Hershey, PA Seminar
I’ll be in Hershey, PA for a Foundations in Myofascial Release I Seminar September 24-26, 2010. Details to be posted soon on my website.
2 comments July 21st, 2010
A Pebble in the Shoe
As a follow up to a previous post that I made, I want to present an analogy for scapular region pain. A situation presented itself again today that brought this to mind.
“Knots” in the rhomboid and scapular region seem to get all sorts of interventions. Massage, trigger point therapy, injections, stretching, heat, ice, etc are all common. My least favorite thing to hear is that a patient’s physical therapist is trying to strengthen this area, as if weakness is the cause of pain. With any of these interventions, the pain will lessen or go away, but usually not for long.
What happens when you get a pebble in your shoe? The answer should be pretty obvious; remove the pebble or the pain will continue. What happens if something under the shoulder blade rises to irritate the soft tissue? Spasm and pain will result. That something is usually a rib(s). Cause of such an occurrence can vary, and can be acute or chronic in nature. In my experience, unless you intervene to change the landscape of the ribcage/spine, the pebble will continue to irritate.
In my Foundations in Myofascial Release I Seminar, I introduce techniques to “Level the Landscape” of the ribcage. Myofascial Release holds a wealth of potential for making permanent changes to the thorax and beyond. Check out my upcoming Foundations I Seminar in Rochester, NY on my website.
2 comments July 9th, 2010
Balance and Aging
A new study has been published by the journal Footwear Science, which reports that going barefoot, or with only socks or slippers, in the home contributes to falls in the elderly. Their recommendation was for the elderly to wear shoes at all times to reduce the risk of falling. Sounds pretty wise, doesn’t it?
In the past, I posted another research article to my website:
Here is an article written about the above research paper.
This article looks at the influence that providing a test population with walking and exercising on an uneven, or cobblestone surface, improves both balance and cardiovascular fitness in the test subjects. They based their hypothesis that walking and exercising on cobblestones would simulate a group of people in Asia, where cobblestones make up the bulk of their walkways and streets. They found that these people had remarkable balance and fitness, even those into their 80′s and 90′s. The researchers then set up a trail to simulate this setting.
I spent many years as a home care physical therapist, and geriatrics were the bulk of my case load. Diminished balance was a common trait among my clients and it was often my duty to try to improve their situation. Intuitively, I often had them move outdoors onto the grass or other uneven surfaces and begin to walk, even if they needed to use a walker for assistance. As people age, our culture tends to move people into more supportive footwear and caution them from leaving very level surfaces, for fear of falling. What becomes of this is a loss of the physical and neurological stimuli that can maintain and even build balance and strength.
The results and recommendations of these two studies seem in absolute contrast. If a community sees crime on the rise, many will buy (or sell) stronger locks, while others will try to find the change the source of the larger problem. I believe that the first study is the “safety” model of medicine, the one that encourages “stronger locks”. It ignores the potential for change in all of us. I think that we are capable of more. There are many ways to build and maintain strength and balance as we age.
1 comment June 30th, 2010
New Seminar Date
Foundations in Myofascial Release I will be held in Rochester, NY on September 17-19, 2010. This class is newly updated and 20 contact hours. Approved for New York State CEU’s for physical therapists and NCBTMB credits. For full information, to download a brochure, and to sign up, please go to the Seminars Page of my website.
Add comment June 19th, 2010
The Changing Pioneers
Who are the pioneers in the field of Myofascial Release? Or better put, who are those that created a shift in the way we view the body?
A look at the history of Myofascial Release, as well as the primary contributors, can be obtained on Wikipedia. But who represents the future?
I have a respect for the research and writings of Robert Schleip, Ph. D, who is a German fascia researcher and Rolfer. A case in point is his article, Fascial plasticity – a new neurobiological explanation: Part 1. While acknowledging the hypothetical nature of his work, he puts forth an explanation for the mechanism of fascial work from the basis of neurobiology.
When I put my hands on a client and feel changes, I have always had a mental picture of what was occurring, based on my learning. Schleip takes these same sensations and frames them in a new way. Since current research has failed to confirm the paradigm of mechanical explanation that I was taught as a means of validating fascial release, his theory draws from plausible explanations to come up with a logical framework. Sacred cows, whether they be in Myofascial Release or Craniosacral Therapy, can be changed.
So why does it matter? If what we are doing works, why should the explanation be so important? If Myofascial Release is to gain further credibility as an accepted modality, the science does matter. Will this change how we work? Quite possibly; finding the mechanism for change may lead to further advances in theory and technique.
Give Schleip’s article a read and let me know your thoughts.
Walt Fritz, PT
4 comments June 6th, 2010
Myofascial Release Therapist Group on LinkedIn
I have created a new Group on the business networking site LinkedIn specifically for Myofascial Release Therapists. This is another opportunity to present your practice to the public, as well as to network with other MFR professionals.
Walt Fritz, PT
Add comment June 4th, 2010
Itching and Body Work
A common aftermath of body work in general can be redness and itching of the skin. I have seen this especially evident in the trunk and ribcage area and can sometimes be rather pronounced. I was taught that this was a reaction to histamine released from the cells, creating an itching sensation. What have you been taught? Also, why does it seem more evident in the trunk vs other parts of the body?
