As I teach, there are certain concepts/techniques which are self-explanatory, while others have nuances which make them harder to convey, both in the classroom as well as once the therapist is back in their clinic. In the past I’ve sent out Treatment Tips, but the printed word and still photos only go so far. Recently I had another photo shoot to provide updated content for the new Upper Body and Lower Body Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars as well as the renamed Myofascial Release for Neck, Voice, and Swallowing Disorders Seminar and we shot a dozen or so short sequence videos. Here is the first one and excuse the first-time-editor-mistakes.

Though not a mandatory aspect of lower back/abdominal/pelvis manual therapy/myofascial release, increasing posterior pelvic rotation and applying light lumbosacral traction often changes the dynamics while treating. My preference, and what I teach, is manual sacral traction applied in supine with the opposite hand on the lower abdominal region.

I beg and plead with therapists to try this method, but I know that placing a hand under their sacral area by placing the arm between the legs is too much of a boundary issue. I get it. So over the past few years I devised a “cheater’s” method of accomplishing sacral traction/posterior pelvic tilting without the need to place a hand under the sacrum. Watch the video to see what I mean:

Pretty easy, right? If you add a piece of Dycem under the sacrum beforehand, you have an even better felt sense for the patient. Stay tuned for more Treatment Tips from Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars.

For now,

Walt Fritz, PT

Author: Walt Fritz