscles and reestablishes proper neuromuscular sequencing. The process includes:

• Diaphragmatic Breathing – Resetting the nervous system through proper breathing patterns to promote relaxation and readiness.
• Manual Activation – Applying pressure to specific reflex points to wake up underperforming muscles and break compensatory cycles.
• Reprogramming Movement Patterns – Ensuring the body integrates the new movement patterns for long-term efficiency and injury prevention.

• Increased strength, power, and mobility
• Reduction in pain, stiffness, and chronic tension
• Faster recovery and enhanced athletic performance
• Improved posture and movement efficiency
• Injury prevention through optimized muscle function

RPR is for anyone looking to move and feel better. It is widely used by professional athletes, coaches, physical therapists, and fitness professionals to enhance performance and reduce injury risk. However, it’s equally beneficial for those experiencing chronic pain, desk workers with poor posture, and individuals recovering from injury.

RPR is already being used at the highest levels of sport, including the NHL, NFL, NCAA Track and Field, and elite sports teams around the world. Renowned strength coach Cal Dietz, author of Triphasic Training, has been implementing RPR principles with Olympic athletes for over two decades, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving strength, recovery, and injury prevention.

In addition to individual sessions, we offer large group training sessions for gym members, sports teams, and athletic associations. These sessions provide a structured and effective way to introduce RPR to entire teams, ensuring that every athlete moves and performs at their highest potential. Whether you’re a sports organization looking to enhance team performance or a gym seeking to improve member results, our group training sessions provide powerful, lasting benefits.

Our trained RPR practitioners are ready to help you unlock your body’s full potential. Whether you’re an athlete looking for an edge, a weekend warrior aiming for pain-free movement, or someone seeking relief from chronic discomfort, RPR is the key to moving better, feeling better, and performing better.

Contact us today to book your RPR session or schedule a group training and experience the power of a full-body reset!

The Postural Restoration Institute (PRI) is a revolutionary approach to physical therapy and movement rehabilitation that is rooted in osteopathic principles and a deep understanding of the body’s natural asymmetries. Unlike traditional methods that treat the body symmetrically, PRI recognizes that human anatomy is inherently imbalanced due to the asymmetrical placement of internal organs. The heart, liver, diaphragm, and lungs are not evenly distributed across the body, leading to a natural leftward orientation and specific movement patterns that influence posture, respiration, and neuromuscular control.

Due to differences in organ placement, the body develops predictable patterns of movement and muscle engagement. The diaphragm, for example, is larger and stronger on the right side, influencing ribcage position and breathing mechanics. This leads to a common compensatory pattern where individuals naturally shift weight onto their right side, reinforcing imbalances in posture and movement. PRI has categorized these asymmetrical tendencies into predictable patterns, the most notable being the Left Anterior Interior Chain (Left AIC) Pattern, the Right Brachial Chain (RBC) Pattern, and the Right Temporomandibular Cervical Chain (Right TMCC) Pattern.

• Left AIC Pattern: This pattern is characterized by a forwardly rotated left pelvis and a compensatory overuse of the right hip and leg for support. It results in difficulties shifting weight to the left side, leading to muscle imbalances, inefficient gait mechanics, and potential pain or dysfunction.
• Right Brachial Chain (RBC) Pattern: This upper-body pattern involves excessive reliance on the right arm and shoulder complex, often leading to forward shoulder positioning, limited thoracic mobility, and respiratory inefficiencies. This pattern is closely tied to compensatory breathing habits and can contribute to tension in the neck, shoulders, and lower back.
• Right Temporomandibular Cervical Chain (Right TMCC) Pattern: This pattern affects the neck, jaw, and cranial position. It often results in an imbalanced relationship between the cervical spine and the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), leading to jaw dysfunction, neck pain, headaches, and even issues with vision and balance.

The body's center of mass (COM) is a critical factor in movement efficiency and balance. PRI identifies how postural patterns influence where an individual's COM is located, which in turn affects how they interact with gravity. When these patterns become dominant, they can shift the COM in a way that promotes pathophysiological movement compensations, leading to inefficient movement mechanics, strain on specific joints and tissues, and increased risk of pain or dysfunction. Understanding and addressing these patterns helps restore a balanced COM, allowing for more fluid and pain-free movement.

PRI acknowledges that these postural patterns are not just mechanical but are deeply influenced by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), sensory input, and motor control. The brain and body develop these patterns as a means of efficiency, but over time, they can lead to chronic tension, poor movement quality, and pain. PRI interventions aim to restore balance by retraining the nervous system, improving sensory awareness, and re-establishing proper breathing mechanics.

