Remedial Exercises in Treatment
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Filed under body mechanics, pain management
Click the link above to order your TRX from Stay Tuned Therapeutics. Fitness anywhere will send it right to your house! From now til Nov. 29, 25% off and FREE shipping! Give a call and come by the Stay Tuned Therapeutics clinic to give it a try for free, 928-699-1999.
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.
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
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
Thank you all who have joined the Stay Tuned Therapeutics ‘fan’ page. Feel free to use this page as one way to interact with Missy and Geoffrey. Questions, comments, interesting ideas, product or service suggestions, we are here for you. Take a peak at our videos, which we will be updating soon, articles, blogs, other blog, other blog.
I’d like to give you some background about Missy and Geoffrey. Geoffrey graduated massage school in 1997 at East West College of Healing Arts, in Portland ,OR. Missy graduated aesthetician school in 1997 at Rob Roy Academy, in Worcester, MA.
Missy and Geoffrey met at The Black Diamond Spa in Flagstaff, AZ in 2000. Geoffrey left the spa in 2002 to pursue a more liberating career being self employed, opening shop under the same name he created in massage school business class, Stay Tuned Therapeutic Massage & Bodywork. With the intent of working with athletes, musicians, and all folks who need to…Stay Tuned. Geoffrey has enjoyed working with visiting international athletes from all endurance sports, and specializes in massage for special needs clients and specific pain management.
In 2005 Missy also quit the spa, for the same reasons, to custom tailor treatments, and explore self employment. Missy enrolled in massage school at Phoenix Therapeutic Massage College and graduated in 2006. Joining Stay Tuned, we changed the name to ‘Therapeutics’. They have had a successful business ever since. Their practice is in a wonderful old house, built in 1905 in Flagstaff, AZ. Custom treatment include massage therapy for specific conditions, general relaxation and stress management, Myoskeletal Alignment, sports massage, customized facials to fit your skin’s needs and nail care.
Geoffrey and Missy are both Certified Advanced Myoskeletal Therapists, state licensed, and Nationally Certified.
Thanks for sharing a bit of your time with us, feel free to give us a call, comment on any of our pages, blogs, etc. Have a great day and ……Stay Tuned!
As stress rates increase, more people are turning to massage therapy for relaxation, according to the 12th annual consumer survey conducted by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®). The survey found that 59 percent of Americans are more stressed this year than last year, and stress and relaxation are the top reasons Americans received their last massage. These survey results are announced in advance of National Massage Therapy Awareness Week, October 19-25.
“People continue to seek massage because it provides multiple therapeutic benefits, including stress relief, at an affordable price,” says M.K. Brennan, RN, AMTA president. “Massage therapy has not only been shown to reduce anxiety and depression, but it can also relieve stress symptoms like chronic migraines and high blood pressure.”
Thirty-six percent of Americans received massage for stress reduction and relaxation in the last five years, compared with just 22 percent last year. Additionally, 38 percent of Americans say they have considered regular massage to manage stress
The state of the economy has been a major stress trigger for Americans this past year. Forty-five percent of Americans say they are greatly stressed by the current economic situation, or other factors. Younger Americans and women have felt particularly affected by the economy. Fifty-five percent of those ages 25-34 say they are greatly stressed by the economic situation, and 51 percent of females agree.
Age and income impact massage therapy perceptions and usage
Young Americans and those in lower income groups are the most likely to consider massage for stress. Fifty percent of 18-24 year olds and forty-six percent of those making less than $25,000 a year say they would considered massage to manage stress.
While lower income and young Americans are more likely to seek massage for stress, people with higher incomes are more likely to discuss massage therapy with their doctors. This year, 16 percent of those making $50,000 a year or more, discussed massage with their physicians, which is nearly twice as many as those making between $25,000 and $35,000. And more than half (57 percent) of those who talked to their doctor about massage reported that their doctor strongly recommended or encouraged them to get a massage.
“As perceptions regarding the multiple benefits of massage evolve, it’s interesting to note that some of its most prevalent evangelists are doctors,” said Brennan. “This trend will continue as more doctors refer patients to massage therapists and see how it can help their patients recover from injuries, alleviate pain and ease stress.”
Despite recommendations from doctors, massage therapy is not always covered in health insurance plans. Sixty percent of Americans reported that they would like to see massage covered by their insurance plans.
Source: American Massage Therapy Association
The Foam Roll
The popularity of foam rollers is huge right now. Many people are simply using them for rolling the iliotibial band. I feel foam rollers can be used for so much more than IT Band – Self Myofascial Release (ITB SMR). This handy little tool can be purchased for around $20 in most towns or on line and requires no gym membership.
Lets look at techniques for the pectoral muscles. I recommend these movements for my clients with forward head posture, upper cross syndrome, shoulder, neck and arm pain, and as a preventative measure for all clients.
We will use two forms of ‘muscle energy techniques’ in these movement patterns:
Reciprocal Inhibition~Reciprocal Innervation (RI)
René Descartes (1596-1650) was one of the first to conceive a model of reciprocal innervation (in 1626) as the principle that provides for the control of agonist and antagonist muscles. Reciprocal innervation describes skeletal muscles as existing in antagonistic pairs, with contraction of one muscle producing forces opposite to those generated by contraction of the other. For example, in the human arm, the triceps acts to extend the lower arm outward while the biceps acts to flex the lower arm inward. In order to reach optimum efficiency, contraction of opposing muscles must be inhibited while muscles with the desired action are excited. This reciprocal innervation occurs so that the contraction of a muscle results in the simultaneous relaxation of its corresponding antagonist.
