Structural Therapy

Introduction

          Cranial, Craniosacral, Myofascial and Integrative Manual Therapy are a series of hands on techniques that are used to change the structure of the body. Just as a therapist performs range of motion on an arm or leg to increase how much an extremity moves, similar techniques can be performed on the individual bones, muscles, connective tissue, nerves, arteries, veins, organs, glands and immune system. There are many, many training programs in manual therapy. At the clinic, we educate our therapists in a variety of techniques to increase our flexibility in meeting the needs of our children.

            While this treatment may not look like therapy because it involves light touch, treatment requires knowledge of anatomy and physiology. The more extensively one understands these subjects, the better able the therapist is able to place the hands in the correct anatomical location and feel where they are working. Occupational therapists have considerable training having completed gross anatomy and advanced physiology courses as a part of educational requirements.

Treatment

          Our child centered approach, experience and psychological training as occupational therapists creates a pleasant experience for the child. Many children that are fearful of touch or laying down on a table readily cooperate. Our training in sensory integration has given us many techniques that make the child comfortable. The more quietly a child can lay upon the table, the easier it is for the therapist to feel what is happening in the body. Because we mostly work with children our ability to feel what is going on with someone who is moving is often more confident then therapists that work with adults. Also, mobility of tissue is finer in children and more difficult to detect. Most often we combine structural therapy with functional activity (sensory integration/play) in the clinic. This allows the child to incorporate the changes made in the body more permanent and useful immediately. Additionally, we have experience working with psychologists and social workers in assisting progression of therapy with adults and children that have experienced emotional trauma.

Assessment

·        Range of motion/posture

·        Cerebral spinal fluid flow amplitude and frequency

·        Myofascial tissue movement and position

·        Arcing

Techniques vary upon therapist training and are ongoing during a treatment session.

Results

            We can rarely measure the functional results of a therapy session on children we see at the clinic. When we do sensory integration following manual therapy, often the child will be more organized, focused, and be less hyperactive in the clinic play environment. Feedback from parents following the treatment sessions are our best measure. Some results can be observed in just one or two sessions. Parents have reported:

• Improved speech and language
• Decreased anxiety
• Increased ability to express emotion appropriately
• Improved handwriting
• Decreased tactile defensiveness
• Improved attachment
• Decreased irritability/fussiness
• Decreased reflux
• Decreased colic
• Better self care and play skills
• Improved cooperation
• Decreased aggression
• Increased eye contact
• Fewer headaches
• Decreased vertigo/dizziness

Home           What is Sensory Integration Dysfunction?              Signs and Symptoms

Evaluation              Treatment              Sensory Integration Vocabulary

Some Helpful Links          Our Therapists      Location       Site Map    

Sensory Systems Clinic, P.C.

30801 Jefferson Ave.

St. Clair Shores, MI   48082

Phone:  (586) 293-7553