E-magazine
Open information for Bodyworkers
No. 17, December 2015
Anatomical drawings by Leonardo da Vinci.
C
Terra Rosa E-magazine, Issue No. 17, December 2015.
ontents
www.terrarosa.com.au
nomenon is termed contextual effects. The contex- Admittedly most of our knowledge surrounding the
tual or, as it is often called, non-specific effect of the placebo effect is theory. What is not known vastly
therapeutic encounter can be quite different depend- overshadows what is known, but the working the-
ing on the type of provider, the explanation or di- ory is that psychosocial cues initiate neurobiological
agnosis given, the provider's enthusiasm, and the mechanisms which modulate existing healing re-
patient's expectations. 3 sponses, bringing about subjective and objective
(measurable) changes.
Research interest in this phenomenon has contin-
ued to grow dramatically in this topic. In 2011 Har-
vard created an institute dedicated wholly to the
study of placebos, the Program in Placebo Studies --- The Placebo Effect ---
and the Therapeutic Encounter (PiPS). It is based at
Psychosocial Cues Neurobiological Path-
the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Ted
ways Subjective and Objective Changes
Kaptchuk, a prominent figure in placebo studies,
was named its director. Its purpose is to bring to-
gether researchers who are examining the placebo
response and the impact of medical ritual, the pa- Psychosocial Cues
tient-physician relationship and the power of imagi- Cues in the environment and in the patient-
nation, hope, trust, persuasion, compassion and em- practitioner relationship appear to trigger placebo
pathic witnessing in the healing process. PiPS re- effects. A common term that you have undoubtedly
search is multi-disciplinary extremely inclusive encountered for these cues is contextual factors.
spanning molecular biology, neuroscience and clini- This is a very useful term as it alludes to what might
cal care, as well as interdisciplinary, ranging from be going on. Another term used to describe this phe-
the basic sciences to psychology to the history of nomenon is non-specific effects however, not only
medicine. This certainly gives you an idea of not just does this term lack any real description or hint as to
how important the study of the placebo effect is, but what is going on; it is actually misleading. A far cry
also how complex it is. from non-specific, the effects of this phenomenon
If one looks at the money and energy that is now can be amazingly specific: from blood pressure
being invested in understanding the placebo effect, changes, changes in immune response, improve-
it is clear that the study of this innate healing phe- ment in exercise tolerance, or changes in tissue
Endorphin Pathways- Diagnostic equipment now Acute Phase Inflammatory Response- In his book,
allows us to look inside of the living brain and see Placebo: Mind Over Matter in Modern Medicine, Dy-
what is going on. Brain scans show -opioid recep- lan Evans presents a detailed argument for the
tors in the brain being activated by a placebo in acute phase inflammatory response theory. Evans
brains of subjects experiencing pain relief from tak- states that the conditions where the placebo effect
ing a placebo.7 Clearly the endorphin pathway is is most pronounced (pain, swelling, ulcers, depres-
involved in the placebo effect, especially where pain sion anxiety) all involve the acute phase inflamma-
modulation is happening. tory response. He reminds us that this response
goes beyond the classic signs of inflammation
Neuroendocrine Pathway- The neuroendocrine
(tumor, rubor, calor and dolor), but is now recog-
pathway involves not just the sympathetic and
nized to include a suite of symptoms known as
parasympathetic nervous systems, but also the hy-
sickness behaviour. 10 Sickness behaviour includes
pothalamus, pituitary gland and the adrenal glands,
lethargy, apathy, loss of appetite and increased sen-
collectively known as the HPA axis. The neural path-
sitivity to pain.
way of the HPA axis signals the adrenal medulla to
release catecholamines (not the least of which is Subjective and Objective Changes
adrenaline), which are known to increase heart rate,
Not only do people experience substantial pain re-
blood pressure, breathing and metabolic rate. In
lief from placebo interventions, studies have seen
addition to these symptoms, our sympathetic nerv-
measurable changes in heart rate, blood pressure,
ous system increases muscle tone, which as you
immune response, endocrine response, and inflam-
know can manifest as musculoskeletal pain. Damp-
mation, which can bring about healing responses
ening of this pathway (which can be triggered by a
seen in tissue changes, range of motion, pain levels,
thought or a feeling) could account for placebo suc-
exercise tolerance, and even markers such as BMI.
cess with generalized musculoskeletal pain, specific
pain such as headaches, cervical or lumbar pain. Some examples include:
This pathway is also proposed for placebo success
with hypertension, chronic pain and stomach ulcers, A wisdom tooth extraction trial using placebo
as well as immune system bolstering and normali- ultrasound produced reductions in swelling and
zation of blood sugar levels. healing time.11
Psychoneuroimmune Pathway- Immune system Studies have found increase in natural killer cell
cells are studded with receptor sites for neuropep- function with saline injections when subjects
tides associated with emotional states. In other where first conditioned with adrenalin injec-
words, your immune system reacts to (among other tions. 12
things), how you are feeling. There are both afferent Dylan Evans list of conditions most influenced
and efferent fibres in this pathway, so there is a lot by placebos includes: inflammation, stomach
of information passing back and forth from the ulcers, anxiety, depression and virtually all types
brain to the immune system allowing for fine- of pain. 13
tuning, checks and balances. Involvement of the hy-
pothalamus and pituitary gland in this loop has Investigation into the mechanism of the placebo
caused some researchers to speculate that there is effect currently taking place at several medical
an ideal set point for the immune system, to keep it universities has documented substantial, meas-
at a certain level of readiness.8,9 What we have urable physiological changes taking place. 14
learned is that conscious intervention can modulate
A 2011 review of current literature conducted
this immune response, much as it does with respira-
by Fabrizio Benedetti stated, recent research
Ethical Considerations
manifests from innate healing mechanisms present proving Clinical Outcomes. Handspring Publishing, Edin-
burgh: 84-246
in the body, and many triggers for this phenomenon
John Sharkey
Clinical Anatomist (BACA), Exercise Physiologist (BASES), Myofascial Trigger Point Specialist.