I have a few good theories that I will share, but I invite your feedback.
Walt Fritz, PT
4 comments June 2nd, 2010
After Leveling the Landscape, Build Rotation
In my previous post, I talked about the importance of improving the mobility of the ribcage. I want to build on that by giving you some ideas for further increasing the flexibility and range of motion of the rib cage and beyond.
The seated respiratory diaphragm release is a technique many of us have been taught. This is an excellent way of releasing the three dimensional aspects of the diaphragm and proximity. You can take that concept one step further by performing a technique as shown here.
Motion test your client for limitations or pain. I will always work them in both directions, but you may wish to begin in the direction of ease. Be cautious of reports of light headedness or clammy skin, which can signal pressure in the area of the vagus nerve. Take them to a gentle end barrier and wait through successive releases. Repeat in the other direction.
This technique works well to improve intercostal soft tissue flexibility, anterior shoulder region tightness, and respiratory diaphragm restrictions.
How does this technique improve your effectiveness?
Walt Fritz, PT
Copyright 2010 by Walt Fritz, PT and www.MyofascialResource.com
Disclaimer: The information provided is intended for use in conjunction with a qualified health care professional. Please do not attempt these techniques yourself without proper instruction.
This information may be shared and/or included on your website, etc, as long as the article is printed in full, along with the source link.
Add comment June 1st, 2010
Leveling the Landscape
Much of Myofascial Release is about landscape. I look at posture to see deviations from mid line. I palpate tissue quality to determine tightness or restriction. I move into the rib cage to feel for areas that lack movement. These rib issues are what I want to address today.
Working into the osseous structures has always interested me. When learning this work, I felt that I had an adequate number of techniques to address rib cage tightness, but it was only through years of experimenting and noting the outcome that I learned the value of treating the rib cage.This is where landscape becomes important.
Think of the ways we treat those scapular or rhomboid knots that clients complain of. Treatments or modalities of all sorts may give some relief, but the pain returns. When was the last time you looked at and felt the landscape of the thoracic ribs?
In an ideal world, we are born with a landscape where the posterior rib cage gradually eases from shoulders to the lower trunk with a smooth, gradual sweep. There are no sharp peaks or valleys. With your client face down, you can view this while standing at their head. Global pressure into this area provides feedback of an equal give, all ribs and soft tissue flexing inward until you gradually reach the barrier. The thoracic spine matches this, with a smooth undulation toward the table. The scapula glides over this landscape in response to motion of the arm. The underside of the scapula finds no resitance from the smooth landscape underneath.
But, with normal or abnormal postural asymmetry, injury, scoliosis, or trauma, the rib cage often assumes a more craggy appearance, one where the landscape is interrupted by peaks or valleys of apparent tight ribs. The thoracic spine does not give equally to your pressure. The underside of the scapula is constantly irritated by the raised ribs, causing spams. The asymmetrical rib tension can force a rib head to misaligned at its junction with the spine.
Instead of staying on the surface and working the muscle or superficial fascia, move deeper into the rib cage. Engage the fascia and musculature of the intercostal regions. You most certainly will need to address pelvic torsions and tensions, but do not forget the landscape.
Walt Fritz, PT
1 comment May 12th, 2010
MyoMobilization™
I’ve been using Myofascial Release for years with wonderful results. When I first began my training, I was exposed to soft tissue mobilization (STM) techniques that were less than soft, on both the therapist and patient. These deep, very painful techniques were taught as “last resort” techniques, but in truth were used quite commonly in practice. As a student on the receiving end of the STM, I wondered how this pain could be helpful. It took its toll on the therapist as well as the patient, as many of you can attest. Being told that it is acceptable to cause bruising in order to break up deep layers of muscular and fascial tightness just did not make sense.
Over the years, trial and error has allowed me to devise methods to achieve similar (or better) results with less pain for the patient and therapist. I’ve termed this method MyoMobilization. Combining the more gentle principles of Myofascial Release with the deeper pressures of STM, MyoMobilization works within the tolerance of the patient. Areas of the body that would benefit from MyoMobilization are easy to determine. For example, the marked density and tightness of the Iliotibial band or quadriceps make traditional Myofascial Release techniques inadequate. Traditional Myofascial Release schools of thought would have the therapist dig an elbow or knuckle deeply into the tissue, running the elbow slowly down the leg with multiple passes.
Using the concepts of MyoMobilization, the therapist palpates into the deeper layers of non-flexible tissue and holds at this layer of resistance. Instead of forcing the restriction with STM, simply stay at the deep barrier until it softens and releases. Follow at this deep, but patient tolerant, barrier until you’ve achieved better tissue quality of motion. The concept is not hard to learn and can be applied to the traditional cross-handed technique as well. Follow MyoMobilization with Myofascial Release or Myofascial lengthening stretches.
Any comments or questions that you would like to share?
Walt Fritz, PT
2 comments May 5th, 2010
