ANN BERNARD R.C.S.T.®, I.M.T.,C.

CranioSacral Therapy, Manual Therapy. Guelph.

Your Concerns

Your personal health concern is the reason you are seeking a solution. CranioSacral Therapy and Manual Therapy are

These are some examples from my practice. All names are pseudonyms and are included with the permission of the client.

Pain in the low back and leg
With three children all active in sports activities, Barbara spent many hours a day driving her SUV. Increasing problems with low back and sciatic pain were making driving difficult and pain was interrupting her sleep. Assessment indicated structural dysfunction in the hip joints and some tensions in the abdomen. These were corrected. The seat in her SUV was engineered for a taller person and was angled incorrectly for her. She had this seating adjusted. Barbara returned for treatment for neck and shoulder pain about one year later. This was also resolved. She has not returned for further treatment in the last four years.
Low back pain
Vincent had experienced transient pain in his low back and leg three times in his life. One giant sneeze turned this into a knife like pain and immobilized him in bed for several weeks except for trips to the bathroom. Treatment focused on discs, nerve roots and muscles in his low back, hip and leg. As he became mobile, it became obvious that his method of walking was incorrect and was stressing the discs in his low back. He is working on correcting this with his Physiotherapist. It has taken three months, but he is now pain free and back at work full time.
Low back pain
Rosemary and Susan both had sacral iliac joint pain resulting from soft tissue manipulations. They both responded to gentle corrective treatment that took one session each and have had no more problems
Pain in multiple locations, sleep and digestive disturbances
Liz has had Fibromyalgia starting after pneumonia in 1984. Pain, sleep problems, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and lack of energy had changed her life style from involvement in many community activities to depression and isolation. She had many structural malalignments that took time to resolve. Gradually, as her body structure corrected, her health improved, and symptoms lessened. Now, four years later, she is again involved in multiple community activities. Pain and IBS are no longer problems. Although neither of us would state that the Fibromyalgia has been cured, it is evident that it is no longer spoiling her ability to live her life fully and enjoy it.
Pain in the face and jaw, headaches
Three simultaneous root canal procedures that had become infected required multiple visits to the dentist. Rachel was left with pain in her jaw, grinding teeth, clicking jaw, headaches, hearing impairment and dizziness. Treatment corrected imbalanced muscle tensions and torsions within the cranium. All symptoms resolved in three treatments and have not returned.
Crooked nose
Simon was getting married. While playing hockey in his youth he was hit in the face with a hockey puck resulting in a crooked nose. He said it was disconcerting to see his nose all the time and he would prefer to have a straight nose for his wedding photographs. One treatment made him appropriately photogenic.
Chronic hiccups
Mark, age 14, had several viral infections within a three month time period. He developed spasms (an exaggerated form of hiccups) of the upper body, neck and head that were diagnosed as Tics, or Tourette’s Syndrome. He responded adversely to medications. Herbal remedies were not improving his condition. Treatment was challenging but he responded to cranial therapy that focused on treating infection in a specific area of his brain. Two years later, Mark is successfully continuing his academic and athletic ambitions with no hiccups.
Stress and general ill health
Pat retired from teaching in a state of stress and exhaustion. She has been coming for treatment to improve her multiple health concerns. Treatment has focused on finding and fixing whatever her body indicates to be its primary concern for that day. She no longer has asthma, food allergies, headaches and tensions around her eyes. Her vision has improved. Her levels of internal tension are lessening. She is enjoying having the time and energy to pursue her many interests.
Stress. Finger injury
Sara leads a stressful life. With a chronically sick person in her family and a high powered job, her stress levels can accumulate. Sara comes for treatment once every 4 – 5 weeks to contain her levels of stress and to maintain her health status which remains good. She dislocated the last joint of her middle finger. This did not respond to splinting or to Physiotherapy but did respond to a specific technique that addresses joint dislocation. Working on the computer is no longer a problem.
Arthritis
