physical therapist tony bare

The Fallacy of Plantar Fasciitis

Bare Physical Therapy bunion, Cortizone Injections, foot pain, Manual Physical Therapy, metatarsalgia, Orthotics, plantar fasciitis, Podiatrist , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Plantar fasciitis is such a problem that you can hardly conduct an image search for plantar fascia without returning mostly images of the plantar fascia with a big angry red splotch on the plantar fascia near the heel.

I recently watched a video on Facebook posted by one of my Physical Therapy peers on the topic of plantar fasciitis. I privately messaged him to let him know that I thought his presentation had missed some key points and his reply cited the Clinical Practice Guidelines for plantar fasciitis. There are some issues with that response from my standpoint:
1. The Clinical Practice Guidelines for plantar fasciitis are fairly useless in regards to “what to do” to treat plantar fasciitis and of some limited value in “what not to do”. They very accurately reflect current available research which is of little clinical value in this instance.
2. I’m concerned that my profession is so entranced by Evidence Based Practice (EBP) that they have stopped seeking information or guidance outside of what research has generated, and as a result their patients often suffer through suboptimal care and (pun intended) limp down the clinical plank of failed conservative care, injection and ill-advised surgery. I know this not what the developers of EBP-theory intended, but I’ve seen it just about daily on social media.
3. The research available on this topic is doing very little to help clinicians truly heal their patients of their foot pain. I would dearly love to pitch research ideas for anyone who has faculty connections.
Now off the Soap Box and on to clinical guidance…
– Plantar fasciitis is a misnomer, most of these patients don’t use their plantar fascia at all. A more appropriate term would be “Mechanical Heel Pain”. Typically, the origin of Mechanical Heel Pain is a poor initial contact in stance phase in which the contact is too medial in magnitude and/or duration. The medial aspect of the midtarsal joint, subtalar joint and calcaneus are very neural dense and do not tolerate this increased pressure well and eventually leads to heel/foot pain.

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– Unfortunately, a bad initial contact (as described above), has consequences throughout the foot and lower extremity that further perpetuate an inefficient gait cycle. Here are some examples: hallux abductovalgus (painful bunion), metatarsalgia, achilles tendinitis, medial knee pain (pes anserine, plica, etc), lateral hip pain (trochanteric bursitis, piriformis syndrome, etc) and SI dysfunction.
– The good news is that when you treat the cause (improve foot mechanics) and treat the tissue (manual therapy), the patients’ symptoms resolve very quickly…1-4 visits.
If you are a clinician reading this blog and you didn’t delete it from your feed after reading #2 above,  you have practiced long enough to be frustrated at heel and foot pain patients’ poor prognoses. Please consider attending a lower extremity biomechanical course, it will completely change your practice. I teach a 2 day course called Thinking on Your Feet. Of course, I’m biased and think mine is best, but there are some other good courses out there. Give one of them a chance and it will elevate your practice above the limitations of the current Clinical Practice Guidelines.
If you are a patient reading this blog, you may have had “mainstream” care for your foot pain which probably included: activity modification, exercises (strengthening/stretching), modalities (heat, ice, ultrasound), massage, shoe inserts, dry needling, injections or surgery. You have probably been nodding your head the whole time, because you know your foot pain isn’t completely (or any) better. Find a clinician with biomechanical training in this topic or contact me directly for advice at Tony@BarePT.com or find out more about my unique practice and skill set at Barephysicaltherapy.com

LTC Tony Bare (ret) DPT, ATC, OCS

Laramie, WY

How to Avoid Foot Surgery

Bare Physical Therapy foot pain, knee pain, Manual Physical Therapy, metatarsalgia, Orthotics, plantar fasciitis, Podiatrist , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

 

 

  Elective foot surgery is expensive, debilitating, time consuming, frequently unnecessary, and patients are often worse pain following surgery. Matter of fact, if you find anyone happy with an elective foot surgery you might also want to go ahead and buy yourself a lottery ticket…the odds are about the same. I always say, “there is NOTHING surgery can’t make worse”.   That is especially true in elective foot procedures.

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Has your surgeon told you that you need surgery for the following?

