<![CDATA[Chagrin Valley Wellness Center - Blog]]>Thu, 24 May 2012 15:48:04 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Movement, Injury, and HOPE!]]>Thu, 24 May 2012 12:38:49 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/05/movement-injury-and-hope.htmlMovement is the action of changing position from one point to another.  Picture
Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® is a process that assists the brain in recreating a movement that for one reason or another was abruptly stopped or altered. For example, when someone injures themselves the body creates or changes a movement pattern to minimize the amount of damage. This develops an uneven tension to the human skeleton and that result is pain. 

As I discussed in the last blog the Pelvic Girdle is the center of all activity in movement. It is a limited source and because of its makeup both structurally and physiologically, movement will be slow and very methodical. It is more of a supporting structure and needs to move mainly to support the vertebral column and position itself to allow proper movement of the spine and hip joint. In balancing the Pelvic Girdle I was able to bring about support but soon learned that much more was needed to insure proper movement from that support point. My studies and research took me down many avenues and the picture above really did prove the point that we are interconnected and as in any mechanical system there needs to be a balance. 

While learning movement it was impressed on me that individuals do not have tight hamstrings, but restricted movement in the back. During this time I was also studying Tensegrity or the ability to move in proper tension. It was this discovery of the pull/push system of movement that explained more on the principals of movement in the pelvic girdle.

The Pelvis has the ability to shift according to necessity and how it shifts will often explain the resultant discomfort that many experience. One example is the hip joint, although a circular joint it moves in an elliptical or oval format. What the Pelvis needs to do is alter its posture to accommodate the precision of movement in the joint itself. When it is not able many malady's will take place, Sciatic Nerve discomfort because of inappropriate tension on the Piriformis muscle, deep hip pain that radiates into the groin region, low back discomfort which is sometimes caused by the shifting laterally of the lumbar vertebrae, and forms of functional scoliosis. 

I originally classified these movements as lateral rotation of the full girdle, {an opening or closing of one side of the pelvis}, obliquity or one side higher than the other, and forward or backward tilting of the Pelvis on one side or both. I was able to develop release techniques to bring about a natural tension to the Pelvic Girdle. It was this natural tension that helped develop a structural correct posture but was still somewhat limiting in natural movement.

Balancing the movement between the three major bones of the Pelvis and the structure above and below became the challenge that was made into the opportunity. The Tensegrity of the connections to the Pelvis is where we went next in our journey to find the natural balance of structure and how it correlated to movement.

As we continue our journey into Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® we will discuss next the interconnection of the low extremities to the Pelvis.

a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis
]]><![CDATA[The Difference Between Myofascial Release & MRTh®]]>Thu, 17 May 2012 12:56:08 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/05/the-difference-between-myofascial-release-mrth.htmlPicture
Often times in therapy work, words are interchanged for one reason or another. At Chagrin Valley Wellness Center we have recently added a new staff member, Tanya Wieker LPT who practices a technique called the John Barnes Myofascial Release. The hallmark therapy that has been associated with the Wellness Center is Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® a theory and technique that was developed by Dennis Gibbons, LMT. To avoid confusion I will clarify the distinct differences between the two forms of therapy.

First is to understand the tissue systems of the body. Fascia is a connective tissue that has minimal to no blood supply and is feed by the fluid that keeps our cells healthy; known as interstitial fluid and is a thick, syrupy form of matter. It is this fluid that allows the Fascia to glide easily and permits the organs, tissues and skeletal system to move with minimal resistance. Fascia is a three dimensional tissue that intertwines throughout the body and begins at the top of the head and completes its connection in our toes. It is a strong and durable tissue that in reality holds us together.

The Fascia is also highly innervated, which means that there are many nerves that traverse through it; it is where all of our sensory nerve endings are found. It is these nerve endings that control all of our movements during our daily lives. If you have read my blog(s) in the past I talked about the energy field that our body has, and this is where it is found!

If you were to skin a chicken you will find directly under the skin a thin white filmy substance, this is the Fascia and that is how our bodies are wrapped. If you take this white filmy substance, you will see that it has the properties of being able to stretch and form it in many patterns. On the other hand, take the meat that it wraps around and you will see that it has very little movement; this is basically the same tissue that our muscles are made of. This quality of flexibility is what we experience when we “stretch our muscles” and is also what allows the movement to take place.

