|
Jaw Problems -- Rebecca
Rebecca had had jaw surgery three years prior to when she called.
At the time, her mouth opened no more than one finger¹s width
and she was unable to eat solid food. She had significant pain in
her neck, shoulders, and arms, as well as difficulty turning her
head. In fact, her alignment and mobility were compromised all the
way to her feet.
We began a program of soft tissue release and joint mobilization
inside her mouth along her gum line. Gradually she was able to open
her jaw enough for me to work within the cavity of her mouth. During
movement study she gained mobility in her ribs, spine and pelvis.
Her neck began to loosen, and later her jaw. One day her spine bent
backwards, her head turned upward and her jaw began to fall open
gradually of its own accord.
By the time treatment concluded, her shoulders were supported by
her feet and pelvis and could finally relax. Her neck and her jaw
released in succession. She now had more movement from her feet
to her head. She opened her mouth to the width of three fingers
and ate solid food. And she smiled!
back to top
Neck --Elizabeth
Elizabeth is an active 72 year old. One day, 35 years ago, while
at a county fair, she was on a roller coaster ride when her car
made a sharp and unanticipated turn to the left. Her head and neck
jerked sideways. Since that day her neck had not felt the same.
When I observed her posture, her chest was caved inward and her
thoracic spine was rounded forward. She was able to turn her neck
to the left only about 1/3 of what is considered normal range.
We began our program with gentle joint mobilization to "oil"
her "rusty" joints. We added soft tissue release to make
her neck muscles more pliable. Next, we added movement study, where
she learned that her ribs and spine could lengthen in response to
pelvic support and mobility. Her neck unlocked as it received a
boost from Gravity.
Today, she is able to turn her head to full range without pain.
What is this energetic retiree happiest about? She can garden, entertain
family and paint en plain air, all without pain.
back to top
Whiplash --Tammy
Tammy was riding in the back seat of a car when the driver warned
her that they were about to be hit from behind. Tammy looked out
the rear window just at the moment of impact. She was thrown forward,
then backward. Her right hand became numb and her neck and spine
stiffened as a result of the impact. She began to have headaches.
Because her body was twisted at the time of impact, the injuries
were more complex than usual. At intake she walked stiffly and was
unable to turn her torso or her head. Her arms did not swing naturally.
Her spinal muscles were in spasm from her pelvis to the base of
her skull.
Treatment began with joint mobilization and soft tissue release
to help her spine, torso and head recover their resiliency. With
movement study she found that her arms could again swing naturally.
Her treatment plan included a trip to her workplace for an ergonomic
consultation where she learned to reduce the strain on her neck
when reaching and lifting.
Tammy made progress at a steady pace, discovering a surprising
ability to "bounce back" from her accident. She is on
the road again, traveling and conducting business.
back to top
Shoulder --Patricia
Patricia originally called to ask for assistance with bilateral
shoulder injuries. However, now her neck was sore from compensating
for her shoulder pain. She was upset.
Her alignment intrigued me. Her rib cage was thrust upward and
her shoulder blades were pulled backwards. Her neck had very little
curve when she stood in a "head-back-chin-down" position.
I hoped to help her re-establish a better structural foundation
for her ribcage, neck and shoulders in turn.
When we used soft tissue release and joint mobilization to reduce
the tension deep within her thoracic structure, her ribcage rested
downward and provided a better foundation for her neck and shoulders.
Her shoulder blades rode freely on her ribs. One day in a movement
study, she felt her neck extend and her chin naturally lift upwards.
And she saw at the world from a broader perspective.
back to top
Arms -- Robert
I received a call from the mother of a senior at San Francisco
State University. Her son, a clarinet player, had developed severe
tendonitis in both forearms. He was unable to hold the weight of
his instrument. His senior recital was only four months away.
When I met Robert, I noticed that both of his forearms were exceptionally
tight. Surprisingly, so were his ribs, sternum, and spine. At first,
it was hard to determine which was the primary problem the tension
in his arms from holding his instrument too tightly, or the tension
in his torso from his strained breathing pattern.
After a program of soft tissue release and joint mobilization his
forearms became softer and his ribs became mobile. In movement study,
Bob learned that his breath could flow freely because his pelvis
and spine supported his ribcage. Later, he learned that it was easier
to hold the weight of his clarinet when his shoulders rested securely
on his ribcage. With his shoulders supported, his hands were free
to play his instrument, rather than to grip it.
Robert found that he was able to play the clarinet with his whole
body in concert. I remember attending an excellent senior recital
a year later. The last I heard, Bob is a clarinetist with a major
orchestra.
back to top
Ribs --Brenda
Brenda came to me because she was having a sharp pain below her
left shoulder blade. Furthermore, she was unable to tolerate the
treatments she had received to date. She was extremely sensitive
to touch and frequently worse, not better, following treatment.
