Jeff Forman, M.S., L.M.T.
Jeff received his Master's Degree in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Bridgeport and has worked for the past 7 years with Chiropractors and in private practice in Torrington and Hadley, Ma. In addition to his work as a Nutritionist, Jeff is a licensed massage therapist, specializing in deep tissue manipulation known as Myofascial Release, a gentle form of bodywork that evolved out of Rolfing. Jeff has also worked as a stress management trainer throughout the Northeast and Eastern Canada.

Nutrition 
Jeff became interested in nutrition when he noticed that Chiropractic adjustments and deep tissue work were unable to relieve pain in some clients. When nutritional support was added to a bodywork regimen, clients got better. Jeff himself experienced the value of nutritional supplementation when he sought relief from chronic lower back pain caused by a fall in 1979. Medical doctors were unable to help him. He tried chiropractic and acupuncture treatments which provided only temporary relief. In 1989 he was introduced to a diagnostic system called C.R.A. (Contact Reflex Analysis) pioneered Dr. D.A. Versendaal. Through this system, he discovered that sub-clinical infections, pollutants, and nutritional deficiencies can be the underlying source of pain. Jeff eliminated his lower back pain using this system, and became actively involved in nutritional therapeutics. He began working with Dr. Gary Lasneski who developed a more sophisticated approach to C.R.A. which he calls N.R.T. (Nutritional Reflex Technique). It's a non-invasive muscle testing technique that pinpoints nutritional deficiencies. It is also capable of identifying possible nutritional supplements, vitamins, herbal and contemporary homeopathics that address both chronic and acute health issues. Some of the conditions that Jeff has treated successfully are: allergies,asthma, fibromyalgia, indigestion, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, Lyme's related syndromes, tendonitis,carpal tunnel syndrome, depression and blood lipid imbalances.

 Initial 1 hour appointment: $60. Follow-up appointments: $30.

Myofascial Release
Every move you make depends on the health of your soft tissues--especially your muscles. With the help of ligaments and tendons, muscles power movement and give you strength. Muscles (myo) are made up of many strong, elastic fibers banded together by a protective covering called fascia. Myofascial damage can be caused by overuse, misuse, or injury. Even if the initial damage is in a ligament or tendon or in a joint, nearby muscles may be affected. When muscle fibers and fascia, ligaments, or tendons become weakened, overstretched, or inflamed, tiny tears in the soft tissue may occur. As torn tissue heals, underlying fibers contract and become twisted. New tissue grows over the knotted fibers, making the area feel bumpy. This hard, bumpy area is called a trigger point because pressing on it triggers pain right there or elsewhere in the body. The new tissue is not as elastic as normal myofascial tissue. Because of this loss of elasticity and the knotted muscle fibers, the muscle may shorten, resulting in decreased mobility. The bones at a nearby joint can misalign because of the limited mobility of the damaged or shortened muscle. Or, if the nearby ligaments are damaged, the joint may misalign, making movement difficult and painful.

 Myofascial Release work is designed to free up the knotted tissue and restore a greater range of motion to the area. When the tissue is freed up by a gentle application of deep pressure to loosen the layers of tissue between muscles, muscle fibers and tendons--pain is released. Appointments are designed to loosen the tissue that stops muscles from operating as they were intended. Often, because of physical or psychological injury, we try to protect the damaged area by using other muscles to do the job. If we do that a lot, over time, the whole body falls out of alignment.

 Appointments: Chiropractic Insurance may cover this work as adjunct therapy. Private sessions are $30 per half hour