The tissue that is dealt with during Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® are the ligaments, tendons, and muscles, and how they correlate to movement of the skeleton. Understand also that the Fascia is also involved because as we encourage the proper muscle response to balance the tension on the bones, we also must activate the Fascia. The practitioner locates and treats the imbalances in the tension to bring about a balance to the skeletal structure. The practitioner of MRTh® uses the barriers found in the Fascia covering to help in the location of points of distress in the tissue that it covers. The use of the Fascia is imperative in finding all of the points so that a more complete therapy can be delivered.

In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® the therapist will locate and activate the proper nerve signals to encourage balance. This is done in the following manner: the ligaments are activated so that all four of their qualities are properly “turned” on. The four qualities of the ligaments are positioning of the bones that form the joints, stabilization of the joint, movement of the joint, and controlling the speed of the joint. Once these four qualities are re-established the tendon, which joins the muscle unit to the bone, is activated and begins the process of movement. The tendon receives its message from the brain once the ligament has established itself.  The tendon will signal the brain as to the amount of dynamics the muscle tissue must provide to move and re-balance the skeleton.

In Myofascial Release, the therapist will carefully guide the Fascia in movement so proper permission is giving to the tissue to move without restriction. When a barrier or restriction is encountered the educated guidance of the therapist is used to ensure proper release. Since the Fascia is three dimensional the proper guidance is mandated to avoid any further damage. These movements are very intricate and a thorough education of the Fascia and how it moves is necessary.

This all works in conjunction with the Fascia because of the nerves that are imbedded in it. This imbedding of the nerves also is what drives Acupuncture as the meridian system is located in the Fascia as well. This information is passed through the Fascia by what is called piezoelectric. The Collagen material that makes up the Fascia, and many other tissues and organs of the body, has the ability to generate multiple electrical energy fields. It is these energy fields that control all of the movement and stability to the body, and it is the first tissue to form in the embryo.

Hopefully this gives the reader a basic understanding of the different forms of therapy we are now able to provide to you at Chagrin Valley Wellness Center. If you have further questions, please feel free to call and we will personally talk to you about these differences.

a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis 

]]><![CDATA[The Dancer; The Body; The Therapist]]>Wed, 09 May 2012 11:58:01 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/05/the-dancer-the-body-the-therapist.htmlPicture
"Dance is the hidden language of the soul."...by Martha Graham.

Dancers like athletes put their bodies under constant physical demand. With a demanding training schedule, the many rehearsals, and then the big "event" of the performances, dancers become easily prone to injury. Many dancers ignore pain and believe they need to accept discomfort as part of being a "dancer"; pain is the red flashing light that something is wrong. With fear of any injury, dancers are afraid they will be told not to dance an extended period of time; this may threaten the chances for a great role because they become "unreliable" or "a risk to work with". This is the reality of being a dancer...STRESSFUL! Muscle Release Therapy (MRTh®) and Therapeutic Massage are both effective for releasing muscles, fascia tension, and to restore muscular-skeletal balance. Taking care of your body to prevent injury is extremely important. Ignoring the warning signs can increase the risk of chronic injury and even become career threatening.

"You need to run the choreography one more time", or "take another class", either way this can become taxing on one's body. Your hips begin to feel tired, tense, and soreness starts to set in. Overuse is the most common cause of muscular imbalances with dancers. The repetitive demand can cause tissue damage and block coordination of muscles. When certain muscles are not firing to the greatest capacity other muscles are going to pick up the slack. Dancers are trained to center movement around the left leg. Moving and gesturing more with the right side of the body long term can cause imbalance. I have worked with many dancers who are extremely hyper mobile and counterbalance movement with the piriformis; their gluts lack in proper stabilization while the hamstrings take a great amount of the load.

