Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/70551
2012 Fascia Research Congress Panel Presentation Highlights • In her studies on dogs and rats, Lisa M. Hodges, PhD, was able to demonstrate that abdominal pumping stimulates leukocytes and lymphocytes to leave the blood vessels and enter into circulation, enhancing the immune response.1 Hodges is the basic science research chair for the National Osteopathic Heritage Foundation. She chose abdominal pumping over thoracic or pedal pumping due to the presence of readily available lymph cells in the abdomen. Maximum benefit was reached with 60 compressions per minute for four minutes. Specific information like this can be immediately put into practice. • A panel on scarring opened with a viewing of a new video by Jean Claude Guimberteau, MD, author and director of the must-see video Strolling Under the Skin, which shows dissection of a scar in a living person. An old scar is cut open, permitting a view of the pervasive, thick, binding fibrotic tissue, and the lack of penetration of the scar by blood, fluid, lymph, or nerves. It is critical that we do all we can to limit and modify the formation of scar tissue early on and make it more functional. Learn to work on old scar tissue to reduce adhesions. • Naturopath Hal Brown spoke about injecting homeopathic and opioid analgesics into scars, and in doing so, freeing the adhesions from underlying structures. Massage therapist Susan Chapelle discussed her success using manual techniques to free scar-tissue adhesions, in one case enhancing nerve flow into a limb that had been severed and reattached following a boating accident. • Raul Martinez Rodriguez demonstrated using ultrasound imaging that nothing separates the superficial fascia and the deep fascia on the palms of the hand and the soles of the feet, complicating treatment and prolonging recovery for conditions such as plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.2 to improving blood, lymph, and nerve flow and enhancing recovery. Notes 1. A. Schander, H.F. Downey, and L.M. Hodge, "Lymphatic Pump Manipulation Mobilizes Inflammatory Mediators into Lymphatic Circulation," Experimental Biology and Medicine 237, no. 1 (2012): 58–63. 2. A.A. Aro et al., "Effect of Topical Application of the Aloe Vera Extract After Partial Transection in the Achilles Tendon," in Fascia Research III: Basic Science and Implications for Conventional and Complementary Health Care, eds. L. Chaitow, T.W. Findley, R. Schleip (Munich: Elsevier GmbH, 2012). response even if there is no visible heat, redness, swelling, or loss of function. But wait—it gets better. This chronic inflammation is found to be a systemic response involving the entire body, not just the limb performing the repetitive action. The takeaway: even if there is no visible or palpable evidence of inflammation, we should consider the presence of chronic inflammation and treat accordingly. Nerve compression injuries, such as brachial plexus, carpal tunnel, or thoracic outlet syndromes may all be inflammatory conditions, even if we do not see or feel the cardinal signs of inflammation. Based on the new information, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease patients could benefit from lymphatic massage. Before the congress, I wondered if lymph drainage shouldn't always be included in a treatment plan. I now strongly believe it should, and the evidence exists to back up this treatment strategy. The second takeaway was to He found that enhancing gliding between the layers is critical treat the entire body. Mary F. Barbe, PhD, professor of anatomy at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, spoke about repetitive movement disorders. Her recent study looked at the inflammatory response to repetitive stress and the resulting fibrosis of repair.5 Rats were trained to perform a repetitive reaching, grasping, and pulling movement in four categories: low repetition-low force, high repetition-low force, low repetition-high force, and high 54 massage & bodywork july/august 2012