Holistic Spinal Care
An Integrative Approach to Achieve Optimal Health
Holistic Spinal Care, LLC provides a safe space for your transformation of mind, body, and spirit with an integrated healthcare approach. It is a space where you can reconnect to your body in a way that allows you to realize your individual power and healing potential.
Why Holistic Spinal Care & What Options Are Available to You
“My goal in providing these services is to open an opportunity for people to feel better and connect with their bodies in a deeper way, allowing them to be more present in their own lives. This looks different for everyone. It could be being able to go for a walk, work out again, compete in a triathlon, play with their children or grandchildren or not be distracted constantly by pain, discomfort, stiffness or fatigue.”
In-person Physical Therapy Evaluation
During this comprehensive session, Heather will thoroughly assess your physical condition, taking into account the whole body. This evaluation provides the foundation for your personalized treatment plan, aimed at empowering your healing journey.
In-person Physical Therapy Follow-up Session
These follow-up sessions are where the transformative work takes place. Heather utilizes a unique combination of manual therapy techniques, all customized to your needs. These treatments aim to calm your nervous system, improve breathing and muscle strength, reduce muscle tightness, and decrease pain.
Zoom Physical Therapy Evaluation
This virtual evaluation mirrors the in-person offering, providing you with the convenience of staying in your own environment. Heather will conduct a comprehensive physical assessment and create a personalized treatment plan designed to facilitate your healing process.
Zoom Physical Therapy Follow-up Session
The virtual follow-up sessions offer the same integrative and tailored approach as the in-person therapy. These sessions are perfect for those who prefer the comfort and convenience of receiving care from their own home.
Methods
Neurokinetic Therapy®
Neurokinetic Therapy is a technique based on neuroscience developed by David Weinstock for the assessment and treatment of faulty movement patterns. The system looks at how well a muscle is functioning at the level in which it communicates with the brain. This means how well the muscle responds to input without compensation. Once this is determined, treatment is applied to a specific related area (muscles, tendons, ligaments and/or scars). The goal is to gain improved muscle activation, resulting in improved muscle strength, improved movement patterns, decreased pain and decreased risk of re-injury.
Who this can help: Those experiencing pain, people noticing an imbalance in their body, such as one side working harder than another side, athletes noticing compensation patterns during work outs, athletes looking to improve performance or decrease injuries.
Proprioceptive Deep Tendon Reflex® (P-DTR)
P-DTR is a manual therapy technique created by orthopedic surgeon Jose Palomar that addresses the root cause of pain and dysfunction by restoring proper communication between the brain and the body. It is based on the latest research in neuroscience and anatomy. This system looks at how sensory receptors in the body are functioning. Sensory receptors are located throughout our body and give our brains messages of sensations, including light touch, pain, stretch, pressure, hot, cold, tickle, itch and vibration. If there are receptors found that are not working at their optimal level, there is a quick, gentle way to “reset” these receptors. This creates a change to the system, often resulting in decreased pain, decreased muscle tightness, trigger points or spasms, improved muscle strength and/or decreased hypersensitivity to things such as clothing, tags, heat or cold.
Who this can help: Those experiencing pain, including chronic pain/sensitivities, people who are experiencing hypersensitive reactions to things like clothing, tags, hot, cold, itch, etc., and athletes looking to improve performance or decrease injuries.
Associative Awareness Technique™ (AAT)
AAT is a neuroscience based technique developed by physical therapists Scott Musgrave and Ernie Quinlick. AAT helps to balance the nervous system for people who may be experiencing a dysregulated Autonomic Nervous System (ANS). The ANS is divided into two parts, the Sympathetic Nervous System or SNS (fight, flight or freeze) and the Parasympathetic Nervous System or PNS (rest and digest). When these systems are over-active or under-active, it creates an imbalance and can cause an array of symptoms, including pain, tightness, poor digestion, difficulty sleeping, difficulty relaxing, and many more. AAT helps to desensitize the nervous system by providing safe sensory input through a variety of gentle touches that help the brain turn down the “fight, flight or freeze” response and improve the “rest and digest” response.
Who this can help: People experiencing ongoing muscle tightness, pain, difficulty sleeping, difficulty relaxing, poor digestion and increased stress.