Dancers need to have balance between flexibility, strength, and fascia tension....ah! don't we just love fascia?! Fascia is a nice panty hose like arrangement of collagen fiber. Fascia surrounds each muscle and the group of muscles, which connect from the head down to our toes. First the muscular skeletal system must be in balance. Tightness around the neck and shoulders can cause the superficial back line to be compromised, leading to "tight" hamstrings limiting freedom of movement. Micro tears can develop from training, stretching, and injury. Fascia will then rebuild itself, as the collagen regenerates - it does so in an unorganized thicker arrangement. The tissue can cause tightness and may also make it difficult for the nerves to slide with ease. This will restrict movement and flexibility while causing pain; breaking up and rebalancing these tissues is crucial. A Massage Therapist can work through the restricted parts of the body. As a mover, it can be extremely difficult to know where the body is holding, compensation can be hidden very well, especially with a dancer.

I am a dancer, teacher, and choreographer; there was a time I would dance 6 to 8 hours a day, along with a couple of dance classes and a rehearsal. I never had any injuries that I can remember; however I do recall I was extremely sore at times. My hips would be sore, and my knees would really hurt as I was walking up those New York City subway steps. I began to take Pilates and Yoga regulary; I was working to keep my body in balance, but I was also demanding a lot from my body each day. I never went to a massage therapist to help me with alignment and recovery. Then my body relived one injury after the other, I even lost my spatial awareness. I tell my students all the time to receive help for their injuries, pain, and discomfort. "You only get one body, so take care of it. You have to take it with you when you grow old". I wish I would have taken better care of myself when I was a young dancer and extremely active. But, with my lessons learned I love working with dancers today, I encourage dancers (as well as any athlete) to take special care of your body. Muscle Release Therapy (MRTh®), Therapeutic Massage, and rebalancing exercise is crucial for a healthy musculoskeletal balance.

Dance is the reason I became a Massage Therapist, I wanted  to increase my knowledge of the body and movement. I am excited to explore and help anyone live a pain free active lifestyle. This article is an overview of my experience with dance and what I have learned studying the body through MRTh®. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions about a specific injury, I would greatly enjoy working with you.

Thank you for your time, as I enjoyed sharing my story with you.
Tanya Mucci, LMT
216-364-0152
tanyamucci@hotmail.com


]]><![CDATA[a Reason to HOPE! - 25 years in the making!]]>Thu, 03 May 2012 08:55:04 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/05/a-reason-to-hope-25-years-in-the-making.htmlOver the next few weeks, my blog(s) will take you on the making through the 25 years in the making of MRTh®. Hopefully you will gain insight into the theory and how it was developed. I hope you enjoy the journey, as much as I did!  Picture
This picture represents the model of Tensegrity of the Pelvic Girdle. When I began my practice 25 years ago I had embraced all of the techniques of Massage Therapy I could find. They all had great qualities and I found them all to be somewhat effective and with practice I felt that I could combine them all to help me become a good therapist. My background as a Pipefitter for 18 years suggested though that I need to incorporate some of the mechanical engineering aspects that I learned during my five year apprenticeship. What does this have to do with the tensegrity model that is pictured here? I hope to answer that today...

When I studied Ida Rolf's theory and Paul St. John's Neuro-Muscular Therapy they both had incorporated the importance of the Pelvic Girdle and Posture. Jones' Strain/Counterstrain was my first introduction to Tensegriy, although I did not recognize it at that time. It was my first introduction to the Positional Release Techniques that seemed to sprout up in the late 80's and early 90's. The next two areas I studied where Travell's Trigger Points and Bonnie Prudden's Myotherapy and these two techniques reinforced my understanding of the Neuromuscular connection of pain and the brain. Combining this information with the mechanical aspects of the body it would make sense that these become the foundation that I work from. The Pelvic Girdle provides support for the upper body and also creates a lentil or hanging (suspension) system for the lower extremities. Combining the different theories I was able to extrapolate enough information to start Postural Balancing Techniques, aka Postural Balancing, The Gibbons Method(C). This was the initial class work that I taught in many different locals.

As the business started changing from an athlete based practice to a chronic pain practice I learned that although the type of client was different pain was still pain. It became clearer to me that I needed to approach the symptoms completely different. This is when Rudolph Nureyev's statement about dancing to the energy of the audience became clearer to me; I needed to tap into the client's energy to truly understand the issues that were allowing the pain to develop. It became more evident also what my mentor Dr. Tom Maday, D.C. would tell me, "Where it is, it ain't!" The words were different but the meaning was still the same, the symptom is just trying to tell you there is something wrong. 