  •  Neuroma
  •  Bunion
  •  Hammertoe
  • Plantar fasciitis
  • or maybe because you had advanced degenerative Osteoarthritis?

Trust me, the surgery will not address the cause of any of the above pathology.  If you fuse, remove, dissect, or realign something in the foot without addressing the cause, you are just kicking the can down the road until you need surgery #2, #3, etc.

A brief bio on me to provide credibility on this subject:  I became the Army’s expert in lower extremity biomechanics and foot/ankle treatment specialist in 2000 and was honored to hold that position until my retirement in 2013.  I’ve attended 120 hours of continuing education in biomechanics and have taught courses all over the country.  I have also successfully treated thousands of patients in my career, relieving their pain and in countless circumstances, avoided the above mentioned surgeries.

The BARE NECESSITIES Do’s and Don’ts of foot pain…

The Don’ts

  1. Don’t see a podiatrist. Podiatrists are foot surgeons and they have little knowledge or inclination toward conservative treatment options.
  2. Don’t let anyone inject your foot. Cortisone injections are somewhat effective in treating foot pain, BUT they do NOTHING to address the cause of foot pain. As a result, when the steroid wears off the foot pain often returns worse than before.
  3. Don’t let anyone sell you a hard plastic arch support. Your foot was designed to bend and flex during the stance phase of gait, and it can’t perform correctly with a hard piece of plastic wedged under the arch. These “custom” arch supports are also expensive and rarely covered by health insurance.
  4. Don’t let anyone convince you that you just need to “stretch” more. Typically the most common cause of foot pain is an underlying instability… instabilities get WORSE with stretching even though it can feel a bit better short term.

The Do’s

  1. Do try a change of shoe. Many times replacing a worn out, or poorly fit shoe will be enough to start the healing process. If possible get advice on footware from a reputable shoe dealership (none of the chains) or medical professional with significant foot/shoe experience or training. If you are on your feet a lot (work, home, sports), don’t skimp on your shoes. You don’t need to spend a fortune, but the shoe market is competitive and you do get what you pay for.
  2. Do try a full length off-the-shelf shoe insert that you can usually get in a running shoe store for $40-$70. This is a semi-rigid arch support and will still allow your foot to flex and bend as it’s intended to, but will still provide some support.
  3. Do find a good manual therapist (Massage or Physical Therapist) to break up the adhesions that are likely contributing to the pain in your foot. If your therapist tries pushing “exercise” as the cornerstone of treatment and does no or very little manual therapy, go find a different provider. This condition cannot be fixed with exercise, though exercise can be a component of recovery…the main emphasis should be on manual therapy (not dry needling) to both lower extremities.
  4. If all else fails…Do find a biomechanical specialist to construct a custom biomechanical corrective orthotic (shoe insert) to address the underlying cause of your foot pain. These professionals are few and far between. I noted above how I became a specialist in this field, and here is a link to my website. You will find information on the difference between arch supports and biomechanical orthotics as well as examples of what I would need to conduct an assessment on you (video and other) if you happen to not live close to Colorado Springs.

Lastly, if you happen to find this blog AFTER you already had a surgery (or 4)…there is still hope. Follow these same do’s and don’ts and you will be amazed at your recovery!!

By LTC Tony Bare (ret), DPT, OCS, ATC

Visceral Therapy for stomach problems

Bare Physical Therapy abdominal surgery, Uncategorized , , , , , , , , , , ,

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How many people do you know who take medications for their abdomen on a regular basis? Stomach medications for heart burn, reflux or indigestion, intestinal medications for ulcers, constipation, diarrhea, or general digestive problems. How many have had their gall bladders removed?? What if there were fibrotic adhesions from illness or injury that may have occurred years earlier? Adhesions that were impacting the performance of the abdominal organs and causing them to be symptomatic?

These tissue adhesions can be treated with physical therapy, specifically visceral therapy in which tissue mobility and motility can be restored and stomach or intestinal symptoms can be resolved which may eliminate the need for medications.

Come to Bare Necessities PT…There is Hope…True Healing Exists!!

