Research, Articles & Case Studies

 Physical Therapy Treatment for Facial and Jaw Pain Associated with Trigeminal Neuralgia Using Systemic Manual Therapy (SMT)
The article "Physical Therapy Treatment for Facial and Jaw Pain Associated with Trigeminal Neuralgia Using Systemic Manual Therapy (SMT)" explores an innovative approach to treating trigeminal neuralgia (TN)-associated facial pain through Systemic Manual Therapy (SMT). It examines how central sensitization and direct mechanical or circulatory compromise of the trigeminal nerve complex contribute to TN symptoms and evaluates various SMT protocols to determine their effectiveness.

The study uses a Hypothesis-Oriented Algorithm for Clinicians (HOAC) and Adaptive Platform Design (APD) approach, analyzing 85 patients treated with 99 different SMT protocol combinations. The findings suggest that 66% of patients reported significant improvement in TN-related pain and overall complaints, supporting the hypothesis that intermittent disruption of central sensitization loops can effectively reduce pain.

The study also identifies specific SMT protocols that provide the most significant relief, particularly those that target visceral input reduction, inflammatory activity shifting, and oxidative stress reduction. The authors recommend integrating these findings into clinical practice and call for future research using randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to strengthen the evidence base.

This study is on manual therapy protocols which includes Barral. It is conducted by a clinic in Tucson that uses Barral in their therapy.  It shows Manual therapy as more beneficial for hip pain than exercise. The study compares Systemic Manual Therapy (SMT) with exercise-based approaches in 449 patients over 556 episodes of care, showing a higher improvement rate with SMT (63%) versus exercise (54%).

The study also highlights Barral manual therapy for its role in reducing circulatory congestion and protective guarding in the abdominal and pelvic regions. Other techniques include Fascial Counterstrain (FCS), Integrative Manual Therapy (IMT), and Muscle Energy Techniques (MET).

Clinicians are advised to prioritize SMT techniques that enhance circulation, reduce sensitization, and restore joint mechanics. It also suggests shifting early rehabilitation toward cardiovascular and interval-based exercises rather than muscle loading and stretching.

  A pilot study led by Dr. Lisa M. Chavez and presented at the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians convention highlights the potential of CranioSacral Therapy (CST) in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).   The study involved 38 Tibetan ex-political prisoners, many of whom had experienced severe trauma and torture. Participants who received CST showed statistically significant reductions in anxiety and somatic complaints, especially among female participants.

This research suggests that CranioSacral Therapy offers a safe, non-verbal, and holistic approach to healing trauma and PTSD, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers.

Visceral Manipulation- Bells Palsy

IBS is a common gastrointestinal disorder that affects a patient for their entire life. Effective treatments for IBS are scarce, leading to an increased interest in alternative treatments such as osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT). OMT uses hands-on treatment to reduce pain through various methods. By focusing on visceral techniques, OMT can restore autonomic homeostasis and increase lymphatic flow. This literature review aims to investigate the efficacy of visceral OMT in reducing the severity of IBS symptoms.

Visceral Manipulation- Force Impact Profile

Massage Therapy for allergy relief (before and during symptoms) including that Massage Therapy:

• Relaxes the body, reducing stress that can exacerbate the symptoms of allergies

• Relieves neck and shoulder tension, which opens sinuses

• Moves lymph, which reduces irritation and inflammation

• Increases circulation

• Promotes a stronger and healthier immune system

There is such a wide spectrum of signs and symptoms a patient can exhibit from an array of antigens. Learning how the body is a unit, and discovering structure/function, you can facilitate self-correction for a wide variety of conditions.

I can’t resist presenting this new information that came forth in one of The Upledger Institute’s recent “The Brain Speaks” seminars. A practitioner was dialoguing with the “cerebellum” of a fellow classmate when the cerebellum reported it had many crystals within it that had to be kept clean by CSF washing. When these crystals get dirty, cerebellar function deteriorates in terms of motor, balance, memory, hearing association, and many other areas that generally go with old age.

At CST Partners, we have committed ourselves to a holistic healing approach that transcends conventional boundaries, addressing not only the mind, but also the body and spirit.CranioSacral Therapy, a cornerstone of our therapeutic offerings, is more than a physical intervention.

It is a gentle approach that accesses the deeper layers of Trauma, often held within the body, by engaging with the nervous system in a gentle non-invasive way.

Barral Manual Approach to the Brain Bibliography