Frequently
Asked
Questions
Not sure what to expect or if this is right for you?
These answers should help!
What benefits can I expect by working with Bend Biomechanics?
Improved control and engagement of your muscle system. By improving the lagging pieces of your body, you will feel lighter on your feet and ready to start pushing yourself again.
Improved performance in activities of daily living: your job, daily chores, and in your life’s passions, such as activities with family, golf, gardening and more.
Increased confidence in your body’s ability to move without injury and pain.
Decreased physical and mental stress. . . because when your body moves well, you feel well!
Improved self-efficacy as you will learn and master exercises and techniques you can employ on your own to help yourself continue to get and stay better!
What is a Certified Muscle System Specialist™?
A CMSS™ is a practitioner who uses a unique thought process and science-based technical skill set to address your issues with poor movement, muscle tightness, and muscle and joint pain. CMSS™ practitioners take the time to carefully identify aspects of your muscle system where its quality has been decreased, identify opportunities for improvement in areas with low quality motor control, and provide you with the education your body requires to complete and maintain these improvements to your system.
The following are the CMSS™’s objectives for positively impacting our clients:
-Identify the areas of low-quality movement, muscle tightness, and joint discomfort
-Address and restore low quality movements and positions with precision exercises to allow for higher-quality muscle function
-Decrease sensations of discomfort in muscles and joints by improving muscle contraction and control
-Teach you self-directed exercises and techniques that you can do on your own to give you control over your health, keep your independence, and assure your success.
Is this considered Physical Therapy?
No, we are Exercise Specialists. While we share the same goal of physical therapy (enhancing client's movement capabilities while decreasing pain and sensations they don't like), we have distinct differences in assessing movement and motor control quality.
A Certified Muscle System Specialist™ sees the body as one interconnected, integrated, and interacting system. This philosophy provides the underpinnings for our approach.
Who is an ideal client?
Anyone who has been cleared by their Primary Care Physician and/or Physical Therapist and is dealing with a physical issue that doesn't seem to get better!
Whether you're a high performing athlete who is needing to get past a stubborn affliction or a sedentary 80 year old who is starting to get wobbly while walking. If you have a muscular system, there's a good chance we will be able to help!
How quickly can I expect results and/or relief from my pain?
Early on, our goal will be to get a sense of where you have motor control and muscle issues which will be based on the information we learn in your Initial Investigation. Some clients experience results in the first 1-2 sessions, however, your body's ability to heal and recover will be affected by a multitude of factors like but not limited to: 1. Your age 2. Your injury history 3. Your surgery history 4. Your Disease History 5. Exercise History
Will my insurance cover these sessions?
Bend Biomechanics is an out of pocket service and is not approved by providers for insurance reimbursement. Some Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Wellness Plans may allow for our services to be reimbursed, but this will be assessed on a case by case basis.
While being covered for insurance reimbursement is often asked about, there are inherent limitations that come with third party reimbursement programs which will only limit our client's progress. If your health goals require saving as much money as possible, we are happy to provide referrals to providers who might accept your insurance.
Do you use stretching and foam rolling to release tight muscles?
Bend Biomechanics does not utilize any sort of active release techniques or massage/stretching modalities. Our approach is founded on the fact that muscle doesn't stretch, it only contracts! Our view is that when muscle tissue isn't contracting well (meaning your neuromuscular system can't react efficiently), your nervous system will utilize negative feedback loops to decrease joint motion and "flexibility" in order to protect you. You may notice tight muscles, feelings of vulnerability and/or pain in a variety of intensities.
Our goal is to find the underlying causes of these symptoms by assessing which muscles are functioning optimally.
Will I be lifting weights or exercising hard during our sessions?
While we absolutely love the benefits that come with properly performed resistance training, our sessions will be geared towards applying specific resistance(s) (manual resistance, bands/elastomers, ankle weights, dumbbells, etc.) in order to strategically stimulate muscle(s) in your body that aren't performing as well as we need them to. By getting your muscles to function better, you should start to notice some pretty cool improvements in joint mobility, endurance, strength and even improved recovery. So yes, we will be lifting weights, but not in a traditional exercise sense.
What if I don't have a serious pain or movement problem but still want to get checked out?
Being proactive goes a long way. If you're an active individual and wanting to get a look "under the hood" of your car, we will be able to identify potential problem areas that could lead to movement issues if left unaddressed. Conversely, if you're sedentary and wanting to start an exercise program, we will be able to help you understand your current tolerance levels and provide input about what types of exercise would be safe and which types to avoid. We also we be able to give you insight about what parts of your body are needing the most "attention" from a muscle strengthening perspective.
I'm experiencing pain during golf or pickleball; how do you help with this?
Activities like golf and pickleball require a lot of different areas of your body to move with precision. Think of your body as if it were a team of ten construction workers, if only five of the ten workers are doing their job, you're going to start hearing complaints and see decreases in efficiency/effectiveness. If a large portion of your muscular system isn't functioning well, you're surely going to see a decrease in movement efficiency as well as feel some internal complaints (i.e. muscle tightness, joint soreness and different pain sensations).
Are you going to make me sign up for a package of 12 sessions day one?
Investing in your personal health and well-being is expensive; but it's so worth it! We will recommend a plan of action and treatment schedule based on the Initial Assessment and tailor it based on your schedule and budget. If at any point throughout your treatment plan you experience 3 consecutive sessions without any noticeable improvement/progress, we will not ask you to continue with your plan.
Location & Contact
2220 Northwest Labiche Ln, Suite 110, Bend, OR 97701
New Clients Inquiry
Bend Biomechanics is dedicated to helping anyone and everyone from all walks of life; if you think you have a physical issue that we can help you overcome, please fill out your information and you'll be contacted to schedule a complimentary 30 min consultation.