Testimonial from my patient Tyler:

I had severe stomach problems from the age of 12 to 17. Severe pain, nausea, constipation, and diarrhea were all symptoms that I lived with on a daily basis. I missed so much school that I was unable to graduate on time.  I had seen several doctors and specialists and was diagnosed with IBS, possible Crones disease and even parasites.  I was prescribed several different medications and supplements, as well as changed my diet, all with little to no relief.  I was told I would have to live with this for the rest of my life. I then was introduced to Tony.  Just three visits cured my problem and I no longer suffer or have to worry about how I’m going to feel each day. It has changed my life. THANK YOU TONY!

 

The Therapeutic Value of Visceral Manipulation

Visceral Manipulation (VM) was developed by world-renowned French Osteopath and Physical Therapist Jean-Pierre Barral. Comparative studies found Visceral Manipulation beneficial for various disorders

Digestive Disorders
Bloating and Constipation
Nausea and Acid Reflux
GERD
Swallowing Dysfunctions 

Emotional Issues
Anxiety and Depression
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

 Pain Related to
Post-operative Scar Tissue
Post-infection Scar Tissue
Autonomic MechanismsPediatric Issues
Constipation and Gastritis
Persistent Vomiting
Vesicoureteral Reflux
Infant Colic

VM assists functional and structural imbalances throughout the body including musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive and lymphatic dysfunction. It evaluates and treats the dynamics of motion and suspension in relation to organs, membranes, fascia and ligaments. VM increases proprioceptive communication within the body, thereby revitalizing a person and relieving symptoms of pain, dysfunction, and poor posture.

An integrative approach to evaluation and treatment of a patient requires assessment of the structural relationships between the viscera, and their fascial or ligamentous attachments to the musculoskeletal system. Strains in the connective tissue of the viscera can result from surgical scars, adhesions, illness, posture or injury. Tension patterns form through the fascial network deep within the body, creating a cascade of effects far from their sources for which the body will have to compensate. This creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body must move around, and this chronic irritation gives way to functional and structural problems.

Imagine an adhesion around the lungs. It would create a modified axis that demands abnormal accommodations from nearby body structures. For example, the adhesion could alter rib motion, which could then create imbalanced forces on the vertebral column and, with time, possibly develop a dysfunctional relationship with other structures. This scenario highlights just one of hundreds of possible ramifications of a small dysfunction – magnified by thousands of repetitions each day.

There are definite links between somatic structures, such as the muscles and joints, the sympathetic nervous system, the visceral organs, the spinal cord and the brain. For example, the sinuvertebral nerves innervate the intervertebral disks and have direct connections with the sympathetic nervous system, which innervates the visceral organs. The sinuvertebral nerves and sympathetic nervous system are linked to the spinal cord, which has connections with the brain. In this way someone with chronic pain can have irritations and facilitated areas not only in the musculoskeletal system (including joints, muscles, fascia, and disks) but also the visceral organs and their connective tissues (including the liver, stomach, gallbladder, intestines and adrenal glands), the peripheral nervous system, the sympathetic nervous system and even the spinal cord and brain.

Thanks to the dedicated work of Jean-Pierre Barral, a Physiotherapist (RPT) and Osteopath (DO), healthcare practitioners today can use the rhythmic motions of the visceral system as important therapeutic tools.

Barral’s clinical work with the viscera led to his development of a form of manual therapy that focuses on the internal organs, their environment and the potential influence on many structural and physiological dysfunctions. The term he coined for this therapy was Visceral Manipulation.

Visceral Manipulation relies on the palpation of normal and abnormal forces within the body. By using specific techniques, therapists can evaluate how abnormal forces interplay, overlap and affect the normal body forces at work. The goal is to help the body’s normal forces remove abnormal effects, whatever their sources. Those effects can be global, encompassing many areas of bodily function.

How Does Visceral Manipulation Help You?

Visceral Manipulation is used to locate and solve problems throughout the body. It encourages your own natural mechanisms to improve the functioning of your organs, dissipate the negative effects of stress, enhance mobility of the musculoskeletal system through the connective tissue attachments, and influence general metabolism. Today, a wide variety of healthcare professionals perform Visceral Manipulation. Practitioners include osteopathic physicians, allopathic physicians, doctors of chiropractic, doctors of Oriental medicine, naturopathic physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists, massage therapists and other licensed body workers.