A PRI-trained practitioner will perform a detailed and in-depth assessment to determine specific imbalances and compensatory patterns. This assessment typically includes:

• Postural Analysis: Observing standing and seated posture to identify shifts in the pelvis, ribcage, and head positioning.
• Respiratory Assessment: Evaluating breathing mechanics to determine how the diaphragm, ribcage, and accessory muscles function.
• Gait and Movement Evaluation: Assessing walking patterns and dynamic movements to observe asymmetries in weight shifting and muscle activation.
• Neuromuscular Testing: Identifying weaknesses or overactive muscles contributing to postural imbalances.
• Jaw and Cervical Alignment Examination (if necessary): Checking for Right TMCC patterns affecting jaw position, head tilt, and upper body compensation.

Following the assessment, treatment typically involves:

• Respiration-Driven Exercises: PRI emphasizes breathing techniques that restore proper diaphragm function, improve ribcage position, and promote balanced movement. Clients will learn how to breathe more efficiently to reduce muscular tension and improve overall function.
• Manual Therapy Techniques: Hands-on techniques may be used to release restrictive areas, improve mobility, and facilitate better neuromuscular control.
• Corrective Movement Strategies: Exercises are designed to help clients shift their weight properly, engage underutilized muscles, and break compensatory movement habits.

By integrating these strategies, PRI helps individuals achieve better posture, improved movement efficiency, and reduced pain or dysfunction. Whether you are an athlete, someone experiencing chronic pain, or simply looking to move and feel better, PRI offers a unique and highly effective approach to optimizing movement and restoring balance in the body.

If you’re interested in working with a PRI practitioner, you can expect a holistic, science-based approach that prioritizes breathing, postural alignment, and neuromuscular control to help you move and feel your best.

Dynamic Neuromuscular Stabilization (DNS) is a revolutionary approach to movement rehabilitation and performance optimization based on the principles of developmental kinesiology. Developed by Pavel Kolar and rooted in the scientific foundations of the Prague School of Rehabilitation, DNS focuses on restoring proper movement patterns by retraining the nervous system and muscular coordination to function as they did during early motor development.

The human body develops movement patterns from birth, gradually progressing through specific developmental positions that refine our ability to manage gravity, center of mass, and breathing. These foundational movements form the basis for proper neuromuscular control, postural stability, and coordinated function throughout life. DNS works by revisiting these early movement patterns to reprogram the body’s ability to move efficiently and without compensation.

DNS emphasizes the relationship between posture, breathing, and stability. A key aspect of movement dysfunction is the inability to properly control the body’s center of mass, which is often influenced by poor diaphragm function and incorrect muscular activation. The diaphragm plays a crucial role in stabilizing the spine and managing intra-abdominal pressure, both of which are essential for efficient movement and injury prevention. Through DNS, clients learn how to integrate proper diaphragmatic control, restoring functional breathing patterns and enhancing core stability.

Many individuals develop an "extension compression pattern," characterized by excessive spinal extension, tightness in the lower back, and compensatory movement strategies that lead to pain and dysfunction. DNS helps to identify and correct these imbalances by reestablishing the coordination of tonic (stabilizing) and phasic (movement) muscle groups. By engaging deep stabilizers and optimizing neuromuscular timing, DNS facilitates efficient, pain-free movement while reducing strain on the musculoskeletal system.

During early childhood, we progress through developmental positions that naturally teach us how to stabilize, coordinate movement, and interact with our environment. These positions—such as supine, prone, side-lying, quadruped, kneeling, and standing—provide an optimal framework for learning how to manage gravity, control our center of mass, and integrate breathing mechanics. DNS practitioners use these positions to reintroduce proper movement patterns, allowing clients to experience a more natural and efficient way to move.

A DNS session with a trained practitioner begins with a comprehensive assessment to identify movement dysfunctions, postural imbalances, and breathing inefficiencies. The practitioner will then guide the client through targeted exercises based on developmental positions, using hands-on facilitation to activate deep stabilizing muscles and improve neuromuscular coordination. Clients can expect:

• Education on proper breathing mechanics and diaphragm activation.
• Movement re-education using positions that promote optimal stabilization.
• Hands-on guidance to enhance muscle activation and postural control.
• Exercises tailored to address individual movement dysfunctions and performance goals.
• A focus on integrating these new movement patterns into daily activities and athletic performance.

By retraining the body to move as it was designed, DNS helps individuals overcome movement dysfunction, improve stability, and enhance overall function. Whether recovering from an injury, managing chronic pain, or striving for peak performance, DNS provides a comprehensive and scientifically grounded approach to optimizing movement and restoring natural motor control.