Momentum Rolfing

01/13/2024

Body & Brain: “This awesome plastination by Gunther van Hagens can help you visualize how the brain and spinal cord innervate your body by sending spinal nerves to the left and right :)

The spinal cord is the main pathway for information connecting the brain and peripheral nervous system. It is protected by the bony spinal column.

The spinal cord is located in the vertebral foramen and is made up of 31 segments: 8 cervical, 12 thoracic, 5 lumbar, 5 sacral and 1 coccygeal. A pair of spinal nerves leaves each segment of the spinal cord.

The length of the spinal cord is about 45 cm in men and 43 cm in women. The spinal cord is shorter than the length of the bony spinal column; the spinal cord extends down only to the last of the thoracic vertebrae.

Nerves that extend from the spinal cord from the lumbar and sacral levels must run in the vertebral ca**l for a distance before they leave the vertebral column. This collection of nerves in the vertebral ca**l is called the cauda equina (which means "horse tail").

There doctors can do liquor punctions because they cant hurt the spinal cord with the needle, because there are only loose nerve fibres that can dodge the needle (like stinging a needle into a horse tail).”

- Text by University of Washington

- Photo Credit: Gunther van Hagens

Dr Gunther von Hagens’ BODY Worlds Exhibition
KÖRPERWELTEN
PLASTINARIUM

02/13/2023

One of the objectives of Rolfing®Structural Integration is to free the breath. Complete and deep inhalation should be as effortless as possible, exhalation should be relaxed and allow a person to let go. In order to breath freely, the Rolfing® Ten Series focuses on enhancing thoracic mobility and allowing each breath to spread throughout the entire body. Myofascial tissues on the front of the rib cage and shoulder girdle are often short.

As a result, the ribs cannot move freely with each inhalation – something that occurs 15,000 to 20,000 times every day. Over time, the shortness in these frontal structures often increases not only limiting breathing but creating restrictions in organ mobility as well. In many cases, even a single Rolfing session can often bring considerable relief.

To find out more about Rolfing® SI, visit: www.rolf.org
SOURCE: ERA Website www.rolfing.org

07/23/2022

07/13/2022

Affecting up to four percent of the population and mostly women, fibromyalgia is a syndrome that causes pain, fatigue and cognitive issues. Poorly understood, the condition has no cure and is difficult to diagnose. Now, thanks to the work of a team of scientists from the Research Institute of the Mc...

07/06/2022

🔈 REFERRED PAIN - CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Pain from the viscera is poorly localised. As described earlier, it is referred to areas of skin (dermatomes) which are supplied by the same sensory ganglia and spinal cord segments as the nerve fibres innervating the viscera.

Pain is referred according to the embryological origin of the organ; thus pain from foregut structures are referred to the epigastric region, midgut structures are to the umbilical region and hindgut structures to the p***c region of the abdomen.

Foregut – oesophagus, stomach, pancreas, liver, gallbladder and the duodenum (proximal to the entrance of the common bile duct).
Midgut – duodenum (distal to the entrance of the common bile duct) to the junction of the proximal two thirds of the transverse colon with the distal third.
Hindgut – distal one third of the transverse colon to the upper part of the a**l ca**l.
Pain in retroperitoneal organs (e.g. kidney, pancreas) may present as back pain.

Irritation of the diaphragm (e.g. as a result of inflammation of the liver, gallbladder or duodenum) may result in shoulder tip pain.

Referred Pain in Appendicitis

Initially, pain from the appendix (midgut structure) and its visceral peritoneum is referred to the umbilical region. As the appendix becomes increasingly inflamed, it irritates the parietal peritoneum, causing the pain to localise to the right lower quadrant.

06/07/2022

🔈 HEADACHES AND MYODURAL BRIDGES

• Recent anatomical studies have found that the deep suboccipital (top of the neck) muscles are connected to the dura matter (the covering of the spinal cord) by ligaments.
• Pulling on a suboccipital muscle moves the dura matter, in cadavers.
• The suboccipital muscles often atrophy (waste away) in headache sufferers.

