About
Essential Therapies
FEELING IS HEALING
Essential Therapies is a private pay wellness facility dedicated to providing holistic care through physical therapy and massage therapy. Our approach emphasizes hands-on treatment, quantum healing, and alternative therapies, guided by our expert practitioner with over 28 years of experience in John Barnes Myofascial Release.
Dr. Cindy Hodgson, PT, PhD, is a dedicated physical therapist and exercise physiologist committed to ongoing education in holistic integrative therapeutic approaches. With a focus on aiding patients, particularly those experiencing chronic pain unresponsive to conventional methods, she brings extensive expertise in women’s health, therapeutic exercise, biomechanics, and many more specialized areas of study to her practice.
When it comes to healing and preventative treatments, we do not have a “one treatment fits all” plan. We believe that everyone comes from all different and unique walks of life with their own goals, limitations, and requirements. We create a customized treatment plan that works for you, your body, and your lifestyle.
Through innovative treatments and technology -- such as Myofascial Release Therapy -- one of our objectives is to create a world where people understand the myofascial system and its connection to how it affects our bodies -- both physically and spiritually. This will help bring back youthful movement and pain-free living.
Essential Therapies hopes to be your lasting solution to your body’s well-being!
People come to us for various reasons -- prevention, recovery, maintenance -- but mostly when forms of traditional medicine have failed. We work with you to find the right methods and get you back to living your best life!
Commonly Treated Conditions
Chronic Pain
If you’ve had pain anywhere in the body longer than a few months, you are experiencing chronic pain which can be severely debilitating and is one of the most costly health problems in the country.
Neck & back pain
Arthritis & bursitis
Cervical or lumbar injuries
Fibromyalgia
Tinnitus
Sports Injuries
Sports injuries are a common occurrence among athletes and fitness enthusiasts. Whether it's a sprain, strain, or fracture, these injuries can be painful and debilitating. Fortunately, with proper treatment and rehabilitation, most sports injuries can be effectively managed, allowing individuals to return to their active lifestyles.
Hamstring strain
Shin splints
Tendonitis
Shoulder pain
Stiffness or weakness
Injury prevention
Functionality
Functionality is a crucial aspect of our daily lives, and when it's, it can have a significant impact on our overall well-being. With the right treatment and support, you can regain your functionality and get back to living your life to the fullest.
Digestion and elimination issues
Lymphedema
Pelvic imbalances
Neurological and movement dysfunctions
Women's Health
Issues can extend across a broad spectrum of diagnoses and problems including: pain during/after pregnancy, painful intercourse (dyspareunia), incontinence, infertility, scar tissue pain after episiotomy, surgery, laparoscopic procedures, and C-section.
Urinary incontinence, urgency and frequency problems
Endometriosis
Vulvodynia/Coccydynia
Pregnancy injuries or traumas
Pelvic and menstrual problems
Episiotomy/C-section scars
Mastectomy pain
Other Commonly Treated Conditions
Sciatica
Buttock pain that often radiates down the leg and sometimes into the foot is called sciatica. It’s typically blamed on either nerve compression in the back or by the piriformis. What is often also part of the problem is fascial restriction throughout the trunk, pelvis, and abdomen.
Scar Tissue/Adhesions
The body forms scar tissue as a way to heal trauma within the body. It lays down collagen in a haphazard fashion to stop bleeding and create an “internal bandage” as quickly as possible. In doing so it can often create more tension and create compression on structures causing pain.
Hip/Knee/Foot Pain
Pain in all of these areas can be coming from other places in the body. The pelvis is key in treatment of the whole body but especially the lower extremity. Plantar fasciitis, for example, is almost always coming from tightness and imbalances higher up in the body.
Neck, Back & Shoulder Injuries
Pain in the neck and back can be dull, sharp, in a small or large area and even radiate into arms and legs. Numbness and tingling are commonly also present and can be quite debilitating. The common diagnoses are bulging discs, bone spurs, muscle spasm or tightness.
Digestive Issues
Myofascial release is extremely effective for many digestive issues. Our clients often report relief of constipation after a treatment session. Digestive issues that cause inflammation such as Crohn’s disease, colitis, surgery, and radiation respond very well to the gentle visceral techniques we provide.
Headaches and Migraines
This refers to pain throughout the head, neck, eyes. Dr. Cindy had headaches and migraines for years before experiencing complete healing of symptoms after intensive myofascial release and development of a self-treatment program more than 20 years ago.
Surgery Recovery
Surgery, no matter how small the procedure, can be a trauma to the body. When the body is tense, it makes it a lot more challenging to heal. Myofascial release can be a wonderful tool to enhance healing and speed up the recovery process.
Jaw Pain (TMJ)
As the only bilateral joint in the body, the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is at risk for asymmetry resulting in pain or dysfunction of opening and closing the mouth. Also, clenching or grinding teeth can cause myofascial restriction throughout the jaw, neck, head, and even upper back and shoulders.