This is where courage, experience, and listening (with my hands) come into play and prove valuable -sometimes beyond medicine.

I began, like always, by touching and assessing the fluidity of the body or lack of it. Keeping mindful of the symptoms, but knowing they were simply the background of something closer, something more tangible. You see, the body will always express an imbalance on any level (physical, mental, emotional, etc.) as a symptom or a group of symptoms in the muscles and soft tissue. Why? Because symptoms are simply a pysical articulation o fsome inner imbalance. In my limited experience of 13 years, it is more frequent than not that symptoms stem from a structural imbalance(s) than from a viral or bacterial illness. It is sad that the treatment of such things isn’t referred more to people who do the type of work I do.

I didn’t touch the head or neck that session, even though at the end of the session those areas remained in pain. What I did do was go to where the body and my hands felt the most structural restrictions. Which happened to be the sacrum and low back, but my hands could tell this wasn’t simple. I worked right along the spine, in deep joint crevices of the sacro-illium, and around the mid-back where both head/neck and shoulders were not feeling connected to the lower spine and pelvis. In about 30 min I can tell by tissue changes whether or not I can help a person. Things were progressing well so I knew I needed to trust the work, my hands, and the healing potential of the body. By the end of the session movement was flowing as I rocked the hips I could see and feel movement through the spine move all the way up to the head. The ribcage was soft again, breathing more complete. I had to trust my clinical experience (backed that up with hundreds of years of knowledge passed from bodyworker to bodyworker through the ages) that the spine reflects itself vertebrae to vertebrae, the top most reflecting the bottom most, the base of the skull reflecting the sacrum – I left him in expert care.

I went for a second session the next day. I went with an open mind but I admit I was slightly haunted with thoughts that I would have to do direct work on the neck. So much was better, the symptoms were gone or at least very, very bearable. The suffering was gone from an observer’s view and that was expressed subjectively. When clients are suffering and tests fail to confirm than get  under the scrupulous knowledge of expert hands. Hands which know they are not perfect and will quickly and humbly bow out of any situation too much to bear.

I am thankful for my teachers, I am thankful for those who have the courage to take a different almost untrodden path, I do hope that people out there read this and come to structural bodyworkers like myself. If you aren’t in my area I will try my best to connect you with someone who maybe qualified closer to you. I was on the other side of the table years ago, this gave me my life back and I truly believe that others need this opportunity. Cutting people off from this type of work is oppression, it is selfish, it is insane.

Health and Wellness – The Tri-Valley is Filled With It!

March 5, 2012 By Sammy Shrimali
Meet Chris Corrales, CMT
Founder of MedicinEvolution – bodywork beyond massage, in Dublin, California

The Tri-Valley is a not only a beautiful place to live, but it is home to some talented health-and-wellness professionals.
The fact that Chris Corrales works in the business of helping people find ways to relax and live pain-free is no surprise, given his calm, professional, relaxed demeanor. My team had the pleasure of meeting with Chris this week.
Describing the services of his Dublin, Calif., – based MedicinEvolution as a “complete and systematic approach to balancing the body,” Chris said that his methods of holistic body work and massage focus, in great part, on fascia.
Fascia, Chris explained, is connective tissue found in all parts of the body.
“It’s an organ of structure and an organ of support,” he said. “It supports the body from the general structure (of a system) down to the cellular level.”
To use Chris’s analogy, think of fascia as the pith of an orange, which is the soft white substance found throughout the fruit.
Pith is found in abundance as a protective coating under an orange’s skin, just as it is found between each section of the orange and surrounding each pocket of juice. Fascia, he explained, exists in at least as great abundance and in similar patterning throughout the human body.
“There’s superficial fascia surrounding groups of organs, and then there are layers and depths to it, surrounding organs and organ parts,” he said. “But working fascia can be difficult. You can’t just stretch it. You need pressure, heat and intention to release it.”
Intention, he said, is where much of his work as a Rolf practitioner comes into play. He works closely with patients to help them want and learn to move in ways they may not think they are capable, given their pain or discomfort.
“I work with patients who are dealing with everything from cancer to fibromyalgia, to joint pain,” he said. “But I’m working with human beings, and every human being is different and everyone brings different life situations.”
Chris’s practice offers a holistic approach to healing. While he values the importance of working cooperatively with physicians, he believes that long-term use of prescription drugs can lead to other diseases or problems than what those medications were originally prescribed to treat.
“I do massage, but I don’t want anyone to think that is all I do,” he said. “It’s really holistic, alternative medicine.
The Rolf method, in which Chris is specially trained, is the most holistic method in bodywork, he said.
“I focus on accessing the parasympathetic nervous system,” he said, explaining that within the autonomic nervous system are two branches – parasympathetic and sympathetic.
Sympathetic responses, he said, include adrenaline releases, which he describes as toxic.
“The parasympathetic nervous system responses are based on rest and relaxation, and that’s what we aim to access,” he said.
The 10-session Rolf techniques each build on one another and occur in the relaxed setting of Chris’s Dublin office.
He tailors each patient’s program to meet their needs and includes massage methods that address the frontal spine, the neck and many other parts of the body for creating overall structural integration for improved health.
Chris offers his services on sliding-scale fees and is open to discussing modified payment plans for individuals who may not be able to afford the traditional plans.
You can contact Chris for a consultation at 925-922-2246.