MSc., Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Clinical Sciences, University of Chester/NTC, Dublin, Ireland
Fig. 1 The X in this example was provided to identify the loca- Fig. 2 From the Concise Book of Neuromuscular Therapy-a trig-
tion of Myofascial Trigger Points in Upper Trapezius ger point manual. Sharkey, J. 2008
Fig. 3 Image of a lower limb (anterior view) with skin reflected Thank you to Terra Rosa for facilitating the work-
showing muscle islands isolated muscles fibers on the deep shops. I am very excited about returning to Austra-
aspect of the skin. (Photo Sharkey, J. 2015) lia and working with therapists of varying stripes. I
wish everyone success in healing.
References
1 Starlanyl D., Sharkey, J. 2013. "Healing through Trigger Point
Therapy: A Guide to Fibromyalgia, Myofascial Pain and Dys-
function". And Sharkey, J. 2008. Concise Book of Neuromus-
cular Therapy-a trigger point manual. Lotus Publishing/
North Atlantic Press. Staud, R. 2006. Biology and therapy of
fibromyalgia: Pain in fibromyalgia syndrome. Arthritis Res
Ther 8(3):208
2 Gerwin, R. 2010. Myofascial pain syndrome. Here we are,
where we must go? Journal Musculoskeletal Pain 18(4):329
-347
Fig. 4 This image shows muscle fibers running the length of the
3 Carrilo-de-la-Pena MT et al. 2006. Intensity dependence of
auditory-evoked cortical potentials in fibromyalgia pa-
tendon (being held in my hand) with the muscle fibers migrat-
tients. A test of the generalised hypervigilance hypothesis.
ing superficially and deep to the tendon. (Sharkey, J. 2010) Journal pain 7(7):480-487
4 Larsson B, Bjrk J, Henriksson K, Gerdle B, Lindman R. The
prevalence of cytochrome c oxidase negative and superpo-
tain a balance between facilitation and inhibition.7 sitive fibers and ragged-red fibers in the trapezius muscle of
Additionally, normal descending pain inhibiting sig- female cleaners with and without myalgia and of female
nals are disrupted including elevated concentrated healthy controls. Pain. 2000;84:37987.
levels of epinephrine, and norepinephrine leading 5 Fogelman, Y & Kent, J 2014 Efficacy of dry needling for treat-
to a further sensitisation of muscle tissue.10 ment of myofascial pain syndrome. J Back Musculoskelet
Rehabil.
My dissection investigations have demonstrated 6 Gerwin RD, Dommerholt J, Shah J (2004) An expansion of
why Myofascial Trigger Points can occur at the site Simons integrated hypothesis of trigger point formation.
of a tendon but not in the tendon itself. Tendons do Curr Pain Headache Rep 8:468475
not house Myofascial Trigger Points. What tendons 7 Giamberardino MA, Affaitati G, Fabrizio A et al. Effects of
often have are isolated islands of muscle fibers Treatment of Myofascial Myofascial Myofascial Trigger
running in series which run past the classical point Points on the Pain of Fibromyalgia. Curr Pain Headache
of origin or insertion continuing on its kinetic jour- Rep. 2011 May 5.
ney. Careful investigation of Fig 4 reveals a small 8 Hsieh, YL, Chou, LW, Joe, YS & Hong, CZ 2011 Spinal cord
0.5cm, or less, of muscle protein, an island. This mechanism involving the remote effects of dry needling on
the irritability of myofascial trigger spots in rabbit skeletal
island can develop Myofascial Trigger Points giving muscle. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation,
the appearance of tendonous trigger points when 92, 1098- 1105.
palpated. 9 Hsueh TC, Yu S, Kuan TS , Hong CZ. 1998. Association of active
myofascial myofascial Myofascial Trigger Points and cervi-
cal disc lesions. J Formos Med Assoc 97(3):174-180. chronic pain . He is a best selling author with titles
10 Mense, S. 2010 How do muscle lesions such as latent and on Myofascial Trigger Points and Fibromyalgia. He is
active trigger points influence central nociceptive neurons? a member of the editorial board of the Journal of
J Musculokelet Pain, 18, 348-353. Bodywork and Movement Therapies (JBMT), Inter-
national Journal of Therapeutic Massage and Body-
work and the International Journal of Osteopathic
Medicine.
John Sharkey is a Clinical Correspondence to:
Anatomist (BACA), Exercise
Physiologist (BASES), and Myo- John Sharkey MSc.
fascial Trigger Point Specialist. University of Chester/National Training Centre
He has an MSc. At the Faculty of 15-16a St Josephs Parade
Medicine, Dentistry and Clinical Dorset St
Sciences, University of Chester/ Dublin 7, Ireland
NTC, Dublin, Ireland. John is a E-mail address: john.sharkey@ntc.ie
world renowned presenter and authority in the ar- www.johnsharkeyevents.com
eas of anatomy, bodywork and movement thera-
pies. With more than 30 years of clinical experience,
he is now recognised as a leading protagonist of
BioTensegrity (the new anatomy for the 21st cen-
tury) providing new models and paradigm shifts
concerning living movement and anatomy promot-
ing therapeutic interventions for the reduction of
BIOTENSEGRITY
with John Sharkey
Sydney, June 2016
Myofascial Trigger Points (MtPs) Versus The Final Frontier
Neuropathies
Working within Endangerment sites, providing
A unique integrated neuromuscular approach for the Manual and Movement Techniques to stay mobile
treatment of unresolved pain due to MtPs or nerve and pain free.
insults.
