I have a new post over at the Medbridge massage website talking about myofascial release and frozen shoulder. If you are interested in the great deal they are offing, with an entire 12 month subscription for $49, use the discount code FRITZmassage at checkout. Is It Safe to Treat a Torn Rotator Cuff? Enjoy, Walt… Continue Reading
The Power of an Elastic Wrap
What are your thoughts? Why do such seemingly innocuous interventions sooth our patients so? What can an Ace Wrap really do? As a physical therapist, I see many patients with joint-related complaints, usually pain or feelings of instability Some have seen their PCP or specialist, others came to me first. Most have gotten advice from… Continue Reading
The power of touch and presence vs. modality specific beliefs
The power of touch and presence vs. modality specific beliefs Disclaimer: I teach continuing education seminars for a living. When we touch patients in a therapeutic intervention, how many different “things” or actions can we really be accomplishing? How many different structures can we really make contact with or elicit change? With higher levels of… Continue Reading
Stories: Let Your Stories Mature and Grow
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