by Ruth Werner, LMP, NCTMB

Massage Today August, 2002, Vol. 02, Issue 08

Cerebral Palsy: What Is It?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a term that refers to many possible injuries to the brain during gestational development, birth, and early infancy. Several different types of CP have been identified, each involving damage to different parts of the brain.

The incidence of CP in the United States is two to four out of every 1,000 live births. Around half a million CP patients live in the U.S. today. In spite of improved prenatal care, the rate of CP in the U.S. has remained unchanged for many years.

Etiology: What Happens?

Cerebral palsy is the result of brain damage, usually to motor areas of the brain, specifically the basal ganglia and/or cerebellum. The damage can be brought about in a number of ways.

• Prenatal causes. Most cases of CP can be traced to problems during pregnancy, often due to maternal illness. Contributing factors include infections with herpes or toxoplasmosis, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, Rh sensitization (the mother essentially has an allergic reaction to the blood type of her unborn child), malnutrition, or abdominal trauma.
• Birth trauma. CP can result if the child experiences anoxia or asphyxia (lack of air from a mechanical blockage) during birth. Respiratory distress and head trauma (often from a difficult presentation or the use of forceps in delivery) may also increase the risk of brain damage.
• Acquired CP. This type of CP is acquired in early infancy. Causes include head trauma (often from car accidents or child abuse: “shaken baby syndrome”), infection with meningitis or encephalitis, vascular problems (brain hemorrhages) or neoplasms in the brain that may lead to brain damage.

Regardless of the cause of brain damage, the child with cerebral palsy will have some impairment of function. The problem could be so minor that only people who know what to look for may see it, or it may be completely debilitating both physically and mentally; it all depends on what part and how much of the brain has been affected.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

CP is classified into four types: spastic, athetoid, ataxic, and mixed.

• Spastic cerebral palsy. This is the most common form of the disorder, accounting for 50 to 80% of all CP patients. Spastic CP means that in some areas of the body muscle tone is so high that the tight muscle’s antagonists have completely let go. This is called the “clasp knife” effect.
• Athetoid cerebral palsy. This variety is less common than spastic CP, accounting for up to 30% of all patients. It involves very weak muscles, and frequent involuntary writhing movements.
• Ataxic cerebral palsy. This rare variety of the disorder involves chronic shaking and tremors, and very poor balance. Fewer than 10% of all CP patients live with ataxic CP.
• Mixed cerebral palsy. Many CP patients live with combinations of the CP forms.

CP may also be classified by what part of the body is affected. These terms are consistent with those used for other CNS disorders: hemiplegic CP means the left or right side is affected; diplegic CP means either two arms or two legs are affected; and quadriplegic CP means all the extremities are affected to some extent.

Types of CP may come and go, or change entirely from one kind to another, as the child grows. CP is not a progressive disorder, however, and if symptoms seem to be getting significantly worse over time, a different kind of CNS dysfunction must be considered.