This informative workshop provides therapists with the
This is that one stop workshop that covers everything necessary anatomical and palpatory excellence to ex-
you need to know about identifying and treating Myofas- pertly navigate the holy grails of the human body
cial Trigger Points and nerve injury. David G Simons (endangerment sites). Providing safe neuromuscular
(Travel and Simons), the farther of Myofascial Trigger techniques using digital applications guarantees effec-
Points was mentor to John Sharkey and wrote the for- tive therapeutic interventions for soft tissue based
ward to Johns first book (a trigger point manual). Differ- chronic pain conditions. Through your newfound ana-
entiating between neural generated pain and Myofascial tomical knowledge and unique hands-on clinical pearls
Trigger Point pain is essential in providing the correct each learner will develop a greater appreciation of local
soft tissue interventions for successful therapeutic out- and global anatomical connections.
comes.
John Sharkey MSc is a world renowned presenter and authority in the areas of bodywork and move-
ment therapies. He is a Clinical Anatomist (BACA), Accredited Exercise Physiologist (BASES) and Foun-
der of European Neuromuscular Therapy with more than 30 years of experience gained throughout his
career working alongside his mentors and colleagues Leon Chaitow, David G. Simons, Stephen Levin
MD, Prof. Kevin Sykes. John is recognised as a leading protagonist of BioTensegrity (providing new
models and paradigm shifts concerning living movement and anatomy promoting therapeutic interven-
tions for the reduction of chronic pain.
Im noticing an interesting conflict in the massage profes- your guesses about client tastes. Many therapists project their
sion. On one side, continuing education credit requirements ownsometimes incorrectassumptions about what clients
and the desire of therapists to expand and excel in their skills expect. Some therapists assume any work that approaches in-
have greatly expanded the number and quality of advanced tensity may be considered strange. Many mistakenly assume
workshops. On the other side, the proliferation of spa work has that clients dont want to be bothered in the midst of their
many massage schools primarily teaching generic massage headrest snooze to be moved for side-lying work, for example,
routines that are actually defining the publics perception of or that a client will be unhappy if the session doesnt leave all
massage. parts of the body equally covered with excess lubrication. In
reality, almost all clients will be grateful for skillful work that
Ive recently had several therapists express difficulties in try- pays attention to their particular needs, instead of conforming
ing to implement their new knowledge with established private to cookie-cutter convention.
clients or the general public in spa settings. Here is a typical
example: I took a great workshop of advanced techniques that The key to transitioning to a more creative bodywork style is
I was very excited about but I'm hesitant to try anything be- communication with, and education of, your clients. A former
cause I work at a spa and I'm afraid that the clients will think student got in touch with me a few weeks after taking a deep-
the new work is strange and not like it. I'm already forgetting a tissue class to say that after languishing for many months at a
lot from the workshop. How do I escape from this straight- spa waiting for walk-ins, he is now booked every shift. The
jacket? techniques he learned were certainly useful, but the main rea-
son for his success was that he took the time before and during
It is amazing how often I hear concern that trying new work the massage to talk to clients to find out what they wanted to
will send clients scurrying to more conventional therapists. As a improve in their bodies. He went on to explain to them the
Rolfer, I had the same thing happen when I studied craniosacral benefits of spot work, working slowly and deeply in problem-
techniques and more subtle work. I worried that people who atic areas, scheduling longer massages to get full-body cover-
expected sharpened elbows and knuckles would be disap- age, and taking enough time to also focus on specific areas. Its
pointed and that my long-time regular clients would wonder if important to find your own sincere way of communicating and
an imposter had taken over my practice. Nothing could be fur- transitioning to the ways of working that excite you most. Fol-
ther from the truth; my clients loved the new skills, just as lowing are a few suggestions.
yours will appreciate your new techniques, in addition to the
relaxation work you may normally do. Just as some meat-and- Gradually transition to your new way of working. For regular
potato people will never appreciate nouveau cuisine, some peo- clients, simply say you have some great new things youd like to
ple might resist new bodywork. However, I think that the ad- try to improve the massage. For new clients, build your confi-
vantages of showing an increasingly discerning public your dence and communication skills with those whom you feel a
newfound skills far outweighs any downside; the rebookings good connection and suspect may be relaxed and open to ex-
from happy clients and word-of-mouth referrals will be evi- panding their experience, instead of on every newcomer who
dence enough. It is far easier to draw clientele who return be- comes through the door.
cause they appreciate your work than to try to fit your work to
Rachel Fairweather
Client self care: Does it work? The psychology of self care: Power to the
People!
As a manual therapist it is tempting to think that
getting effective results is all about your hands on work. To understand why self -care can be so powerful we
After all the use of those awesome healing hands is our need to look at the psychology behind it the so- called
prime raison d'tre and many of us devote a lifetime to locus of control. You will know from your own
pursuing the massage Holy Grail in other words, the experience that the world tends to be divided into 2
latest technique or modality that will best help our types of people: those that believe they can alter their
clients out of pain. As a result, client self care is often circumstances by their actions and those who believe
pushed to the back burner; a desultory 5 minutes at the they are at the mercy of outside forces such as chance,
end of the session where you give a photocopy of a few fate or the whims of authority. Psychologist Julian
stretches Rotter (1966) came up with the concept of locus of
control to explain this tendency. People with an
Yet what if you were missing a trick? What if spending internal locus of control believe they can control events
time teaching your client self care suggestions was one that happen to them whereas those with an external
of the biggest single cost and time effective ways to locus of control believe they are powerless to control
improve your results with chronic musculo-skeletal outside events. (Fig. 1). Crucially the sense of locus of
pain conditions? Research suggests that devoting some control is not fixed and can be altered through
thought to incorporating self- care as part of an overall education or experience.
