Massage & Bodywork

JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2018

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A B M P m e m b e r s e a r n F R E E C E a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e b y r e a d i n g M a s s a g e & B o d y w o r k m a g a z i n e 93 buttock and lateral thigh pain, indicating possible low-back sciatic entrapment. In Myoskeletal Alignment, we're always looking for compensatory patterns that may be contributing to a client's motor control problem, but other than a slight iliosacral alignment issue and a limp, Bud did not present with anything remarkable. I performed an SI joint spring test, hip abduction test, and an Adam's test—all were negative. Throughout the next few sessions, I focused on freeing the fi bularis adhesions around the lateral malleoli and various peroneal nerve mobilization maneuvers. I supplied Bud with a TheraBand stretch strap and taught him a couple of sciatic nerve mobilizations to perform between sessions. To help the brain remap the motor control problem causing the limp, Bud was asked to slowly practice walking backward and sideways with his pelvis tucked for 15 minutes a day, followed by 10 minutes of slow bouncing on his mini-trampoline. Novel movement routines such as these help convince the brain the ankle is now fully functional. RESTORING MOVEMENT Muscle tightness is often the brain's way of applying the brakes when it senses loss of coordination, timing, and symmetry due to tension, trauma, or poor posture. This motor control loss is frequently helped through high-quality bodywork. However, for the brain to permanently remap the new posture or pain-free movement, it must learn new movement patterns. I've found the neurological effects of Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques combined with cognitive reassurance and corrective exercise promote confi dence and help restore proper movement. The therapist performs a straight leg (sciatic nerve) test with the client's foot dorsifl exed and inverted. To fl oss the peroneal nerve, the therapist slowly raises the client's leg to the fi rst sign of discomfort, and as they bring the extended leg down, the client fl exes the neck to pull the sciatic nerve headward. The therapist and the client repeat the back and forth fl ossing movement for 2 minutes each session, and the client practices the technique to continue at home after the session. The therapist's right hand slings the client's ankle into eversion and the left hand resists. The goal is to reduce the peroneal muscle spasm and ligamentous ankle adhesions. Superfi cial peroneal nerve. Adapted from Dreamstime. Superfi cial branch of the peroneal nerve 3 4 5 Erik Dalton is the executive director of the Freedom from Pain Institute. Educated in massage, osteopathy, and Rolfi ng, he has maintained a practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for more than three decades. For more information, visit www.erikdalton.com.

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