Signs and Symptoms

Signs and symptoms of CP vary according to the location and extent of brain injury. Damage to the cerebellum produces different symptoms from damage to the frontal lobe, for instance. But some of the most common features of CP include hypertonicity; hypotonicity; poor coordination and voluntary muscle control; unusually weak muscles; random movements; seizure disorders; early hearing and/or vision problems; and progressive muscle contractures. About half of all CP patients have some level of mental retardation, and many are unable to communicate verbally.

Because infants don’t develop voluntary motor skills until they are around six months old, CP may be difficult to diagnose earlier than this point.

Treatment

CP is incurable and irreversible; as such, it is managed, rather than treated, by providing skills and equipment to live as fully and functionally as possible. For some CP patients this could mean using a brace for one foot that is slightly weaker than the other; for others it could mean intensive occupational, physical, and speech therapy for many years.

Medication for CP is occasionally prescribed to help manage seizures, and to reduce muscle spasm. Some surgical interventions have been developed to lengthen contracted muscles, to realign vertebrae that have become distorted by scoliosis, and to alter nerve pathways in the brain to reduce the severity of tremors.

Physical therapy is recommended for people with CP because the process of developing muscle contractures is slow and can be made even slower when muscles and joints are specifically stretched and manipulated to maintain flexibility. Patients may also be encouraged to use and strengthen their weaker limbs. It is important to note the many uses and benefits physical therapy has to offer CP patients, because massage therapy may also be a valuable adjunct in these cases.

What about Massage?

There is no question that massage therapy can have a valuable role in improving the quality of life of a person with CP. Unlike many CNS disorders, a lot of information about bodywork for CP patients is easily available; I’ll list some wonderful sources at the end of this article. Nonetheless, these clients require some special adjustments in the way bodywork is administered, and I’ve had several letters from massage therapists who would like to feel their work is more effective with this population.

The damage for a person who has CP does not begin in the muscle and connective tissues. Although this is where we feel the tightening of the connective tissue wrappings around muscles, the contractures themselves are simply a symptom-a complication of a problem deep in the brain. Therefore, if all we try to do is lengthen the muscles and stretch the fascia, we will run smack into a brick wall: either no progress will happed at all, or symptoms may even be temporarily exacerbated. Most people with CP get best results if bodywork focuses on indirectly affecting muscle tone through craniosacral work, gentle rocking, slow range of motion exercises, and manipulation of the arms and legs that engages the client in ways he or she doesn’t automatically resist-this often means going with the direction of muscle shortening in order to disengage the reflex. Ultimately, the therapist will have to experiment with lots of different approaches, often accompanied by extremely supportive bolstering, in order to find what techniques allow their clients to relax and enjoy their massage.

The benefits of massage to CP patients are undeniable. Parents write of their satisfaction when their child is able to sleep through the night, when postural distortions unbind, when breathing eases, when faces light up with joy because the massage therapist has arrived for a session. Imagine a child who is the object of vast numbers of painful, intrusive, unpleasant, dehumanizing medical procedures (regardless of the supportive intentions behind them). This child is handled rather than touched. Then his massage therapist arrives and arranges him carefully among pillows and bolsters on the table. She cradles his occiput and straightens his neck so he can breathe more easily. She rocks his arms and legs until their tension eases. She plays with his fingers until he realizes he can move them in lots of directions. Nothing she does hurts. What a gift, what a privilege to be invited into such a relationship!

If physical therapy is used to stretch and strengthen skeletal muscles, massage will also be a safe choice. The only caution is that people with very severe CP may not be able to communicate their wants or concerns clearly. If a massage therapist works with a client who cannot speak, other modes of communication, including nonverbal signals, become especially important. It is the responsibility of the massage therapist to make sure that his or her work is welcome and freely accepted at all times.