Something felt "wrong" in her rib, she said, "like
it was out of place".
When I examined her, I noticed she was extremely tight in between
her ribs and where the ribs joined her spine. Her left shoulder
blade was unable to slide over her ribs. Her breath was evident
in her abdomen, but not in her ribcage.
In the beginning of treatment, she was able to relax in her left
shoulder and ribs when I used the lightest touch possible during
soft tissue release and joint mobilization. But progress was temporary.
We needed a new approach. Could she release the tension in her body
using simply the motion of her breath?
In movement study she allowed the passive motion of her breath
to relax her ribs from the inside. She then used the weight of her
left arm to free her shoulder blade from her ribs in exercise design.
Her left ribs and shoulder blade became increasingly resilient,
mobile and receptive to touch. Now, with little encouragement, her
rib slid into the place it knew as "home". Her scapula
now "skated" on top of her ribs without catching. She
was able to breath fully and easily.
back to top
Groin, Hip, Sciatica --Susan
Susan called to request help with a pain that went from her right
groin to her right calf. She suspected that sitting at her computer
contributed to the problem, but she didn't know how to alleviate
the pain or correct her workstation design.
When I saw Sue's postural alignment, I noticed that her right hip
was rolled inward at the hip socket, which in turn produced a twist
at her pelvis and lumbar spine. She was irritating her sciatic nerve.
We began our program with soft tissue release and joint mobilization
to increase mobility in her hips. Next, we used exercise design
to gently strengthen the muscles deep in her hip joint to provide
a secure foundation for her pelvis.
During an ergonomic consultation we confirmed that her workstation
was a source of aggravation. The monitor and keyboard were placed
askew to each other. When looking at her monitor she leaned onto
her right hip. When at the keyboard she needed to twist her spine.
Once we placed her monitor and keyboard appropriately, she felt
the strain in her hips and spine decrease simultaneously. Her groin
pain and sciatica resolved over the next three months. And she felt
good enough to return to her first love acting.
back to top
Ankle and Foot Problem
-- Laura
Approximately 10 years ago, Laura was involved in a serious motorcycle
accident that required a fusion at her left ankle joint. She was
now experiencing left hip pain and walking with hesitation.
When I looked at her standing, I noticed a misalignment at her
left hip. I hypothesized that her posture and gait pattern, which
showed an overly mobile left hip, resulted from years of adjusting
to the limitation at her ankle. When I palpated her left leg, I
questioned whether an accumulation of scar tissue had caused additional
restriction.
We began a program in soft tissue release, and joint mobilization
to reduce the skeletal and soft tissue limitations in her left leg.
During movement study we discovered that as she gained mobility
at her lower leg and foot she could "soften" them to receive
the weight of her body when landing on her foot. She strengthened
her hip muscles with exercise design. She became increasingly stabile
at her left hip and began to land easily onto her left foot. She
felt the "spring" in her step return.
Laura now plays with her children and hikes with her husband with
new strength, resilience and freedom.
back to top
Knees -- Pam
Pam is a technology professional who often travels to Japan. She
called me about a knee strain she had sustained while lifting luggage
on her latest trip.
As I watched her walk, I noticed that the skeletal rotations occurring
between her hips and feet placed significant stress at both knees.
When she picked up an object from the floor she twisted her knee
a risky maneuver for anybody.
Most of Pam's improvement came about through movement study and
exercise design. As she learned to loosen her upper and lower legs
they could roll outward just enough to reduce the restriction at
her knees. She found that lifting from a "short-lunge"
position provided a safe foundation for her knees. Her suitcase
- always full - suddenly felt "lighter."
back to top
Post-Pregnancy
--Dora
I received a call from Dora, the mother of a three-year old son
and five-month old twin daughters. She was having knee problems,
a new development since the birth of her twins. She said she wanted
to recover her "pre-pregnancy body."
When I looked at her postural alignment, I noticed that she stood
with her feet wider apart than necessary. At the same time, her
knees had turned inward. She saw that this configuration put considerable
stress on her knees, even when at her normal weight. When we discussed
this observation, she realized she had developed this stance in
order to carry the weight of her twins during pregnancy.
We began our program by decreasing the tension in her hips and
legs through soft tissue release and joint mobilization. Additional
work on her ribs helped her to regain length in her torso, which
in turn lightened the load on her knees. After creating an exercise
design for her hip and abdominal muscles she was able to stand both
taller and straighter. On her last day of treatment she remarked,
"Now I can walk without my waddle. And, I have a waistline
again!"
back to top
About OSG
| Appointments
| Case Studies | Ergonomic
Consult | Classes
| Products
| Contact
|
