backpack and adolescent back pain article by Joseph Muscolino.

Does Carrying a Backpack Cause Back Pain in Adolescents?

And perhaps the biggest problem I have with this study about backpacks and adolescent back pain is that an overuse syndrome usually does NOT cause pain in the early stages. When the body is physically stressed by something like carrying a backpack, it often requires many years before the overuse results in pain.

Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Artwork: Giovanni Rimasti.

Thoracic Hyperkyphosis – The Critical Component of Upper Crossed Syndrome

For most of our clients who present with the postural distortion pattern known as upper crossed syndrome, it is important, perhaps absolutely necessary, to include thoracic spinal joint mobilization technique into extension as part of the treatment plan to address the thoracic hyperkyphosis.

Five more Do and Don’t Precautions for Massage Therapists

One precaution is that when we do need to use the thumb or fingers, it is a good guideline to always try to contact the client with the pad of the thumb or fingers, instead of the tips of the fingers. In other words, do not lead with the fingertips.

brain-3168269_1280 - pain neuroscience

How Can Tight Hip Flexors Give You a Headache?

Tight hip flexor musculature causes excessive anterior tilt of the pelvis… hyperlordosis of the lumbar spine… hyperkyphosis of the thoracic spine… hypolordosis of the lower neck with hyperextension of the head at the atlanto-occipital joint… forward head carriage… tight posterior neck muscles… headache.

FREE DCOMT video – One Handed Towel Traction for the Neck with Shoulder Girdle Stabilization

Traction for the cervical spine is indicated for the client with a pinched nerve in the neck because it opens up the intervertebral foramina to decompress the spinal nerves. Dr. Joe Muscolino demonstrates how to easily perform neck traction using a towel.

subcutaneous connective tissue interstitium.

Interstitium: “Rediscovery” of the Connective Tissue System of the Body

It is ironic and bittersweet that this article recognizing the importance of the interstitium, reveals its ignorance of any research already published about that very soft tissue. By describing it as “previously unrecognized,” this demonstrates the long-standing bias against soft tissues by the Western Medicine.

brain-3168269_1280 - pain neuroscience

Pain Science — just as Colorful, Convincing, and Vocal as the Old Guard

“Given that the physical therapy profession has clearly been wrong so many times before, why do the current pain science advocates appear to suggest that this time we have it right?” Should therapists be so “…blinkered by a single approach or school of thought that they deny, or cannot see, the value of another?”

Acromion Process and Head of Humerus. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Kinesiology - The Skeletal System and Muscle Function, 3rd ed. Elsevier, 2017).

Six Causes of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome – Part 3

Another reason for shoulder impingement syndrome to occur is insufficient elevation of the clavicle. Most of scapular upward rotation is actually caused by elevation of the clavicle at the sternoclavicular joint, so if clavicular elevation is prevented for any reason, shoulder impingement syndrome can occur.

The Pectoralis Minor. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. The Muscular System Manual - The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body, 4th ed. (Elsevier, 2017).

Six Causes of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome – Part 2

For scapular upward rotation to occur, scapular downward rotator musculature must lengthen. If scapular downward rotation muscles are tight, they might not be flexible enough to allow for scapular upward rotation, thereby causing shoulder impingement syndrome to occur.

Shoulder Impingement Syndrome. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Kinesiology - The Skeletal System and Muscle Function, 3ed (Elsevier, 2017).

Six Causes of Shoulder Impingement Syndrome – Part 1

Shoulder impingement syndrome is a condition in which the distal tendon of the supraspinatus and the subacromial bursa become impinged between the head of the humerus and the acromion process of the scapula. Following are the six major causes of shoulder impingement syndrome.

Permission Joseph E.Muscolino. Manual Therapy for the Low Back and Pelvis - A Clinical Orthopedic Approach (2015)

Low Back Pain: Time to Consider Massage and Exercise as Effective Treatments

So if we say that the cause of most low back pain is not understood, it should mean that we do not know what mechanism is causing the low back pain most of the time. But that is not true. We can often palpate tight myofascial tissue or a dysfunctional joint that is causing back pain.

Hamstring Group. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Manual Therapy for the Low Back and Pelvis - A Clinical Orthopedic Approach (2015)

Five Muscles of Sacroiliac Stabilization – Part 3 – Hamstrings

The connection between the hamstrings and the sacroiliac joint is through what is known as the superficial back line myofascial meridian/anatomy train. If the hamstrings are tight, their tension pulling force will be exerted through the sacrotuberous ligament and onto the sacrum.

Musculature of the Pelvis and Hip Joint. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. The Muscular System Manual - The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body, 4th ed. (Elsevier, 2017).

Five Muscles of Sacroiliac Stabilization – Part 2 – Coccygeus and Others

The coccygeus and levator ani are technically muscles of the pelvic floor, however, they are also muscles whose contraction forces cross the sacroiliac joint and therefore often tighten when a sacroiliac joint condition exists. The coccygeus attaches from the sacrum and coccyx to the ischial spine of the pelvic bone.

Musculature around the Sacroiliac Joint. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Manual Therapy for the Low Back and Pelvis - A Clinical Orthopedic Approach (2013).

Five Muscles of Sacroiliac Stabilization – Part 1 – Piriformis

Even when the original reason for the sacroiliac stabilization is valid, often the human body overdoes it and tightens the musculature excessively and/or keeps it tight long after it needs to be, so the musculature becomes stuck in a chronic pattern of hypertonicity.

Text Neck Posture. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. www.learnmuscles.com.

Text Neck and Neck Pain… and Neck Dysfunction

With any imbalanced posture (postural distortion pattern), including text neck posture, asymmetrical pathomechanical forces are placed into the tissues of the body. These forces have to have an effect. I believe it is impossible to argue that pathomechanics do not lead to dysfunction.

Forward Head Posture. Permission Joseph E. Muscolino. Manual Therapy for the Low Back and Pelvis - A Clinical Orthopedic Approach (2013).

Deep Pressure Massage to the Low Back – Forward Head Posture

The neck and head do not contribute to the generation of pressure, so head and neck posture should be whatever is most comfortable and least stressful. Forward head posture, a common postural distortion imbalance pattern that occurs is caused by a flexion of the head and neck.