The Pelvis was a great place to start and as a newbie to the profession it gave me a base point in which to work from. I studied the many different movement patterns of the Pelvic Girdle; rotation around the Sacrum, obliquity (one side higher than the other), one side of the pelvis' rotation around it's own center, and anterior or posterior rotation. I analyzed and looked at all of the movement and release points and as in construction I attempted to create the proper foundation. 

As I developed more release points off of the Pelvis, I was able to reconstruct many of the patterns of movement on specific muscles. The issue I had with this was many of the patterns did not follow what was written in the books. There were some slight alterations, so my next hurdle became the development of protocol to correct these patterns of trama.

In my next blog I will revisit more of the early years and how the movement process became a bigger factor in the development of the process of MRTh®.

Until next week, we all have "a Reason to HOPE".

Thank you,
Dennis


]]><![CDATA[a Reason to HOPE! - MRTh and High Intensity Movement]]>Wed, 25 Apr 2012 10:39:59 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/04/a-reason-to-hope-mrth-and-high-intensity-movement.htmlPicture
The nerve pathways to a muscle  and how it works; this is what exercise and Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® will stimulate...
Last week we had a guest speaker for our Paleo Lifestyle, Josh Trentine {Owner of Overload Fitness}. Josh comes from a Physical Therapy background, so his take on exercise is very different than your average Personal Trainer. There is definitely more science beyond the process than what you will find from the average trainer. This is not to criticize but to accentuate his deep knowledge of anatomical movement patterns. These are sometimes lost in the average persons "workout".

I mention that this week because we are going to go into a deeper understanding of the anatomical patterns that need to take place in everyday movements that the ordinary person takes. We do this because this is the approach the Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® takes when assessing patterns of discomfort. Discomfort comes from movement, and movement does not have to be done in a large manner, sitting, lying, standing are all movements that we perform on a regular basis. It takes a large amount of muscles to be able to perform those actions. 

The first quality that was discussed was intensity of movement in comparison to duration. In most cases it is more important to be efficient and perform less than it is to decrease intensity and do more. This is exactly how Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® works! The movement generated by the practitioner seems somewhat minimal but because of its efficiency will develop an intense neurological energy that will allow proper movement to take place. The tensegrity or balance of the pull on the push of the skeleton will activate the proper signals in the brain. These signals will reset the uneven pull that is causing the skeleton to alter position and create an uncomfortable pattern. The tonic or prolonged contraction of the tissue ups the intensity without changing the pressure and the brain will find the proper path to bring ease to the body. 

Basically the pattern is to stimulate the brain so that the organism or the muscle/bone creates the response. This will encourage a re-patterning or re-structuring of the brain to re-create a proper method of movement. In most cases of bodywork, and this includes most forms of Physical Therapy, and modern western medicine we alter the stimulation enough so that it creates confusion between the stimulation and response. By taking the organism out of the picture an incomplete healing method is performed. 

"But I have had Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and the pain comes back, why?" While the re-creation of a proper tensegrity or the pull of the soft tissue system on the push skeletal system is completed, bad movement habits are often put into the equation. Or, the individual goes back to the movement that created the problem in the first place and because of the original constant re-production of the movement has created a preconceived  posture that brings the pain back. Changing that pattern is what we will discuss next week.

If you have any questions and/or comments, please feel free to pass them along.

Till next week, remember we all have
-a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis Gibbons LMT
]]><![CDATA[a Reason to HOPE! - Pharmaceutics and Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh®]]>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 06:09:36 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/04/a-reason-to-hope-pharmaceutics-and-muscle-release-therapy-mrth.html
Sometimes the medication taken by individuals directly affects the harmony of their body. When individuals come in for the first time we ask them what medications that they might consume and why; only because it can have a side effect that aides in the development of their discomfort. That is one reason why we have invited Mary Sheehan to come and conduct an educational series on how medications can and will affect you. Click on the video and hear Mary's version of her first talk, "Are you taking to many PILLS?"

When people come in to our office they are normally experiencing discomfort and are taking one form or another of pain medication. Many individuals take medications and are so accustomed to having them as part of their lives that they don't remember that they take them. It is just the daily ritual that has become a part of their lifestyle. 

