About physical medicine
Physical medicine focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions through the use of physical means. At Cascade Integrative Medicine, we aim to help patients regain mobility, alleviate pain, and improve overall function. Our physical medicine providers use a range of techniques including exercise, manual therapy, and assistive devices to treat conditions. They may also use modalities such as heat, cold, and electrical stimulation to manage pain and promote healing. Physical medicine can be used in conjunction with other forms of medical treatment to provide a comprehensive and integrative approach to patient care.
About physical medicine
Physical medicine focuses on the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of musculoskeletal and neurological conditions through the use of physical means. At Cascade Integrative Medicine, we aim to help patients regain mobility, alleviate pain, and improve overall function. Our physical medicine providers use a range of techniques including exercise, manual therapy, and assistive devices to treat conditions. They may also use modalities such as heat, cold, and electrical stimulation to manage pain and promote healing. Physical medicine can be used in conjunction with other forms of medical treatment to provide a comprehensive and integrative approach to patient care.
Physical medicine services
At Cascade Integrative Medicine, we provide the following physical medicine services:
Visceral manipulation
In a healthy body, the tissues that connect organs, muscle, fascia, and bones are stable and resilient despite the variety of motions the body experiences. However, when an organ’s natural range of movement becomes restricted as a result of adhesion or displacement, this can affect the motion and function of the other tissues it is connected to. This leads to areas of physical dyfunction that can give rise to chronic pain or disease states.
Visceral manipulation is a manual, physical medicine technique that identifies and resolves visceral areas of tension or dysfunction. Our naturopathic doctors apply gentle, manual and rhythmic force to the viscera to evaluate how abnormal connections are affecting the internal organs. Visceral manipulation can improve function, restore normal movement, and restore the structural integrity of the viscera.
Visceral manipulation has been shown to be effective in the treatment of a range of conditions including:
- Acute injuries, including whiplash and seatbelt injuries as well as sports injuries involving the chest or abdomen
- Digestive disorders, including bloating, constipation, nausea, acid reflux, and GERD
- Men’s and Women’s health issues, including incontinence, prostate dysfunction, referred testicular pain, chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, fibroids and cysts, and dysmenorrhea
- Musculoskeletal disorders, including somatic-visceral connections, chronic spinal dysfunction, sciatica, headaches, migraines, carpal tunnel, and peripheral joint pain
- Chronic pain associated with post-operative or post-infection scar tissue
Craniosacral therapy
Craniosacral therapy is a type of manual therapy that focuses on the bones and tissues in the cranium and sacrum. It is based on the idea that the movements of cerebrospinal fluid in the skull can affect the body’s central nervous system, and that this fluid can be manipulated to alleviate symptoms of various conditions. Craniosacral providers use gentle touch and manual manipulation to encourage the fluid to flow freely and promote balance in the body. It is commonly used to treat conditions such as headaches, neck pain, stress and anxiety, and chronic pain. Patients typically lie down on a an examination table during craniosacral therapy sessions, which can last 15- 30 min.
Craniosacral therapy is used to treat of a range of conditions including:
- Migraines and headaches
- Chronic neck and back pain
- Stress and tension-related disorders
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) syndrome
- Central nervous system disorders
- Scoliosis
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Infant and childhood disorders such as colic and sleep problems