Breath Training
Breath work can benefit almost everyone. Many are familiar with the idea that if your “core” muscles are not strong, you may be prone to injury anywhere because you are working off of an unstable base. Similarly, proper breathing mechanics are the foundation for optimal function, including how we move and how we feel. The thoracic diaphragm is the dome-like muscle that sits underneath the rib cage separating the thorax from the abdomen and plays a major role in breathing. The way we breathe affects a large number of things, including posture, how well the core muscles engage and function, neck tightness, headaches, low back pain, digestion, circulation and nervous system regulation. Poor breathing mechanics can create a vicious cycle of nervous system up-regulation or an increased stress response within the system. This happens because upper chest breathing is part of a typical stress response. This type of breathing can lead to many things, but most importantly, through a number of various mechanisms, it signals the brain to cause an increased stress response, perpetuating the cycle. This stress cycle can be interrupted with training to improve breathing biomechanics. Some people benefit from manual therapy techniques in addition to the training in order to allow for proper rib and diaphragmatic movement and to maximize their ability to breathe fully with good technique.
Who this can help: Breathing training is helpful for those experiencing the above mentioned issues, those working on their pelvic health and athletes looking to recover from injuries, prevent injuries or enhance performance. It is also a crucial component of the Schroth Method for scoliosis.
The Schroth Method and Scientific Exercise Approach for Scoliosis (SEAS)
Scoliosis is an abnormal lateral curvature of the spine and includes a rotational component as well. Scoliosis can be structural, which mean that the spine has a true curvature or it can be functional, which means the spine has adapted to something else in the body and when that changes the scoliosis goes away. In other words, the scoliosis is a compensation for something else. This will be assessed thoroughly before determining what type of treatment is appropriate. Both the Schroth Method and SEAS are used for the evaluation and treatment of structural scoliosis and provide an exercise-based program designed to decrease curve progression, improve scoliotic posture, improve lung capacity, improve mobility, increase strength and improve one’s ability to participate in activities. People with scoliosis often have good results with these approaches which are most often combined with the other methods offered.
Who this can help: People who are diagnosed with scoliosis with or without pain, people who think they may have scoliosis or are looking to determine if their scoliosis is functional or structural.
Postpartum and Pelvic Health
Pelvic health techniques are targeted at improving pelvic pain and function and are largely based on the work developed by Lynn Schulte with the Institute of Birth Healing. This work is a unique way to look at joint mobility and alignment of the pelvis, sacrum and spine, how the pelvic floor and core muscles are functioning, breathing mechanics, visceral (organ) mobility and posture. These methods incorporate energy work, visualization and enhance body awareness. Looking at this area of the body is often helpful for people experiencing low back pain, pelvic pain, incontinence and diastasis. These issues can often come up for people postpartum, which can be assessed at any time, even decades after having a baby.
Who this can help: Those experiencing low back or pelvic pain, incontinence, diastasis, or any other difficulties associated with being postpartum. People do not have to be postpartum to experience problems with their pelvic health and can also benefit from this work.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapy is a term used to describe hands-on techniques that mobilize joints, viscera (organs) and soft tissues, such as muscles, fascia, tendons, ligaments and scars. Visceral mobilization/manipulation was developed by French osteopath and physical therapist Jean-Pierre Barral and is a gentle manual therapy technique directed at releasing the tissues around the organs of the body. This can improve posture, improve breathing mechanics, decrease pain, improve digestion and increase circulation. These techniques are directed at specific places that lack mobility and this is determined based on a hands-on assessment of the joints, tissues and viscera. Stretching and range of motion exercises may compliment mobilization when used properly, but often when people find they lack motion and engage in a stretching program, it is nonspecific and does not target the intended area. The body will often compensate by moving where it already moves well, which does not address the area of stiffness.
Who this can help: People experiencing pain anywhere will benefit from mobility assessment to determine if they are lacking mobility, need stability or both. People who notice loss of motion anywhere, such as difficulty turning their necks, reaching overhead, or bending at the ankles, knees, hips and spine. Some will not even realize they have a mobility issue, but they will notice pain or difficulty with activity.
Biosomatics
Biosomatics was developed by Carol Welch, who has created her own unique method of movement training by blending principles of Hanna Somatics, Neurological Coordination Patterns, Developmental Re-patterning and Yoga. Biosomatics improves muscle pain, faulty movement patterns and poor postural habits through somatic integration. Somatic means “of the body” as opposed to the mind. Through increased awareness to the body, somatic movements make the brain more intelligent in sensing and controlling the muscles, therefore improving coordination and control in daily movement. Through enhancing sensory motor control, one will feel more at ease and a lightness with movement. Carol Welch explains, “Biosomatics reconnects us to the body’s innate intelligence and reawakens out awareness of our incredible potential as conscious human beings.” Biosomatics can be integrated into a home program to give people independence with their self care. Classes may be offered at a future time.
Who this can help: People experiencing pain, loss of mobility or poor postural habits. Those who would like to feel more connected to their bodies and be empowered to take their healing into their own hands.