treatment plan is a wonderful way to quickly improve
your results. Conditions as diverse as herniated disc So what does this sense of control have to do with
pain, whiplash, headaches and nagging sporting helping your clients persistent bad back? Actually
injuries all respond to a healthy dose of self care and everything, as research shows that the locus of control
who better to support this than a friendly massage is highly correlated with successful treatment
therapist? Massage and self care are wonderful bed outcomes. For example headache sufferers with a high
fellows; outcomes for low back pain are improved if internal locus of control respond better to treatment
combined with self care and exercise (Furlan 2002) and are less disabled by their pain (Nicholson 2007).
and studies also suggest that receiving bodywork makes On the other hand, believing that relief from low back
people more likely to carry out self care suggestions pain is determined by factors outside of individual
(Long 2009) control (such as chance or the interventions of health
Fig. 1. Locus of Control. People with an internal locus of control believe that they can control events that happen to them
whereas those with an external locus of control believe they are powerless to control outside events .
Doctor: The ones that you do. Agenda setting: Jointly setting health goals with your
client
This old joke neatly summarises the best approach to
prescribing self care. The truth is that the best exercises Goal setting: Clients choosing their own small and
to suggest are the ones that your client will actually do. achievable goals
There can be a big gap between knowing what is good
for you and actually doing it and studies show that as Goal follow up: Proactive follow up is vital to
many as 70% of physiotherapy clients do not do their maintain momentum and provide engagement and
prescribed exercises (Beinart 2013) (Fig. 2). Therapists support.
often get cross and blaming about clients who dont
So if you really want to get results with your client self
help themselves; you know - those pesky people who
care exercises you will need to look at setting time aside
dont do their exercises. (Totally unlike our good
within your treatment to set goals, review and most
selves who never sit and eat cake or watch TV as we are
importantly- cheer-lead! (Fig. 3)
busy spending every moment in unrelenting self-
improvement. Hang on a minute while I turn off the Understanding the biopsychosocial model of
mung bean stew so I can go and meditate..). pain
The point here is that motivating your clients to To properly get to grips with the art and science of
become involved in their recovery is an art in itself and prescribing self care it is vital to understand what is
requires a number of skills and strategies beyond
22 Terra Rosa E-mag
Client self care
For effective self care it is important to gain some idea General aerobic exercise: For example running,
of how each of these 3 areas is contributing to your cycling, swimming, walking.
clients pain situation so that you can target your
Advice and education
suggestions accordingly. The hands on portion of the
treatment can address any issues in the tissues such Advice and education is a key area that can help change
as trigger points or fascial adhesions that may be unhelpful beliefs that may be perpetuating the clients
contributing to the ongoing pain. However the pain state. Self care approaches that fall within this
psychological and social factors can only properly be category include:
addressed via self-management suggestions.
Fig. 10. Head over to the Jing website www.jingmassage.com for some great free
self care handouts for your clients About Rachel Fairweather and
Jing Advanced Massage
further reading on the subject hit clients and other therapists. (Fig. Rachel Fairweather is author of the
chapter 11 of the book. 10) best selling book for passionate
massage therapists Massage
For some great FREE self care References
Fusion: The Jing Method for the
resources head over to our website
Beinart, N.A. et al., 2013. Individual treatment of chronic pain. She is
http://www.jingmassage.com/
and intervention-related factors also the dynamic Co-founder and
category/self-care-resources-for-
associated with adherence to home Director of Jing Advanced Massage
massage-therapists/ where you will exercise in chronic low back pain: a Training (www.jingmassage.com), a
find loads of self care handouts that systematic review. The spine journal: company providing degree level,
you can print out and give directly official journal of the North American
hands-on and online training for all
to your clients. From mindfulness Spine Society, 13(12), pp.194050.
who are passionate about massage.
to mobilisations, advice to active
De Silva, D. (The Health Foundation
isolated stretching, feel free to print Rachel has over 25 years experience
2011) No Evidence: Helping people help
out, enjoy and share with your in the industry working as an
26 Terra Rosa E-mag
Client self care
advanced therapist and trainer, first in New York and Rachel holds a degree in Psychology, a Postgraduate
now throughout the UK. Due to her extensive Diploma in Social Work, an AOS in Massage Therapy
experience, undeniable passion and intense dedication, and is a licensed massage therapist.
Rachel is a sought after international guest lecturer,
writes regularly for professional trade magazines, and
has twice received awards for outstanding achievement
in her field.
Before practicing any new modality or technique, check with your massage therapy association to ensure that it is within the defined
scope
It is usually optimal to contact Grade V: Fast, small-amplitude movement performed at the limit of a
each bone as close to the joint joints passive ROM, and into resistance/joint play.
surface as possible. This is es-
pecially important for nonaxial In this grading system, Grade I is any beginning ROM at a joint; Grade
II is the clients active ROM; and Grade III is a typical stretch that is
motion joint mobilization.
performed by a therapist on a client (or a self-care stretch performed
If the skin and other overlying by the client himself/herself) to the end of passive range of motion.
soft tissue is loose, a soft tissue Grade IV is joint mobilization as the term is used in this article. It in-
pull might be necessary. A soft volves stretching the soft tissues at a joint such that the joint is chal-
tissue pull is accomplished by lenged to move past its passive ROM into the range of motion that is
first contacting the client known as joint play.
proximal to the desired stabili-
zation point and then pulling Note: It should be pointed out that Grade V joint mobilization is a chi-
the skin and subcutaneous fas- ropractic/osteopathic high-velocity (fast thrust) manipulation that is
cia toward that point. This en- not within the scope of practice for massage therapy.
