26.9.2012 Manus Sinistra talk
Tonight I have attended the Manus talk on functional approach to the cervical spine. It was presented by osteopaths Matt Harris and Chris Wilkes which completed the GIFT course at the Garry Gray's institute in the USA. They explained that there are two basic movements happening in the spine. From Co to C3 (that is a key stone of the Csp) there is a type 1 motion occurring allowing sidebending and the rotation to the opposite side. Cervical column below C3 contains typical cervical joints that move in type 2 motion - sidebending and rotation to the same side. Type 1 motion occurs also in the Tsp.
Matt and Chris explained how the standard cervical examination that we are taught at the BSO only involves the top drivers (eyes, ears) to move the neck, and how we disregard bottom drivers of the Csp (such as arms, legs) that produce the same motion of flexion, extension, sidebending and rotation in the neck. In their approach to the treatment of the Csp dysfunction they analyze the movement of the Csp in the transverse, frontal and sagital planes. They look for movement that is working well in the patient's spine and by prescribing this movement as the regular exercise they can help to relieve the problem.
I have learned that there are 5 types of the movements occurring in the spine. If C5 and C6 segments taken as an example, that this would be the explanation of rotation to the left movement in the Csp:
Type 1 movement: C6 stable, C5 rotates to the left (as an example)
Type 2 movement: C5 stable, C6 rotates to the right
Type 3 movement: with involvement of the speed of the movement through Csp, with movement coming from top drivers, C5 rotates to the left while C6 rotates to the right respectively but soon catches up and rotates to the left too.
Type 4 movement: it is driven from bottom drivers. first it is C6 that rotates to the left and C5 relatively to C6 rotates to the right but soon catches up and rotates to the left too.
Type 5 movement: they are opposite to each other - C5 rotates to the left and at the same time C6 rotates to the right. This movement is the most stressful for the joint.
We have been asked to perform some exercises and compared the range of the motion in our neck before and after the exercise and there were dramatic changes in the increase of the ROM.
I will try to implement this knowledge and cervical examination modalities when it will be suitable for a patient at the clinic.
Matt and Chris explained how the standard cervical examination that we are taught at the BSO only involves the top drivers (eyes, ears) to move the neck, and how we disregard bottom drivers of the Csp (such as arms, legs) that produce the same motion of flexion, extension, sidebending and rotation in the neck. In their approach to the treatment of the Csp dysfunction they analyze the movement of the Csp in the transverse, frontal and sagital planes. They look for movement that is working well in the patient's spine and by prescribing this movement as the regular exercise they can help to relieve the problem.
I have learned that there are 5 types of the movements occurring in the spine. If C5 and C6 segments taken as an example, that this would be the explanation of rotation to the left movement in the Csp:
Type 1 movement: C6 stable, C5 rotates to the left (as an example)
Type 2 movement: C5 stable, C6 rotates to the right
Type 3 movement: with involvement of the speed of the movement through Csp, with movement coming from top drivers, C5 rotates to the left while C6 rotates to the right respectively but soon catches up and rotates to the left too.
Type 4 movement: it is driven from bottom drivers. first it is C6 that rotates to the left and C5 relatively to C6 rotates to the right but soon catches up and rotates to the left too.
Type 5 movement: they are opposite to each other - C5 rotates to the left and at the same time C6 rotates to the right. This movement is the most stressful for the joint.
We have been asked to perform some exercises and compared the range of the motion in our neck before and after the exercise and there were dramatic changes in the increase of the ROM.
I will try to implement this knowledge and cervical examination modalities when it will be suitable for a patient at the clinic.
15.10.2012 Manus talk with Bevis Nathan
Today's talk with Bevis Nathan (osteopathy and a member of the somatic experience association), who's book I have had at home since the first year at the BSO, has been so amazing! He explained to us the polyvagal theory which says that vagus nerve has 2 parts and that are myelinated and unmyelinated. Due to this detail, as all the mamals, humans can also get into the state of freeze when attacked (by stressful situation, tiger or anything else) in the same way as mouse freezes when it is caught by a cat. It is not dead but in the freeze state all the consciousness is switched off and the mouse can not feel anything, it is preparing itself for the death. Based on this theory Bevis explained why so many people suffer from PTSO, fibromyalgia, anxiety or panic attacks. Animals kept by people in the farms, homes etc also suffer from the freeze response called inescapable attack. We were advised to read book from Peter Levine - Polyvagal theory. This talk again highlighted that more we know less we know....
23.10.2012 Manus talk with Alison Harvey from Barral's Institute
This talk was kind of introduction to the world of the visceral osteopathy. So nothing new to me. Apart one statistics. Alison mentioned that after she qualified as and chiropractor, she realised that only 10% of her patients responded to her treatment in a long run. The rest of the patients experienced only short term relief and the symptoms would reoccur. This is why she started to do visceral osteopathy. I find this statistics very important and I can already see in clinic that there are patients that do not respond to the treatment in a long term. It seems that after qualifying at the BSO I will be non stop doing some courses and improving my skills in order to treat patients successfully.
30.10.2012 Manus talk with Leon Chaitow on recent fascial research
So far the worst presentation of very interesting facts ever! I think my tutor MW would be appauled by the lack of presenting skills this big man shown today. However I hope I will get hold of the slides Leon used to read from as they contained really interesting information much of which I could not retain for long as too much was thrown at us at one time. However it seems that fascia is king as it represents more intelligent system of communication then nervous system alone. Many studies were conducted in the recent years on cats and rats (I think on on cows) and plenty on humans showing that different techniques we use (MET, MFR, HVT, soft tissue...etc) are very effective in a way they affect the healthy glide of the fascia. Even very gentle approaches in which therapist listens to the body tissues and follow the direction tissues want to go to are effective. All this has been documented by sonoelastography. We were shown videos and pictures of fascia moving or relaxing. It was very informative talk. Hope the slides will arrive soon to get better understanding of the topic.
27.11.2012 Manus talk with Renzo Molinari about pregnancy and osteopathy
I think I fell in love with this man! I have been again inspired by an exceptional osteopath. He explained how musculoskeletal problems and specifically muscular imbalances around the pelvis and hips can cause the problems with the labour. the most desired position of the fetes in utero is with the head down and the left occiput posteriorly and on the left side. as humans are the only mammalian species that need to rotate (always in the clockwise direction) in order to enter the birth canal, the above position is desirable. the muscle like psoas represent the obstacle for the foetal head to overcome when rotating so if the foetus is in a position with eg. left occiput left and posterior, the movement it needs to go through before it engages in the birth canal is larger and more obstacle (2 psoases) are to be overcome. He also explained the role of the piriformis muscle in the labour. it is supposed to contract and helps the clockwise turning. if the piriformis is in the spasm (due to any problem), it can negatively interfere with the labour. interesting was also the explanation of the pelvic floor muscles. they actually are working in the descending step fashion when squatting position only (that is desirable in labour) and on standing they form ascending stepping up... apparently this is why people can not defecate in the standing position. I have sent an email out to the clinic where he works asking for an opportunity to go and observe him working. It is amazing how much can osteopathy influence the pregnancy and the birth and the beginning of the life of the little creatures.