Meet McKenna Anderson of Aligning Touch Physical Therapy and Myofascial Release

Today we’d like to introduce you to McKenna Anderson.

Thanks for sharing your story with us McKenna. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My name is Mckenna Anderson. I am a licensed Physical therapist that specializes in a manual therapy called Myofascial release. I have combined the knowledge of physical therapy and myofascial release to create true healing within the body. I received my undergraduate degree from Tempe University and went on to get my masters in Physical therapy from Cal State Long Beach. I have been healing now for 8 years.

I started and still currently work at an outpatient neurological clinic part-time called neuro rehab partners. Within the 8 years, I have taken several workshops from the John Barnes school of myofascial release. His training helps me really find my passion for myofascial release. For the last 2 years, I have started my own company (AligingtouchPt) to focus on deeper physical and emotional healing through healing the fascia.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always obstacles in life. Graduate school was very hard. A lot of people don’t know how hard physical therapy school is. It is basically like medical school squeezed in 3 years. You have to know every part of the body in great detail which requires a lot of studying and self-reflection. At one point I almost dropped out due to the heavy workload. I really had to build up my confidence to get through those hard years.

Those years taught me a valuable lesson of hard work and determination and to not give up on your dreams. I remember one day after not doing to well on a neuro test… I was sitting in the middle of campus about to cry. When out of nowhere I saw a hummingbird, there were no flowers around so I knew it came to help me get through this hard time.

Ever since that day, the hummingbird is my spirit animal coming around me in times of need… spreading joy and harmony my way.

We’d love to hear more about your business.
My business Aligning Touch PT & Myofascial (MFR) is a place where true healing takes place. I specialize in working on the living organism called fascia. Fascia is a layer of connective tissue made of collagen, elastin and matrix substance(plasma) that connects to the epidermis layer (skin). Its function is to separate the skin from the muscles, organs, nerves and bones. It is literally in every part of your body (even your brain). It also functions as: a shock absorber circulates nutrients and water and provides structure for our body.

Unfortunately, you can only see fascia if you dissect someone. That is why western medicine doctors sometimes fail to acknowledge fascial restrictions as being a source of pain. Because you can’t detect on an MRI, CAT scan or XRAY the MDs don’t recognize it. When fascia gets tight it increases tons of pressure on organs, muscles and bones creating inflammation and degeneration of tissues.

I combine the techniques of myofascial release and physical therapy to look at the patient as a whole. Many places only look at the injured area… whereas I look at the patient’s physical and emotional story to provide how the injury or pain was caused. MFR treatment involves a realignment of the body through firm acupressure holds with prolonged holds(like a deep stretch). Realigning your body and mind. Because fascia is also in the brain it can become affected by emotional trauma and cause physical malalignment.

I work on many diagnoses such as body pain (back, neck, etc…), stenosis, arthritis, sciatica, herniated discs, fibromyalgia, TMJ, sinus infections, headaches, neurological disorders(stroke, MS, Parkinson’s) etc…. I also specialize and pelvic floor disorders for men and women. Also, offering internal pelvic floor releasing through myofascial release.

At Aligning touch you get a holistic approach to healing your body. You are not looking at a just a diagnosis or given lots of medicine to numb you up. You get a postural evaluation, hands-on work, emotional and energy release, pain relief and the cause of it. I try to be deceptive in your life search for the cause of your pain. We become teammates on a journey to a pain-free lifestyle.

What were you like growing up?
I was always very active. I played basketball and track from the ages of 6-18. I also loved the arts… I did some acting in school plays. But I always had a love for the human body. Loved biology and literature. I loved to travel and going on many adventures. I was also very loud and outgoing lol!

Pricing:

• Initial evaluation and treatment; $150
• house calls: $250
• Internal Pelvic floor releasing: $175

Contact Info:

• Website: www.aligningtouchpt.com
• Phone: 424 253-6182
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: aligningtouchpt
• Other: (booking website) htttp://square.com/appointments/book/155BYY/aligning-touch-physical-therapy-mfr

Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.