The topic of stories is one that has intrigued me for quite a long time and I’ve begun to talk a lot about stories during my seminars. I will have more to say in future blog posts, but for now I want to share an article I wrote that is published in the newest edition… Continue Reading
MFR Treatment Tips: Intra-Oral
Next in the series of MFR Treatment Tips is this close-up video on my preferred finger placement when treating the inner aspect of the mandible. While at times referred to as a pterygoid treatment, I find this label limiting. For one, it is a perceptual fantasy to believe we can isolate and target an individual… Continue Reading
MFR Treatment Tips: The Occipital Lift
I’ve added another MFR Treatment Tip short video to YouTube that should make this effective technique sequence even easier for you and your patient. Questions or comment? Just leave a note in the comments section here! Cheers, Walt Fritz, PT www.FoundationsinMFR.com Continue Reading
MFR Treatment Tips: The Anterior Cervical Region
I’ve posted a new video onto YouTube that covers treatment to the anterior cervical/throat region. I’ve treated this area for over twenty years with very nice results in the treatment of neck region pain as well as issues relating to radiculopathy-like symptoms into the arm and chest/shoulder regions. More recently Ive learned the value of… Continue Reading
Myofascial release and the evidence for speech, voice, and swallowing disorders.
Since this blog was originally published the Reference Page used for my Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminar for Neck, Voice, and Swallowing Disorders has been updated. Additionally, the relevant evidence has been inserted throughout the new Course Syllabus that is distributed in the seminar. Science is dynamic and so will this seminar and the evidence… Continue Reading
MFR Treatment Tips: An easy way to achieve posterior pelvic tilt
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… Continue Reading
Rethinking your professional identity
What mental image might a person receive when you introduce yourself to them by saying “I am a physical therapist” (or massage therapist, or speech and language pathologist, or occupational therapist, or etc.)? This short statement of identity may create a cascade of mental images to your audience (the potential client) which may influence your… Continue Reading
Mechanosensitivity: “The doctor poked, and prodded, and scratched his chin. He could find nothing wrong”
“The doctor poked, and prodded, and scratched his chin. He could find nothing wrong.” from Imogene’s Antlers, by David Small. Imogene’s Antlers was one of my favorite books to read to my daughters when they were young. In it, the doctor was called in to examine Imogene, as she had spontaneously sprouted antlers. However, no… Continue Reading
Self Treatment/Indirect Effects: Striving for Simplicity.
A few Sunday afternoon thoughts on how we may be treating ourselves each time we treat another…nothing too strenuous, it’s Sunday. How many times have your patients/clients commented on the warmth of your hands? If you are like me, it happens daily. I’ve not spent time searching for clues as to why, and I am… Continue Reading
Jiro Dreams of Sushi
I do the same thing over and over, improving bit by bit. There is always a yearning to achieve more. I’ll continue to climb, trying to reach the top, but no one knows where the top is. from Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Last evening, my wife and I sat down for a rather rare evening… Continue Reading
How can you change client expectations in order to be most effective?
As a physical therapist, I face certain expectations when a client first comes to see me for treatment. When they walk in my treatment room, a few may look around, wondering where the exercise equipment is hidden, as my room is a 9’ X 13” room with a massage table and little else. But most… Continue Reading
Hacking your way through the jungle of research claims
“When we place our hands on a patient and act/move in certain ways our patients improve.” Social media receives a good deal of criticism from folks who feel it is the ultimate waste of time…though those same folks are usually posting these opinions on social media. Research “findings” are frequently posted on mass media sites,… Continue Reading
Simplifying MFR: A Proposed Feedback Loop for Myofascial Release/Manual Therapy
Over the course of the past few month I’ve done some of the most time-intensive work I’ve done since my college days. I was approached early in 2014 by Medbridge Education, a leading online resource for Continuing Education Trainings for physical therapists. They were in the process of expanding their offerings to include massage therapists… Continue Reading
The Sky is Falling! What To Do About Our Sitting/Texting/Computer/Technology Epidemic?
Recently, there was a fairly lengthy article in my local city newspaper, bemoaning the ills that technology is causing on both the young as well as older adults. Two local health professionals were interviewed for this story, both making comments based on their beliefs and observations and using their impressions to make predictions about the… Continue Reading
Are you legally licensed to do “emotional work”?
This post represents a followup to my last post, “Are you qualified to do emotional work”, with additional background in this post: “Professional Boundaries, continuing a dialogue: Is it time for a change?“. There have been many passionate responses to the first post across this blog, and on both Facebook and LinkedIn Groups. Why the… Continue Reading
Are you qualified to do “emotional work”?
I am going to keep this post short and simple, with a followup blog in the near future. How many therapists (PTs, MTs, OTs, SLPs, etc.) feel they have the training and legal ability, through their professional scope of practice/practice act, to deal with the emotional aspects of their patient’s pain/dysfunction? To define my term “deal… Continue Reading