Just how does this affect the overall performance of the muscles and skeletal system of the body? Once the prescription enters the blood stream all entities that are associated with receiving blood are directly affected. The bones help make our blood, the muscles need the blood to perform and our movement is directly affected by both of these. Also, anytime a chemical is added to the body's system it affects how the brain functions because that is what the drug is attempting to do, alter the brain's function that is why we are taking the prescription. 

It is not my place, or within the realm of my education or licensing, to advise on prescriptions. That is why we are asking Mary to come and speak to those who take prescription drugs so that many of their questions can be answered. The Pharmacist is the one who knows more about the prescription drugs that are available, even more so then the medical professionals who prescribed them. This is what their education is all about, understanding the chemicals and their interactions within our body. 

I would personally recommend to all to take these classes on drug interaction to help understand the ramifications of the prescription world. I will be there for sure as I know it will help me help you. You must call 216-364-0152 to reserve your seat for Mary's lecture series. Mary's first of 3 lectures will be Thursday 4/26/2012 at 7:00p

Till next week -

Know there is a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis Gibbons LMT
]]><![CDATA[a Reason to HOPE! Energy Within]]>Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:49:29 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/04/a-reason-to-hope-energy-within.htmlThis week I want everyone to understand the energy within all of us and how this transference of energy affects us all. At our office we offer both Reiki and Reflexology to our menu of services. Picture
I want to reiterate that the energy within the body is a true neurological energy that is generated by the most powerful processor known to mankind, the BRAIN. 

The brain processes millions of bytes of information per minute and is capable of much more. One of the issues of the brain is memory, both physical and mental memory. It is these bytes of information that the brain pulls from that aides in controlling our physical and mental states, our movement patterns and our daily ability to focus. When cluttered we often need to defrag our brain and sort out all of the thoughts that are processed. So like a computer's hard drive the brain needs to clean out some of the old junk and organize the good. 

I often find old movement patterns in pain symptoms that individuals come to the office for. I have gone back into the embryological state with some individuals and have found that MOM had some form of stress that may have altered the developmental progress of the baby. These bytes of information are still in the hard drive and in times of stress as we go through our fight or flight process, these bytes of information are accessed. The response normally is that was so long ago, how could it effect me now? The answer is simple, the brain has stored it and through the years has accommodated for it. In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® there are four stages we look at: Trauma, Compensation, Adaptation, and Accommodation.

Trauma is the initial injury or incident that occurs, within 1/30,000th of a second the body creates a compensatory pattern. This Compensation becomes the secondary trauma and is normally the one that people remember because the brain has created it. The next stage is Adaptation or how the body has adapted to the new pattern of posture and movement. This is what normally is misunderstood as the compensation of the trauma that most remember. However, one of the most critical stages is the Accommodation one. This is what allows the body to function from the original trauma and is the one that keeps that new pattern of movement around. It continually accommodates the original trauma and compensation that happened. 

How does Reiki and Reflexology fit into this scenario? Simply by allowing the brain to rid itself of old bytes of information and re-assess and bring into alignment the information that it needs to store. This will ultimately help the Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® and Fundamental Movement Therapy(sm) practitioner to find that Accommodation factor and truly bring the body back into balance. 

Till next week,

Blessings & a Reason To HOPE!

Dennis Gibbons LMT
]]><![CDATA[a Reason to HOPE! - Frequency]]>Fri, 30 Mar 2012 11:18:25 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/03/a-reason-to-hope-frequency.html Picture
Over the past two weeks I have talked about the energy within the body. I have mentioned Tensegrity and how that concept is not only what holds the skeleton in place, but also promotes proper movement. No matter what or how you look at it, the brain is what needs to control all of the functionality of the body. 

The picture to the left depicts electrical energy. Look at the picture and notice within the sphere the energy is controlled but outside of the sphere there is an uncontrolled energy that surrounds the sphere. The human body is the sphere and has many components of uncontrolled energy that will try and offset the energy within. What I mean by this is that when there is a focused and proper balance within the body it is able to maintain control of the many functions it needs to perform. When balance is offset within the sphere the outside energy will pull the inward energy in many different directions.

