A quick video presentation of treatment options for scoliotic patterns.
Chloe is a freshman at Mississippi State U and has had an awesome running career. Highlights.
Chloe ran a 4:39.12 in the 1500m at USATF Junior Outdoor T&F Champs, placing 10th in the prelims.
Chloe ran a 4:36.20 in the 1500m at USATF Junior Outdoor T&F Champs, placing 7th.
A demonstration for hip pain and massage therapy/movement treatments for runners or general public in Flagstaff, Arizona. Geoffrey Bishop of Stay Tuned Therapeutics demonstrates.
For more information or book a session at Stay Tuned Therapeutics contact Geoffrey at 928-699-1999
Geoffrey-
I think you may have misinterpreted what I (and many others) are advocating. I don’t think anyone is suggesting that techniques shouldn’t be taught. Techniques are like tools. You can’t do good work without them. But just having a good tool does not make you a good craftsman. You have to know how and why you use it. The “how and why” are the critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills that others advocate.
The problem I see is that most educational programs emphasize only the tools (techniques) themselves as the answer to all clinical problems. Without the clinical reasoning process (knowing and understanding why you do what you do), your techniques will not be as effective as they could be.
It is like the craftsman who has a chisel, saw, and router. They are all great tools, but if you don’t understand when to use each one to their most appropriate use, you certainly won’t do the best work you could be doing.
This concept is an important aspect of what you and Erik teach in your assessment methods as well. Determining the nature of the client’s pathology is critical thinking and clinical reasoning. From that point you choose an appropriate treatment strategy. You then apply the appropriate techniques that are most likely to produce effective results. I would assume you don’t just start doing a random series of techniques you have learned for that region of the body.
My argument has been that we need to teach much more clinical reasoning to balance the content that leans toward to tools (techniques).
Filed under massage education, Myoskeletal Alignment, Uncategorized
By Karrie Osborn
Download the story here..Baby_Your_Back
Anyone with recurring, unyielding back problems knows the beast that is called back pain. While most of us have experienced back pain that comes from overexertion or muscle pulls, the effects of back pain for many can be debilitating, excruciating, and life changing. Experts say back pain accounts for $100 billion in lost productivity and health-care costs each year and is one of the primary causes of work-related disability. Managing back pain can be a daunting and exhausting proposition. One natural avenue for finding relief is massage therapy.
Whether you’ve pulled a muscle in your yoga class or afternoon basketball game, or you suffer from long-term pain caused by an injury, back pain affects us all. In fact, when it comes to low-back pain specifically, researchers
say that 70–85 percent of the population will experience it at some point in their lives.
Unfortunately, the back pain numbers are growing. A recent study in the Archives of Internal Medicine found that the rate of chronic low-back pain has more than doubled in North Carolina since 1992 (from 3.9 percent in 1992 to 10.2 percent in 2006), a statistic the researchers say reflects what’s happening across the country.
Arizona-based massage therapist Geoffrey Bishop says approximately 95 percent of his clients come to him with some sort of back pain these days, while still other therapists report that nearly all of their massage clientele—from children to seniors to weekend warriors—experience this particular pain.
Obviously, the costs associated with back pain are also growing. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), Americans spend at least $50 billion each year on low-back pain alone, which is second only to headaches as the most common neurological ailment in the United States.
WHAT CAUSES THE PAIN?
Back pain is an especially debilitating condition because every movement your body makes depends on the spine functioning optimally. When back pain shows up, your whole body knows it, and sometimes exacerbates the problem by compensating in other ways to avoid the pain. It’s not unusual for sufferers to have secondary problems related to those compensation patterns.
Experts say the cause of back pain can be the result of several factors. High on the list is stress. Hunched over a keyboard, late on a deadline, bogged down in worry—many are familiar with this life. When our body is stressed, we literally begin to pull inward: the shoulders roll forward and move up to the ears, the neck disappears, and the back tightens in the new posture. “It’s an armoring effect,” says Angie Parris-Raney, a Denver-based massage therapist who specializes in deep-tissue massage and sports therapy. She says this natural response to pain can create more problems when left unchecked. “That protective mode, with the muscles in flex, can even result in visceral problems,” she says, where the pain also affects internal organs.
In addition to stress, poor posture, bad ergonomics, lack of exercise, arthritis, osteoporosis, a sedentary lifestyle, overexertion, pregnancy, kidney stones, fibromyalgia, excess weight, and more can spark back pain.
For the on-site clients Bishop sees at a manufacturing plant, the majority have some sort of back pain related to their work. While these workers have the option to sit or stand at their assembly station, Bishop says the repetitive motion they perform throughout their shift—with their arms and hands continuously extended forward—has most of them complaining of back pain. Fortunately, this employer has seen the value of massage for its employees and brought Bishop on as part of the company’s wellness program.
