Posts filed under 'Seminars'
Core strengthening is a popular treatment modality among physical therapists, as well as being popular in the mainstream of exercise. There have been a number of articles written critical of core strengthening (see The Myth of Core Stability). Based on my experience, one serious flaw has to do with tightness that most physical therapists pay little attention.
Tightness of the anterior (front) spinal and pelvic musculature can play a great role in back, sciatic, and pelvis pain. Shortness or tightness of the iliopsoas musculature can cause the lumbar spine to become drawn forward and downward. The psoas originates at the transverse process of L1-L5, with fascial slips into each of the lumbar discs. Tightness of one or both sides of the psoas and surrounding fascia can lead to commonly felt back pain and dysfunction. I find this a repeating theme among patients with back pain and one that I spend a great deal of time in education and treatment. Repeated exercise can lead to shortening of a muscle, if not properly stretched.
Some common symptoms that can result from shortness in this region are pain with prolonged standing, or standing while leaning forward (doing dishes), pain on rising to stand after sitting, especially when you are leaning forward (computer use or bleacher sitting), and lying flat on your back with the legs flat.
If the psoas and surrounding fascia is restricted, further strengthening these areas easily leads to further exacerbation of the back pain. This is what often results from core strengthening. The traditional medical model, including the traditional physical therapy model, pays little attention to these interplays. While your therapist may have put you on a general stretching program for your pain, the prescribed exercises seldom target the hip flexors. Strengthening the trunk and back to better support is a repeating theme among the patients I see who have not been helped (or have been hurt) by this approach to pain.
Myofascial release stresses identifying the restricted or shortened musculature and soft tissue that may be causing excessive strains on the body. In my Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars™, I stress a unique deep model of evaluation as a part of Myofascial Release training. Without this proper type of evaluation, this tightness is often overlooked. Demand more of your therapist. Don’t settle for what each and every back pain patient receives. No two cases are alike, so why allow yourself to be treated by everyone else?
Walt Fritz, PT
www.MyofascialResource.com
August 25th, 2010
Time is running out to register for either upcoming Foundations I class. Early registration/reduced fee for the Rochester, NY seminar Sept. 17-19, 2010 end 9/1/10. For the Hershey, PA seminar Sept. 24-26, 2010, early registration/reduced fee runs out 9/10/10.
Please refer to my website, www.FoundationsinMFR.com for full details.
Walt Fritz, PT
www.MyofascialResource.com
August 14th, 2010
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.
July 21st, 2010
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.
July 9th, 2010
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.
June 19th, 2010
I want to send out a thanks to all of the folks in Anchorage and Seward Alaska who made my recent visit a success. All of the folks at Providence Alaska made for an excellent weekend of learning and exchange. My wife and I found beautiful surroundings and warm hearts in all that we met. I hope you’ll bring me back next year (another moose-burger would be on my to-do list)!
April 14th, 2010
