Impactful, Relaxing, Pain Relief
Structural Balancing (SB) is a clinical approach to balancing the body’s musculoskeletal structure using a variety of assessment and soft tissue techniques. SB significantly reduces or eliminates musculofascial imbalances and postural distortions that often cause chronic musculoskeletal pain and joint restrictions. These techniques include:
1) Assessment
2) Myofascial Release
3) Edgework
(Unlike deep tissue, edgework is slow, relaxing, and gentle deep work that should not cause pain and is more impactful because the therapist is applying pressure that approaches the edge of pain, discomfort, and secondary muscle guarding but does not cross the edge. This requires that the client be willing to help the therapist to know where their edge is throughout the session. When therapies are used that cross the edge, it usually creates more trauma and tension in the long run even if temporary relief is felt.)
4 ) Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation
(unique form of stretching and gentle resistance exercises that engage the nervous system)
5 Other various stretching techniques
(Sports stretches, Thai Yoga stretches, etc…)
5) Rock Pods or Cupping
6) Rock Tape or Kinesio Tape
The first two techniques, myofascial release and edgework, are the most commonly used during most SB sessions.
SB is founded on the principles taught by Kyle Wright.
Structural Balancing sessions will begin with establishing the desired goals and issues to be addressed, followed by an assessment that is tailored to the specific needs of the client. Depending on these needs, the assessment may include evaluation of posture, range of motion, pain patterns, and orthopedic assessments. Once the assessment is completed, the therapist will take a few moments to gather thoughts on what areas of the body to treat and what techniques to use based on what she/he has learned about the client. The therapist will then begin the hands on portion of the treatment with a flexible treatment plan that may change where needed as the session continues because the therapist will be constantly learning more and listening to the client and their bodies as they begin to interact with the tissues. Mg12’s magnesium balm is the lubricant typically used for SB due to is effectiveness at alleviating muscle spasms and the desired amount of sticking to the skin vs. gliding on the skin. SB can be experienced fully clothed or dressed down to comfort level with skilled draping of breast tissue and genitals.
Health challenges that can be helped by SB include but are not limited to:
~ chronic aches & pains ~
~ acute musculoskeletal injuries ~
~ lost range of motion (ROM) ~
~ arthritis, bursitis, tendinitis ~
~ poor posture ~
~ various forms of dysfunction (neuromuscular,
myofascial etc.) ~
~ deviations in leg lengths ~
~ distortions in the pelvis ~
~ functional scoliosis ~
~ extreme lordosis ~
~ kyphosis ~
~ forward neck / head posture ~
~ disc related problems ~
~ rotator cuff injuries ~
~ plantar fasciitis ~
~ pain in the …knee, hip, back, shoulder, neck ~
All of these health challenges, more often than not, have a soft tissue component that will be addressed within a SB session. Pain usually stems from muscular stresses, tensions & imbalances caused by one group or groups of muscles “locking short” while the opposing muscles are “locking long.”
Stresses and tensions within a muscle cause ischemia (reduced blood flow), hypoxia (reduced oxygen supply), and what Kyle Wright calls “neuromuscular discombobulation” (confusion between muscle fibers). If such muscular stress and imbalance is left untreated, it often leads to chronic pain. Such injuries very often result from repetitive motion, muscular overload, and poor posture.
Every person’s body and life experiences are different and therefore respond differently to different treatments and practitioners. Therefore, we do not promise specific results. SB may or may not be the treatment that works best for your body. However, most clients have varying degrees of positive results after 1-5 sessions.
To look further into your situation and explore what might be causing your pain or dysfunction or to schedule an appointment please call Kara Moon at 407-276-7678.
Other therapies that share pain relief characteristics are listed below so that search engines will help those seeking pain relief to find and consider Structural Balancing.
Medical Massage Therapy
Structural Bodywork
Therapeutic Massage