How is Visceral Manipulation Performed?

Visceral Manipulation is based on the specific placement of soft manual forces to encourage the normal mobility, tone and motion of the viscera and their connective tissues. These gentle manipulations can potentially improve the functioning of individual organs, the systems the organs function within, and the structural integrity of the entire body.

Harmony and health exist when motion is free and excursion is full – when motion is not labored, overexcited, depressed, or conflicting with neighboring structures and their mobility. Therapists using Visceral Manipulation assess the dynamic functional actions as well as the somatic structures that perform individual activities. They also evaluate the quality of the somatic structures and their functions in relation to an overall harmonious pattern, with motion serving as the gauge for determining quality.

Due to the delicate and often highly reactive nature of the visceral tissues, gentle force precisely directed reaps the greatest results. As with other methods of manipulation that affect the body deeply, Visceral Manipulation works only to assist the forces already at work. Because of that, trained therapists can be sure of benefiting the body rather than adding further injury or disorganization.

*from the Barral Institute

hip and back pain during and after pregnancy

Bare Physical Therapy back pain, half marathon colorado springs, Manual Physical Therapy, pelvic pain , , , , , , , , , ,

 

Marnie – hip and back pain during and after pregnancy:

When I was four months pregnant, I started getting severe hip and back pain. I was as stiff as a board, no matter how much stretching I did, and I did a lot. I would get a pinched nerve near my tailbone so bad that I couldn’t lift my feet off the ground to walk. My hips felt like they were burning on fire. The mornings were the worse, when it felt like the wind got knocked out of me, my back and hips hurt so bad. I felt like I was 90 years old and there was nothing I could do about it.

I was in PT from four months pregnant until 10 months postpartum. I would feel better sometimes but it was only temporary, sometimes only half an hour, sometimes a couple of days. But nothing ever got better. Finally, a friend referred me to Tony.

Not only was Tony a kind and gentle person, he figured out what was structurally wrong with me and “fixed” it in one visit! It turns out, that during pregnancy, the hormones that let your hips open up also caused my sacrum to sort of drop down and get wedged underneath my hips and pelvis. There was no way for it to get out, until Tony and his wife teamed up and literally pulled it back out into the right place! It didn’t even hurt. I am still in shock every day that I was able to walk out of Tony’s office and not feel any pain! I will never be able to thank Tony enough for what he did for me. My life as a “90-yr old” in chronic, 24/7 pain is no longer a reality for me. I believe he works miracles!

To all the mamas out there who think that hip and back pain are just a normal part of pregnancy and giving birth, please believe me when I say, it is not normal. You can get help. You deserve to not be in so much pain!!

 

Emily: 34 Weeks Pregnant

I first came to Tony last Spring after visiting my chiropractor numerous times for my cramped neck and not feeling any relief. He was able to give me some tips and excercises that improved my neck pain in just a few visits. Because of my experience last spring I decided to go back a few weeks ago and have Tony work on my hip/ lower back area. I was 34 weeks pregnant and would cramp up so bad that I could hardly walk after laying down for a while. Again, it took just one visit to feel relief. I was amazed and slightly disappointed that I didn’t see Tony earlier in my pregnancy!! I had a chiropractor appointment scheduled for the following day. I knew I needed to explain that my hip felt much better after Tony’s adjustment. I asked that she wouldn’t adjust my hips so that it would stay in place. Unfortunately, she went right on and popped them like usual and undid the work that Tony and Amy had done. Thankfully I knew it could be fixed, so I came back to the Bare’s with the regret of seeing my chiropractor, and they were able to work their magic again. I love how they work together as a team and really truly want you to experience a pain free life. Thank you for all that you’ve done for me! I can’t express how greatful I am for your practice!

The Courses I’ve Taken and Taught on Biomechanics and Running

Bare Physical Therapy Arch Support, Orthotics , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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I recently returned for a Continuing Education Course on biomechanics of gait, running and rehabilitation titled: Running Rehabilitation and after this weekend my total hours of continuing education on gait stands at 120!!