sures that any soft tissue slack
is removed so that your grasp
is secure on the underlying
bone. Indications/Contraindications Motion Palpation Assessment
First adding traction to the The indication for joint mobiliza- Joint hypomobility or hyper-
joint adds to the efficiency of tion is simple. Given that the goal mobility is determined by an as-
the mobilization. of this technique is to increase sessment technique known as
motion at a joint, the indication is motion palpation. Motion palpa-
The actual mobilization is usu-
joint hypomobility: if the joints tion assessment is performed in
ally done by performing 3-5
motion is decreased as a result of an identical manner to joint mo-
oscillations.
taut intrinsic joint tissues, joint bilization treatment technique; in
The oscillation motion is per- mobilization is indicated. The other words the joint is chal-
formed slowly; a fast thrust is contraindication to joint mobili- lenged to move into its joint play
never involved. zation is joint hypermobility: if ROM at the end of its passive
the joints motion is excessive ROM, and the quality of the end-
The excursion of the oscilla- due to slackened tissue or if the feel motion is felt. If the end-feel
tion is very small, usually only integrity of the tissue is compro- is hard and abrupt and the mo-
a few millimeters. mised or unstable, joint mobiliza- tion is felt to be restricted, the
tion is contraindicated. joint is hypomobile and joint mo-
Each oscillation is held for a bilization is indicated. If the end-
fraction of a second and then feel is mushy and the joint exhib-
released. its excessive motion, the joint is
Roll, Glide, and Spin ogy to a car tire. Roll motion Convex/Concave Kinematics
would be equivalent to a tire that
Spin and roll are axial motions, is rolling along the road. Glide Now that roll and glide motions
but roll must occur in conjunction motion is equivalent to a tire that are understood, lets apply this
with glide, which is a nonaxial is skidding along the road. And knowledge to convex/concave
motion. It is this nonaxial glide spin is the tire spinning in place kinematics. This will allow us to
motion that joint mobilization is on the surface of the road (Figure determine how to assess and mo-
usually focused on. To visualize 3). bilize the nonaxial glide compo-
these three fundamental motions, nent of joint motion to improve
it can be helpful to make an anal- the ROM of the joint. The term
CAUTION
Before practicing any new modality or technique, check with your
states or provinces massage therapy regulatory authority to ensure
that it is within the defined scope of practice for massage therapy.
Grade IV joint mobilization is within the scope of practice for mas-
sage therapy .
Further, it is critical that you understand, study, and practice Grade
IV joint mobilization technique carefully before attempting to use it
with your clients. The steps of joint mobilization are actually quite
simple, and this article provides an excellent conceptual framework
and set of guidelines for performing this technique. However, the
challenge lies in practicing the technique sufficiently to develop a
refined sense of joint motion before using it with your clients. For
Fig. 5 Excessive roll motion of the convex this reason, it is strongly recommended to attend in-person work-
bone upon the concave bone would result shops with experienced continuing education instructors before in-
in dislocation. corporating this technique into your practice.
Any technique that has the power to help also has the power to do
harm, and joint mobilization is an extremely powerful technique.
Joint mobilization, when applied inappropriately, can cause serious
harm to the client. Inappropriate application of joint mobilization
technique includes applying joint mobilization to a condition for
which it is contraindicated, most likely an unstable/hypermobile
joint or to tissue that does not have sufficient integrity. It also in-
cludes applying joint mobilization to a condition for which its use is
indicated, but executing the technique incorrectlyfor example,
performing it too forcefully.
Fig. 7 Mobilization of metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint glides in the sagittal plane. A, Stabilization of the metacarpal. B, Traction
of the proximal phalanx. C, Palmar glide mobilization of the proximal phalanx. D, Dorsal glide mobilization of the proximal pha-
lanx. (Figure reproduced with permission from Joseph E. Muscolino)
Example 1: Metacarpophalangeal faces (Figure 7A). tions are performed, each one
Joint Glide performed slowly with an ex-
Add traction to the joint by cursion of only a few millime-
Sagittal plane glide motions of the gently pulling the phalanx ters and held for only a fraction
metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joint away from the metacarpal of a second.
of the index finger involve con- (Figure 7B).
cave on convex kinematics. Flex- Example 2: Talocrural Joint Trac-
ion is composed of an anterior/ Challenge the phalanx to glide tion
palmar roll of the phalanx accom- in the palmar direction until
panied by a palmar glide of the tissue tension is reached; and Long axis traction of the ankle
phalanx. And extension is com- then gently increases the pal- (talocrural) joint. This is a fairly
posed of a posterior/dorsal roll of mar glide force to mobilize the simple example of nonaxial joint
the phalanx accompanied by a joint (Figure 7C). Three to mobilization in which the talus is
dorsal glide of the phalanx. five gentle mobilization oscilla- tractioned away from the tibia
Therefore, palmar glide mobiliza- tions are performed, each one and fibula.
tion is needed to optimize flexion performed slowly with an ex-
cursion of only a few millime- Following are the steps to per-
range of motion; and dorsal glide form this mobilization:
mobilization is needed to opti- ters and held for a fraction of a
mize extension range of motion. second. Use both hands (middle finger
Challenge the phalanx to glide reinforced over middle finger) to
Following are the steps to per- contact the dorsal surface of the
form palmar and dorsal glide mo- in the dorsal direction until
tissue tension is reached; and talus immediately distal to the
bilizations of the MCP joint: tibia/fibula (Figure 8A). No stabi-
then gently increases the dor-
Use one hand to pin/stabilize sal glide force to mobilize the lization hand is needed because
the distal end of the metacarpal joint (Figure 7D). Three to the clients body weight serves to
on its dorsal and palmar sur- five gentle mobilization oscilla- stabilize the rest of the body, in-
Comfortably and securely place Mobilization is performed by gen- Note: The mobilization can also
the clients head in your left hand tly increasing the right lateral be done by instead holding the
(Figure 10A). Note: Rotating the flexion of the head and neck with head and neck pinned with the
clients head/neck to the left ap- the left hand while the right hand left hand and then gently increas-
proximately 45 degrees helps to contact maintains the pin on the ing the pressure against the facet
facilitate this protocol. facet of C5. This results in right of C5 to move it relative to C4. It
lateral flexion mobilization of C4 can also be performed by moving
Contact and pin (stabilize) the on C5 (Figure 10E). Three to five both of your hands in concert: the
right-side facet (articular proc- gentle mobilization oscillations left hand increases the right lat-
ess) of C5 with the radial side of are performed, each one per- eral flexion of the head (and con-
the proximal phalanx of your in- formed slowly with an excursion sequently C1-C4) while the right
dex finger (Figure 10B). Thumb of only a few millimeters and held hand presses on the facet of C5.
