OK, I did a lot more this summer than this, but there is one thing I want to tell you about. Why should you care what I did? Apparently you read my blog because I have something important to say. This one is real important, at least I think so.
Many of you longtime readers know of my dissatisfaction with many existing theories of explanation for myofascial release. If it had stayed grounded in the simple model of 20-30 years ago, a model of ground substance, elastin, and collagen, things probably would not have gotten so contentious. But people just had to take myofascial release and fascia into areas of energy medicine and calling it the most important tissue in the body (paraphrasing inserted, but I think you get my point). This only got folks like Paul Ingraham, a Canadian journalist and former massage therapist, irritated enough to write about it. (See here and here for some pretty brilliant writing) I used to hate Paul’s writing; thought it was just angry fluff from a “non-believer”. The sort of stuff I had to put up with when I was “debating” other non-believers on SomaSimple.com (more on this later). Things have changed for me over the past few years. My allegiances have changed in that I have no longer have allegiances. No, maybe I do, my allegiance is to not continuing to perpetuate non-truths. When one is unaware that what they are saying or practicing is not valid, I call it a non-issue, no foul, even though ignorance is no excuse. But when information comes to the forefront showing what you once believed to be false or simply bad science, continuing along this path is wrong.
My vacation, you may ask, right? Getting there. We are talking about a process here, not an event…
I started on SomaSimple.com around 2005, on a mission to protect my beliefs and my teacher from the non-believers. SomaSimple had/has a lot of them. My plan did not work very well. When confronted with folks who knew a lot more about pain and pain science than myself, I was made into mincemeat. Repeating lines or “science” that I had been fed was quickly seen for what it was, garbage, and I was told so, in not too polite terms. After bobbing and weaving, I succumbed to defeat and sat on the sidelines for quite a while. But, I lurked (that good old-fashioned pastime that the internet allows). During my lurking I read, and BOY is there a lot to read on SomaSimple. (Just post ten times and be a member for a month and you have access to all of it. Tell them I sent you…don’t expect that to be received well. You’ll thicken your skin there, trust me.) None of it would have been interesting to me in the past, because none of it supported what I was doing. But I read and continue to read to this day. During the time I was being spanked on SomaSimple, there was one person who continued to converse with me, offline, with great patience. Diane Jacobs, another Canadian, this time a physiotherapist (what is it about Canadian therapists?) is a proponent of what she terms DermoNeuroModulation, or DNM.
I took a seminar from Diane this past weekend on DNM. It was quite nice to meet her in person, as well as a number of therapists from around the world who I’ve “known” online for a number of years. What I learned was that if one stood back and watched Diane treat as well as watch a typical myofascial release therapist treat, they may not seem too much difference. Sure, we all have subtle or not so subtle differences in the way we treat, but the basics LOOK the same. And, the results may seem quite similar. But, it is what comes between the two that is what is dramatically different. I’m not going to bore you (yet) with the details, because I am still learning and integrating. Suffice it to say that one can explain the changes we achieve from simply looking no deeper than the cutaneous nerves and how we interact with them.
Diane does not present a list of techniques to conform to, but presents a mindset to adapt to. I feel that one of the reasons the fascial community has struggled so long to explain pain from the fascial standpoint, one that is reproducible and testable, one that is supported by accepted science, is that it is so far removed from reality that there isn’t an explanation. There are those who are taught and continue to repeat that proof doesn’t matter, “I am making changes! That’s all that matters!” (sound familiar?) And, what should it matter if you are helping people? It does matter if you know that what you are telling patients is untrue (lying) and if you look deeper into the models of explanation, it WILL lead you to more effective means of treatment.
My profession, physical therapy, has long been moving toward an evidence-based model of practice. Don’t confuse this with a science-based model. Massage is moving in similar directions. Take, for instance, the POEM project (Project for Open Education in Massage), which intends to move massage into a more science-based model. All good stuff. But there are dinosaurs in every profession who are so enthralled by the flash of a modality that they are not able to look at themselves fully (I was a very guilty offender).
So, what I did on my summer vacation was to allow my eyes to be opened. How will that effect my practice and my Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars? Not sure yet…Already I’ve treated a few folks with results that I had not been able to achieve before this past weekend. I know I do and teach very good work. If nothing else, the model of explanation that I use will change. As for flushing the words “myofascial release” out of my vernacular, I’m not so sure. There is a name recognition value that I find appealing and I don’t know if I wish to discard this. Time will tell. Stick around, this should be an interesting ride!