  • 1996 Locomotor Biomechanics (8 hrs)
  • 1997 Orthotic Reaction (22 hrs)
  • 1998 Grinders & Glue (16 hrs)
  • 1998 Landing on Your Feet (8 hrs)
  • 1998 Current Concepts in Biomechanics (22 hrs)
  • 2000 When the Foot Hits the Ground (Lv2) (15 hrs)
  • 2001 The Running Course (15 hrs)
  • 2015 Running Rehabilitation (14 hrs)
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I certainly learned a couple things from my most recent course.  First, the science of running has certainly evolved in the last 14 years but the course also validated that all the work I invested to become a Subject Matter Expert in Biomechanics has certainly paid off.  To summarize that work I thought I’d list my teaching experience…
  • 1999-2000 I re-wrote 32 hours of gait and biomechanics for the Army-Baylor Physical Therapy Program.
  • 1999 University of Texas Health Science Center, Normal Gait (4 hours)
  • 1999 Balboa Naval Medical Center (Tricare Region IX), Lower Extremity Treatment Options (15 hours)
  • 2000 Etiology of Foot Pain, Health Care Providers in Bosnia (8 hours)
  • 2000  Army Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency, Normal Gait and Malalignments (15 hours).
  • 2002 Army Orthopedic Physical Therapy Residency, Normal Gait and Malalignments (15 hours).
  • 2002 Colorado Springs Air force and Army Cont. Ed.  Normal Gait, Malalignments and Orthotic Prescription (15 hours)
  • 2003 Hawaii APTA, Normal Gait, Malalignments and Orthotic Fabrication (15 hrs)
  • 2003 Army Sports Medicine Physical Therapy Residency, Normal Gait, Malalignments and Orthotic Prescriptions (15 hours).
  • 2005 Hawaii APTA, Normal Gait, Malalignments and Orthotic Fabrication (15 hrs)
  • 2007 Operation Iraqi Freedom Deployment Cont Ed. Foot Pain Management in a Deployed Setting. (8 hours).
  • 2009 Kentucky APTA, Normal Gait, Malalignments and Orthotic Fabrication (15 hours).
  • 2010 Texas APTA, Normal Gait, Malalignments and Orthotic Fabrication (15 hours).
  • 2011 Washington APTA, Normal Gait, Malalignments and Orthotic Fabrication (15 hours).
That is a total of just over 200 hours of teaching to hundreds Physical Therapy students, graduates and and post graduate specialists.  I don’t proclaim this accomplishment to brag about what I’ve done, but to give God glory for the opportunities He’s afforded me.  I’m also realizing I haven’t taught a course in 4 years…I need to get off my butt and put on another conference!! 🙂
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Gait Analysis for FIT4MOM Front Range Half Marathon Trainees

Bare Physical Therapy Orthotics , , , , , , ,

Amy here!

Tony and I are getting married THREE weeks from today! Here’s an engagement photo since I love it so much View More: http://halchakphotography.pass.us/untitled-export-7

Tony and I had the honor of seeing about 35 of the FIT4MOM Front Range half marathon trainees this last month. I own the FIT4MOM Front Range franchise. We offer fitness for all stages of motherhood from Parker to Fort Collins. We have nearly 30 instructors and several hundred moms attending our classes, making up an amazing community of support, fitness and the village it takes to raise kids AND moms. Tony and I are able to combine our professions in order to serve these moms even better.

We have been offering 5K, 10K and half marathon training for the last several years with great success. In 2015 we had over 200 moms go through our running training programs. I’m a marathoner myself so this is definitely a passion of mine and since Tony is a biomechanics expert and one of only a few people in the country fabricating orthotics the way he does I wanted to make sure our moms were given the opportunity for an evaluation with him. I’m always looking for ways to improve our programs and add value so it only made sense to incorporate Tony into the program.
As part of the fall half marathon training we offered a free gait and shoe evaluation with Tony for each registered participant. Each mom that signed up got 15-20 minutes one on one (well, two on one since I was there too) with Tony. He evaluated feet, marked them, watched them walk, checked out shoes and gave recommendations. Some were as simple as ‘keep doing what you are doing’ while others needed shoes changes and some were offered a custom orthotic. We really tried to educate each mom on her mechanics, her body, her shoes and to answer any and all questions. The main goal was to reduce injury and provide them with the resources to run a successful and easy half marathon.