Bishop, who owns Stay Tuned Therapeutics in Flagstaff, says mechanics is the main cause of back pain that he sees in his practice. “It’s mechanics, including repetitive use and ignorance about preventative postures, and neglect by employers and employees to provide rest and recovery.” The past also plays a part, he says. “Old injuries and traumatic events, left untreated and unresolved, seem to dictate where stress lands in the back as well.”
Geoffrey Bishop of Flagstaff, AZ performing a few massage and movement techniques related to sports. Geoffrey has been working in Flagstaff since 1999. Working with athletes of all abilities, corporate America production and desk workers and anyone in between. The focus of massage techniques at Stay Tuned Therapeutics is typically on injury prevention, and if it comes to it, rehabilitation of injury. To book your appointment call 928-699-1999.
Join us for the fun and information. We will be broadcasting on 8 ft screen at 6 pm, at the clinic. 403 West Birch Ave, Flagstaff, AZ. Drop me an e mail if you plan to attend.
A Special Pre-Conference Broadcast as our Gift to You: (click here to preview)
The neck is burdened with the challenging task of supporting and moving the human head. Because of tension, trauma and poor postural habits inherent in today’s workplace, it comes as no surprise that neck disorders rank high among the most common pain generators driving people into bodywork practices. In this presentation you’ll learn how to look beyond the symptoms and treat the whole to correct dysfunctional neck posture, which is key in stopping degenerative joint disease, as well as pain from headaches, rib dysfunction, TMJ, and Dowager’s Humps.
Erik Dalton, Ph.D., shares a broad therapeutic background in massage, Rolfing® and manipulative osteopathy in his entertaining and innovative pain-management workshops, books and videos. Dalton is executive director of the Freedom From Pain Institute® and developer of the Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques®. Visit www.ErikDalton.com to read internationally published articles and subscribe to free monthly “Technique” e-newsletters
founder of Freedom From Pain Institute™
“For every inch of Forward Head Posture, it can increase the weight of the head
on the spine by an additional 10 pounds.” Kapandji, Physiology of Joints, Vol. 3
It’s not uncommon to have clients walk into your office sporting a 12 pound head that’s migrated three inches forward of their shoulders. You know prior to palpation that their cervical extensors (semispinalis, splenii, longissimus and upper traps) are in a losing battle attempting to isometrically restrain 42 pounds against the unrelenting force of gravity (Figure 1). Rene Cailliet M.D., former director of the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Southern California wrote:
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| The effects of poor posture go far beyond just looking awkward. In fact, the January, 2004 issue of the American Journal of Pain Management reported on the relationship of poor posture and chronic pain conditions including low back pain, neck related headaches, and stress-related illnesses. “The extra pressure imposed on the neck from poor posture flattens the normal cervical curve resulting in abnormal strain on muscles, ligaments, fascia and bones.”2 Research presented at the 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, (2009) stated; “Over time poor posture results in pain, muscle aches, tension and headache and can lead to long term complications such as osteoarthritis. Forward head carriage may promote accelerated aging of intervertebral joints resulting in degenerative joint disease.”3 (Fig.3). It appears posture impacts and modulates all bodily functions from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the many conditions influenced by faulty posture. |
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 “90% of the stimulation and nutrition to the brain is generated by the movement of the spine” Dr. Roger Sperry,(Nobel Prize Recipient for Brain Research) Additionally, Dr Roger Sperry demonstrated that 90% of the brain’s energy output is used in relating the physical body to gravity. Only 10% has to do with thinking, metabolism, and healing.4 Consequently, a FHP will cause the brain to rob energy from thinking, metabolism, and immune function to deal with abnormal gravity/posture relationships and processing. The March 2000 Mayo Clinic Health Letter expounded on Sperry’s findings by reporting that prolonged FHP also leads to “myospasm, disc herniations, arthritis and pinched nerves.” Degenerative neck pain goes hand-in-hand with balance problems especially in the elderly. Sensitive cervical spine mechanoreceptors govern the body’s ability to balance and must be perfectly coordinated with the inner ear’s vestibular balance system to stabilize equilibrium in both static posture and gait. Keeping the eyes looking forward is a basic life-preserving reflex, and as such, dominates nearly all other postural considerations. Proprioceptive signals from the first 4 cervical vertebrae are a major source of stimuli for regulating the body’s pain-controlling chemicals (endorphins). FHP dramatically reduces endorphin production by limiting the cervical spine’s range of motion. Inadequate endorphin production up-regulates the central nervous system causing non painful sensations to be experienced as pain. Figure 4 shows a couple of good mobilization techniques to restore joint-play to upper cervical fixated facets. English philosopher Bertrand Russell once stated, “A physical system expresses its energy through function”. Any loss of function sets off reactions within the body’s open, dynamic system which manifests as structural abnormalities…and vice-versa. When treating functional problems such as loss of joint play, therapists must look beyond the symptoms and the artificial dividing of the body into systems and treat the whole. |
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| 1. Cailliet R, Gross L, Rejuvenation Strategy. New York, Doubleday and Co. 1987 2. American Journal of Pain Management, January 2008, 4:36-39 3 31st Annual International Conference of the IEEE EMBS Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, September 2-6, 2009. 4. Sperry, R. W. (1988) Roger Sperry’s brain research. Bulletin of The Theosophy Science Study Group 26 (3-4), 27-28 |
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I recently had the opportunity to work with a some great personal trainers, and movement educators in their domains, the gym and personal studios. A common thread I was made aware of seemed to be a bit of an insult, looking in on the training as a non participant. I am wondering if this is taught, or just something that some trainers fall into?
