How is St. John Therapy Performed?

The client is actively involved in the process of healing by helping the Therapist understand his or her particular condition. The initial visit is generally an hour or an hour and a half long. During that assessment, the therapist evaluates for:

1. Postural Distortions

2. Biomechanical Dysfunction

3. Soft Tissue causes of these patterns and presenting pain conditions

The Therapist develops a treatment plan by screening gain patterns and measuring the positioning of the body on the coronal, midsagittal and horizontal planes. An exacting analysis of proper structure and biomechanics explains the cause and effect relationship to pain.

The therapist then palpates the soft tissues to determine if there are ischemic, trigger point, nerve compression and/or entrapment possibilities. When the body is aligned on the coronal, midsagittal, and horizontal planes, the tone of both somatic (body covering) and visceral (internal organ) tissues improves.

The appropriate pressure that is used during a treatment varies depending upon age, fitness, nutritional health, postural pattern, as well as the extent of trauma and toxicity level of the tissues. The proper level of pressure elicits a mild state of discomfort.

If pressure is too light, it does not produce the necessary stimulation of nerve receptors to produce the desired therapeutic response.

When adhesions are found in the tissues, deeper pressure may be used by working across muscle fibers.

Therapists believe that the healing process should also be an educational process, so they work to teach the patient about their structure, biomechanics, and anything else that may be influencing their pain condition.