2023 Articles Gillespie Approach–Craniosacral Fascial Therapy Articles

Tight Patients and the Gillespie Approach

Dr. Barry Gillespie May 8, 2023

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Occasionally, a very tight patient will present for evaluation. The Gillespie Approach can be a piece of the healing puzzle.

A woman in her 50s presented with pain everywhere in her body. Having experienced many accidents and surgeries, she could feel that she was tight and wanted to see if therapy could help.

Even though her zero-second brain cycle opened to 50 seconds on the first visit, I felt that she would need more pieces of the healing puzzle. My thoughts were:

Deep-tissue muscle therapy can be helpful if done in conjunction with the Gillespie Approach. The fascial web encases every muscle cell of the body. As the web is freeing up, the muscle tissue can soften more readily with deep massage.

One plan is to alternate therapies every week. If the patient wants to accelerate the process, she can do each therapy on a Monday and Thursday or a Tuesday and Friday schedule with time in between visits to heal.

Sometimes, I see a tight infant with a severe arching strain. Deep tissue muscle therapy may be helpful in the suboccipital region of the neck. Fascial restriction near the brain stem may adversely affect the cranial motion.

I am not a nutritionist, but I suggest that the patient researches the possible benefits of an alkaline diet, primarily consisting of fruits and vegetables. In theory, this diet may leave a less harmful residue in the body’s tissues. Most Americans eat an acidic diet loaded with sugar, meat, alcohol, and processed foods, which can leave a more harmful residue in the tissues.

Yoga or stretching, as a gentle exercise, may be beneficial.

Meditation can be helpful to reduce the daily stress level allowing the tissues to relax and heal.

Even though the Gillespie Approach can not do it all for tight people, it can play an important role. Every brain has to breathe and every fascial web needs to be free.