pad or finger pad contacts are for only a fraction of a second.
also possible but are not as com-
fortable or strong. Note: The fac-
ets are shown in Figure 10C. With an understanding of joint kinematics, the thera-
Bring the clients head and neck pist can critically reason how motion should occur at a
into right lateral flexion until tis-
sue tension is reached at the end joint. This empowers the therapist to be able to criti-
of passive range of motion of C4 cally think how to apply joint mobilization treatment
on C5 (be sure to maintain your
pin/stabilization contact on the technique to their clients condition instead of memo-
facet of C5) (Figure 10D). rizing cookbook treatment routines.
This workshop covers the major clinical ortho- This workshop covers major clinical orthopedic
pedic assessment and treatment techniques assessment and treatment techniques for the
(soft tissues & Joint mobilization) for the neck. lower extremity
Shoulder assessment
Hip
Torso
More Tests
www.terrarosa.com.au
Ankles bend, ankles straighten. Why is this impor- tibia and fibula (such as the extensor retinacula, in-
tant? Try walking without bending your ankles. If terosseous membrane and tibiofibular ligaments)
you have ever attempted to walk in ski boot, you will can prevent these two bones from normal widening
be aware of the awkwardness and stiffness that around the wedge-shaped talus .
comes with a loss of ankle motion.
These two types of restrictions can occur together,
Ankles bend in two sagittal directions plantarflex- but often one type will be the primary or most obvi-
ion (from the Latin plantaris flectere, sole bent), ous restriction. In general, Type 2 is more common
and dorsiflexion (bent towards the dorsal or upper when there is very limited dorsiflexion (as in the
side of the foot). While plantarflexion gives a power- person on the right in Fig. 3), though this is variable.
ful push-off to each stride and adds spring to a jump,
In this article, I will begin by discussing a number of
the complementary motion of dorsiflexion is at least
ways to work with a Type 1 restriction to help the
as important. Squatting, kneeling, lunging, running,
soft tissues in the back of the lower limb to lengthen
and landing from a jump all require dorsiflexion, as
and be as responsive as possible. Type 2 restrictions
do many other crucial functions related to our ability
a fixed relationship between the tibia and fibula
to get around and function freely. Dorsiflexion, when
is discussed fully in Chapter. 5 of the Advanced Myo-
lost, limits more than just ankle movement it limits
fascial Techniques Vol. 1 book (Luchau, 2015, Hand-
our overall mobility and adaptability.
spring Publishing)
There are two main types of structural restrictions
Dorsiflexion test
that can limit standing dorsiflexion1. We will refer to
them as Type 1 and Type 2: We can assess the amount of dorsiflexion available
and identify the primary type of restriction by asking
Type 1: Dorsiflexion will be limited if the soft
our client to do a deep knee bend with parallel feet.
tissue structures on the posterior side of the leg and
Look at the angle of the lower leg in relationship to
foot resist lengthening. These structures include the
the foot (Figs. 2 and 3). How deep can the knee bend
gastrocnemius, soleus, superficial and deep fascias,
go before the available dorsiflexion is used up and
the long toe flexors, and the plantar fascia.
the heels have to come off the ground?
Type 2: Inelastic connective tissues joining the
In general, the more dorsiflexion, the better, even for
1 The contributing causes of both types of restrictions can include soft tissue shortening, hardening, or scarring from overuse, pos-
tural habit, surgery, or injury, as well as neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy. The contractures from these conditions will
usually respond well to the work presented in these articles. Restrictions from joint abnormalities or bone spurs are also possible,
and although the work described here may be helpful, additional measures and care by other professionals is usually indicated.
2 Sometimes clients will report a straining or cramping in the front of the shin, instead of a stretching in the back or jamming sensa-
tion in the front. If they seem to be referring to the tibialis anterior area, this is usually related to Type II restriction, which is dis-
cussed in Chapter 5. If the more lateral peroneals seem to be the source of the sensation, those will usually respond to direct work
at the site of discomfort, combined with active dorsiflexion and plantarflexion, as the peroneals themselves can contribute to lim-
ited dorsiflexion (see Fig. 5).
Gastrocnemius/Soleus Technique
This article is an extract from the Book Ad- Fig. 7. The plantar fascia is a broad layer of tough connective tissue covering
vanced Myofascial Techniques , Vol. 1. the sole of the foot. Within it are bands of mostly longitudinal fibers (the
plantar aponeuroses, in orange). The proximal end of the plantar fascia lies
Shoulder, Pelvis, Leg and Foot by Til Lu- deep to the thick calcaneal fat pad (transparent).
chau, Handspring Publishing, 2015.
Preparation: completion of our "Neck Jaw & Head" course (via seminar or DVD) is recommended (though not required) preparation for this course.
Til Luchau is the Director of Advanced-Trainings.com. A legend around the USA for
his thorough, student-focused approach to trainings, Til brings more than 25 years of knowl-
edge, talent and enthusiasm to these programs. He has trained thousands of practitioners in
over a dozen countries on five continents. He is the author of the Advanced Myofascial tech-
niques book (Handspring Publishing).