For now,
Walt Fritz, PT
Walt,
Very glad to hear of your ongoing journey. I think it’s so easy to say for the frontrunners, such as yourself, to say you are on “top” and be content there. I have so much admiration for you and your continued searching and education and willingness to be open to new ideas. We can all go so much further with that mindset instead of digging our heels into the mud. I believe what I learned from your willingness to share openly about your growth just as important as the modalities themselves. Thank you.
I b
It takes great courage and commitment to be willing to change. We ask it of our patients, it’s good to be able to apply it ourselves.
I love learning and this journey through the wonders of modern pain science is pretty damn awesome. Looking forward to seeing where you go with adding the science, keep writing!
Thanks to the both of you, I am deeply touched by your remarks.
This is heartening! Always learning and finding new avenues. This makes me incredibly excited for your seminar in March.
I love to hear your enthusiasm coming through! My passion is for Myofascial Release but I too am finding that some other modalities (or principles) can enhance MFR. Keep up the good work – hope to be in one of your seminars again very soon!
Hi Walt,
Great blogpost. It takes a lot of strength to change the “mesodermal” attitude. The more we have invested time and money wise into that belief, the more difficult it is to change. I know how you feel, I went through a dark time when I was learning that my work wasn’t about muscles or fascia- it took a while to integrate the new information but I am now so happy that I did.
I think it shows great maturity and courage to be on the path you are on right now and both you and your patients will benefit from it in the long run, if they aren’t already!
Warmly,
Rajam
The time and money that I spent investing in myofascial release was well spent, as it gave me a start and a great sense of touch. But the “quantum physics” approach to MFR was the wrong direction.
Walt,
It was great to meet you (at last!) in San Diego. I have admired the way you write and conduct yourself online for years, and it was a genuine pleasure to see you having such a good time at the DNM seminar. My respect for you continues to grow; I admire the courage it takes to write a blog post like this one. I hope that our paths cross again.
Jason
Thanks, Jason. Changes in beliefs are frequently met with resistance and scorn. And that was just in the last four days! Nice meeting you as well.
Walt,
Wow, man, you are amazing. You grow ever higher in my esteem, not because of being in agreement with my own beliefs but because of the profound courage, integrity, and commitment to learning that you display.
I first “met” you on some pretty stupid forums at a site I won’t mention here. You stood out from most of the others because you made intelligent comments and were willing to dialogue respectfully, even when we did not agree. I appreciated that.
When I was going through a transition myself and trying to get clear about some distinctions between DNM and MFR, you directed me to some threads at SomaSimple which you described as “not my finest hour” but you thought they would help me understand. And they did. I was impressed that you exhibited such honesty and that you were willing to sacrifice your ego in order to help educate me.
When I heard you were taking the DNM seminar, I thought that was fascinating and looked forward to what you had to say about that. I’m not keeping up with FB real well but saw some comments and had to read. I agree wholeheartedly with one of the comments: “A class act.”
Walt, I cannot tell you how deeply touched I am that you would allow yourself such honest inquiry that could, for a lesser person, feel threatening. And then to be so open about it. It’s awesome and inspiring.
I know you’ve been teaching a long time and I’ve always sensed a commitment to honesty in your teaching. Even when I’ve disagreed with you, I respected you. My respect has just jumped to a new level.
I imagine you will continue to teach and that the shift in your understanding will create some changes. However, there is no doubt in my mind that you *will* continue and will have even greater impact.
I’m sorry that I missed you when you were in St. Louis. Coincidentally, I was in Montreal taking the DNM seminar.
I’m sure we’ll meet some day and I look forward to it. Until then, I am proud to be your internet friend.
“If nothing else, the model of explanation that I use will change. As for flushing the words “myofascial release” out of my vernacular, I’m not so sure. There is a name recognition value that I find appealing and I don’t know if I wish to discard this. Time will tell. Stick around, this should be an interesting ride!”
You might want to have some conversation with Todd Hargrove, a Seattle-based Rolfer who has adapted a neuro-based approach. Maybe you could be a mole for the neuro revolution – pretend to teach MFR but teach it from a neuro point of view. Call it NMFR. It’s a thought. 😉
NMFR, I like it! As for being a mole, I think u just blew my cover.