Can headaches be affected by using Active Release Techniques (ART) on the the suboccipital muscles: superior oblique, inferior oblique, re**us capitis posterior major and minor? The suboccipital muscles are important little muscles which control fine neuromuscular control of the head.

Recent studies have added to our knowledge of the possible connections between headaches and the myodural bridges:

Enix et al did microscopic evaluations to confirm that ligaments called the myodural bridges emanate from the suboccipital muscle bellies, and attach to the dura mater in 75% of specimens. These myodural bridges have a hypothetical role in human homeostasis, and they may contribute to certain neuropathological conditions as well. The presence of a neural component within the myodural bridges suggests that they may serve another function aside from simply anchoring the muscles to the dura mater. Such a connection may be involved in monitoring dural tension and may also play a role in certain cervicogenic pathologies (neck pain and headaches).

They noted that manual traction of the re**us major in cadavers resulted in gross dural movement from the spinal root level of the axis (C2) to the spinal root level of the first thoracic vertebra.
Fernández-de-Las-Peñas found that the greater the headache intensity, duration or frequency, the smaller the cross sectional area of the re**us minor and re**us major muscles. He also foundthat there was a correlation between hyper-tenderness and atrophy of the re**us minor. In these cases pressing on the re**us minor reproduced the patient’s headaches.

The re**us minor was also found to have atrophied by Hallgren, in chronic head pain sufferers. He proposed a theory that whiplash could lead to nerve damage which causes the re**us minor to atrophy. His photo in the picture shows the myodural bridge.

ART is a hands-on soft tissue treatment of ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves. It provides a quick way to make a tight muscle loose, as well as treating conditions such as: tennis elbow, frozen shoulder, shoulder tendinitis, and plantar fasciitis. The technique involves the therapist putting pressure on a tissue, while the patient stretches to move the tissue slowly out from under the contact. The treatment hurts a bit, but only in a way that makes the patient know it is working. The technique works by increasing the nervous system’s tolerance to stretch.

05/24/2022

🔈 SURFACE ANATOMY OF FOOT

The tendons in the ankle region can be identified satisfactorily only when their muscles are acting. If the foot is actively inverted, the tendon of the tibialis posterior may be palpated as it passes posterior and distal to the medial malleolus, then superior to the sustentaculum tali, to reach its attachment to the tuberosity of the navicular. Hence, the tibialis posterior tendon is the guide to the navicular. The tendon of the tibialis posterior also indicates the site for palpating the posterior tibial pulse (halfway between the medial malleolus and the calcaneal tendon.

The tendons of the fibularis longus and brevis may be followed distally, posterior and inferior to the lateral malleolus, and then anteriorly along the lateral aspect of the foot. The fibularis longus tendon can be palpated as far as the cuboid, and then, it disappears as it turns into the sole. The fibularis brevis tendon can easily be traced to its attachment to the dorsal surface of the tuberosity on the base of the 5th metatarsal. This tuberosity is located at the middle of the lateral border of the foot. With toes actively extended, the small fleshy belly of the extensor digitorum brevis may be seen and palpated anterior to the lateral malleolus. Its position should be observed and palpated so that it may not be mistaken subsequently for an abnormal edema (swelling).

The tendons on the anterior aspect of the ankle (from medial to lateral side) are easily palpated when the foot is dorsiflexed:

• The large tendon of the tibialis anterior leaves the cover of the superior extensor tendon, from which level the tendon is invested by a continuous synovial sheath; the tendon may be traced to its attachment to the 1st cuneiform and the base of the 1st metatarsal.
• The tendon of the extensor hallucis longus , obvious when the great toe is extended against resistance, may be followed to its attachment to the base of the distal phalanx of the great toe.
• The tendons of the extensor digitorum longus may be followed easily to their attachments to the lateral four toes.
• The tendon of the fibularis tertius may also be traced to its attachment to the base of the 5th metatarsal. This muscle is of minor importance and may be absent.