We spent two days in Loveland  and saw 17 Fort Collins and Greeley group moms and a day in Denver seeing another 18. It was pretty awesome to meet all these moms face to face and to hear their stories, their struggles, their progress and their goals. We are looking forward to incorporating the evaluations into each running training that we have moving forward. Tony and I really enjoyed being able to work together on something that we both are very passionate about but it was a really fun time seeing all the moms.

Thank you to all the moms that came to see us!

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Examining and marking the foot

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The two of us  watching mom walk to analyze gait

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Tracing for measurements and prescription

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BONUS! Mama Cameron was injured so she came to see us!

If you want to know more about Tony’s experience and background with orthotic fabrication go HERE

Read more about orthotics and the Fallacy of Arch Supports

My Orthotic History and Experience

Bare Physical Therapy Orthotics , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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In 1996 I had been a physical therapist for 2 years and I left my assignment at Ft. Campbell, KY to attend a 2 week continuing education course at Ft Sam Houston, TX. During the course a man named Michael Cane taught 8 hours on gait, biomechanics and orthotics. It was completely over my head. I was so angry that Physical Therapy school had completely failed to teach anything useful on the subject, that I was on a mission to remedy the situation. I took a Michael Cane’s 3 day course, another 3 day course taught by a Podiatrist and another by an Orthotist. I took another 3 courses and dove into the research…in 1998 I re-wrote the curriculum of lower extremity biomechanics, gait and orthotic treatment for Baylor University. By 2001 I had become the Military’s gait and biomechanics expert (across all services) and was a guest instructor in 2 different Graduate PT programs and 2 different clinical residencies. I developed my own 3 day continuing education course and I have taught it all over the country.

IMG_2426Orthotic magic

                                               Bosnia, Camp Eagle, 2000

God provided a perfect environment for me to become the expert described above… I grew up working for my dad as a machinist, so I had a comfort level with building and machine work. The Army provided me with an endless supply of Soldiers not biomechanically designed to run or march. I had access to some of the best orthotic labs in the nation, mentoring by orthotists with decades of experience and plenty of supplies. My skills were honed and I still learn from every patient I evaluate and treat. Every patient is so very unique. I’ve made over 5000 pair of orthotics. I’ve made orthotics for patients as young as 6 and as old as 96, patients who are Olympic track and field athletes, recreational and high school athletes and patients just struggling to walk without a cane or crutches.

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Do you have pain in your back, hips, knees, shins, ankles or feet? Have you a bag full of orthotics that didn’t help your pain in the past? If I evaluate you, you will see my evaluation will be comprehensive, I will explain to you what is working and not working throughout your stride and if an orthotic can help you. I will provide a comfortable and affordable device and you will have the chance to finally turn that page in the chapter of your life.

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Want more information?
See my Fallacy of Arch Supports article

LTC Tony Bare (ret) DPT, ATC, OCS
Physical Therapist
Colorado Springs, CO

Custom Orthotics By Providing Video Gait Analysis

Bare Physical Therapy achilles tendonitis, Arch Support, bunion, foot pain, knee pain, metatarsalgia, Orthotics , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I’ve had a lot of interest in my Bare Necessities  Custom Orthotics (arch supports or shoe inserts) from people across the country and I’ve had good success making them based off the information below. If you’ve read my post on the Fallacy of Arch Supports, you know that one of the components of my exam that makes the orthotic successful is the dynamic gait analysis, so if I’m provided the video footage I’ll have great insight into your biomechanics and if they need any help or correction.

The good news is that I’ll assess your videos FREE!! All I need is 10 second clips of you walking barefoot on the treadmill from behind and from each side.   Just do your best to walk on the treadmill at your comfortable walking pace.  Take video footage of the following angle/level  (including both sides/foot):

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I’ll need a tracing of your foot next to a ruler. See picture below (it doesn’t have a ruler but you’ll need a ruler next to your tracing).  The tracing will let me know what size of orthotic to make and I’ll have an idea what adaptations your biomechanics have forced your foot to make and that will be even more information helping to guide my orthotic prescription.

