Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/494122
100 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k m a y / j u n e 2 0 1 5 MYOSKELE TAL ALIGNMENT TECHNIQUES MYOSKELE TAL ALIGNMENT TECHNIQUES 5 4 3 SCM receptor release. Ben lifts and slowly rotates his head left to the barrier while my soft fingertips hook the sternal head of his right SCM. Upon exhalation, he drops the right shoulder and slowly looks toward the table to a count of five and relaxes. Ben inhales and slowly looks over his left shoulder while my right fist hooks and drags the upper trapezius fascia posteriorly. Upon exhalation, he gently right rotates against my isometric hand resistance to a count of five and attempts more left rotation. Atlas-axis release. Ben's head and neck are flexed 90 degrees and rotated left to the first restrictive barrier. Using the suboccipital muscles as enhancers, Ben is asked to inhale and look over his right shoulder while my hands resist to a count of five. Upon exhalation, his head is rotated left to the next restrictive barrier. Repeat 3–5 times. Treatment began by slowly rotating Ben's head left to the first restrictive barrier and holding it there. His movement enhancer was to inhale deeply and slowly rotate his shoulders and torso as far right as comfortably possible several times and relax. Essentially, this maneuver is the same as asking him to turn his head left, but Ben's brain did not perceive the torso-twist enhancer as threatening, and through graded exposure (pain-free repetition), his flexibility improved. Then it was time to deal with the right-sided sternocleidomastoid (SCM) and upper trapezius contractures that were visible as Ben turned to end range. Image 3 demonstrates a basic, but effective, MAT contracture routine that was chosen to conclude Ben's first session. FOLLOW-UP TREATMENT When Ben returned the following week, he was asked to demonstrate the torso-twist enhancer I'd asked him to practice daily in front of a mirror. I was impressed with his progress, but still observed strain in his SCM and at the base of his skull as he left rotated to end range. Notice in Image 4 how my soft finger pads remain stationary, allowing Ben to left rotate at his tolerance level, and in Image 5 how I use an optic-nerve enhancer via the suboccipital muscles to help align the atlas-axis joint. During the three weeks of Ben's treatment, I experimented with many myoskeletal techniques and enhancers, but those described in this article proved to be the most effective. Ben's commitment to his MAT enhancer homework was a major factor in his recovery, which shortened his time with me and got him back behind the wheel. Erik Dalton is executive director of the Freedom from Pain Institute. Educated in massage, osteopathy, and Rolfing, Dalton has maintained a practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for more than three decades. For more information, visit www.erikdalton.com.