“Just like there’s always time for pain, there’s always time for healing”

Adapted Reflextherapy is a therapy developed by Gunnel Berry, to treat clients with chronic and acute spinal pain often as the result of whiplash or trauma.

“Gunnel Berry suggests that Adapted Reflextherapy acts rather like a manual TENS machine to block the transmission of painful stimuli along the spinal cord to the brain where the conduction is transmitted manually (by touch) rather than electrically“

“Gunnel Berry’s own clinical observations indicate that Adapted Reflextherapy is effective at reducing pain and improving functional abilities in patients. She proposes that adaptations and alterations in the neural plasticity are accelerated as consequence from the treatment”

The treatment is applied by pressing on the feet or hands using a series of specific techniques developed from reflexology.

After attending Gunnel’s course to learn the techniques of Adapted Reflextherapy, I incorporate the principle into my reflexology treatments if and when required.

If a reflexology client has reduced mobility and pain issues with their neck and/or back and they have been fully assessed by a doctor and/or are undergoing physiotherapy and have consented to have a reflexology treatment, I can include these techniques into a reflexology treatment for them. As with reflexology, it would not be performed if the client was recovering directly after surgery or had any injuries to their feet or hands.

It is suitable for any age and the areas manipulated cover the medial arch of the feet, the neck and spinal reflex points of the feet, working across the zones of the foot. These techniques can also be performed on the hand reflex areas and zones, however, I prefer to work on the feet.

As with other therapies after the treatment the pain can in fact increase and discomfort can still be felt for the next 24/48 hours after a session. This happened to me the first time I had a treatment following a fall and after the treatment with Gunnel, I found that my mobility had improved although I was still in discomfort until the following day. I have to advise that pain may increase for a short period.

Having experienced chronic back pain, I was amazed by my increased mobility after the treatments. It is wonderful to be able to incorporate this therapy into my reflexology treatments if so required and so far I have only had positive responses from my clients.

*Neural plasticity also known as Neuroplasticity: definition below by medicinenet.com

Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. Neuroplasticity allows the neurons (nerve cells) in the brain to compensate for injury and disease and to adjust their activities in response to new situations or to changes in their environment.