Comprehensive Manual Therapy

Restoring function by treating the causes of pain and imbalance.

Comprehensive Manual Therapy is rooted in osteopathic understanding and honors the body as an interconnected, intelligent whole. Rather than managing symptoms, this work aims to restore function by identifying and treating the underlying causes of pain and imbalance, working with the body’s own capacity to heal itself. Through gentle, precise touch that includes craniosacral techniques, your practitioner listens to your body’s stories of strain, inviting greater flow, balance, and ease. Many people notice not only physical relief, but also a quiet settling that reaches through the whole system.

Manual therapy treatment at Boulder Bodyworks in Boulder, Colorado — gentle, precise hands-on care for pain and alignment
CranioSacral and manual therapy treatment — gentle hands-on care at Boulder Bodyworks in Boulder, Colorado

Theoretical Approach

There is a long-standing principle that links the physiological function of our body with the integrity of its physical form. The way the structures of our bodies relate can either promote or limit the health and function of our systems and, ultimately, our experience of ourselves as whole living beings. Our bodies express a constant interplay between structure and function. The organization of our bones, fascia, muscles, organs, and liquids directly shapes how our internal systems perform. The nervous, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, and lymphatic networks all depend on the integrity of this relationship. When these systems are in harmony, the body’s natural intelligence can express itself freely, supporting resilience and well-being. The purpose of Comprehensive Manual Therapy is to gently clear the structural obstacles that limit healthy movement, optimize physiological function, and reduce pain and discomfort in the body. By supporting your body’s natural alignment, your system can return to the balance it is designed for. When the structures and systems within us function in harmony, we experience greater vitality, resilience to stress, and a deeper sense of well-being.  

Treatment Philosophy

Using your health history and reasons for seeking treatment, your practitioner will be guided to know which tests and techniques may be most beneficial to you. The techniques used prioritize restoring the relationship of form and physiology, structure to function, especially the dialogue between the musculoskeletal system, viscera and organs, the fluids, and the nervous system.

Sessions are performed with you fully clothed in comfortable attire, for example, workout or yoga pants or shorts and a t-shirt or tank top. Jeans and restrictive clothing are not recommended. Using manual palpation — the art of listening through the hands — your practitioner assesses the vitality, mobility, and qualities of your body’s structures, including subtle craniosacral movements, creating a dialogue with the tissues that guides the session.

 

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Professional Scope

All sessions are offered by Colorado Licensed Massage Therapists practicing under their Massage Therapy licensure with the State of Colorado. Their manual techniques are informed by advanced manual osteopathic training and diplomas from the Canadian College of Osteopathy. These services are complementary to and not a substitute for the medical care you receive from your physicians and other licensed healthcare providers.

David Schwartz DOMP — Comprehensive Manual Therapist and co-founder of Boulder Bodyworks in Boulder, Colorado

David Schwartz

Co-Founder · D.O.M.P. (CAN) · Comprehensive Manual Therapist

David has been practicing manual therapy since 1993 and holds a Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Practice from the Canadian College of Osteopathy in Toronto. His work centers on osteopathic-based manual therapy, CranioSacral Therapy, and Visceral Manipulation, approaches that address the structural and physiological causes of chronic pain and restricted movement. His additional training in Neuromuscular Therapy and Myofascial Release informs the depth and precision of his work. Sessions are tailored to each person and available by waitlist.

 

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Elizabeth McClain DOMP — Comprehensive Manual Therapist at Boulder Bodyworks in Boulder, Colorado

Elizabeth McClain

D.O.M.P. (CAN) · Comprehensive Manual Therapist

Elizabeth has been practicing manual therapy since 1994 and holds a Diploma in Osteopathic Manual Practice from the Canadian College of Osteopathy. Her sessions draw on osteopathic manual techniques, the Hendrickson Method, CranioSacral Therapy, and Soul Answer Healing, addressing the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, and the deeper patterns that influence how the body holds and releases tension. Her work meets each person where they are — physically, emotionally, and structurally. Sessions are available by waitlist.

 

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What Clients Say

“I am the kind of person who pushes my body to its limits. Granted my limits are not Olympian. However, I know how to work too hard, play too hard, and inevitably hurt myself. I used to think pain was a normal part of living. I have had multiple surgeries and now live with a patchwork of scar tissue. Before I began working with David Schwartz, I had learned not to have high expectations of changing my body. Through his work, David has helped me live a fuller and healthier life.”

— Kitty E.

“I have been around the block with doctors, chiropractors, naturopaths, acupuncturists, and more — searching for someone I could deeply trust with my body. David did a thorough intake, has incredible presence and compassion, and was subtle when he needed to be and direct when he needed to be. As soon as he laid hands on me, I felt safe and completely trusted him. I was absolutely inspired by how much he knows about the human body, and how much he could tell about mine with a simple touch. He has a long waitlist — and he is worth it. Two years later it is still the best healing experience I could ask for.”

— Lopa V.

“This is a wonderful place. I see Elizabeth for her osteopathic bodywork and she helps me so much. I have complex, chronic alignment problems from past injuries and surgeries, and her gentle, precise, highly intuitive work makes me feel tremendously better. She is infinitely kind and brilliant. Everyone at Boulder Bodyworks is kind and helpful, and the facility itself is beautiful.”

— Carol L.

Schedule An Appointment

Online booking is available for Pilates, Massage and Bodywork, Acupuncture, and CranioSacral Therapy.

To book 75- or 90-minute massage sessions, private yoga, or manual therapy
with David Schwartz or Elizabeth McClain, please text 303-444-2739 or contact us
and we will help you find the best appointment time.

Book Online