Our culture harbors a fear of people who look, or sound, or act differently from ourselves. Seeing or being with someone with CP can raise all kinds of fears or judgments that we never realized were there. Maybe this person can’t speak, or drools, or walks funny, or doesn’t walk at all. Speaking for myself, I will share that it’s especially hard for me to deal with disabilities when they occur in children. And yet, here is a population that so needs the work we do! As long as basic common-sense precautions are respected (don’t overwork numb areas, be sensitive to nonverbal communications, if anything you do makes symptoms worse then stop and try something else) massage can be a central coping mechanism for a child or adult with CP.

What I want to see.
I want to see a better triage process for people seeking health care needs. I want to see an enlightenment and better understanding of alternative and complimentary therapies including diet/nutrition, exercise, etc. I want to see more accurate referrals. Better communication between practitioners and more accessible patient notes and history of treatments and medicines used in order to narrow the chances of prescribing mistakes. A more holistic consideration and application of the causes and root sources of disease. An integrated mind-body approach. Healthier practitioners. A slower pace of patient intake and historical inquiry. Openness to the possibility of how healing may occur. I want the erasure of viewing disease as something to combat and disassociate from to accepting it as a reality and using it as a catalyst to move forward in various human aspects. I want to see people grow and become empowered by their experience of illness, trauma, etc.

The following is a compilation of data gathered by the American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) from U.S. government statistics, surveys of consumers and massage therapists and recent clinical studies on the efficacy of massage.

Who Gets Massage, Where and Why?

According to the 2010 AMTA consumer survey, an average of 18 percent of adult Americans received at least one massage between July 2009 and July 2010, and an average of 28 percent of adult Americans received a massage in the previous five years.6
In July 2010, 25 percent of women and 10 percent of men reported having a massage in the past twelve months.4
Spas are where most people continue to receive massage, with 24 percent of those surveyed in July 2009 saying they had their last massage at a spa.4

While the use of massage decreased in 2010, people still recognize it as an important element in overall health and wellness. 4

Twenty-nine (29) percent of adult Americans who had a massage between July 2009 and July 2010 received it for medical or health reasons.
Of those that have ever had a massage, fifty-four (54) percent say they’ve used massage therapy at least one time for pain relief.
Of the people who had at least one massage in the last five years, 31 percent reported they did so for health conditions such as pain management, injury rehabilitation, migraine control, or overall wellness.
Eighty-six (86) percent agree that massage can be effective in reducing pain.
Eighty-five (85) percent agree that massage can be beneficial to health and wellness.

Consumers are increasingly seeking massage for stress reduction and relaxation.

In July 2010, 40 percent of adult Americans said they had at least one massage in the last five years to reduce stress or relax—up from 22 percent reported in 2007.

Massage and Healthcare
Healthcare providers promoted the benefits of massage to their patients slightly less in 2010.

In July 2010, over thirty-nine million American adults (16 percent) had discussed massage therapy with their doctors or health care providers, compared to 18 percent in 2009.4
Of those 16 percent, 31 percent of their health care providers strongly recommended massage therapy, compared to 35 percent in 2009. While physicians led the way in recommending massage (50 percent vs. 55 percent in 2009), chiropractors (35 percent vs. 48 percent in 2009) and physical therapists (42 percent vs. 40 percent in 2008) also recommended massage therapy when their patients discussed it with them.4
Nearly three quarters of massage therapists (73 percent) indicate they receive referrals from health care professionals, averaging 1.5 referrals per month.

Massage therapists and consumers favor integration of massage into healthcare.

More than half of adult Americans (58 percent) would like to see their insurance cover massage therapy.4
The vast majority of massage therapists (96 percent) believe massage therapy should be considered part of the health care field.5

Massage Therapy Research

The therapeutic benefits of massage continue to be researched and studied. Recent research has shown the effectiveness of massage for the following conditions:

Cancer-related fatigue.11
Low back pain.12
Osteoarthritis of the knee.13
Reducing post-operative pain.14
Boosting the body’s immune system functioning.15
Decreasing the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.16
Lowering blood pressure.17
Reducing headache frequency.18
Easing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.19
Decreasing pain in cancer patients.20

The American Massage Therapy Association® (AMTA®) is the largest non-profit, professional association serving more than 56,000 massage therapists, massage students and massage schools. The association is directed by volunteer leadership and fosters ongoing, direct member-involvement through its 51 chapters. AMTA works to advance the profession through ethics and standards, the promotion of fair and consistent licensing of massage therapists in all states, and public education on the benefits of massage.

