Body Kneads Integrative Healing

09/08/2025

Fascinating insight!

Researchers say abnormal proteins actually travel from somewhere else to the brain.

A groundbreaking study from Wuhan University suggests that Parkinson’s disease may originate in the kidneys, challenging long-held assumptions that it begins in the brain.

Researchers found abnormal clusters of alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) proteins—known to play a central role in Parkinson’s—in the kidneys of patients with the disease.

In animal experiments, healthy kidneys were able to clear these proteins, but malfunctioning kidneys allowed α-Syn to accumulate and spread to the brain, leading to neurological damage.

The study also found α-Syn buildup in patients with chronic kidney disease, even when no neurological symptoms were present. This raises the possibility that the kidneys may act as an early reservoir for pathological proteins, which later travel via blood or nerve pathways to the brain. Though the research is preliminary and based on small sample sizes, it opens a new frontier in Parkinson’s research—suggesting that kidney health could be a target for early intervention and new treatments. As researchers continue exploring non-brain origins of neurodegenerative diseases, these findings could reshape how we understand and manage Parkinson’s.

Source:
Yuan, Y., et al. (2025). Peripheral α-synucleinopathy in kidneys contributes to Lewy body pathogenesis. Nature Neuroscience.

06/08/2025

This is a very interesting story about a patient to traveled from Australia with a 7-year complex shoulder issue — and we figured it out!

A patient traveled from Australia to Alberta to uncover the real cause of 7 years of chronic shoulder pain. Discover how a rotated first rib was missed by traditional approaches—and how assessment-driven myofascial therapy made all the difference.

01/07/2025

𝑸𝑼𝑬𝑺𝑻𝑰𝑶𝑵: 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒃𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒂𝒎 𝒓𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒎𝒚 𝑰𝑻-𝑩𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐 𝒈𝒆𝒕 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈. 𝑯𝒆𝒍𝒑!

𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗪𝗘𝗥: With all due respect to my peers in various rehabilitation therapies who endorse foam rolling the IT Band (ITB), I’ll go on record to say that it is a terrible idea and one that helps to pay my mortgage because people hurt themselves and add to their pre-existing problems! There are multiple reasons for my opinion, so let’s start with the first.

𝟭. 𝗢𝗩𝗘𝗥-𝗟𝗢𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗗 𝗥𝗢𝗢𝗧 𝗖𝗔𝗨𝗦𝗘: Firstly and frankly most importantly, it does not address the root cause of the pain you’re experiencing. ITB tightness and pain is a symptom of muscle imbalances and weaknesses elsewhere. Foam rolling the ITB itself doesn’t address these underlying causes and therefore does not solve the problem.

𝟮. 𝗖𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗦 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗦𝗦𝗨𝗘𝗦: Because the ITB is connected to Glute Max & Tensor Fasciae Latae (TFL) and rests on top of Vastus Lateralis, rolling the ITB aggressively will bruise and irritate these muscles and their tendonous attachments. Injuring these tissues in this way requires your body to repair them resulting in myofacial restriction and additional adhesions. Over time, this can lead to chronic inflammation and damage creating further issues on top of the original cause(s) of ITB tightness and pain.

𝟯. 𝗜𝗧 𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗟 𝗡𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗖𝗛: The IT Band (ITB) is dense, fibrous, inelastic connective tissue, not muscle. Unlike muscles which can change length and can benefit from stretching, the ITB does not have much flexibility therefore even IF your ITB is the primary problem, aggressive manipulation has little significant affect on it so the rolling efforts would be futile.

𝟰. 𝗟𝗜𝗞𝗘𝗟𝗬 𝗚𝗟𝗨𝗧𝗘 𝗠𝗜𝗡𝗜𝗠𝗨𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗙𝗘𝗥𝗥𝗔𝗟 𝗣𝗔𝗜𝗡: In my 24+ years of experience, ITB issues usually coincide with a pathological gait pattern of misfiring/weak glutes and shortened/over-zealous hip flexors. Referral pain patterns not only happen with over-use but also with under-use/over-stretch. With this particular gait pattern, all three glute muscles usually show some version of weakness, over-stretch and neurological inhibition. Most relevant to this discussion, Glute Minimus refers to to the side of the leg from the hip to the ankle including the ITB and knee which means that manipulation of the side of the leg itself is futile and traumatizing. This does 𝗡𝗢𝗧 mean you should further lengthen Glute Minimus with stretching or your handy massage gun because in this scenario the pain is happening because it is already over-stretched.

𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗢 𝗗𝗢 𝗜𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗗?
See a qualified Massage Therapist who specializes in myofascial release and postural analysis. With their assistance, confirm or rule out whether the pathological gait issue I suspect is relevant to you. If I am correct in my theory, then you need your hip flexors released and stretched and you need your glutes managed myofascially (not deep pressure trigger points) followed by techniques to encourage neurological firing.

𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗛𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗗𝗘:..Bilateral glute strengthening but on an individual basis where you address both the extension and abduction actions of the glute muscles..Bilateral AIS Stretching for hip flexors with glute activation..Necessary gait re-education for both walking and running

02/06/2025

QUESTION: For 6 months I’ve had physio and new orthotics for Plantar Fasciitis but I’m still in pain. Can you help?

ANSWER: Officially Plantar Fasciitis is inflammation and tearing of the triangular plantar fascia located on the bottom of the foot which causes heel and arch pain when walking, in particular the first few steps after rest are particularly painful. Causes of this condition vary from poor shoe choices, foot structure, particular walking surfaces (eg, pavement vs grass) and often over-use.

The problem with this condition is that it is often misdiagnosed. If you are getting treatment for 6 months without resolution I think it is worth considering your foot pain is not actually Plantar Fasciitis. Many people jump to the conclusion of this diagnosis without considering that there are many other causes of foot pain.

While there are SOME intrinsic muscles that are entirely located within the foot, ALL of the muscles that attach to your leg between your knee & your ankle end in your foot or ankle somewhere. This means that when we focus treatment exclusively on the plantar surface of the foot we are omitting A LOT of muscle volume that may be influencing your experience. It is critical to work both ends of challenged muscles PLUS the tissue in between if we expect complete resolution.

The trigger point pain referral patterns established by Dr. Janet Travell et al in the 1940’s are well established for approximately 90% of the population. Within that group, 90% of those people will experience the patterns as pain while the other 10% may experience numbness, tingling or some kind of funky feeling. As a therapist I use these established patterns constantly in problem-solving my clients’ woes however I do not use traditional Trigger Point Therapy to resolve them. I have found better success with various myofascial release techniques using my hands or silicone cups. I find these maneuvers are more effective at creating long term change especially when paired with some critical home care exercises.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the potential culprits for your foot pain — there is lots to unpack! SOLEUS (plantar-flexes the ankle to push the gas pedal in your car) will refer pain to the bottom of the heel. Both GASTROCNEMIUS (flexes the knee & plantar-flexes the ankle) & FLEXOR DIGITORUM LONGUS (toe grips the lesser four toes) can refer to the arch of the foot while FLEXOR HALLICUS LONGUS (points the big toe) mostly refers to the ball of the foot, I have seen this extend towards the arch as well. TIBIALUS POSTERIOR (plantar-flexes the ankle, inverts the foot, supports the medial arch) can refer pain to the entire sole of the foot including both heel and arch. PERONEUS TERTIUS (dorsiflexion & eversion) can refer pain to the back and slightly under the heel.

HOW DO WE TREAT THIS?

SHOT-GUN APPROACH — Treat everything in the list and hope you found the culprit(s).

START WITH ORTHOPAEDIC TESTING — We perform these tests in office expecting a predictable and repeatable response when they are positive. Resisted Action Muscle Tests performed on each of the muscles in the list to see which might be sore, weak or actually refer the foot pain in the moment would be the first place I would start. It would also be worthy to palpate where the muscles attach to the bones because this is also a common place for painful adhesions to build over time. The results from these tests will help to direct the course of treatment.

In both approaches we will address the potential causes, however in starting with some orthopaedic testing we may have a better idea of which muscles are primary or secondary to your symptom picture. This answer will not only allow the practitioner to be more thorough, but it will also allow me to give you the best flexibility and strength building home-care suggestions. In my opinion, it is the “work smarter not harder” approach.

If the efforts I have suggested result in little or no change in your day to day quality of life, then the next step would be to have some diagnostic imaging requested by your doctor. Osteoarthritis and joint hyper-mobility are also worthy considerations but not before addressing the soft tissue I have mentioned.

07/05/2025

QUESTION: I am a dancer. Why is my groin muscle injury so debilitating?