Joseph has had OsteoArthritis in all leg joints since 1984 plus Rheumatoid Arthritis. His gait was rolling and his ability to walk was limited to a few blocks. His goals were to walk up and down stairs normally and be able to walk a useful distance. He comes for treatment during the winter months only. Although his joints remain stiff with restricted movement, Joseph is walking with a normal gait, distance has increased to almost unlimited, improvements in his posture have increased his height and his good health is obvious. He is another client who has multiple interests and is actively pursuing them.
Hip joint displacement
Margaret was born with bilateral hip displacement. At age 23, she had hip replacement surgery, which, 7 years later had disintegrated. She was having difficulty walking and was experiencing a lot of pain almost everywhere but predominantly in her legs. Her gait was incorrect. Treatment focused on many issues. After her pain symptoms were resolved and as many structural corrections had been made as were possible, she went on to Feldenkreis Therapy. This modality taught her to walk correctly. This was a skill she had never experienced due to her lifelong hip displacement.
Low achiever
Brian was a slow child. Although of normal intelligence, he was slow to pass all developmental milestones and his school career was disastrous. Assessment indicated restrictions in the membrane system within the base of the skull and brain. Correcting these allowed Brian to use his abilities and he is now operating his own company. He continues to need occasional treatment to maintain the corrections within his head. Asymmetry of his face has been a concern but treatment has corrected bone alignment and joint mobility resulting in a facial rebuild. This has not only been aesthetic, but also improves his TMJ and dental function.
Learning Disability
Gunther has Attention Deficit Disorder. Assessment indicated multiple restrictions in the membranes and sutures of his head. This compression has restricted blood flow and thus impaired the nutrition available to his brain tissue. Treatment has been ongoing and long term. Possibly due to a birth injury, his condition has been resistant to change. But progress has been made and Gunther now has long term career goals and is taking good care of himself in his daily life. Short term memory, attention, concentration and planning are noticeably improved.
Headaches, Migraines
Kayla has experienced headaches and migraines continuously since childhood. Assessment indicated restrictions within the membrane system of her head. As these restrictions have released, migraines have reduced. This situation could have been caused by infection with high temperatures that she had at about one year of age. At this time, Kayla is not experiencing any migraines but does have headaches triggered by tension. We will continue to try to resolve this situation.
Headaches, Migraines, Bullying
Mary has also had headaches and migraines starting in her 13th year and suspected them to be hormonal in origin. However, treatment revealed that she experienced bullying and ostracism in her 13th year. Treatment helped her release these painful memories and resolve them permanently. Her headaches are reducing in intensity and duration at all times of the month.
Childhood Abuse
Catherine was abused a young child. She has experienced chronic health problems all her adult life. The memories of the abuse surfaced continually during treatment and were expressed and dispersed. She is now free of the emotional effects of this experience. Her general physical health has improved but needs to improve some more. Continuing treatment with the “find it and fix it” procedure should resolve this as they have with Pat. She is currently responding well to CranioSacral Therapy.
Anxiety
Jennifer is a wife, a mother and a daughter. She is also an employer, a volunteer and a socialite. She has had a condition that is named Anxiety. 24 hours after being treated with a specific strategy that addresses anxiety, the condition lifted and has not returned. Life’s problems are back in proportion.
Whiplash
Alex is a musician. After being in a minor car accident, he had whiplash and a seat belt injury. The pain in his neck, arms and shoulders, low back was affecting his ability to function in his daily life and his ability to play musical instruments. All symptoms were resolved in 15 hours of treatment and within the contract with the insurance company.
Trauma
These are some shorter and more explainable of the cases histories from my personal files. The more complex cases usually involve trauma mostly from motor vehicle accidents. These are total body injuries with multiple symptoms. Even if someone is walking around and talking after an accident, they can still be seriously injured and be experiencing a lot of functional difficulties. Many of the systems in the body can be affected such as the skeleton, internal organs, and the brain. The ability to function in this society is governed by the efficiency of the brain. An accident that involves the head, neck and back can be extremely serious.