orthopedic mid-back

[barbara b]

Last year, I took Waslaski's 2 seminars (upper and lower) and I remember he said that there's about 33% more material in the 5-day seminar, but that's just not in my budget right now.
The techniques have pretty much become my primary ones, somehow. I've been trading with another bodyworker and we've made good progress with her spine but the thoracic is still rotated. Her hips are straightened and her shoulder and neck are better but that darn mid-back keeps pulling the bones the other way! t011
I've tried to apply the protocols but it's hard to resist the movement of that body part (ie it's way easier to resist the head turning)
Any ideas? t017

 

[Hey you]

orthopedic mid-back

Really difficult to say b/c I can't see her and not sure of exactly what you mean by thoracic rotated. Her entire thoracic spine or just a couple vertebrae, how can you tell, are you palpating them? When you say hips are straightened, do you just mean they just look level, how have you determined the hips are straight? What parts of the hips are you palpating to determine they are even? Are you palpating hips while she's laying down or standing? Are you looking at her walking? I'm not asking all that to be difficult but in order to maybe give a little better help.

Waslaski's stuff is great addition to the 'toolbox', but it doesn't help all cases and I've taken the five day course. From what you've written, not what I can see, if she was my client, I would use active structural type work along her spine and also check out the entire rib cage and ab's. Dalton and Myers have some good tools for that. It's probably time to refer her to a chiro to adjust that spine to help your work. And, are the hips really okay--by hips do you mean also the psoas(?), have you checked the feet and lower legs? Also, she may be doing something throughout the day affecting the thoracic spine or sleeping on a bad mattress, sleeping in a poor posture or even twisting her body funny while she works. (Suggest she have someone take a video of her working, so she can check her posture.) She also probably needs some exercises to help that out as she likely has some muscles that are weak and contributing to the twist.

I realize you're just doing a trade and massage is a fantastic tool but even more effective when used along with other health care professionals!

 

[mazy_bird]

orthopedic mid-back

Really difficult to say b/c I can't see her and not sure of exactly what you mean by thoracic rotated. Her entire thoracic spine or just a couple vertebrae, how can you tell, are you palpating them?
When she is prone on the table, her T1- thru maybe T-6 are rotated to the Right a few degrees. I haven't seen her in 2 weeks, so I don't remember which vertebrae and how much
When you say hips are straightened, do you just mean they just look level, how have you determined the hips are straight? She had hip pain and restricted range of motion... L hip was lower/R hip elevated and also slight anterior pelvic tilt when prone
What parts of the hips are you palpating to determine they are even? PSIS
Are you palpating hips while she's laying down or standing? laying down, prone and supine
Are you looking at her walking? yes, she has fallen arches but that has improved with toe-towel scrunches. Her gait is smooth and even.

...And, are the hips really okay--by hips do you mean also the psoas(?), have you checked the feet and lower legs?
Yes, much improved since we've been working on this for over a year. Currently, she has pain just below L levator scapula... which follows tight rhomboids and visually comparing that the L scapula is lower to the R scapula leads me to believe that the rotated thoracic vertebrae are the root of the problem
Also, she may be doing something throughout the day affecting the thoracic spine or sleeping on a bad mattress,checked, pretty new sleeping in a poor posture actually this improved- she used to wake up in the middle of the night...or even twisting her body funny while she works. (Suggest she have someone take a video of her working, so she can check her posture.) She also probably needs some exercises to help that out as she likely has some muscles that are weak and contributing to the twist.
I'll just cut'n paste this in an email for her!

Thanks so much!

 

[Zoo]

orthopedic mid-back

Sounds like you've done some great work. As a violin player (for four years) I can say that definitely would affect the mid-back. She may have some success with some active work to change the rib cage and ab region. She may also benefit from MFR work, and of course you could muscle test to find which ones are weak and which are tight to promote stretching and strengthening--or refer to someone who does.

 

[Knightmare]

orthopedic mid-back

Thanks- we both had the same idea about stretching & Strengthening that specific region. Now here I wasn't really sure- I've improvised the last few times a la: client sitting up, hands locked behind head, elbows out. I stand behind and place my hands near the elbows and provide resistance as she goes through lateral flexion, rotation, flexion/extension. I might be missing something but that's the only position that makes sense to me.

 

[Coach S]

orthopedic mid-back

What you're describing sounds more like MET (muscle energy technique), which is done to help the muscle restore its length after you have worked on it. MET is not the same thing as specific exercises to strengthen the weak muscles. I think multifidus ex would be helpful. But you may just want to refer her to a good chiro (if you know of one) or a person who does movement therapy or specific strength training. Whatever the resolution, please be sure to come back here and let us know--I'm very curious!

 

[Elsie May]

orthopedic mid-back

That's awesome that you've gotten great results!

The first thoughts that came to my mind regarding the persisting problems are...

1) Myofascial restriction? Slow sustained stretching will help with this. Takes a while, but the results last unless there's a vitamin deficiency or metabolic problem in the tissues/cellular level.
2) Scoliosis? (This can develop later in life too, although it's less aggressive, so maybe they should get checked even if they were clear in adolescence)
3) Costovertebral joint fixation/malposition? (This's a chiro thing - vertebral rotation can cause problems in their articulations with the ribs, causing rotation in the rib cage--or half of the rib cage. I've seen it and fixed it - works great!)

Just a start