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IMG_2431The orthotics themselves are only an average cost of $85 plus $10 shipping and handling, so send me your videos and get on the road to pain free walking or running.

Now that we are relocating to Laramie, WY please refer your Colorado Springs friends to this post.

Please email me your video and foot tracing to tony@barept.com

LTC Tony Bare (ret), DPT, ATC, OCS
Physical Therapist
Laramie, WY

Hands and Manual Therapy

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IMG_2418When was the last time a health care provider put his or her hands on you?   Even my profession of physical therapy has largely gone away from 1:1 care and what little time you get with your therapist is increasingly spent hooked up to a machine or doing exercises. There is a place for machines and for exercises but the most dramatic healings in my 20+ year career have always occurred from direct hands-on techniques. Why, if manual therapy is so effective, is my profession moving away from it? It’s largely driven by the staggering decline in insurance reimbursement. In order for clinics to stay open they have to see so many more patients that there just isn’t enough time to provide much or any hands-on care.

Fortunately, working out of my home, I’m able to charge much less and provide you an hour of experienced hands-on treatment for only $75.00, not much more than you would pay for an hour of massage!

Are you tired of hurting? Have you given up hope? Come see what my manual therapy techniques can do for you!

LTC Tony Bare (ret) DPT, ATC, OCS
Colorado Springs, CO

Cranial Therapy Success for Non-Sleeping Toddler

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My daughter had never been a good sleeper and at age 2.5 she was waking up every few hours throughout the night. Her naps were only to 30-45 minutes max in the afternoon.  Her restlessness at night was accompanied by screaming bouts when she would wake up and when I say screaming  I do not mean an upset cry.  She was inconsolable.  She was screaming a cry you could not ignore and she could not express to us what was going on.  We were unsure if she was having nightmares or was sick or in pain, but it was even more extreme than that.  She would shoot straight up in bed.  When that happened It was extremely difficult to get her back to sleep, so many nights we would bring her into our bed to try to calm her and soothe her.

She would fall asleep on my chest but it was never a restful sleep.  Once we got her back to sleep it was a very light and restless sleep where she would toss and turn for hours and have bouts of screaming throughout the night.  The only place she was able to rest her head and get a little shut-eye was on my chest.  With all of this you can only imagine that we were a little tired to say the least.  On top of that we had a 2.5 year old that was exhausted and beyond cranky.  She had a very short temper and was overstimulated very easily.  This made for very long days and even longer nights.

It was suggested that we try cranial therapy and at that point I was open to trying anything.  I was skeptical that it would produce results but figured we had hit rock bottom so worst case scenario nothing would change.

My daughter relaxed to Tony’s touch pretty quickly and pretty soon fell asleep on my chest (snoring) as he was working on her head.  That was a sound that I had not heard too often and definitely not in the past 6 months. That afternoon she napped for an hour and a half.  That evening she only woke one time, without tears, and we were easily able to get her back to sleep in her own bed.  She slept until 7 am that morning.  Within a few days we actually had a full night of sleep with no wake-ups and she woke up happy and rested in her own bed. To top it off she had even taken a 3 hour nap that afternoon!
For anyone that has a child that doesn’t sleep you know how huge this is!  She was more pleasant during the day and began to explain her frustrations instead of just being cranky and throwing horrible tantrums.  It has been 5 nights since her treatment and we have had more sleep than I remember having in a long time!  She is napping well and has a much better demeanor.  She does not fight naps or bedtime and actually likes her bed again.
I am a true believer!  Tony is a healer!  We are so thankful for the treatment!  Anyone that is having sleep issues should definitely see Tony!
IMG_1661Mike, Jill and their (sleeping at night!) daughter Brooklyn
Jill is the FIT4MOM Front Range Membership and Special Programs Coordinator as well as the Littleton Stroller Strides and Body Back instructor and running coach. They are expecting baby #2 in September!