Many thanks to Liz who has provided us with a beautifully written, insightful account of her recent experience with North Shore Structural Integration …

I realised my rehab bar was low when I got excited I could close the car door using my left arm. Intensive shoulder and abdominal surgery two years ago had left me with severely restricted movement. I was resigned to never having full movement back.

Pilates, exercises and swimming only got me to around 90% of my prior range. That seemed okay. I could still reach the top shelf in the kitchen and closing the car door became a veritable breeze. There wasn’t anything I couldn’t do (unless you count Monkey Bars).  It was only standing with both arms extended that I could tell; my arm didn’t reach as far back and could never properly straighten.

We all get used to what we believe is our new normal, post-surgery or injury. But we often forget that today is just a moment in time for our bodies. We must use them for the rest of our lives. Minor creaks and squeaks can easily deteriorate into major groans and moans as we age (which is the objective remember?) If you have scarring somewhere in your body however old, it might be this and not the usual signs of ageing that’s restricting your movement. All scars, including even the simple childhood ones, have a lifelong effect on the body as the fibrous tissue can spread in all directions. Both body movement and function, including joints and organs, can become limited over time.

Good news is at hand ….. it’s called Structural Integration and Facial Scar Treatment. (First a little background on what this is):

“Structural Integration therapy focuses on the body’s fascia, the band of connective tissue beneath the skin that attaches, stabilizes, encloses, and separates muscles and other internal organs. Fascial manipulation redirects our anatomical building blocks towards their correct position. A properly aligned body moves with pain-free ease and efficiency.
The therapy produces remarkable results when treating scar tissue, both the external and the invisible internal stuff.

Scars stress the Autonomic Nervous System, (ANS) the system which regulates the involuntary automatic functions of the organs and body parts. Those on the surface of the body have been proven to cause hidden disturbances in the functioning of the ANS.

In severe cases, fascial restrictions create abnormal strain patterns that can squeeze or pull bones out of proper alignment. Joints become compressed, painful and dysfunctional. Nerves, veins and arteries can also become entrapped.” Source – Liane Geeves –  NSSI Website 

My own scarring was extreme but livable, I thought – it was the best I could do so it would have to do. Fascial scar treatment with Liane at North Shore Structural Integration soon changed my mind. After only two sessions, my left arm and shoulder had a greater range of movement than my right. I could scarcely believe my eyes and kept around throwing my arms up to test the truth of it. Fascial release work on my abdominal scar also freed it, effectively ‘breaking up’ the scar tendrils that had crept out to join the scars higher up. I have restored sensation to areas previously numb. A straighter hip now makes for better balance and less weight on my left foot and knee. The best part is the changes are permanent; once the fascia is in the right spot it won’t move again. Industry guidelines require scars should be at least six months old to ensure healing has completed but after that you are good to go. Each consult is highly specific to the individual’s body and problem areas.

It’s impossible to quantify just how miraculous the change in my body has been. My only regret is that I didn’t have the therapy sooner.

If you’d like to find out more about Structural Integration or Fascial Scar treatment, please contact Liane Geeves on 0400 012 693.