05/23/2022

Something seems off here 🤔

No wonder people have bunions

Wear pointed shoes = develop pointy feet

Spend time barefoot and wear foot shaped shoes (natural footwear) and your feet revert back to default settings

Yep….it’s that simple

Great image by

👣

04/26/2022

Ongoing clinical research plays a key role in identifying factors that may contribute to cancer; in turn, we can use this research to create a better patient-centered treatment approach. This comprehensive 12-study article aims to provide evidence to support the idea that vagus nerve activity may have a prognostic and protective role in cancer. http://bit.ly/2OsQpTm or Barralinstitute

04/22/2022

🔈 NECK PAIN, HEADACHES OR TEMPOROMANDIBULAR JOINT (TMJ) SYNDROME?

[NEUROMUSCULAR INTERACTION BETWEEN SUBOCCIPITAL MUSCLES AND TMJ MUSCLES]

The TMJ is a complex joint that allows us to open/close our mouth. TMJ disorders do not only create pain and limitations with the jaw. Oftentimes, there are associated issues with the neck, face, and ears.

The body is classically divided into systems such as muscular, skeletal, nervous system etc.

However, this is a mirage as these systems are all a part of one super-system that works in unison to create function.

An excellent example of this is the links between the muscles of the suboccipital region, the jaw muscles and the central nervous system.

As you know the suboccipitals are short and have only minor contributions to gross movements of the spine. However, they are loaded with sensory muscle spindles which indicate these muscles have a strong link to the cerebellum and the CNS. Postural distortions that affect the position of the skull and upper cervical vertebrae are immediately relayed to the CNS via these spindle receptors and the ganglion of C2 which is the largest in the body with 49,000 neurons. For comparison, the T4 ganglion has 24 neurons. More neurons = higher speed delivery of information to the brain.

The muscles of the jaw include the masseter as well as the deeper pterygoid muscles. They obviously allow for chewing but also have an interesting link to the CNS. The masseter has been shown to spontaneously activate during periods of stress. The masseter will also activate in unison with the subocciptal muscles during sudden postural changes in order to keep the eyes stable on the horizon.

The suboccipital and TMJ muscles may not be physically linked but they are absolutely “connected” in the cerebellum and in most clinical cases. This relationship tells us these muscles have a large role in stress/sympathetic nervous system syndromes as well as global postural regulation. A patient may present with complaints of neck pain, but now we see how we must look globally at posture, TMJ function, vestibular function and stress management!

04/19/2022

🔈 ANATOMY OF THE SCIATIC NERVE

Several important nerves arise from the sacral plexus and either supply the gluteal region (e.g., superior and inferior gluteal nerves) or pass through it to supply perineum and thigh (e.g., the pudental and sciatic nerves, respectively).

Sciatic Nerve is the largest nerve in the body and is the continuation of the main part of the sacral plexus. The branches converge at the inferior border of the piriformis to form the sciatic nerve, a thick, flattened band approximately 2cm wide. The sciatic nerve is the most lateral structure emerging through the greater sciatic foramen inferior to the piriformis.

Medial to the sciatic nerve are the inferior gluteal nerve and vessels, the internal pudendal vessels, and the pudendal nerve. The sciatic nerve runs inferolaterally under cover of the gluteus maximus, midwy between the greater trochanter and ischial tuberosity. The nerve rests on the ischium and then passes posterior to the obturator internus, quadratus femoris and adductor magnus muscles. The sciatic nerve is so large that it receives a named branch of the inferior gluteal artery, the artery to the sciatic nerve.

04/18/2022

🔈 PROPRIOCEPTION

Physiologically, posture and balance are a result of the interaction of a number of sensory feedbacks and the resulting muscular responses. The sensory feedback comes from proprioceptors. The proprioceptors detect any changes in movement or position and any changes in tension, or force, within the body. They are found in all nerve endings of the joints, muscles, and tendons.

1. Pressure sensors in the soles of the feet and proprioceptors in the ankle joints detect the proportion of weight distributed between left and right and between the balls and heels of the feet.

2. The vestibular apparatus of the ears can detect any change in equilibrium, even before it occurs, and send messages to the brain.

3. The eyes detect a level horizon and feedback to the brain causes postural adjustment to try to keep the eyes parallel with that horizon.

4. Neurological structures in muscle and tendon tissue (the muscle spindles and Golgi tendon organs - which are also types of proprioceptors) detect changes in muscle tensions and the rate of that change.