The question you might have is how would this affect me? If you take a top and spin it, as long as there is positive momentum it will spin in a proper rotation. Once that positive momentum slows down or is altered in any manner the top falters and eventually falls and stops. The same is true of your body. An example of this would be, at a young age I wore orthodontia for almost two years. Well a lot of people wear braces on their teeth and are we all out of balance. The answer to this is no but I would be hard pressed to tell you just how many people I have traced chronic low back, hip and knee pain to individuals that wore braces and possibly were misfit. They accomplished what they set out to but in the long run there was a change to the internal posture. This change is often just enough to alter that positive momentum to allow internal trauma to occur. 

It is this positive momentum that Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® re-institutes so that outside forces have less of an opportunity to create turmoil.  When the body is in a positive internal Tensegrity, the balance of the body in the neurological, hormonal and musculo-skeletal systems are better able to handle outside changes to frequency. 

How does Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® develop this environment? The practitioner first watches for improprieties in movement. When the individual stands is there a splay to either foot? When standing does it look like there is hyper-extension to the knee joint? Remember the knee joint acts as a turnbuckle and if it does not perform correctly the ankle and hip will be dysfunctional. Does the spine rotate or is the rib cage forced to make that movement? Does the Massester or Temporalis muscle create mandibular movement? There are many store rooms for compensation, it is this compensation in movement that alters the frequency of the internal body, this allows the outside frequencies to create havoc within.

Next week we will delve deeper into the theory of Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh®, till then have a great week and enjoy Spring, because HOPE Springs eternally.

a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis Gibbons LMT
]]><![CDATA[How's Your Energy? - a Reason to Hope!]]>Fri, 23 Mar 2012 06:43:42 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/03/hows-your-energy-a-reason-to-hope.htmlI missed everyone last week a lot going on at CVWC! Last week we had our informational session for the Paleo Lifestyle, this week we are having our Ladies night (Friday) for doTERRA Oils, and next week CVWC has our official kickoff for the Paleo Lifestyle. For more information on any of these events please check out our web site, www.chagrinvalleywellness.com; or contact Kathy Gibbons at 216-364-0156.

Our last conversation was on the energy field of the body and how it works; I would like to continue on that track and talk about the energy of the therapist. Yes, it does include all of our thoughts and worries. When someone comes in with the negative energy that accompanies pain, whether psychological or physical, and we combine that with ours, there is a tendency to draw off of that. I read a book written by Joe Vitale a few years ago and he talked about Ho'oponopono, which is a Hawaiian mantra that helps clear the energy. If you are interested, follow this link, http://www.thereisaway.org/Ho'oponopono_cleaning_meditation.htm.
As a therapist it is important that we keep our "energy" at an even keel so that as we begin to change the neurological pathways of the client we are able to channel, cleanse and let go of that energy. It is not a coincidence that we develop that head ache, back ache, or other maladies after working with people. It doesn't necessarily have to happen immediately or even the same day, but through accumulative intakes of negativity without release, it will happen. We must learn to find a way of clearing your energy prior to working with someone. My wife Marge would often take care of our children when they had the flu or other contagious issues; by keeping her energy at the level of "MOM" she was able to ward off the energy of the illness and stay healthy. It comes to us in many facets of our daily life.

When someone experiences pain it is an over energized area of the body and the pain is a sign of a problem. The problem doesn't necessarily mean there is trauma there but the potential exists that a problem will occur. One can then conclude that pain is an over abundance of energy that is focused at a specific point that would indicate a potential site of trauma. The argument then ensues that my back didn't hurt until "I reached up and got that cup out of the cupboard", or is often the case we try to associate it with a particular incident. In my 26 years of performing therapy I am able to make the conclusion that in the majority of cases the potential site of pain is pre-existing and is brought to the forefront by an incident that forces the brain to accomodate an extraordinary movement, thus altering the Tensegrity of the structure. It is this altering of Tensegrity that exposes the pain site because the brain is trying to rectify the abnormal or unnatural situation.

Energy is very real and needs to be considered at many levels because our brains are so complex. The power to generate large amounts of neurological energy to control all of the many facets of our life needs to be respected.  There are many of our surroundings that produce energy that when combined with our powerhouse can create life altering situations. Individuals will often ask why items such as Sea Salt, Essential Oils, and different scents will trigger different responses. They all alter the balance of energy that we produce.