ANSWER: The effects of a groin (aka adductor) muscle injury are not limited to the adductors alone. The adductor muscle group is active throughout the entire gait cycle, never getting a rest as it assists in hip flexion/extension/adduction and works reciprocally in abduction. You can imagine how this might negatively affect efficient healing for most people, never mind yourself as a dancer. In chronic injury cases I often see a triad of strain/chronic repair between the adductors, the hip flexors and the abdominal muscles due to compensatory coping patterns. All three groups work on your stability so when one of these three are upset, the other two work a little harder and often become injured too if the original problem is not managed properly. This triad is particularly notable in sports where stability is critical to the success of the sport such as landing a jeté in dance, taking a check in hockey or maintaining a good seat on a horse. Pelvic misalignment is the next domino to fall in recovery since the adductors which attach to the pelvis create inappropriate torque while injured, causing a further ripple effect up the spine, neck and shoulders as you stand and walk off-kilter. One other thing to consider is that what you think is an adductor injury may actually be a hamstring problem. Adductors and hamstrings both attach to your ischial tuberosity (sit bone) and sometimes an injury with one is mistaken for the other or in more serious cases both are injured. This often becomes evident when all efforts are made to heal the one without success, indicating that it was actually primarily the other. WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Don't waste time & give me a call for proper orthopaedic assessment and treatment! It's not simply about resting and icing and presuming you know what you injured. Myofascial release and some sport techniques go hand in hand with a proper nutrition and an ongoing strengthening program. Many people hurry to use seated adductor machines at the gym thinking that they are going to solve the problem. In fact, unilateral (one leg at a time) exercises that promote strength in a standing posture are necessary since you don't walk or run with a 90º hip. There are a number to choose from (plus a few you should avoid) and I can help you sort out which are needed for your situation so you can get back to training & dancing at full throttle as quickly as possible.

14/04/2025

31/03/2025

QUESTION: I have numbness & tingling in the 4th & 5th fingers so I think I may have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Can massage help me?

ANSWER: Without examining you it is difficult to say for sure, however there is a good chance that some massage techniques may help you. Firstly, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) typically causes numbness & tingling in the 1st -3rd fingers whereas a condition called Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) affects the 4th & 5th. It is important to note that this is not the ONLY link to such symptoms, but a very common one. Besides TOS, there are also some muscles trigger points that refer to the 4th & 5th fingers. Since this second potential reason for your symptoms is a little simpler, let’s start there.

The “Trigger Point” referral patterns are accurate for about 90% of the population. Within that demographic, 90% of them feel varieties of pain sensation while 10% experience the referrals as numbness, tingling or some kind of “funky” feeling. While the patterns are largely accurate for most people, some may have variations or only feel part of the known pattern. Muscles that are known to refer to the 4th & 5th fingers include Latissimus Doris, Serratus Anterior, Serratus Posterior Superior, Pectoralis Major (sternal), Pectoralis Minor, and Triceps Brachii. While I appreciate the pattern mapping that Trigger Points provide, I no longer do conventional Trigger Point Therapy. I prefer to use myofascial release techniques as I find this method addresses the foundation of the patterns and muscle imbalances better with more complete resolution. If one or more of these muscles are found to be causing your symptoms, this should be a relatively easy fix.

Now let’s discuss Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. TOS is an impingement of the blood vessels and/or nerves emerging from the neck, traveling under the collar bone through the chest, armpit and down into the arm causing numbness in the 4th & 5th fingers. Firstly, the word “impingement” gets a lot of people’s knickers in knots as it sounds traumatic. Impingements can be bones misaligned however a huge amount are caused by old soft tissue repairs which have become fascially adhered to inappropriate structures such as a nerve or blood vessel being entrapped by a muscle repair causing skewed neurological signals and/or poor blood circulation.

There are three common reasons for TOS impingement: Soft tissue scarring along that neurovascular pathway (in the neck or chest muscles); Bony changes from a past fracture of the collar bone which narrow the passageway for the nerves/blood vessels; Or displacement of the collar bone from a poorly recovered shoulder (AC) separation which can create similar pathway issues and myofascial restrictions.

When soft tissue scarring is determined as the cause of TOS using specific orthopaedic testing in office, myofascial release massage techniques can be extremely helpful for successful recovery. This also needs to be paired with some easy homework on the patient’s part concerning strength, stretch and postural awareness for complete resolution.

