Which Treatment Do I Need?

Myofascial Kinesis Structural Integration (MKSI)

This is Empirical Knead’s most comprehensive, transformative, and founder-level modality.

MKSI goes beyond muscle release to deliver full-body structural and tissue re-education.

Best for:

• Forward head posture
• Rounded shoulders
• Pelvic rotation or anterior tilt
• Chronic low-back issues
• Thoracic outlet–style compression
• Gait asymmetry
• Long-standing movement restrictions
• Desk-posture and repetitive use patterns

What it does:

• Reorganizes fascia along major myofascial lines (SFL, SBL, DFL, SL)
• Includes dynamic movement while receiving manual therapy
• Re-educates dysfunctional movement patterns
• Integrates corrective TheraBand exercises to reinforce alignment
• Creates long-term structural change

Choose MKSI if:

You want lasting improvement in posture, alignment, and functional movement.

Myofascial Kinesis Structural Integration is the most advanced and transformative modality at Empirical Knead. It goes far beyond relaxing muscles—it provides complete structural and tissue re-education that no traditional massage or manual therapy can match.

MKSI works by:

• Identifying dysfunctional movement patterns that are creating strain, pain, or postural collapse.
• Highlighting these patterns so clients understand why their body is compensating.
• Reorganizing fascial lines and connective tissue pathways through dynamic, movement-based manual therapy.
• Integrating corrective functional movement exercises, such as TheraBand posterior chain training, to reinforce structural changes.

his is not passive bodywork—it is an active collaboration between therapist and client that retrains how the body moves, stabilizes, and holds itself in daily life.

Example: Forward Head Posture (One of Our Most Common Cases)

Many clients present with forward head posture, which tightens and overloads the anterior neck, chest, and deep front line. MKSI addresses this by:

• Releasing fascial restrictions along the Superficial Front Line (SFL) and Spiral Line (SL)
• Restoring tension balance through the Superficial Back Line (SBL)
• Strengthening the posterior cervical stabilizers using TheraBand resistance
• Re-educating the movement strategy so the head and neck naturally return to a supported, neutral position

Clients consistently achieve measurable improvements, including improved breathing, decreased headaches, shoulder opening, and gait correction.

Neuromuscular Therapy (NMT)

NMT is designed for symptom-focused relief, targeting specific muscles that are tight, spasming, or creating referral pain. By releasing hypertonic tissue and deactivating trigger points, NMT helps restore balance, decompress joints, and reduce acute discomfort.

Neuromuscular Therapy at Empirical Knead is performed exclusively by Certified Neuromuscular Therapists who have completed advanced training in anatomy, kinesiology, functional biomechanics, and clinical assessment. This ensures a level of precision and expertise far beyond traditional deep tissue massage.

Best for:

• Muscle spasms
• Trigger points
• Sudden or localized pain
• Stress-related tightness
• Tension headaches
• Sciatica-like muscular referral patterns

What it does:

• Calms hypertonic muscles
• Improves circulation
• Releases pain-causing trigger points
• Resets overactive tissue

Choose NMT if:

You want targeted relief for a specific area.

Lymphatic Drainage

Reduce Swelling • Support Recovery • Enhance Immune Function

Our lymphatic drainage sessions use gentle, rhythmic manual techniques to stimulate the movement of lymph fluid through the body’s natural pathways. This treatment reduces inflammation, supports detoxification, and promotes healthy immune function.

This service is ideal for clients seeking post-surgical support, reduced swelling, improved circulation, or overall systemic balance.

Cupping Therapy

Improve Tissue Hydration • Release Restrictions • Decompress Fascia

Cupping uses gentle suction to create negative pressure within the tissue — lifting, hydrating, and decompressing areas that are stiff, adhered, or stagnant. Unlike deep pressure, which compresses tissue, cupping opens space within the fascia to improve fluid exchange and mobility.

This is a powerful adjunct treatment for pain relief, flexibility, chronic tension, and fascial hydration.

Best For:

• Chronic muscle tightness
• Fascial adhesions
• Restricted range of motion
• Back, shoulder, and neck stiffness
• Desk-related tension
• Post-workout recovery
• Clients needing increased tissue glide or mobility

What to Expect:

• Static or dynamic cupping
• Suction that gently lifts tissue layers
• Improved circulation and lymphatic flow
• Release of stagnation and “locked” tissue
• Restored glide between fascial planes
• A feeling of spaciousness and decompression

Marks may appear temporarily where stagnation was present — this is normal and indicates increased circulation in the area.

