Absence of evidence is not evidence of the absence. Following is how a research review of the effectiveness of parachutes might be concluded: “There is no conclusive evidence that parachutes are effective at helping skydivers.” Ridiculous? Yes. Yet accurate and absurd!
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.
Acute Effects of Dynamic Stretching on Muscle Flexibility and Performance
Dynamic stretching’s improvement seems to be related to the increased tissue temperature and increased neural facilitation. Therefore, if the goal of a warm-up is to increase joint ROM and to enhance muscle force and/or power, dynamic stretching seems to be a preferable alternative to static stretching.
FREE DCOMT video – Childs Restorative Pose with Lumbar Flexion Joint Mobilization
In today’s video, let’s have a look at Childs Restorative Pose with Lumbar Flexion Joint Mobilization. Enjoy! This video plus 100s more are available on DCOMT: learnmuscles.com/product/digital-comt-subscription/
The Effect of Massage Therapy on Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive Women
The results indicated that the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures in the massage group were significantly lower in comparison with the control group. The results also showed that the lowered blood pressure was still observed 72 hours after the treatment.
Healthy at Home: Maintaining a Balanced Lifestyle with Diabetes
Diabetes is no longer a dreaded condition that confines people to a life of bland foods, self-injections and the constant monitoring of glucose and insulin levels. By observing some basic dietary rules, individuals with diabetes can lead perfectly happy and normal lives.
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.
What Makes A Great Teacher?
I would like to propose that there are certain tangible factors, and perhaps a few intangible factors, that make a teacher great. I believe these factors are knowledge, clear and linear presentation, passion, entertainment, the ability to apply, and caring.
FREE DCOMT video – Bilateral AC Stretching for the Neck
In today’s video, let’s have a look at Bilateral AC Stretching for the Neck. Enjoy! This video plus 100s more are available on DCOMT: learnmuscles.com/product/digital-comt-subscription/
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.
FREE DCOMT video – Anterior and Posterior Loading of a Herniated Disc
Spinal flexion loads the anterior aspect of the spinal disc, driving the nucleus pulposus posteriorly against the stretch-taut annular fibers. This can increase a bulging or herniated disc pathology. In today’s video, let’s have a look at Anterior and Posterior …
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.
Battle Obesity: The War Against the #1 Killer in America
According to NBC News, nearly 18 percent of all deaths in the US can be directly contributed to the obesity epidemic. While a little extra weight may offer some protective benefits for senior citizens, everyone else — children, adolescents, and adults — should strive for a healthy weight.
FREE DCOMT video – The Shoulder Corset
The scapula and clavicle are usually referred to as the shoulder girdle, but do they really comprise a “girdle”? In this free Digital COMT video, I make the case that the shoulder girdle would be better termed the shoulder corset. This video plus 100s more are available on DCOMT.
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.
Ten Massage Therapy “Dos and Don’ts”
This is not a list of precautions or contraindications for massage therapy. Rather it is list of miscellaneous, somewhat random, “dos and don’ts” that I believe would improve massage therapy sessions with clients.
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.
FREE DCOMT video – Stretching the Rectus Femoris Hip Flexor
Stretching the rectus femoris of the quadriceps femoris group. The rectus femoris is the only quadricep muscle that crosses the hip joint. It crosses it anteriorly with a vertical direction to its fibers, so it flexes the thigh at the hip joint and it anteriorly tilts the pelvis at the hip joint.
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?”
FREE DCOMT video – Stretching a Scoliotic Curve with a Lateral Flexion Break Table or a Bolster
In today’s video, let’s have a look at Stretching a Scoliotic Curve with a Lateral Flexion Break Table or a Bolster. Enjoy! This video plus 100s more are available on DCOMT: learnmuscles.com/product/digital-comt-subscription/
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Digital COMT Affiliate Introduction Walkthrough
Welcome Learnmuscles.com affiliates! It’s time for you to spread the love about the #1 online video streaming subscription service for manual & movement therapists: DCOMT! 🙂 We are the “NETFLIX” of online continuing education! Here’s your introduction walkthrough of your …
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.
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.