'Till next time, be aware of the energy that surrounds you as you go through life and if it causes you to be uncomfortable address it immediately. As with most injuries sustained at one time or another by all of us, they do not just go away by themselves, they adapt to try and bring us comfort.

a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis Gibbons LMT

 ]]><![CDATA[a Reason to HOPE! - Movement without Pain...]]>Wed, 07 Mar 2012 12:44:44 -0800http://www.chagrinvalleywellness.com/1/post/2012/03/a-reason-to-hope-movement-without-pain.html    Last week I talked about the term "aura" in reference to a 'glow' that surrounds us as an outward reflection of our inner well being. This "aura" in reality is an electro magnetic field that surrounds us. This is a typical aspect of electrical energy and is brought about in us by the neurological energy that flows through us at all times. Understanding that the brain is continuously processing information that allows us to function is very similar as the electrical energy that continues to run through our households even with the lights off. As  foreign energy enters our energy field the brain starts to process the information to determine what actions might need to be taken. So when the car on the freeway starts to get to close to you sense it, it is not a feeling. As the body senses this change it has many determinations to make and it processes at approximately a bit of information in 1/30000th of a second. It is this neural process that often protects us when we suffer even minor injuries that could have been much worse. 

    For many years I had a difficult time not only understanding but accepting this "energy" theory. It was an area that wasn't black and white and for a guy who just left the construction world it was somewhat over the edge. i believe the one reason was that many of the people who practiced "energy medicine" seemed to be almost to spiritual, not in a bad way but a different way. As I began to develop Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® I fully realized that in order for this to work I needed to tap into that same energy. The energy that Rudolph Nureyev talked about when he danced is the same energy that is emitted from the audience that he experienced. 

    What is this energy? The brain is a large electrical generator that produces the necessary impulses that allow us to live our daily lives. It truly controls all of our functions. How did this come to a realization when both developing and performing Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh®? The full epiphany came when the comparison of all the techniques were made. Whether it was Travell's Trigger Point theory, Neuro-Musclular Therapy, Cranio-Sacral, Positional Release or Strain/Counterstrain, Zero-balancing, Rolfing, Structural Integration, and all of the other theories. I had much success with all of them but what was lacking was active movement when the release was taking place. One commonality I noticed was that whenever one release took place I was able to track a compensatory move some where else in the body. I started studying Tensegrity and realized that the puppet strings that were applying the tension needed to adapt to the release taking place.

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    This picture shows a wiring diagram used for an automobile. As you can see there are many relays built in to the system to provide safety, comfort and convenience, how ironic isn't that what the brain does! When the therapist creates an environment for a tissue to release the brain does the same thing, through a series of internal relays it provides a safe, comfortable and convenient environment so that person does not experience pain. In Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® the pattern of release is designed to accommodate all of these because it takes into consideration the movement. In order for the release process to take place the proper format of movement needs to be encountered.  Because of this encountering the therapist does not always follow a standard protocol and instead focus' on the abberration in the movement pattern that was interrupted and thus interfered with the Action Potential of the muscle. Remember a muscle fires in an All-or-nothing response unless it would create an uneven pull on the skeleton that would cause injury. As the brain detects potential injury it aborts movement in one muscle and completes movement oftentimes with another one. Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh® addresses this issue as the unnatural pull is detected, positioned to allow a completion of movement, and more often than not removes many of the adaptive patterns that have developed.

This is all accomplished by the "energy" system of the body. The Percuneas part of the brain knows how the movement pattern should be and relays that information through the limbic system to the proper neural pathways from the motor part of the brain. This ensures that prior to the release of the muscle that is causing the problem, the other nerve impulses that needed to engage, disengage and allows the proper reversal to take place.

In September we will be beginning a class on the certification process of Muscle Release Therapy, MRTh®. This class will be 168 clock hours of instruction and hands on. For more information please contact Chagrin Valley Wellness Institute @ 216-364-0159 and we will be glad to take your name and number to keep you posted on the dates, times and cost.

We will continue this discussion next week, so until then have a Blessed week......

a Reason to HOPE!

Dennis Gibbons LMT
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