Myofascial release is a gentle process of stretching, lengthening, and freeing the fascia from restriction. The fascia is the dense, tough tissue that surrounds and interconnects the body’s organs, muscles, and bones. Fascia can lose its pliability and become tight as a result of disease, overuse, trauma, infectious agents or inactivity, creating tension in parts of the body with resulting pain and restriction of motion. After an area of tightness is identified, a gentle stretch is applied until the tissue begins to relax. The process is repeated and the stretch is gradually increased until the area is fully released from restriction. Progress can be measured by a decrease in the patient’s pain and by improved range of motion and overall posture. 

A myofascial trigger point is the small, hard nodule “knot” in the muscle tissue that is tender to touch and may be felt in the middle of the tight muscle band. Trigger points can cause symptoms that may be quite distant from the actual painful area (referred pain). Dry needling involves the insertion of acupuncture needles into the trigger points to release the “knot,” relieve the pain, and increase the range of motion. Michèle incorporates trigger point dry needling as part of a complete therapy program combined with manual soft tissue release, stretching, and neuromuscular reeducation.

Visceral manipulation is a gentle and precise osteopathic manual therapy technique that facilitates the body’s natural ability to release restrictions, compensations, and pain caused by visceral dysfunction.  The visceral system refers to internal organs or “viscera.”  Its optimal health depends upon each organ’s inherent physiological, rhythmical movement, and connection to the musculoskeletal system through fascia and ligaments.  If an organ loses mobility due to physical trauma, surgery, lifestyle, infection, pollution, diet, or other factors, its natural physiological movement is altered.  When an organ’s movement is restricted, it brings stress by pulling on the musculoskeletal system via its fascial connection.  The body is forced to compensate, creating abnormal points of tension that result in chronic irritation, functional and structural problems, and pain.  Through soft manual pressure, visceral manipulation reestablishes normal mobility, tone, and motion of the viscera, as well as normalizes its connection with the musculoskeletal system.

The Graston Technique® is a therapy that utilizes instruments to move and stimulate soft tissue for treatment of adhesions, restrictions, scar tissue, and other fascial dysfunctions—also known as “instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization” or ISTM. This advanced technique is a patented therapy that utilizes contoured steel instruments for detection, isolation, and mobilization of lesions in the tissue. The treatment can be effectively used to assist patients with pain relief, mobility, and increased balance.

The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer can be both physically and emotionally overwhelming.  In the healing journey it is important to surround yourself with competent and caring practitioners.  After a lumpectomy, mastectomy, breast reconstruction, radiation, and/or chemotherapy, the body needs to recover physically, neurologically, physiologically, and emotionally.  An integrative approach offers more than improved motion and function of the affected body parts—the usual goals of conventional physical therapy.  A holistic focus helps to alleviate stress, rebalances your body both physically and emotionally, optimizes your recovery, and restores self-confidence.  Michèle offers a unique set of skills and knowledge that she tailors for each breast cancer patient before, during, and after treatment.