Understanding Mechanical Link Therapy

(August 2010)

In September, patients of the Raby Institute will be able to benefit from an expanded offering of integrative services, including Mechanical Link Therapy.Developed in the late '70s by French osteopath Paul Chauffour, Mechanical Link is a gentle manual therapy that encourages the balance of tensions in the fascial system - that complex web of tissue that interconnects and affects all other body systems. Fascial tissue spreads throughout the body uninterrupted, providing physical stability while also allowing flexibility and mobility.

Think of the fascial network as a spider web. Imagine what happens if one area of the web is pinched or tightened: everything else distorts. The body compensates for physiological or traumatic stress in much the same way - by producing patterns of tension called lesions that affect the entire structure. These patterns are intended to relieve pain and disability and protect the body from further stresses. Yet the long-term effects of such compensation can prove to be debilitating.

Mechanical Link helps alleviate a range of illness, pain and dysfunction, including:

• Fibromyalgia
• Indigestion
• Migraine Headaches
• Premenstrual and Perimenopausal Syndromes
• Asthma
• Chronic Fatigue
• Motor-Coordination Impairments
• Chronic Neck and Back Pain
• Central Nervous System Disorders
• Emotional Difficulties
• Temperomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
• Stress and Tension-Related Problems
• Orthopedic Problems
• Dizziness and ringing in the ears
• Expedites post-operative and fracture healing
• Prevents and treats scar tissue regardless of age
• Sleep disorders
• Autoimmune disorders

Mechanical Link directly addresses structural issues that include the cranium, spinal cord, posterior ribs and pelvis, anterior chest and ribs, arteries, organs, peripheral and cranial nerves, brain tissue and nuclei, lines of force, and skin. This provides the foundation for clinical evaluation. The majority of the visit is spent on a thorough clinical exam during which the primary and dominant restrictions are identified in each category. The innate wisdom of the body rank orders and prioritizes treatment that is unique to each individual at a specific point in time. Patients remain fully-clothed during the clinical exam, which is non-invasive and does not elicit pain. This is a positive for patients who live with constant high levels of pain. Generally, people are able to experience and feel immediate changes as a result of Mechanical LInk therapy.

There are about 60 practitioners in the United States that utilize this treatment method and only six Mechanical Link practitioners in metropolitan Chicago. Having a Mechanical Link practitioner on staff sets the Raby Institute apart from other healthcare offices in the city, offering patients easy access to the positive benefits provided by this therapy. These benefits have been acknowledged by physicians representing a variety of medical specialties including orthopedists, internists, and chronic pain physicians. One family practice physician from the Champaign-Urbana area gave up her full time medical practice to exclusively use mechanical link due to the positive outcomes experienced by her patients. While the majority of the practice is comprised of people with complex medical problems that often do not respond to traditional allopathic medicine, the goal is to educate and provide early intervention to prevent the development of chronic medical conditions.

Contributed by Tim Flesch, RN, CST, MBA and Mechanical Link therapist.

If you would like to experience Tim Flesch's technique and would like this to be covered by insurance, please call 312-276-1212 or email appointments@rabyinstitute.com to schedule an appointment to see Dr. Raby first to obtain a referral.