Osteopathy and Neuromuscular Technique
The practice of Osteopathy is designed to locate and correct structural imbalances and to restore normal function. It is a wholistic system which acknowledges the body's self-regulatory and self-healing ability. It places a great deal of emphasis on body mechanics and extensive use is made of manipulative techniques to mobilize joints and restore proper structural integrity. However it should be made clear that Osteopathy is not just a bone cracking exercise; the condition of the soft tissues is considered to be of prime importance. Andrew Taylor Still laid down the foundations of Osteopathy over a hundred years ago. He stated that the fascia is the place to look for the causes of disease and the place to begin the action of remedies. He established Osteopathic Medicine as not just a mechanistic approach to disease but as an attempt to reinforce the basic self-healing ability of the body. There have been many developments within the field of soft tissue manipulation since last century. One modern expert in this field is Leon Chaitow, an Osteopath and Naturopath, whose has written a number of books on the subject. I would like to quote from the opening lines of the introduction to his book “Soft Tissue Manipulation” in which he puts the case most succinctly: “The role of the soft tissue of the body in terms of health and dysfunction deserves re-emphasis, as does the relationship of the muscle, fascia and connective tissue in general to the overall economy of the body and to its ability to function efficiently. The ways in which dysfunction in the soft tissue mirrors deeper pathology, directly or reflexly, are profoundly important.” Neuromuscular Technique (NMT) is a particular approach which focuses on palpably sensitive areas of the soft tissue, the treatment of which can have local, distal or general effects on functional activity and deeper pathology. Neuromuscular Technique was developed by Stanley Lief, a chiropractor and naturopath, in England between the two World Wars. Neuromuscular Technique has a lot of similarities with other reflex systems such as Acupressure, Connective Tissue Massage, Myofascial Release, Trigger Point Therapy, etc. They all concentrate on the same sites in the fascial tissue. To describe Neuromuscular Technique procedures in detail is beyond the scope of this article. But, again, a grasp of the simplest procedure of Neuromuscular Technique will greatly enhance your tactile skill. The key to the successful use of Neuromuscular Technique is the same as with all of your therapeutic techniques: it requires sensitive hands, capable of “seeing” the unique texture of the soft tissue and able to respond appropriately. Neuromuscular Technique makes extensive use of a deep, slow, concentrated, sliding pressure with the tips of the thumbs. This pressure is almost always directed along the line of the nerves. The usual procedure is to palpate by making an initial pass over the area which is designed to gather information; this is followed by a more concentrated stroke which will move deeply into the tissue, reshaping it and releasing the underlying tension. A series of strokes can be used which overlap, however there is a limit to the number of passes that can be made over any given area as this technique is very intense and can quickly loose its benefit if overdone.
|