04/15/2022

🔈 SUBSCAPULARIS TENDINITIS: CAUSES, SYMPTOMS, TREATMENT

Subscapularis muscle is a large triangular-shaped muscle which fills the subscapular fossa.The term "subscapularis" means under (sub) the scapula (the wingbone). The subscapularis muscle originates beneath the scapula.

It is a part of the Rotator Cuff muscle group. It is the largest and the strongest muscle in this group. The subscapularis muscle is the most-used muscle in the shoulder.

🔒 CAUSES

Subscapularis Tendinitis usually occurs due to a direct trauma to the arm like that in a fall on the shoulders or arm or as a result of a sporting injury. A rupture of the tendon may also occur after a surgical procedure such as a shoulder replacement surgery in which the subscapularis tendon is removed and repaired.

🔒 SYMPTOMS

Some of the symptoms of Subscapularis Tendinitis are pain with any type of movement of the shoulder, especially overhead motions. Pain may also be induced with inward motion of the arms. In few cases pain is observed during sleep and early morning. Pain is often caused by hyperextension of shoulder joint during sleep resulting in hyperextension of rotator cuff and subscapularis tendon. The subscapular tendon inflammation is mild to moderate and responds to treatment.

🔒 TREATMENT

The treatment of subscapular tendinitis depends on severity of the inflammation. Mild to moderate inflammation of the subscapular tendon is treated by resting and initially with ice to reduce pain and inflammation. Massage and proper exercise will help the tendon and the muscle to recover.

🔒 EXERCISE

Performing isometric exercises that target the subscapularis involves contracting the muscle for five to 10 seconds at a time without moving your shoulder joint considerably.

Start on your back with your elbow about 6 inches away from your side and flexed to 90 degrees, so your forearm points upward. Place a large book by your hip on the same side. Inwardly rotate your shoulder, placing your hand on top of the book, and press downward for five to 10 seconds. Relax briefly, then move your elbow about 3 inches farther away from your side and repeat the same exercise. Perform the exercise twice more -- once with your upper arm pointed away from your shoulder and once with your elbow even with your ear. Repeat the series with your opposite arm.

04/06/2022

How are your shoulders feeling? Do you have a full range of motion in all 5 joints?

🔈 THE FIVE JOINTS OF THE SHOULDER

Right shoulder, anterior view. A total of five joints contribute to the wide range of arm motions at the shoulder joint. There are three true shoulder joints and two functional articulations:

✅ True joints:
1. Sternoclavicular joint
2. Acromioclavicular joint
3. Glenohumeral joint

✅ Functional articulations:

4. Subacromial space: a space lined with bursae (subacromial and subdeltoid bursae) that allows gliding between the acromion and the rotator cuff (muscular cuff of the glenohumeral joint, consisting of the supraspinatus, infraspinatus, subscapularis, and teres minor muscles, which press the head of the humerus into the glenoid cavity.
5. Scapulothoracic joint: loose connective tissue between the subscapularis and serratus anterior muscles that allows gliding of the scapula on the chest wall.

Besides the true joints and functional articulations, the two ligamentous attachments between the clavicle and first rib (costoclavicular ligament) and between the clavicle and coracoid process (coracoclavicular ligament) contribute to the mobility of the upper limb. All of these structures together comprise a functional unit, and free mobility in all the joints is necessary to achieve a full range of motion.

This expansive mobility is gained at the cost of stability, however. Since the shoulder has a loose capsule and weak reinforcing ligaments, it must rely on the stabilizing effect of the rotator cuff tendons. As the upper limb changed in mammalian evolution from an organ of support to one of manipulation, the soft tissues and their pathology assumed increasing importance. As a result, a large percentage of shoulder disorders involve the soft tissues.

Would you like to find out more about human anatomy, physiology and pathology? Stay tuned and make sure you turned on notification on Healthy Street and see all posts and updates.

03/17/2022

🔈 WHY ARE THE PSOAS MUSCLES CONSTANTLY CONTRACTED DURING PROLONGED PERIODS OF STRESS?

