Fascial Counterstrain

Fascial counterstrain (FCS) is a hands-on approach I take to help relieve tension throughout the body. This is different from massage or Rolfing in that it does not require deep tissue manipulation to achieve results. The focus of FCS is to aid the body in returning to a functional state of mobility. I have found this technique to be an essential component to my treatments, especially when exercise and stretching have not gained relief from an injury. To learn more about FCS, see my FAQ page or click here to be directed to the FCS website. 

Proactive Care

Often times we go through life with a persistent or intermittent pain, but it's not bad enough to do anything about it. At some point though it becomes a much bigger problem due to years of wear and tear. With a proactive care approach, we can not only improve our quality of life, but we can also prevent further issues from occurring. After completing this kind of therapy with my patients, they have often stated that not only has their condition improved but that they were also able to see positive results in other ways they were not expecting. An example of this is a golfer who saw me for chronic low back pain, and after a few sessions he saw his game improve to a level he had not been at for over 10 years.

Proactive physical therapy includes looking at the whole body and how each part effects the other. The goal is to find balance throughout the body and to allow increased ease of movement with greater strength and stamina. 

Pre-operative and Post-operative Care

Whether you are preparing for a surgery, recovering from an immediate surgery, or are struggling with a surgery you had years ago, I can help. 

My pre-operative care focuses on: 

• Relevant exercises to prepare your body for surgery

• Mobility training so that you can move about your home and get in/out of your car easily after surgery

• Fascial Counterstrain to prepare all systems of the body for surgery

• Personalized advice for day of surgery tips and tricks based on my hospital experience and education

My post-operative care focuses on:

• Scar tissue mobility

• Relevant exercises for regaining range of motion, strength, and endurance

• Fascial Counterstrain to support the body through recovery and healing

• Lymphatic drainage massage

Surgeries I rehabilitate:

All of them! I see total joints, spinal surgeries, rotator cuff repairs, and organ replacements/repairs just to name a few.

Please note: I am skilled in immediate post-op recovery. I can safely treat as soon as you are discharged from most surgeries. Contact me for more details.

Gardening Injury Recovery and Injury Prevention

Gardening can very easily become a physically demanding activity. Pruning, blackberry removal, building garden beds, and hauling mulch are just some of the common causes for injuries I have seen. Even when we are not doing heavy lifting, the repetitive movements often combined with a hunched posture can lead to overuse injuries. As a gardener myself, I can appreciate how this happens. During our sessions, I can address injuries with this insight. I will also teach preventative exercises, body mechanics, and techniques appropriate to your gardening style and needs. 

Post Breast Cancer Treatment

Mastectomies/lumpectomies can leave behind scar tissue that causes restrictions throughout the shoulders, neck, upper back, and chest. Oftentimes, the lymphatic system of our body is affected by breast cancer treatment, leading to lymphedema/fluid build-up. Chemo and radiation treatments can also leave us feeling awful. I address all of this through the use of gentle, mindful treatments including Fascial Counterstrain, passive stretching, lymphatic drainage massage, and scar tissue mobilization. I will also teach you how to perform your own treatments at home so that you may continue to address your needs between sessions.

Orthopedics and Athletics

This encompasses injuries in all areas of the body. I treat orthopedic injuries to return to activity/sports, provide guidance on improving strength/endurance, and assist with surgery prevention. I also work with pediatric athletics and dance!

Ergonomic Assessment for the Home Office

Improper set up of home offices can frequently lead to neck, back, and shoulder pain, as well as headaches, eye strain, and even brain fog. I work with you to find the best solutions to ensuring your home office experience is both healthy and enjoyable. My initial visit addresses current set up, adjustments to current equipment, and future needs of equipment. I can also provide follow-up appointments to assess any new equipment placements/adjustments.

Home Gym Assessment

Maybe you are wanting to make sure you get the most out of your equipment. Maybe you are unsure if you are using it correctly. Or maybe you are interested in putting together a new gym and need some guidance. I can assist with all of these. Based on your needs, I will provide professional recommendations to ensure you can use your home gym to its maximum benefit. No large equipment is required, I am skilled in body weight, exercise bands, and dumbbells exercises.

Aging in Place Consultations

Aging in place is a common concern among the elderly and their caregivers. Even if you are not finding it hard to do the stairs yet, it's never a bad idea to get ahead and have your home prepared for when you might have mobility limitations. During my time working in hospitals, I learned just how unprepared people were to return home after a surgery or critical illness. I have also learned from working in outpatient clinics just how challenging it is for caregivers when the home is not set up well for the patient. My goal for this service is to ensure the patient's safety and comfort so that they may not need to move into a facility.

I provide this service with respect to each person's personal needs and their home. During this consultation, I provide recommendations for equipment and minor modifications to make the home more safe. Examples include grab bars, trip hazard elimination, and seating adjustments for ease of sitting/standing. 

This is just a short list of what I see most often. Please contact me if you have any questions about what conditions I treat or if you are unsure if I treat the condition you have.

Testimonials

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I have received many traditional physical therapy sessions for my back, hand and neck issues in my past. These were always related to some physical injury. As an octogenarian I am no longer athletic. I enjoy walking and being able to take care of myself. After having Covid 7 months ago, I experienced new level of body pains that came without any physical provocations. I was referred to see Gina Bernal, DPT and have been seeing her for six months with great results. Her method of Fascial Counterstrain is what my body needs. The treatment is very gentle and accesses not only muscles and tendons, but also veins, nerves and lymphatic system to release deeper cramping that causes pain. Gina is very good at what she does. She listens well to understand my experience and explains what she is doing and why. The hour and half sessions are deeply relaxing. She prescribes gentle exercises to practice at home. The treatments work best as series. After six month of bimonthly sessions I now see her monthly and will continue to do so indefinitely. I feel the improvement as a whole body response of relaxation and increase in painless physical activity. Fascial Counterstrain and Gina’s caring and knowledge are the best therapy that I have ever received. It works! 

Sunya M.

The fascial counterstrain at Prism Physical Therapy is one of the happiest and most beneficial things I do in support of my graciously aging body. It helps with aches and pains as they arise, and a maintenance visit every few weeks helps keep the knots and sticky places from becoming troublesome. Dr. Bernal is a highly skilled and personable practitioner. I would highly recommend her.

Molly B.

Gina is an excellent physical therapist. She is kind and professional, and has a vested interest in your wellbeing. Her techniques are gentle and effective; I have learned a lot from her and seen so much improvement in my day to day over the years. She’s helped me work through various injury recovers, post op. issues, and other ailments as well. Thank you, Gina!

Ella B.