Stay In Touch LLC

07/26/2022

You’re thinking about a new office space! Incredible. I know it’s an exciting (and equally scary) venture to find potential spaces that are the perfect fit for you and your team. And since this pro…

05/19/2022

All touch is not created equal!

Manual therapists are blessed to be able to help people through touch and for the most part, all forms of caring, well-intentioned touch are good.

Recent studies by Boehme, et al, suggest that the human brain pays more attention to touch by others (novel stimuli) since it is unable to “predict” the outcome.

Novel stimuli through touch during a therapy session with the client actively engaged could further enhance sensory input leading to increased nervous system stimulation and greater therapeutic impact.

So how do we do this?

Head over to this week's Technique Tuesday to find out:
https://erikdalton.com/blog/bodywork-hormones-homeostasis/

05/19/2022

05/18/2022

Trigger points are taut fibers within the muscle fiber. The sarcomere, or contractile unit of the muscle fiber, becomes shortened due to trauma, injury, overload of a muscle or muscle groups, nutri…

04/08/2022

🛎️ Subclavius stretch:

1. The client’s arm should rest on therapist's shoulder - make sure they are not guarding or holding their arm up.
2. Therapist's fingers of the right hand curl and snake behind the clavicle and brace the area while the left fingers wade in front of the upper trapezius and contact the scalenes where they attach to the first rib.
3. To create space and stretch in the subclavius, stand with your knees slightly bent, extend the knees, and abduct the client's arm, allowing your fingers to spread open the thoracic outlet.

Learn this and many more MYOSKELETAL ALIGNMENT TECHNIQUES for relieving impinged or trapped nerves in key joints throughout the body with my Treating Trapped Nerves MAT Course. 25% OFF until April 11.

https://erikdalton.com/courses/treating-trapped-nerves/

02/08/2022

Technique Tuesday: When the Funny Bone Ain’t Funny
Mobilizing the Ulnar Nerve

The ulnar is the most exposed of all nerves and ranks second only to the median nerve (carpal tunnel syndrome) as an arm and hand pain generator. Irritation of the ulnar nerve can present as tingling, pain and numbness in the pinky and ring fingers sometimes in a shocking way as the flexed elbow strikes an object compressing it against bone.

Like a telephone cable, the ulnar nerve passes through a protective tunnel behind the elbow’s medial epicondyle or funny bone forming what is called the ‘cubital tunnel’. When the ulnar nerve is compressed or entrapped, the nerve can tear and become inflamed leading to a variety of symptoms, called Cubital Tunnel Syndrome.

I’ve discovered about eight ulnar nerve entrapment sites beginning in the neck, extending through the thoracic outlet, armpit, and down into the hand. All those entrapment sites are addressed in my “Treating Trapped Nerves” home-study course, and some examples are presented below. You’ll love how easily these routines integrate into your existing massage and bodywork practice, and your clients will be amazed at how quickly they are free of nagging pinched nerve pain emanating from the neck, thoracic outlet, and cubital tunnel.

To release ulnar entrapment under the subscapularis muscle, therapist’s left hand grasps client’s wrist and abducts arm, while soft flat fingers of therapist’s right hand contact… Click here to read more and view an ulnar nerve mobilization technique video: https://mailchi.mp/freedomfrompain/when-the-funny-bone-aint-funny-159666

12/22/2021

Do clothes make the person or does the person make the clothes? Perhaps it can be a bit of both. Our experts agree that with many massage therapists accepting insurance, growing a referral business…

07/22/2021

Click here to learn more and watch an instructional video with Erik Dalton.

07/20/2021

Ayurveda is a practical and logical approach to living in harmony with the elements of nature. This knowledge and practice can be a wonderful tool to assist us with our self-care.

06/15/2021

10/08/2020

The term “myofascial trigger points” certainly describes a phenomenon: sore, stiff, aching spots. Evidence-based massage encourages the integration of current research into our practices, this requ…

10/08/2020

As we approach National Massage Therapy Awareness Week on October 25-31, we want to know: What do you love about being a massage therapist? Share with us in the comments! !