Terra Rosa E-mag 53
Regarding the lack of long term improvement, I will say that I intervention. I am not at all sure that the question raised here,
view most manual therapy as a passive means of creating tem- upon which the study was based, makes sense of the issue or
porary improvement on the part of the client. Once this is how the body works; much less justifies suggesting massage
achieved, to maintain this improvement, movement therapy doesnt help, based upon the short term only.
such as Pilates, yoga, or fitness training is needed. In other
words, we can likely get people well, but we cannot necessarily References
keep them well. For that, they need strengthening and stretching
Fritz, J. M., Magel, J. S., McFadden, M., Asche, C., Thackeray, A.,
to create strong musculature and maintain soft tissue flexibility,
Meier, W., & Brennan, G. 2015. Early Physical Therapy vs Usual
and regain/maintain proper neural control.
Care in Patients With Recent-Onset Low Back Pain: A Random-
Joanne Avison: ized Clinical Trial. JAMA,314(14), 1459-1467.
Time, timing and accumulation might also play a role in acquir- Furlan, A.D., Giraldo, M., Baskwill, A., Irvin, E. and Imamura, M.,
ing and managing (and overcoming) Lower Back Pain. Whatever 2015. Massage for low-back pain (Review). Cochrane Database
the cause of lower back pain, be it the insult of poor posture or of Systematic Reviews 2015, Issue 9. Art. No.: CD001929. doi:
injury or otherwise, there is known to be a cumulative effect in 10.1002/14651858.CD001929.pub3
the tissues; be they compensatory or self-protective, for exam-
Schleip, R., 2003. Fascial plasticitya new neurobiological expla-
ple. The connective tissue (particularly the Thoraco-lumbar Fas-
nation: Part 1. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 7
cia and other myofascial aspects that might contribute to Low
(1): 11-19.
Back Pain), like all fascial tissues, is now known to respond to its
loading history (see Schleip, 2003) over various time-frames. Schneider, M., Haas, M., Glick, R., Stevens, J., Landsittel, D. 2015.
Since the fascia is ubiquitous and invested through every muscle, Comparison of Spinal Manipulation Methods and Usual Medical
joint and aspect of the body - including the lower back - it might
Care for Acute and Subacute Low Back Pain A Randomized Clini-
be misleading to suggest that any therapy can be sufficiently cal Trial. Spine. 40(4): 209-217.
judged after only early intervention. Surely a chronic or trau-
matised pattern would not have sufficient time to respond to Richmond, J. 2012. Multi-factorial causative model for back pain
treatment? If chronic conditions, by definition, have taken management; relating causative factors and mechanisms to in-
time to accumulate - then perhaps we should consider efficacy of jury presentations and designing time- and cost effective treat-
palpation (under any discipline) once it has taken time to accu- ment thereof. Med Hypotheses. Aug; 79 (2):232-40. doi:
mulate? That is after consistent, repeated treatments that can 10.1016/j.mehy.2012.04.047. Epub May 31.
allow the body to adapt over time, to more optimal patterns.
(This is a known purpose and common achievement after such Kumar, S., Beaton, K., Hughes, T. 2013. The effectiveness of mas-
practices as Structural Integration, Neuromuscular Therapy and sage therapy for the treatment of nonspecific low back pain: a
many others). The response time of specifically training the fas- systematic review of systematic reviews. International Journal of
cial aspect of the tissues in performance, for example, is 12-24 General Medicine. 6: 733741.
months, vs. the much faster response time of training in muscu-
lar-based programmes. (See article by Schleip in Terra Rosa).
CORE Myofascial Therapy 1: 11,12,13 November 2016 This 3-day seminar will examine the basic styles of performance
CORE Myofascial Therapy 2: 14,15,16 November 2016 inherent in all athletic disciplines. Utilizing structural integra-
tion and myofascial therapy theories and techniques that are
An intermediate to advanced, six-day workshop designed to
appropriate for each style of performance, we will focus on de-
give practicing massage therapists in-depth knowledge and
veloping training and event protocols for endurance, sprint,
hands-on experience in full-body myofascial treatment proto- power, and multi-skilled athletes.
cols. With this knowledge and skill, you will be able to improve
your clients structural body alignment and increase their physi-
cal performance.
Getting the basic Myofascial Spreading done on my
first day resulted in a dramatic improvement of my
body alignment Mic, Townsville
George Kousaleos, LMT is the founder and director of the Core Institute, a school of massage therapy
and structural bodywork in Tallahassee, FL. He is a graduate of Harvard University, and has practiced
and taught Structural Integration, Myofascial Therapy and Sports Bodywork for the past 30 years.
George has served as a member of the Florida Board of Massage Therapy and was Co-Director of the
International Sports Massage Team for the 2004 Athens Olympics.
Terra Rosa
56 Terra Rosa E-mag
For more information & Registration
Your Source for Massage Information
Visit www.terrarosa.com.au
AMT , ATMS, IRMA, MAA Approved CEs.
Functional Fascial Taping
with Ron Alexander
Evidence-Based Pain Relief
This workshop teaches a fast and simple way for clinicians to reduce
pain, improve function, encourage normal movement patterns and
rehabilitation of musculoskeletal pathologies in a pain-free environ-
ment.
FFT has been shown to have a significant effect on Non-Specific
Low Back Pain in a randomised double-blind PhD study. FFT is a
non-invasive, immediate, functional and an objective way to de-
crease musculoskeletal pain.
Evidence of Anatomy Trains myofascial meridi- pain or athletic pubalgia is suggested to be provoked by
ans a tight adductor longus and a weak rectus abdominis.
