Pregnancy,
childbirth, and motherhood bring about significant changes in a womans
body-mind-spirit. These changes too often lead to preventable
respiratory and musculoskeletal dysfunctions, joint aches, and pains
created by poor mental/postural habits, tightness, muscle imbalances,
inefficient respiratory patterns, unhealthy muscle recruitement
patterns, and chronic overuse. Do not accept these discomforts as a normal result of pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood.
Michelle
Maniaci is an expert in the analysis and treatment of respiratory,
musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, neuromuscular, postural, and movement
dysfunctions. She perceives
dysfunctions as opportunities for her clients to gain self-awareness
and a deeper understanding of how we move, breathe, and posture. The
self-knowledge gained through Integrative Physical Therapy empowers
individuals to function throughout their daily life activities
utilizing healthy muscle and respiratory recruitment patterns with
benefits for a lifetime. Individuals also simultaneously learn to
activate their innate healing mechanisms and to prevent recurring of
injury. From this more peaceful and balanced state, we can offer the
best environment for our babies to grow and develop. This is how we
can begin to consciously create a healthier next generation while also
enjoying pregnancy, childbirth, and motherhood to the fullest.
provides you with
effective, personalized treatment programs, evidence based therapeutic
exercises, and musculoskeletal & postural screenings so you may
learn to move with ease, and enjoy your pregnancy, birth, and
post-partum recovery to the fullest. Michelle's
unique background in physical therapy, yoga therapy, therapeutic
massage, and dance provided in a nurturing environment offers a
special opportunity to find transformational healing, rehabilitation,
and comfort.
Programs are also available for high risk
pregnancies, women on bed rest, and for relieving pain resulting from
C-sections or episiotomy scars.
Tailored
specifically for your body's needs, therapeutic exercise programs
combine traditional physical therapy with yoga therapy, therapeutic
belly dance, energetic medicine, aquatic therapy, and massage to offer
you a complete body-mind-spirit workout.
Research studies have shown that exercise:
Reduces the risks of gestational diabetes
Improves aerobic and muscular fitness
Enhances maternal psychological well being
Facilitates an easier labor and delivery
Faster recovery from labor
According
to an NIH study, Yoga has been shown to be an effective treatment for
chronic low back pain. Michelle Maniaci integrates this series of yoga
postures and breathing exercises with therapeutic dance when working
with individuals with low back pain.
The Maniaci Method
strengthens and trains abdomino-pelvic muscles based on current
research in biomechanics. Strong deep abdominal and pelvic muscles
properly recruited in coordination with ventilatory strategies position
baby and internal organs optimally, support the growing uterus, prevent
low back pain, improve posture, improve skin elasticity, pelvic
mobility, & aid in the "sliding" part of labor. Exercises promote
optimal postpartum recovery & cardiopulmonary fitness.
During
the postpartum time, exercises are taught to get target areas back in
shape, burn fat, trim your waist line, while also promoting healthy
movement patterns that stabilize low back & pelvis and promote
optimal organ functioning & positioning. In addition, individuals
learn healthy movement patterns, core and respiratory muscle
strengthening & training, cardiovascular & endurance training,
as well as proper positioning and body mechanics for feeding baby,
carrying baby, etc.
Physical Therapy with Michelle includes:
1. Analysis and identification of ventilatory, neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary impairments and imbalances.
2.
The establishment of goals and the use of a variety of approaches to
facilitate the achievement of an individuals functional goals. Goals
are ongoing and re-assessed and established as medically necessary.
3.
Co-creating movement solutions and the learning of healthy and
efficient muscle and respiratory recruitement patterns for optimal
functioning unique to the individuals Activities of Daily Living.
Michelle uses the following treatment tools to assist you in attaining your treatment goals:
joint
mobilization, therapeutic massage, muscle energy techniques,
neuromyofascial release, pain management, postural and respiratory
muscle coordination and training, neuromuscular re-education, core
stabilization techniques, neuro-developmental treatment (NDT), balance
and coordination training, movement and awareness training, functional
exercise integration, strengthening and lengthening exercises,
mind-body relaxation techniques, and patient education to facilitate a
deeper self understanding on the path to healing.
If you have any of the following during pregnancy physical therapy is indicated:
SI joint dysfunction
Lower Back Pain
Upper Back and Neck Pain
Hip pain
Groin Pain
Leg Varicosities
Disuse/Muscle weakness
Abdominal and postural muscle weakness
Poor Posture
Tendonitis
Circulatory Problems
Cervical Headaches
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Thoracic Outlet Syndrome
Rib pain
Piriformis Syndrome
Diastisis recti
Sciatica
Pubic Symphisis Pain
Tendonitis / Bursitis
Leg Cramps/Calf Pain
Heel & Foot Pain
Postpartum Indications:
Pelvic Pain
Painful Episiotomy
Painful Coccyx-tailbone
Post Surgical Pain from C-Section
Scarring
Prolapse
Please contact Michelle Maniaci for a screening or evaluation at 305-206-2229 or email at birthdance@gmail.com
Holistic, Integrative Physical Therapy with Michelle Maniaci... A Whole Person Approach.