When the cause is past clavicular fracture or displacement from shoulder separation, the remedy becomes a little more tricky. This treatment plan will still include myofascial release however depending on the age of the injury and severity of symptoms, other medical intervention may be necessary. With fracture, sometimes the remodelling of the bone makes the neuromuscular pathway smaller in places which can put pressure on the blood vessels and nerves which would require surgical intervention.

The fall out from a poorly recovered shoulder separation may very unique to the individual. Sometimes this entails addressing flexibility and strength imbalances in the shoulder which might free up some space. This often includes addressing old scar tissue at the acromioclavicular (AC) joint as well as specific attention to Pectoralis Major (clavicular), Subclavius, Scalenes, Sternocleidomastoid and Trapezius and more generally in Infraspinatus, Supraspinatus, Teres Major/Minor. These last structures are mentioned more to investigate imbalances as they are also attached to the scapula which would have been involved in the original AC shoulder separation injury.

Regardless of the which of these reasons might apply to you, the longer an impingement exists, the more difficult recovery becomes so it’s wise not to procrastinate!

05/03/2025

QUESTION: I have have persistent issues first with my hip, then my knee and now my foot. What’s going on and can you help?

ANSWER: It’s hard to say without seeing you in person, however I will suggest that you have a kinetic chain of related issues. Since our society in 2025 does far more sitting than we used to, I would explore this theory first as I see it countless times in my clinic:

I would start by evaluating how your hip is actually functioning with some orthopedic assessments. If your hip flexors are working too much and your glutes are misfiring/weak this will cause a compression in your low back and an over use of your hamstrings, specifically the lateral one. This hamstring tightness causes: Tibial torsion at the knee; The patella to track more laterally; And fixates the fibular head at the side of the knee. Every time you bend your knee that fibula bone should pivot externally like a saloon door. There are 8 lower leg muscles which attach to the fibula & the adjoining interosseous membrane which get quite grumpy when that saloon door action is reduced or stopped. All 8 of these muscles operate the foot & ankle.

So the moral of this particular story is, all three of your issues may stem from the primary hip issue that went untreated. Treat the hip, improve the hip strength/synchronicity and you will likely solve your knee & foot issues. They too need a little TLC treatment as well, however in this scenario they would not be the place to start.

If our initial orthopedic testing suggests that glutes are firing just fine, then we would proceed with other tests to support a different theory.

27/12/2024

QUESTION: I have issues with back & leg pain when winter driving but not summer driving. Why & can you help?

ANSWER: The first question I wonder about is how much sitting you already do in your life? If your job is oriented to sitting you may already have some underlying repetitive strain issues. Since you drive to work year round, there are two big differences between summer & winter driving to consider: the muscular tension associated with driving in the poor weather conditions that ice and snow bring; your seat heaters.

I’m sure we have all had the experience of driving in bad weather and getting out of the car feeling exhausted. This fatigue is associated with the mental demands of navigation however there is also muscular fatigue from flexing under tension. Endure this throughout the season regularly and suddenly that job posture in combination with your winter driving stress becomes problematic.

As for the seat heaters, any time we heat body parts for an extended timeframe we increase inflammation to that area. It could be that the additional heat is the tipping point for issues you may already have in this area due to repetitive strain at work (always sitting) or previous injury. When we sit, our hip flexors are short and our glutes are stretched. So when you try to stand or walk after driving under stressful weather conditions AND seat heaters, you ask your glutes to contract and hip flexors to extend when they’re definitely inflamed and possibly fatigued if you were tensing under stress.

WHAT TO DO?

Firstly any time you are sitting with or without heat it is a good practice to take the time to get yourself to standing before walking and give your glutes a squeeze before you get moving to wake up your muscles. This helps remind your glutes that it’s their big moment to get used and encourages your body to move with correct synchronicity.

Secondly, though those seat heaters really help us to not shiver while we are already gripping that steering wheel tightly on an icy road they should be used sparingly and briefly to just take the chill off your seats. I joke with my clients regularly that their choice to “cook” their bodies for extended periods pays my mortgage with their fees for therapy to reverse it!

Thirdly, it might be wise to get on top of the maintenance of your hip flexors and glutes with some massage therapy regardless of the season. Ensuring that your gait is balanced will reduce injury from accidental “whoopsie” slips and falls during this time of year.

01/11/2024

QUESTION: I have had a persistent headache in my right eye and sinuses yet my sinuses are clear. Can you help?