The anatomy trains concept is quite popular for body- The study was published in of Archives of Physical
workers, but currently there is no scientific evidence Medicine and Rehabilitation.
yet. A group of researchers from Goethe University in
Frankfurt, Gemany looked for the evidence on the exis- Shoe insoles are not effective for the prevention
tence of six myofascial meridians proposed by Myers and treatment of low back pain
(1997) based on anatomical dissection studies.
An intervention of foot orthoses or insoles has been
They looked for relevant articles published between suggested to reduce the risk of developing Low Back
1900 and December 2014 were searched in scholarly Pain (LBP) and be an effective treatment strategy for
publication databases. Peer-reviewed human anatomi-
people suffering from LBP. However, despite the com-
cal dissection studies reporting morphological continu- mon usage of orthoses and insoles, there is a lack of
ity between the muscular constituents of the examined clear guidelines for their use in relation to LBP. The
meridians were included. If no study demonstrating a
aim of this review is to investigate the effectiveness of
structural connection between two muscles was found, foot orthoses and insoles in the prevention and treat-
papers on general anatomy of the corresponding body
ment of non specific LBP.
region were targeted. A continuity between two mus-
cles was only documented if two independent investi- A systematic search of MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE
gators agreed that it was reported clearly. and The Cochrane Library was conducted in May 2013.
Two authors independently reviewed and selected rele-
The literature search identified 6589 articles. Of these,
vant randomised controlled trials.
62 papers met the inclusion criteria. The studies re-
viewed suggest strong evidence for the existence of Results identified eleven trials : five trials investigated
three myofascial meridians: the superficial back line the treatment of LBP (n=293) and six trials examined
(all three transitions verified, based on 14 studies), the the prevention of LBP (n=2379) through the use of
back functional line (all three transitions verified, 8 foot orthoses or insoles. Meta-analysis showed no sig-
studies) and the front functional line (both transitions nificant effect in favour of the foot orthoses or insoles
verified, 6 studies). Moderate to strong evidence is for either the treatment trials or the prevention trials.
available for parts of the spiral line (five of nine verified The authors concluded that there is insufficient evi-
transitions, 21 studies) and the lateral line (two of five dence to support the use of insoles or foot orthoses as
verified transitions, 10 studies). either a treatment for LBP or in the prevention of LBP.
However no evidence exists for the superficial front line
(no verified transition, 7 studies).
The authors suggested that the practical relevance is Does nerve growth factor cause more pain in
twofold. First, the existence of myofascial meridians muscle or fascia?
might help to explain the phenomenon of referred pain. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is known to greatly induce
For example, myofascial trigger points of the calf have hyperalgesia (heightened sensitivity to pain). Research-
been shown to elicit pain that radiates to the sole of the ers from Heidelberg University and Mannheim, Ger-
foot and to the dorsal thigh. A second aspect relates to many explored patterns of NGF sensitization in muscle
therapy and training of the musculoskeletal system. and fascia of distal and paraspinal sites. The study was
Treatment according to myofascial meridians could be published in Muscle and Nerve Journal.
effective in reducing back pain. Several studies have
shown that low back pain patients display reduced The researchers compared the effects of injecting nerve
hamstring flexibility. growth factor (an agent that causes sensitization to me-
Overload injuries in competitive sports represent an- chanical stimuli) to 8 subjects, to the tibialis anterior
other entity of pathologies which possibly occur due to and erector spinae muscles and their fasciae.
the presence of myofascial meridians. Recent studies The spatial extent of pressure sensitization, pressure
indicate that tightness of the gastrocnemius and the pain threshold, and mechanical hyperalgesia was as-
hamstrings are associated with plantar fasciitis. Groin sessed at days 0.25, 1, 3, 7, 14, and 21. Chemical sensiti-
What I really love about bodywork is its pure simplicity. I I think that the foreseeable future of manual therapy is
believe that manual therapy can be distilled down to (unfortunately) on the sidelines of health care delivery.
three elements- your head, your heart and your hands. This is due to existing government funding models and
You need your head for the knowledge base, your heart the power of many corporations profiting from the exist-
as a caring compass, and of course, you need your hands ing model. What I would propose is that we be advocates
for the physical intervention. The body is incredibly com- for a new model that employs knowledge that we already
plex and mysterious, but it is always amazing to see that have. Well-established practice guidelines within medical
a physical, human intervention can often make a big dif- literature call for lifestyle change as the first line of ther-
ference in a patients life. apy[1]and yet this important step is missing from the
present medical model. This message ties in with the
3. What is your favourite bodywork book? theme of my book, and that is that the patients body al-
ready has the power to heal itself. To quote lifestyle
I have a book written by Leon Chaitow back in 1987 enti- medicine physician, Michael Greger, The best-kept se-
tled Soft-Tissue Manipulation: A Practitioner's Guide to the cret in medicine is that, given the right conditions, the
Diagnosis and Treatment of Soft-Tissue Dysfunction and body heals itself.[2] Our job as manual therapists is not
Reflex Activity. I found this to be an extremely helpful just to provide a physical intervention, but to advise our
reference manual during my schooling years and in my patients on lifestyle factors that are impeding their heal-
early years of practice as well. Leon continues to be a ing, and to advise them on lifestyle factors that need to be
hero of mine, so I was elated when he agreed to write the incorporated to help create the right conditions for their
foreword to my book. body to heal itself. The future for our patients can change
if we reveal the best-kept secret in medicine. The future
4. What is the most challenging part of your work?
for our profession could change if we were to remind
Without a doubt, it is paperwork. I love working on peo- policymakers that these practice guidelines already exist.
ple, and solving problems. I love reading and learning However, the medical profession will not be able to fol-
about anything health-related. I enjoy blogging and writ- low this guideline unless the funding model is changed.
ing about health topics; but when it comes to the paper-
work involved in being self-employed I really have to