“A physical therapist told me to look into Structural Integration to heal a long time running injury. I had tried several other therapies but they only provided temporary results. Structural Integration keeps my body aligned, preventing injury by not allowing my body to make compensations due to misalignment. It has improved my flexibility and keeps my hips loose, which increases endurance and speed. I have finally gone over a year without any running injuries!” – Lynn Acchione, marathon runner

Lesa sought out Structural Integration after a serious car accident left her unable to ski and in pain. She was back on skis a year later training with the Austrian National Ski team as a ski-racer. Lesa states, “Balance is the key ingredient to good skiing. A skier needs to develop a strong, balanced stance and flexibility that allows them to deal with constant changes in snow conditions, speed, direction, pressure and edging. Structural Integration can help a skier accomplish these attributes.” -Lesa Pensak, Certified ski-racing coach

“After my Structural Integration sessions it was great to experience total effortlessness and lightness, but at the same time feel compact and totally in control. I had increased energy, and skating took less effort. I found I had extra agility. My balance was better when doing turns on the ice.” -Brian Orser, World Champion Figure Skater

Sarah Wills has won eight gold medals in the Paralympics and is the most successful disabled ski-racer in the world. She started receiving Structural Integration sessions as part of her rehabilitation. She states, “Structural Integration enabled me to build more muscle, stretch easier, sit straighter and helped to maximize my workouts. Since skiing deals so much with balance and the forces of gravity, Structural Integration compliments the sport well.” -Sarah Wills, Paralympic Ski Racer

Hunter raced for over 17 years internationally and in the US, achieving over 40 victories throughout his career. In 1996 he retired as a professional cyclist and started Peaks Endurance Coaching. “There was an incredible amount of change in my muscles, they became more supple, less sore and didn’t fatigue as quickly.” says, Hunter. “I recommend Structural Integration to cyclists because it helps them to make changes in their body and ultimately improve their form.” -Hunter Allen, professional cyclist

“Structural Integration has really improved my running. I have become a more efficient runner and have increased my endurance,” Kirk says. “Structural Integration improves breathing capacity, which is critical to a runner. Also, Structural Integration improves alignment and balance of the body. The result is a smoother, less injury prone running form.” -Kirk Apt, Ultra-Marathon trail runner

In the year 2000 Alex was ranked #1 in the world in doubles. Alex has been receiving Structural Integration work for the past two years. He states, “after Structural Integration my body seemed more at ease, my serve was stronger, I had improved range of motion, I had increased agility and I used less energy getting to the ball- it was incredible.” -Alex O’Brien, professional tennis player

Structural Integration has given me a better presence than my competition. My posture has dramatically improved. My stance is firm. Not only has Structural Integration given me a mental advantage, it has increased my breathing capacity, improved my range of motion and I am more flexible. These are all qualities critical to becoming a winner in the Taekwondo sport. -Tim Thackery, US National Taekwondo champion

In 1985, Jean Paul had injured his body while roller skating, ending up with a fractured hip, shattered femur and a fractured wrist. For the next eight years he continued to have constant back pain. He received his first Structural Integration session in fall of 1994 and continued his sessions for six months thereafter. “After my Structural Integration sessions my back pain was gone, I breathed with greater ease and I felt much better. I began to feel like my old self again”
Two years later Jean Paul and his wife continue to return for ‘upkeep sessions’. “We are most thankful for what Structural Integration has done for us. I have referred other colleagues to our SI practitioner and after their treatment their reaction is as positive as mine. Structural Integration should be recognized for the great benefits that it could provide so many people.” -Jean Paul Patenaude

http://www.trivalleytriclub.com/

www.tremoraction.org/pdfs/DEC-2011.pdf

www.samjohnsonrolfing.com/Rolfingrunning.html

Here’s an article on Rolfing Structural Integration and asthma. www.mybodyworks.com/feature.html