Hi Walt
interesting to read of your journey, who would have thought being able to take one grindingly painful small step back, to look at ourselves, it enables a gaint leap forward in enlightenment.
Thankyou for all your blogs and discussions on MBP always interesting as is your research page on your website.
Stephen Jeffrey
Hi Walt,
I really appreciate your candor and the honesty of your post. Your thread on Soma was one of the first I read. To watch how you have changed your mind is something to truly admire.
It is a rare thing indeed to raise your standards to the level of rigor that you have.
Much respect.
I wish they would take that MFR post off of the front page of SomaSimle, though…
Walt,
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with coming to terms with changes in the bodywork world. I have also had to question my prior teachings and try to wrap my mind around the “evidence” or lack thereof for some of the explanations for why bodyworkers do what we do…and many times the evidence falls short. Challenging the status quo of established massage myths and beliefs is not a popular path, but in my view, it is an important one. By sharing your experience, you give courage and inspiration to those of us that would like to divorce massage therapy from New Age practices and would like bodyworkers to be able to explain what we do via science not superstition. I too hope to take some of Diane seminars when time permits so it’s helpful to hear a big MFR guru (yes, I just called you a guru) have such a good experience with DNM. And now I feel a need to venture over to Somasimple and lurk a bit more and learn from you and others.
Sue Shekut
I’d prefer not to be associated with the title of guru, but thanks. There is a lot available and to learn on SomaSimple, enjoy!
Walt,
Just joking on the guru part. I admire your humility! (Can I now call you a humility guru or will you hit me then.) I will read and learn more on SomaSimple too. 🙂
No hitting, no worries!
Walt,
Very insightful and brave post. I hope this sparks discussion within the myofascial community. We’ll see…
Yes, we will. Historically the MFR community is held together quite tightly, with very little room for differing opinions. In this case, change will come from outside not from inside.
Congratulations on spending so much time not telling me anything useful
Walt,
I’ve been watching the recent discussion on migraines on Linkedin, and see what you mean about resistance-seems no one else in that thread is giving ANY thought to the nervous system!
I’ve been wanting to get to Walt’s course for awhile already, now even more eager after he went to the DNM course!
Growth and change is what it’s all about. There is nothing wrong with the integration of new information as it comes to the fore. I have a science head for a friend who continually challenges me, but until the research is done we are sort of stuck in the experiential reality we know. I’m always searching for knowledge and then share the new information as it comes available to us.
Well done Walt! Glad the new knowledge has refreshed your enthusiasm further!
LeeAnne
Just wonderful, Walt. It’s really a treat to hear that someone no longer hates my writing! Any half decent writer can get fans by artfully preaching to a particular interest group; but it’s nearly impossible to win a reader over from the far side of a conceptual chasm unless I’m doing my job really well (and persistently). It’s the best possible feedback I can get.
Soma Simple was influential for me as well. Diane Jacobs and Jason Silvernail in particular were important professional role models at a time when I was trying to figure out what it meant to be a “science writer.” Watching what they do forced me to set extremely high standards — standards that now define me professionally.
Thanks, Paul. I have already learned that quoting you has gotten me some nasty replies. That’s fine with me, for if you are not challenging anyone’s beliefs, you are not challenging anyone to learn more.
Yeah, sorry about that! Quoting me is an easy way to get some hate mail. Just imagine how much I get.
How people conduct themselves when questioned and challenged says a lot about the nature and quality of their beliefs. I’m afraid your shifting allegiances will almost certainly bring out the worst in quite a few of your colleagues … and it’s going to reflect rather poorly on their position. Whenever anyone questions the assumptions of a faith-based group they belong to, they will get flak for it — which paradoxically strengthens one’s resolve to think more freely, and that in turn provokes even more flak. Oh, irony!
And I LOVE irony!
Walt, I am looking forward to your Seminar in Englewood, FL next April and hear and see your the changes in your approach to therapy for people with chronic pain. It sounds exciting!
Regards, David
Thanks, David. See you in Englewood!
As I’ve mentioned before, I continue to learn from ALL of my teachers regardless of whether it’s in or out of the classroom. The integration of DNM looks to be absolutely fascinating; I truly believe in combining techniques which it looks like you are in the process of doing, Walt. I love that your mind is open to the shifts. You’re a fantastic instructor.