In screening movement and reeducation, it seems to be common place to use the word “try” rather than “do”. In performing the screening of movement function, the trainers would cleverly discover a movement pattern dysfunction: ankle flexion, hip extension, trunk rotation, rib basket expansion, etc.
Moving on to the reeducation segment of the training. The trainers, armed with the information of dysfunctional segments of movement in the kinetic chain, would use the word “try”. “Try to bring the hip into extension.”, “Try to feel the glute max fire as you come through this portion of extension.” With a simple reassurance that the tissue was not firing, a sideways glance, or a slight chuckle, the trainer may now has the client in the position to become a junkie, a student, a follower.
I am curious, at which phase these trainers move into saying things like “Bring the hip into extension.” or “Feel the glute max fire as you come into extension.” with some positive verbal reinforcement and kinesthetic cueing?
I can’t recall if it was my Mom, track coach, Boy Scout leader or who at some point I heard the phrase “There is no trying, only doing.” This phrase has been ingrained in my brain and being. If I really want something, this is how I approach it, and I share this with my clients. I like to see my clients succeed as quickly as possible.
I invite your feedback, please help me understand this.
Filed under body mechanics, Flagstaff pain relief, High altitude training
Researchers tell us that for every inch the head moves forward of the shoulders, weight is increased by 10 pounds. Therefore, a 12 pound head held 3 inches forward, forces the cervical extensors (semispinalis, splenii, longissimus, upper traps, etc.) to isometrically restrain 42 pounds against the unrelenting force of gravity. And we wonder why so many clients present with degenerative disc disease, head pain and TMJ.
Forward Head Postures such as the Upper Crossed Syndrome (Fig. 1) results from poor sleeping positions, driving stress, computer neck, whiplash, and improper breathing habits. Pain arises from muscle strain, disc herniations, arthritis, pinched nerves and overstretching of the spinal cord.
A major part of head, neck, jaw and shoulder pain is due to poor posture, tension, trauma, and central nervous system malregulation. These symptoms may manifest as fibromyalgia, myofascial tender points, TMJ, and chronic fatigue syndromes.
The following symptoms typically accompany this Upper Crossed strain pattern:
– Suboccipital pain syndromes
– Mouth breathing (sleep apnea)
– Difficulty swallowing
– Teeth clenching
– Face & neck pain
– Migraine headaches
The extra pressure imposed on the neck from the altered posture flattens the normal curve of the cervical spine resulting in abnormal strain of muscles, ligaments, fascia and bones (Fig 2).
According to the prestigious Spine Journal, 2006; 6:591-694,forward head carriage causes accelerated aging of intervertebral joints resulting in degenerative disc disease (cervical osteoarthritis) and osteoporosis (Fig.3).
The effects of poor posture extend far beyond just looking awkward. In fact, according to the January, 2008 issue of the American Journal of Pain Management, posture and function are related in that poor posture is evident in clients with chronic pain-related conditions including low back pain, neck related headaches, and stress-related illnesses.
Posture affects and modulates every function from breathing to hormonal production. Spinal pain, headache, mood, blood pressure, pulse and lung capacity are among the functions most easily influenced by poor posture. According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter Vol. 18, #3, March 2000, the effects of long term forward neck posture lead to “myospasm, disc herniations, osteoporosis and pinched nerves.”
When spinal tissues are subjected to prolonged compression, they deform and undergo a remodeling that can become permanent. Correction of Upper Crossed neck posture is key to stopping and reversing decay, degenerative disc disease and pain from headaches, rib dysfunction, TMJ, and Dowager’s Humps… but it takes time and a concerted effort using modalities such as Myoskeletal Alignment (R) (Fig. 4) to repair the damage caused by faulty neck posture.
Erik Dalton’s Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques are partly based on the reflexogenic relationship between muscles and joints. By releasing ‘tight’ deep 4th layer muscles, Myoskeletal Therapists help open ‘stuck’, or ‘out’ joint spaces, reducing irritation in the articular receptors, chemo receptors, and nociceptors. Specific joint positions are reached and some type of activator, client movement, is used to release spasm, and the cycle of movement/pain reduction/movement begins.
Occipitoatlantal Alignment
The charts below demonstrate the pain patterns that are produced by cervical facet joint dysfunction.
For more in depth information of facet joint dysfunction, please visit
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