While our physical therapy can feel like a deep, slow massage, it differs in several important ways.

• Published studies. No other massage or physical therapy technique has been shown to improve fertility. Clear Passage is dedicated to scientific research to quantify our results. After 20 years of investigation, Clear Passage provides the only hands-on therapy in the world that has been shown in peer-reviewed medical journals to:
• increase fertility
• open blocked fallopian tubes,
• decrease endometriosis pain, and
• improve female sexual function.

• Mechanism of therapy. Most work done by massage therapists is designed to relax and temporarily soften the muscles. This can feel very good, since it affects the elastic aspect of the myofascial tissues. While some massage therapists address the collagenous aspect of soft tissues (where so much chronic pain and dysfunction takes place) most are not trained to break the strong adhesive bonds that attach delicate organs or reproductive structures. To do so safely and effectively has taken us many years of technique development and refinement.
• Evaluation prior to therapy. Physical therapists (PTs) are trained and licensed to evaluate the patient, including body systems, structures and function; massage therapists are not licensed to do so. PTs evaluate orthopedic, neurological, visceral, and musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. We develop a thorough written treatment plan for each patient, based on that evaluation.
• Educational requirements. Physical therapists undergo at least four to five years of college education and training before licensure. Massage therapy regulations vary significantly. Some MTs are state regulated, some regulated by municipality, some are unregulated. Most areas in the US require 3 months or more of training to become a massage therapist.
• Internal therapy. In most US states, massage therapists cannot treat internally (vaginally). This area is very important for treating infertility and sexual dysfunction. Physical therapists have been trained (and many have become certified) to treat internally since 1975. The American Physical Therapy Association regularly teaches classes in and endorses internal work. Due to their licensure and training, massage therapists cannot attend these courses.

How does Clear Passage differ from Maya abdominal massage?

• Areas we treat. Maya abdominal massage is an external (only) massage. We treat internally, as well as externally. Most of the reproductive structures lie deep within the pelvis. We find that in order to address the entire reproductive tract, we have to be able to access this important area. As noted in the section above, physical therapists have been trained and licensed to treat internally since 1975; the APTA regularly teaches classes in and endorses internal work.
• Focus of therapy. According to its main proponent, the focus of Maya massage is to “ reposition organs that have dropped” and to address “restricted flow of blood, lymph, nerve & chi.” This is very different than our work.

We palpate deep into the tissues to find and decrease adhesions that form naturally after any surgery, infection, inflammation or trauma. These adhesions are known by physicians to cause pain, loss of mobility, sexual dysfunction and infertility. The focus of our slow, deep tissue work is to decrease adhesions through the entire reproductive system and to restores function and mobility to specific reproductive organs (e.g. ovaries, fallopian tubes).

How does Clear Passage differ from what other physical therapists do?
All physical therapists treat pain and dysfunction, but most PTs focus on musculoskeletal or neurological rehabilitation. Relatively few have advanced training in women’s health, or in treating organs or adhesions within the abdomen and pelvis.

We have a strong clinical focus treating reproductive issues and pelvic pain. We are the only physical therapists with patent protected work and scientific studies published in peer reviewed medical journals quantifying our results treating

• infertility
• blocked fallopian tubes
• sexual dysfunction
• intercourse pain
• endometriosis pain, and
• pelvic pain.

Other women’s health therapists do not treat with our focus, nor are they trained or certified in our techniques. Every Clear Passage therapist is trained and certified in all the techniques that we tested in our published studies. We use those same techniques on our patients, every day.

Our physical therapists are required to develop a deep background in manual soft-tissue therapy before we will accept them for training. Our therapists have experience in myofascial release (MFR), visceral mobilization (VM), craniosacral therapy (CST), mechanical link (ML), muscle energy (ME), and the many specific pelvic techniques we have developed and tested over two decades. There are many excellent women’s health therapists who are trained to treat various women’s health issues (e.g. incontinence and pain), but only Clear Passage therapists are trained to treat infertility.

How does Clear Passage differ from acupuncture?
Acupuncturists insert needles into the patient’s skin and/or ear along energy meridians. In scientific studies, acupuncture has been shown to increase IVF success rates when used on certain points 25 minutes before and 25 minutes after embryo transfer. In contrast, our work is a deep soft tissue therapy, designed to find and free the adhered or scarred areas that occur in most people. In scientific studies, our work has been shown to open blocked fallopian tubes, improve both natural and IVF pregnancy rates, increase sexual function, and decrease the pain of intercourse and endometriosis.

How does Clear Passage differ from trigger point therapy? 
Trigger points sometimes form as a result of dysfunctions in an area of the body. In trigger point therapy, pressure is applied directly to the trigger points. This often gives relief to a specific area. However, we have found that unless the full component of underlying structural adhesions is addressed, trigger points return. Clear Passage therapists are trained to treat the adhesions which cause trigger points, but we are focused on a larger, more permanent change. Trigger points release naturally once we address the underlying adhesions.

How does Clear Passage differ from Jin Shin Jyutsu?
Jin Shin Jyutsu is energy work and does not address adhesions. Addressing adhesions is the primary focus of our work.

How does Clear Passage differ from Structural Integration, Rolfing or Myofascial Release?
Rolfing and myofascial release focus on restrictions in the musculoskeletal system. Rolfing is a form of structural integration where restrictions are broken apart using force, while myofascial release uses time, rather than force. Both modalities have a strong focus on the myofascial elements of the body (muscles, ligaments and tendons).

Our work addresses all bodily structures, including the myofascial elements along with organs, glands, and reproductive structures.

Can my local physical therapist or massage therapist treat me with this therapy?
No. Our work is protected by the U.S. patent office (patent pending) and is only available at Clear Passage Therapies® clinics. Unless your therapist is certified by us, and working in a Clear Passage clinic, she has not been trained to perform our work. We are the only therapists in the world who have developed specific manual therapy protocols to address female infertility, and have published results of these inquiries in respected peer-reviewed medical journals. Our work is the result of nearly two decades of study and research.