The Science Behind Our Method

Research shows that cupping affects connective tissue by stimulating the release of hyaluronic acid, which increases fluid movement within the fascia. At Empirical Knead, cupping is performed clinically and intentionally, using your structural map to target areas of fascial dehydration, scar tissue, or movement restriction.

We often use cupping to support:

• Structural Integration
• Neuromuscular Therapy
• Lymphatic drainage
• Pre-athletic mobility
• Post-injury decompression

Who Performs This Service:

Cupping is available as an add-on or as an integrated technique during select sessions based on therapist training.

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Common conditions we treat. Certainly not limited to.... Not Sure? Give us a call, text or email.

1. Forward Head Posture & Tech Neck

Chronic neck tightness, headaches, shoulder pain, numbness, tingling.

We use fascia-guided manual therapy, neuromuscular therapy, and corrective movement to restore alignment and reduce pain.

2. Low Back Pain & Pelvic Imbalance

Sciatica, plantar fasciitis symptoms, disc compression or herniation, sacral rotation,  pelvic floor issues among others can origin in the lumbar region. As a result of postural distortions that sometimes extend from neck or lower leg restrictions.

Sessions integrate deep myofascial release along the Back Line, pelvic balancing, and structural assessment.

3. TMJ Dysfunction & Jaw Pain

Intra-oral massage, cervical release, cranial balancing, and sometimes full body fascia mobilization to relieve clenching, grinding, and jaw restriction.

4. Shoulder Pain & Rotator Cuff Dysfunction

Impingement, frozen shoulder, instability, posture-related restrictions.

We address the entire girdle: pecs, rotator cuff, rhomboids, scalenes, upper back and cervical compensations.

5. Knee Pain, IT Band Tightness & Gait Issues

Addressing fascial chains, hip alignment, quad/hamstring imbalance, and foot strike mechanics and stability of arches.

6. Post-Surgical Scar Tissue & Mobility Recovery

Safe manual therapy to improve mobility, circulation, and tissue hydration while reducing adhesions and compensatory patterns

7. Lymphatic Drainage for Tattoos, Edema, Injury & Surgery Recovery

Gentle full-body lymphatic sequences for post-procedure swelling, tattoos, immune support, and inflammation reduction.

8. Inflammation-Related Fatigue(Cancer, Autoimmune & Chronic Systemic Fatigue).

Research demonstrates that manual therapy—when applied with rhythmic, full-body sequencing—can reduce markers of systemic inflammation and regulate the autonomic nervous system. These physiological effects help explain why clients with multiple, seemingly unrelated symptoms often experience improvement across the board after a single structured session. At Empirical Knead, this research informs our protocols and supports our dual focus on structural alignment and the systemic environment that influences pain, energy, and recovery.

The Empirical Knead Difference: Structure & Systemic Inflammation

Most manual therapists focus only on muscles or isolated areas of pain. At Empirical Knead, we take a dual approach that addresses both structural imbalance and systemic inflammatory load — the two primary forces shaping how the body functions, recovers, and experiences pain.

Our work is informed by more than a decade of clinical research and therapist education conducted at Emory University (Our work is informed by more than a decade of clinical research and therapist education conducted at Emory University, including co-authored peer-reviewed research demonstrating that structured manual therapy significantly reduces cancer-related fatigue and improves quality of life in survivors. Read one study here: Massage Therapy Decreases Cancer-Related Fatigue (Cancer, 2018)

We evaluate your body through two essential lenses:

1. Structural Alignment

How posture, fascia, joints, and movement patterns organize or compensate. Imbalance anywhere affects everywhere. Oftentimes the symptom has a source elsewhere in the body.

2. Systemic Inflammatory Load

How immune response, stress physiology, circulation, and metabolic factors influence pain, fatigue, and resilience.

Research shows that rhythmic, structured manual therapy can reduce markers of systemic inflammation, improve circulation, and support autonomic nervous system regulation. These physiological changes help explain why clients with multiple seemingly unrelated symptoms often experience improvement across the board.

At Empirical Knead, we don’t just treat symptoms —

we restore the structure and the system behind them.