What to Expect
Personalized Approach:
From the very first evaluation, Heather’s focus will be on understanding your unique physical condition, listening to your concerns, and creating a tailor-made treatment plan that addresses your individual needs.
Holistic Care:
Heather utilizes an integrative approach to physical therapy. She not only focuses on the area of pain or discomfort but also assesses the entire body to find and treat the root cause of the issue, which can lead to more effective and long-lasting healing.
Expertise in Various Techniques:
Heather incorporates a variety of techniques in her practice, including manual therapy for the visceral and nervous systems, Neurokinetic Therapy®, and the Schroth Method for scoliosis. These diverse methods allow her to adapt treatment to your specific condition and goals.
Education and Empowerment:
Heather believes in empowering you to participate in your own healing journey. Expect to gain insights about your body, learn techniques you can practice at home, and receive guidance on lifestyle adjustments to support your therapy.
Comfortable Pace of Progress:
Your comfort and readiness guide the pace of treatment. Heather respects each person’s unique nervous system and works with it to allow shifts at a pace that suits you. This results in profound, yet gentle changes that are sustainable over time.
Recent & Relevant Trainings
Barral Institute Visceral Manipulation, Vagus Nerve
Neurokinetic Therapy (R) Certified Level 3
Propriocetive Deep Tendon Reflex (R)
Institute of Birth Healing Postpartum Care and Pelvic Health
Certified Schroth Therapist C1 and C2 and Certified Scientific Approach to Scoliosis for assessment and treatment of scoliosis
About Heather Laferriere
Providing Compassionate Care Since 2003
Heather Laferriere, MSPT, DPT graduated from the University of Connecticut with a Masters of Science in Physical Therapy in 2003 and from Regis University with a Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2013.
Heather offers an integrative approach to physical therapy where she looks at the whole body for assessment and treatment. She has been practicing orthopedic physical therapy for 20 years and has expertise in working with people experiencing chronic pain, orthopedic injuries, scoliosis and chronic spinal conditions.
Her approach combines a number of techniques that are tailored to each individual client. She specializes in a number of approaches including manual (hands-on) therapy for the visceral (organs) and nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves).
These techniques calm the nervous system, improve breathing, improve muscle strength, decrease muscle tightness, bring balance to the body and decrease pain. The treatment sessions are gentle and improve one’s body awareness so that the client is able to participate in their own healing process.
Pain is a way of telling us that something needs to shift. Heather’s goal is to provide the space to allow for these changes to take place. She will listen and tune into each person’s own unique nervous system and will work with the client’s system, allowing it to shift at a pace that works for that person. This results in often profound changes that still feel gentle for the client.
Testimonials
I have been seeing Heather for about 6 years and I can honestly say that it’s been the best PT experience I have ever had. Heather is not only an exceptionally skilled practitioner, but an incredibly kind, compassionate and caring person. Her insights, intuition, presence, combined with her expertise and all of the above mentioned attributes are unparalleled. You are literally in the best hands with Heather!
Heather Laferriere has been my physical therapist and has been an indispensable part of my post-cancer treatment for over ten years. She is constantly keeping up with the most effective cutting edge treatments to serve her many clients, earning many certifications. In the ten years of my treatment she has given me back my mobility and improved my quality of life tremendously by helping me through chronic pain and fatigue. I continue to recommend her to many friends. Heather is by far the most knowledgeable and sensitive physical therapist I’ve ever seen over the years. She has the invaluable gift of listening to her clients and working with them to improve their physical abilities.
Over the course of two years, I worked with 4 different PTs, an orthopedic specialist, a podiatrist, and a chiropractor trying to find the source of my symptoms and resolve them. Finally, another PT referred me to Heather because, “She has a unique treatment method that will help you.” Heather’s attention to detail and critical analysis make her an exceptionally skilled Physical Therapist. She takes time to understand what is going on with you. She doesn’t jump to conclusions or treatment without thorough assessment. She has spent a great deal of time studying the most effective treatments, and has a diverse tool box of neurologically based treatment that is far more effective than any other treatment I have experienced. When I met Heather, I had put off PT school to race in triathlons professionally. I had become disenchanted with the profession of PT due to the lack of care and critical thinking I had witnessed. Heather inspired me to go back to school, because I want the world to have more PTs like her, that provide their patients with the best care possible. If you want results, see Heather!
Ready to Start Your Holistic Journey?
Contact Heather
Office
Holistic Spinal Care, LLC
30 Forest Falls Dr., Unit 3
Yarmouth, ME 40496
For any inquiries or to schedule an appointment, please email us at heather@holisticspinalpt.com