The significance of Descartes’ Law of Reciprocal Innervation has been additionally highlighted by recent research and applications of bioengineering concepts, such as optimal control and quantitative models of the motor impulses sent by the brain to control eye motion.
Post Isometric Relaxation (PIR)
Immediately after isometric contraction, the neuro-muscular apparatus becomes briefly refractory, or unable to respond to further excitation. Thus, stretching a muscle immediately following its isometric contraction may incrementally restore range of motion.
Pectoralis Minor
Action~
R.I. Reach back with left arm, activating posterior shoulder and back muscles. Keep hips forward, limit trunk rotation. Gently push end of roller with right hand while maintaining your left arm reach to provide length to left Pectoralis Minor. Hold 2 seconds, repeat 10 times or go for general improvement.
P.I.R. Using the angle depicted above, push with the right hand to first motion restriction, you should feel a slight stretch. Maintain pressure with the right ‘push’ hand at the beginning phase of the stretch. Gently, 20% effort, push back with the left hand against ‘stretch’. Hold for 6-8 seconds. repeat 3-5 times or again, go for general improvement.
C.R.A.C. If you really want to get fancy, try CRAC, Contract~Relax~Agonist~Contract, alternate between the two above procedures. First reach back with left, stretch by pushing with the right. 2 second hold, then push with the left hand against pressure. 6-8 second hold. Reach back again with left hand, 2 seconds and so on.
Pectoralis Major
By slightly changing the angle of the direction of force, you will manipulate a variety of tissue. For the clavicular head of pectoralis major, reach straight back, attempting to keep the foam roll flat. As you move through a variety of planes of movement, you will likely find where you most need extensibility. Use the techniques and theory listed above to achieve optimal movement.
In looking at the terms reciprocal inhibition, versus reciprocal innervation, we can think about the intimate relationship of opposing muscle groups and movement patterns. When there is a tight facilitated line in the body, there is likely a weak inhibited line as well. Upper and lower crossed syndrome, as coined by Vladamir Janda in the 1980’s, and popularised in the bodywork profession by Erik Dalton, PhD. today, is epidemic in a vast majority of our population. So what? If we stretch the tight line can that help make the weak line stronger?
Structure before function. Function before form. That’s what. Here’s an example of a condition I see in my clinic often. Young adult, middle aged or elder man or woman. Forward head posture and shoulders rolled forward. Pain at the base of neck, upper back and shoulder problems/difficulty reaching over head without mild to moderate pain.
The body simply can not continue to function, with out pain, if the structure is not ‘balanced’. Head on neck, neck on shoulders, shoulders over the ribs, low back balanced on pelvis, pelvis balanced on legs, and so on down to the feet….which is a book in it’s self. I digress.
Back to the shoulders. Earlier we talked about ‘forward head posture‘. Often times when we balance the body, head, neck, shoulders it will realign the way the arm, humerus, sits in the ‘shoulder’, glenoid fossa, allowing for external rotation, and quit clipping the tissue of the rotator cuff under the acromion.
More on that later…..if you are having neck, shoulder, and/or upper back pain give these movements a try, play around with your roller off the floor and be mindful of your posture. Until next time…Stay Tuned…
Filed under body mechanics, neck pain, pain management, shoulder pain
As noted by Erik Dalton, PhD., in his Volume IV Myoskeletal Alignment DVD set, a common dysfunction with the hamstring muscle group is ‘fascial bag adhesions’, rather than contracture, or chronic shortening in the hamstrings.
A few simple techniques can be administered by soft tissue therapists to help separate these fascial adhesions between bicep femoris, semimembranosus, and semitendinosus, additionally creating room for the sciatic nerve to slide around. Your soft tissue therapist may ask for movement, by way of your muscular contraction, to enhance the central nervous system perception of the ‘new’ resting length in the tissue, as we now know, connective tissue is highly innervated.
Here are a few examples of Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques used at Stay Tuned Therapeutics to bring relief to tired, achy, bagged up hamstrings…
Shorten...Seperate. Internal & external rotation of fibula may be helpful.
By ‘shortening’ the tissue, we take tension out of the distal attachment of bicep femoris, allowing the therapist to sink to the restrictive barrier. Recall gastrocnemius runs deep to hamstring attachments.
Broad palmar pressure may reduce protective muscle guarding.
As your therapist ‘pins’ into the tissue, external rotation of the femur helps separate the medial fibers of semimembranosus and semitendinosus from bicep femoris. The short head of the bicep femoris is often exquisitely tender and caution must be taken here.
Shorten...Pin...
Shortening the hamstrings group once again, providing movement re-educates the tissue. As the therapist drops the leg down toward the table, they may introduce gliding strokes up the thigh, or maintain a solid pin hand to really lengthen and separate the fascial adhesions. In some schools of thought, this may increase contactability of the tissue. Imagine that, if it is not bound to its neighbor,muscle may have increased function? But I have no proof, that’s just what I hear from clients.
Lengthen. Just feel 'good'.
This video features some of the hamstring techniques. Not just for ‘runners’.
Stay Tuned…..
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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