Did you know that approximately 60-80% of the connections in the brain have wiring that goes through the visual system? This strongly drives the function of the entire nervous system and thus, strongly influences posture and movement. Traditional eye exams that test “clarity,” “acuity” or what allows you to see the bottom of the eye chart the “clearest” are only truly assessing a portion of how your brain uses its visual system, and do not consider how your visual inputs affect perception, awareness, orientation and overall stability, especially while you are in more upright positions and walking. This can have a significant impact on how your body utilizes its neuromuscular system to move through space and thus, recruit its muscles. Therefore, it is not uncommon for persistent muscle imbalances and movement pattern dysfunctions to be related to issues with the visual system.
For these reasons, Frank has partnered with Neuro-optometrist Dr. Robin Sapossnek, OD, FCOVD, FNORA, one of few eye doctors in the United States and the only one in the Philadelphia area, with advanced training and certification in two specialties: Vision Therapy/Vision Development, and Neuro- Optometric Rehabilitation. Collaborating since 2015, Frank and Dr. Sapossnek test and observe patients with various therapeutic lens combinations and in various positions, which include upright standing and walking, to determine the best lens for the patient holistically. Together they can determine specifically how your body best functions to harmoniously integrate the musculoskeletal, neurological, and visual-spatial systems based on the habitual positions and demands of your day. This allows them to find an optimal lens for not only what allows you to see, but also allows your postural and movement systems to optimally regulate. Through this approach, they can have a significant impact also on calming your nervous system’s “fight or flight” response. Patients who can benefit from this approach include not just those who do not usually wear glasses, but in most cases, patients who were prescribed lenses that only tested for “clarity” in one specific position (often seated).
Vision Integration
✓ Chronic pain and muscle tension (particularly in the neck, back or shoulders)
✓ Headaches
✓ Brain Fog
✓ Dizziness and gait imbalance
✓ POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
✓ Excessive sympathetic drive
✓ Anxiety
✓ Dysautonomia
✓ Feeling “out of body” or not connected to your body
✓ Feeling like both sides of your body are not connected or are not synchronized with movement
✓ Chronic plantar fasciitis
✓ Recurrent ankle sprains
✓ Scoliosis
✓ Cervical instability
✓ Disorders of hypermobility, such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
✓ Chronic pain and muscle tension (particularly in the neck, back or shoulders)
✓ Headaches
✓ Brain Fog
✓ Dizziness and gait imbalance
✓ POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
✓ Excessive sympathetic drive
✓ Anxiety
✓ Dysautonomia
✓ Feeling “out of body” or not connected to your body
✓ Feeling like both sides of your body are not connected or are not synchronized with movement
✓ Chronic plantar fasciitis
✓ Recurrent ankle sprains
✓ Scoliosis
✓ Cervical instability
✓ Disorders of hypermobility, such as Ehlers- Danlos Syndrome
Some common conditions that this dual approach can help with include (but are not limited to):
"Working with Frank Mallon over the past several years has been transformative, freeing me from the need for frequent chiropractic care and helping me release tension from my body while optimizing my alignment. In this highly individualized work, Frank is an expert who provides the most safe, relaxing, fun work on my body/mind. I entered his practice after a lot of extensive dental work, also wearing progressive eyeglasses. Frank assisted me with vision problems and guided me in the choice of the correct lens replacement when having cataract surgery. I am so grateful for Frank’s expert guidance and this fun empowering way to improve my overall balance, strength and functioning. Even the breathing exercises, which are central to this work, have allowed me to manifest a greatly improved singing voice! I am really blessed that I have been able to work with this wonderfully positive, sensitive and highly skilled practitioner."
-ANNABEL G.
"For the last several years I have been on a journey and tried almost everything with limited success until I found Frank. He immediately recognized the root cause of my issues that no one else had put together. He patiently and methodically helped prioritize how we would address the years and decades of dysfunction that was causing me constant pain, worsening dizziness and even scoliosis. He helped me navigate the process of getting the proper lenses to balance my body that was being thrown off by an eye surgery I had many years ago. He also coordinated getting me a proper night guard and splint because my head, neck and jaw was being thrown off by invasive orthodontic work I had done many years ago. Now I am having consistently less pain and my scoliosis is now even reversing! I am doing more and I see how much better I can be – more than I every thought would be possible. I see the light!"
-BARB G.
Vision Integration Testimonials