09/30/2020

Technique Tuesday: Treating Occipital Neuralgia Headaches

Since the O-A joint surrounds and attaches to the brain stem, which controls all basic body functions (including breathing and heartbeat), poor alignment may have widespread consequences. For example, if the O-A joint on one side develops a restriction, the crooked occiput may set off local neurological reflexes that increase muscle tension in the suboccipitals, and which may compress and irritate the greater occipital nerve. Clients presenting with occipital neuralgia commonly complain of pain referring up the back of the head and around the side, sometimes reaching into the orbital region.

Following the client history intake and palpation of suboccipital hypertonicity, the MAT therapist must try and determine the origin of the suspected occipital neuralgia headache. Ask yourself this question first: Is the unlevel O-A joint and accompanying suboccipital spasm the result of awkward head and neck positioning, as in the case of the plumber under the sink, or could there be compensations… click here to read more and view a headache video: https://mailchi.mp/freedomfrompain/occipital-neuralgia-headaches-158934

09/23/2020

Diabetes and massage might not seem related — but greater acceptance of massage therapy in the U.S. health care system demands massage therapists continue learning about pathologies that affect our…

09/22/2020

Technique Tuesday: TMJ, Forward Head Posture & Neck Pain

Causes of TMJ dysfunction include blunt trauma to head and neck, slip and falls on the sacrum causing compensations up the spine and into the cranial bones, whiplash accidents, orthodontics, and prolonged desk work or “text-neck” leading to forward head postures. Understanding the relationship between proper functioning of the upper cervical spine, cranial bones, and the temporomandibular joint is critical for massage and bodyworkers dealing with this sometimes-debilitating condition.

Optimal head and neck functioning require that TMJ surfaces retain their ability to glide freely on one another. I’ve found it helpful to first deal with the head-forward posture and then… Click here to read more and view a technique video: https://mailchi.mp/freedomfrompain/tmj-forward-head-posture-and-neck-pain-158926

09/15/2020

Technique Tuesday: Don’t Blame the Rotator Cuff

The term Arthro (joint) Kinetic (motion) Reflex was coined by University of Pittsburg researchers to describe how sensory input from joint movement reflexively activates or inhibits muscles – and no other place in the body is this concept more applicable than in the joints and connective tissues of the shoulder girdle. If sensory input from the sternoclavicular (SC), acromioclavicular (AC) and glenohumeral (GH) joints convey the idea that shoulder movement is safe, the nervous system will loosen its governor on rotator cuff strength and range of motion. If the information suggests the movement is dangerous, the brain may protectively guard the shoulder via muscle stiffness, pain, weakness, or altered coordination.

In most cases, rotator cuff impingement syndrome occurs when the supraspinatus tendon gets squashed between the humerus and the scapula’s acromion process during arm abduction. One of the primary and oft-overlooked causes is insufficient SC joint elevation of the clavicle. Recall that the SC joint should always move in an opposing direction to the scapula. Yet, tension, trauma and sub-optimal posture may cause the clavicle to get locked in a superior position on the manubrium and unable to glide down as the arm is raised. In these cases, manual and movement therapy to treat a frayed rotator cuff tendon is pointless until the SC joint fixation is corrected.

The myoskeletal method seeks to first restore shoulder girdle function by clearing SC, AC, and GH joint fixations, and then assess for possible rotator cuff… click here to read more and view a technique video:
https://mailchi.mp/freedomfrompain/dont-blame-the-rotator-cuff-158918

08/31/2020

James Waslaski, LMT, CPT, teaches orthopedic and sports massage to practitioners including massage therapists, chiropractors, physical therapists, osteopaths and athletic trainers. His integra…

08/20/2020

Discover how new research is pointing to ways that massage therapy can help manage shoulder pain. https://bit.ly/30TIWT4