ANSWER: Trigger point referral patterns were established in the 1940’s by Dr Janet Travell. While some of Travell’s work has been challenged in recent years, the patterns themselves are still largely considered accurate. The premise is such that by applying pressure to certain places in the body a referral pattern of pain elsewhere would be triggered. These patterns are relatively accurate for about 90% of the population. Within that segment, 90% of them typically feel the pattern as pain where 10% will feel altered sensation, numbness, tingling or other paresthesia. It is also worth mentioning that not everyone feels the entire pattern, it can be portions of it — they are a guideline, not a guarantee.

The pattern that you describe experiencing is typical to a muscle called Sternocleidomastoid or SCM for short. It is located on your neck beside your trachea, starting behind your ear on your head and ending on the medial aspect of your clavicle. The action of the muscle is forward head bending and rotation. So if you are doing a lot of computer work, device work, driving, crafting, puzzling… these muscles become over used. As well, they are often injured with whiplash from MVA, slip & falls, etc. The referral patterns for pain associated with SCM include the eye, the ear, base of the skull as well as the forehead/cheeks/sinuses. A tell-tale sign that this is the cause is when there is a feeling of sinus pressure or pain yet there is nothing to blow into a tissue. Interestingly, releasing this muscle can also often bring relief to tinnitus symptoms (ringing in the ears).

Myofascial Release among other massage therapy techniques specific to these muscles as well as other neck flexors are likely to bring some relief. Working on flexibility of the anterior aspect of the neck and chest while also strengthening the back of the neck and between the shoulder blades will provide more long term results.

03/08/2024

QUESTION: I’ve had Carpal Tunnel surgery but I still have hand and arm pain. Can you help?

ANSWER: Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) occurs when the median nerve is squeezed or compressed as it travels through the wrist causing numbness, tingling and pain in the hand and forearm. Surgical intervention includes cutting the roof of the carpal tunnel which allows more room for the nerve, tendons and blood vessels to travel through the wrist. The surgery can be very successful when the problem is solely in the wrist however in my experience, this is often not the case.

The nerve roots that operate the hand and arm are C5-T1 which emerge from the middle of your neck down to and including the first vertebra with a rib attached. Where a nerve goes in the body, a blood vessel follows. This neurovascular bundle passes under the clavicle & chest muscles, through the armpit and into the arm. Mechanical interference (aka a crush) anywhere along this avenue such as:
...displacement of the clavicle (fracture or separated shoulder)
...excess tension in the neck or chest muscles
...postural change in the neck or thorax due to repetitive strain or whiplash
can negatively influence neural impulse or the flow of blood. Such compressions can be responsible for the buildup of metabolic waste or over/under stimulation of nerves into the arm and hand.

Often when we think of nerve crush injuries we think mostly of a spinal fracture or a disc narrowing situation however these may be the least common causes. Truly myofascial restrictions associated with repetitive strains or injuries that migrate to include nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics are the most common. Clearing these adhesions out and rebalancing the short strong and long weak muscles should really be the precursor to surgery.

Though you have already had surgery, you report still having pain. Clinical reasoning would suggest that my suggestions may be a plausible root cause and therefore worth addressing. In the very least it would allow the whole arm to get better nutrition and waste management so what pathology is left might heal faster. It is also worth mentioning that I am not necessarily disagreeing with your CTS diagnosis, I am just suggesting that perhaps it is secondary to a bigger problem higher up the kinetic chain.

Please give me a call.

22/07/2024

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY PUBLISHES LARGEST STUDY EVER ON MASSAGE THERAPY USE

July 2024

"Many people receive massage therapy and for many reasons. But according to a new study – the largest and most comprehensive ever conducted on the subject – the prevalence of visits to massage therapists is higher than one might have imagined and the reasons may be surprising."

“What our study shows is that it’s probably not helpful any longer to label massage as an ‘alternative’ therapy, with all of the marginality that the term conveys.”

“Licensed massage therapists ought to be respected as mainstream practitioners, whose profession provides a therapeutic approach not just to address pain and functional challenges but to foster wellness and overall well-being, physical and emotional.

Everyone can benefit from working with a skilled massage therapist. They’re the hidden gems in the healthcare system.” - Jeff Levin, Ph.D., M.P.H., University Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health. (Robert Rogers/Baylor University)

Study Link: Journal of Science & Healing
Prevalence & Determinants of Massage Therapy Use in the US
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1550830724000958