MASSAGE&BODYWORK MAGAZINE
Hostage Negotiation Clients May Bring More to the Table Than You Think. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, July/August, 2020
By Douglas Nelson
Very good article.
COVID-19-Related Coagulopathy Blood Clotting—Through Thick and Thin. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, July/August, 2020
By Ruth Werner
Important article reviewing relevant data on COVID-19 virus
Rhomboids. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, July/August, 2020
By Christy Cael
Informative article on rhomboids muscle
Scar Tissue. Not Breakable, But Changeable. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, July/August, 2020
By Catherine Ryan Tiss
The topic of this article is of great importance. There are some valid points regarding the theory but it seems that practical recommendations to the therapists who actually work on the scar tissue are absent and the push to buy the author’s textbook on the subject was observed.
The Grind of Chondromalacia Patellae. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, July/August, 2020
By Whitney Lowe
Informative article on chondromalacia of patellae and anterior knee pain and dysfunction.
Masseter. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Christy Cael
Good article on anatomy, physiology and palpation of masseter muscle
Covid-19–Related Complications. Implications For Massage Therapy. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Ruth Werner
Informative article on a very important subject
Doing No Harm with Prenatal and Postpartum Massage Therapy During the Coronavirus Pandemic. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Carole Osborne
Very informative and practical article!
The Hand in the Brain. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Til Luchau
Great article for all therapists to read!
Overview of Muscle Pathologies. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Whitney Lowe
The article reviews muscle pathologies from stress tension to contusion. Everything the article mentioned is correct. However, one of the main causes of muscle tension, its reflex mechanism was not even mentioned. That greatly decreases the clinical value of the article since it presents Myofascial Trigger Points as the actual cause of muscle dysfunction while in reality it is a secondary, reflex reaction (except cases of trauma) which requires thorough and professional evaluation first.
Rethinking the Body’s Stress Response How to Use Bodywork as an Outlet for Psychological Stress. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Erik Dalton, PhD
Very good article!
Skipping a Beat Cardiac Arrhythmias. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Ruth Werner
Author’s articles are very informative about recent data on various medical issues. They are very helpful for all therapists but especially for those who practice clinical aspects of MT.
External Oblique. Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Christy Cael
Good article on external oblique muscle.
Intelligent Fascia? Massage&Bodywork Magazine, Sep/Oct, 2020
By Sasha Chaitow, PhD
Great article! Excellent read!
Combining Manual Movement Therapies Why It Makes Sense for You And Your Clients Massage & Bodywork Magazine, Nov/Dec 2020
By Dr. Joe Muscolino
The ultimate clinical solution is in combination of techniques and modalities rather than practice only one on every patient/client without even considering its necessity. The article is a great illustration of the integrative approach.
Palliative Care Massage The Palmer Study Charting a New Course for Pain Management. Massage & Bodywork Magazine, Nov/Dec 2020
By Cal Cates
A long needed article of the central impact of MT on pain management in the hospital setting.
Managing Upper Back Pain. Massage & Bodywork Magazine, Nov/Dec 2020
By Whitney Lowe
A very good basic review of upper back pain and its causes
Techniques to Beat Belly Bloat Manual Therapy for Digestive Disorders. Massage & Bodywork Magazine, Nov/Dec 2020
By Erik Dalton, PhD
The article provides some useful info, but we think that it is a big mistake to discuss bloating and excessive gas formation from the somatic point of view, especially its treatment.
Bloating and excessive gas formation is not a problem, but they are consequences of a real cause. Thus, this discussion can be considered ONLY if these issues are examined by gastroenterologist first, medical causes were established and proper therapy started. If original symptoms successfully addressed by gastroenterologist the somatic therapist can join in later offering abdominal medical massage and work in reflex zones associated with the GI tract.
Of course, there are situations when a gastroenterologist wasn’t able to establish the accurate cause of the symptoms and dietary doesn’t work. ONLY in these cases a somatic therapist can step in, independently examining to find if the somatic cause in form of reflex zones is to blame. Thus, techniques discussed in the article don’t have clinical value if there is not a proper mechanism of the original symptoms established.
In regard to techniques discussed in the article, abdominal massage is a very sophisticated therapy which requires professional expertise from the therapist. For example, the article suggested application of sliding strokes with thenar directed along the abdominal middle line from pubic symphysis to the epigastric area as a way to deal with bloating and excessive gas formation. Bloating especially in the upper part of abdomen can be triggered by accumulation of the acidic gas in the stomach. Such accumulation is the result of different factors from activity of bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori to the spasm and lost of proper interactions between the three layers of the smooth muscles which form the walls of the stomach and responsible for the mixing ingested food with gastric juice in the stomach. That situation always occurs in cases of gastritis or peptic ulcer. The application of suggested techniques will additionally compromise the patient’s health since it is going to push acidic gas into the esophagus. Excessive release of gastric gases causes heartburn (with possible esophagitis), constant cough, decrease pf pulmonary function (He et al., 2020) and even voice changes (Patel et al., 2018). These secondary symptoms are frequent complications of excessive release of acidic gas and content into the esophagus and larynx.
The technique of mobilization of the descending colon suggested in the article is completely contraindicated if the patient suffers, from Ulcerative Colitis (UC) for example. The formation of ulcers along walls of colon makes them weaker and triggers constant bleeding, pain and bloating. It is completely unsafe to use ANY colon manipulations on the patients with UC. The clinical correlation between dilation of the colon and UC was firmly established long ago (Sampson and Walker, 1961).
Even during earliest stages of UC the bloating and moderate pain can be its first symptoms and jumping on any abdominal manipulations to address the bloating without detecting and treating its cause first is going to additionally compromise an already affected descending colon and future jeopardize patient’s health.
REFERENCES
He M., Zheng Y., Ma A., Zhang C., Yu Y., Wang H., Chen Y., Xiang M., Tao K., Shen J. Helicobacter pylori is associated with weakened pulmonary function and reduced incidence of allergic conditions in patients with chronic cough. Exp Ther Med. 2020 Nov; 20(5): 47.
Patel D.A., Blanco M., Vaezi M.F.. Laryngopharyngeal Reflux and Functional Laryngeal Disorder. Perspective and Common Practice of the General Gastroenterologist. Gastroenterol Hepatol (NY) 2018 Sep; 14(9): 512–520.
Sampson P.A., Walker F.C. Dilatation of the Colon in Ulcerative Colitis. Br Med J. 1961 Oct 28; 2(5260): 1118-2-1118-3, 1119-1123.
MASSAGE TODAY
Anatomy Refresher: Structure and Mechanics of the Ankle. Massage Today. Sep/Oct 2020
By Whitney Lowe, LMT
Good article on anatomy and biome mechanics of the ankle joint.
Myofascial Release: Athletic, Sports and Dancing Injuries. Massage Today. Nov/Dec, 2020
By John F. Barnes, PT, LMT
Very general review of an important subject.
MASSAGE MAGAZINE
The World Under Our Skin. A Structural Theory of Connective Tissue. Massage Magazine, October 2020.
By Jean_Claude Guimberteau, MD
A very interesting article on the role of connective tissue. Highly suggested reading.
Common Shoulder Pathologies. New Approaches to a Highly Complex Biomechanical Region. Massage Magazine, November 2020.
By Whitney Lowe, LMT
Yes, the shoulder is a very complex region and the article correctly describes its anatomy and biomechanics. However, the article is not delivering any ‘new approaches’ as stated in its title.
Category: Good Apples, Bad Apples
Tags: 2020 Issue #3