Whether you run, bike, dance, practice yoga, or just hang out on your couch, your psoas muscles are involved. That’s because your psoas muscles are the primary connectors between your torso and your legs. They affect your posture and help to stabilise your spine.

The psoas muscles are made of both slow and fast twitching muscles. Because they are major flexors, weak psoas muscles can cause many of the surrounding muscles to compensate and become overused. That is why a tight or overstretched psoas muscle could be the cause of many or your aches and pains, including low back and pelvic pain.

👩‍🔬 ANATOMY

Structurally, your psoas muscles are the deepest muscles in your core. They attach from your 12th thoracic vertebrae to your 5 lumbar vertebrae, through your pelvis and then finally attach to your femurs. In fact, they are the only muscles that connect your spine to your legs.

Your psoas muscles allow you to bend your hips and legs towards your chest, for example when you are going up stairs. They also help to move your leg forward when you walk or run.

Your psoas muscles are the muscles that flex your trunk forward when bend over to pick up something from the floor. They also stabilize your trunk and spine during movement and sitting.

👩‍🔬 THE PSOAS AND FIGHT OR FLIGHT RESPONSE

The psoas muscles support your internal organs and work like hydraulic pumps allowing blood and lymph to be pushed in and out of your cells.

Your psoas muscles are vital not only to your structural well-being, but also to your psychological well-being because of their connection to your breath.

Here’s why: there are two tendons for the diaphragm (called the crura) that extend down and connect to the spine alongside where the psoas muscles attach. One of the ligaments (the medial arcuate) wraps around the top of each psoas. Also, the diaphragm and the psoas muscles are connected through fascia that also connects the other hip muscles.

These connections between the psoas muscle and the diaphragm literally connect your ability to walk and breathe, and also how you respond to fear and excitement. That’s because, when you are startled or under stress, your psoas contracts.

In other words, your psoas has a direct influence on your fight or flight response!

During prolonged periods of stress, your psoas is constantly contracted. The same contraction occurs when you:

➡️ sit for long periods of time
➡️ engage in excessive running or walking
➡️ sleep in the fetal position
➡️ do a lot of sit-ups

💡 Here are some tips for getting your psoas back in balance:

✔️ Avoid sitting for extended periods
✔️ Add support to your car seat
✔️ Try Resistance Flexibility exercises
✔️ Get a professional massage
✔️ Release stress and past traumas
✔️ Stretch

💡 HOW TO STRETCH

Roller Psoas Stretch
Use a foam roller for this passive, relaxing stretch that lengthens your psoas, one of your deep hip flexors.

1. Place the roller perpendicular to your spine and lie with your sacrum (the back of your pelvis) — not your spine — on the roller.
2. Pull your left knee toward your chest, keeping your right heel on the ground. You should feel a stretch on the front of your right hip.
3. To increase the stretch, reach your right arm over your head and open your left knee slightly out to the left.
Hold for 30 seconds, then switch legs. Repeat as needed.

02/14/2022

Happy Valentine’s Day! We hope this beautiful specimen of the fascial continuity of the pericardium and respiratory diaphragm will inspire you today. Imagine how the pericardium and heart are gently stretched and released with every inhalation and exhalation!



This plastinate beautifully reveals the intimate connection of the respiratory diaphragm and the heart through their fasciae. The fascial covering of the heart, the pericardium, seen at the top and center, is completely continuous with the fascia of the diaphragm below. This kind of fascial relationship is often omitted in illustrations which highlight the muscles and organs without their related connective tissue. In this specimen, instead of removing the pericardium to show the heart, we carefully pried away the heart from its protective sleeve, leaving behind an empty pericardial sack and attached diaphragm.

Focusing on the connections of things instead of only the separateness, adds a missing piece to our thinking and to how we conceptualize the human body. Demonstrating this remarkable fascial relationship through plastination is an excellent tool for fascial anatomy education of the deep structures of the torso.

02/11/2022

Rolfing® is a process that systematically reorganises the body by adjusting imbalances in the myofascial tissue so that the body can reorganise itself with less effort. Our bodies get the opportunity to make use of gravity — being supported by it, rather than feeling pulled down.

Read more about how Rolfing can benefit you - https://www.rolf.org/rolfing.php

®