I’ll be in Hershey, PA for a Foundations in Myofascial Release I Seminar September 24-26, 2010. Details to be posted soon on my website. Continue Reading
A Pebble in the Shoe
As a follow up to a previous post that I made, I want to present an analogy for scapular region pain. A situation presented itself again today that brought this to mind. “Knots” in the rhomboid and scapular region seem to get all sorts of interventions. Massage, trigger point therapy, injections, stretching, heat, ice, etc… Continue Reading
Balance and Aging
A new study has been published by the journal Footwear Science, which reports that going barefoot, or with only socks or slippers, in the home contributes to falls in the elderly. Their recommendation was for the elderly to wear shoes at all times to reduce the risk of falling. Sounds pretty wise, doesn’t it? In… Continue Reading
New Seminar Date
Foundations in Myofascial Release I will be held in Rochester, NY on September 17-19, 2010. This class is newly updated and 20 contact hours. Approved for New York State CEU’s for physical therapists and NCBTMB credits. For full information, to download a brochure, and to sign up, please go to the Seminars Page of my… Continue Reading
The Changing Pioneers
Who are the pioneers in the field of Myofascial Release? Or better put, who are those that created a shift in the way we view the body? A look at the history of Myofascial Release, as well as the primary contributors, can be obtained on Wikipedia. But who represents the future? I have a respect… Continue Reading
Myofascial Release Therapist Group on LinkedIn
I have created a new Group on the business networking site LinkedIn specifically for Myofascial Release Therapists. This is another opportunity to present your practice to the public, as well as to network with other MFR professionals. Check it out here Walt Fritz, PT www.MyofascialResource.com Continue Reading
Itching and Body Work
A common aftermath of body work in general can be redness and itching of the skin. I have seen this especially evident in the trunk and ribcage area and can sometimes be rather pronounced. I was taught that this was a reaction to histamine released from the cells, creating an itching sensation. What have you… Continue Reading
After Leveling the Landscape, Build Rotation
In my previous post, I talked about the importance of improving the mobility of the ribcage. I want to build on that by giving you some ideas for further increasing the flexibility and range of motion of the rib cage and beyond. The seated respiratory diaphragm release is a technique many of us have been… Continue Reading
Leveling the Landscape
Much of Myofascial Release is about landscape. I look at posture to see deviations from mid line. I palpate tissue quality to determine tightness or restriction. I move into the rib cage to feel for areas that lack movement. These rib issues are what I want to address today. Working into the osseous structures has… Continue Reading
MyoMobilization™
I’ve been using Myofascial Release for years with wonderful results. When I first began my training, I was exposed to soft tissue mobilization (STM) techniques that were less than soft, on both the therapist and patient. These deep, very painful techniques were taught as “last resort” techniques, but in truth were used quite commonly in… Continue Reading
Putting It All Together
So let me assume you’ve taken a seminar or two in Myofascial Release. You’ve gotten “the touch” of what a release feels like. You’ve learned a course book full of techniques. Now what to do with it? You may have been led to believe that taking more and more seminars is the only way to… Continue Reading
49th State
I want to send out a thanks to all of the folks in Anchorage and Seward Alaska who made my recent visit a success. All of the folks at Providence Alaska made for an excellent weekend of learning and exchange. My wife and I found beautiful surroundings and warm hearts in all that we met.… Continue Reading
Osteoarthritis and Leg Length Inequality
A study has been published by the Annals of Internal Medicine that directly pertains to Myofascial Release treatment. This study, with over 3000 participants, demonstrated a positive correlation between having a leg length discrepancy, or one leg longer than the other, and the prevalence of osteoarthritis in the knee. Older studies have shown that the… Continue Reading
When is it time to alter our beliefs?
An article came to my attention within the past few days, one that really challenges what I have been taught and practice. Titled “The fall of the postural-structural-biomechanical model in manual and physical therapies: Exemplified by lower back pain”. I’ve posted the link on my website Research page, #210. I am aware that there always… Continue Reading
Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive
Check out my @constantcontact newsletter archive. Continue Reading
More Limitations of Diagnostic Findings
I came across another study that calls into question the validity of using MRI results as primary means of diagnosing dysfunction. A study just published by the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine finds that 70% of able-bodied hockey players have abnormal hip and pelvis MRIs, but present with no symptoms of pain or dysfunction.… Continue Reading
