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Myoskeletal Engine & Foot Mobilization

What a great workshop this really did come out to be.

Erik and Aaron came together after several years of beating their own brains out on how all of this works. And they gave it to us.

Thanks.

Pain Managment in Paradise 2008

What a wonderful trip the 6th Annual Pain Management in Paradise turned out to be. Erik Dalton brought along the originator of Active Isolated Stretching, Aaron Mattes, for a fun filled and informative week of 26 hours of continuing education.

Many of the workshop participants experienced a life alteration. This 26 hours of education coupled with the tranquil setting of Pura Vida Resort and Spa provided an opportunity for therapists to study theory of new concepts, practice techniques and reflect on why we do what we do.

Many new relationships were built over the seven days in Costa Rica. For those of us who had met before it was an opportunity to expand our personal and professional relationships. For me, getting to know Aaron and Judy Mattes a bit better was one highlight. What great, honest and caring people the two of them are.

Over the past 45 years, Aaron Mattes has spent well over 250,000 hours developing AIS in sports participation, sports and health instruction, rehabilitation, athletic training, adapted physical education, sports medicine, training and prevention programs. This man is the real deal, and his wife Judy, god bless her, has to reign him in at the end of the day, he is fully committed to helping people understand and use the techniques.

He is a registered Kinesiotherapist (#449) and a certified member of the American Kinesiotherapy Association. He is a licensed Massage Therapist (#3864) and a member of the Florida State Massage Therapy Association and the American Massage Therapy Association (#3864). Mattes is a member of the Association of Medical Rehabilitation Administrators, and the National Rehabilitation Association (#039204).

Mattes lectures internationally at sports medicine clinics, medical seminars, and massage therapy conventions. He provides continuing education to personal trainers, nurses, strength trainers, athletic trainers, physical therapists, massage therapists, coaches and athletes. Mattes serves as a consultant to sports clubs, high school, college and professional athletes and teams. He has rehabilitated thousands of subjects including famous politicians, entertainers, and hundreds of Olympic and professional athletes.

Mattes is co-author of two books: Pre-Condition, Re-Condition, Re-Habilitation: Shelton, Greninger and Mattes and Nutrition Therapy For Massage and Physical Therapy Patients: E. Leslie Knight and Mattes. He is the sole author of a number of books on stretching including his 2000 text "Active Isolated Stretching: The Mattes Method”. Mattes is internationally recognized for his techniques in treating pain, scoliosis and major spinal distortions, post polio, parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, spinal cord problems, and joint replacements.

Some therapist's may try to emulate his life, his commitment, and even his teachings, but there is only one Aaron Mattes, and what an honor it was to work along side him and assist him in his work over this unforgettable week. Thanks Aaron.

hope to see you soon.......

And We're off!

Headed to Costa Rica today after class in Sedona.......it's been a long few weeks, teaching, clients, family, photo shoots, this and that.

We get into San Jose at 5:30am on Friday, enough time to sleep a bit before getting back to work. While at these workshops, it is definitely not all about rest for me. I sort of end up running around a lot. Making sure this cord is plugged into that hole, copies are made and delivered, students are happy, temperature is good, Erik, Kim and Paul have enough liquid, coffee, etc. Then the Power Points and anatomy images are good to go, how is the sound? We review the class outline about five times, make changes, prep and teach.

It really is quite nice. I continue to learn each time I go to work. I see and hear the concepts again and again. We scan the room, and check each student's finger, arm and hand positioning, making sure the receiving participant is feeling good with the applied technique. With a variety of learning styles represented in the room, we often need to re-teach the technique per individual. It is a great chance for me to encounter people on a one on one basis, and dial in effective teaching strategies....

Plus three fresh, organic meals a day prepared just for us!!! Mmmmm.........can't wait!

Until next time......Pura Vida Amigos....

Upcoming Workshops

Costa Rica

Erik Dalton & Aaron Mattes
San Jose, Costa Rica
Pura Vida Resort
April 26- May 3, 2008
26 CE Hours>>>Cutting-Edge Therapy>>>Tropical Vacation

Pura Vida Spa......Set in a tropical paradise hidden in the hills of Costa Rica, renowned manual therapy specialists Aaron Mattes and Erik Dalton conduct lively, entertaining and informative certification workshops. Special video animation, anatomy dissection and hands-on demos stimulate the visual learner, while relaxed practice sessions delight kinesthetically-attuned therapists.

NAMTI
Sedona Arizona.....

Sedona Arizona- NAMTI

Presented by Geoffrey Bishop, Dalton's 1st certified teacher in Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques

Pain Management for Neck, Low Back, and Shoulder Dysfunction
25 CE hours

To Register Contact: NAMTI (928) 282-7737 or visit NAMTI online

Day 1….Neck Pain: Dalton’s very popular “Dirty Dozen” pain-bustin’ techniques help massage therapists assess and correct neck "cricks", dowager's humps, TOS, pinched nerves, scoliosis, rib pain and more.


Day 2…Back Pain: Simplified "back spasm" recipe for torsioned spines, locked SI joints and adhesive hip capsules. Includes innovative side-lying techniques & assisted stretching routines…perfect for treating large or pregnant clients.

Day 3…Upper Extremity: Shoulder, arm, and hand pain plagues the American workforce and sporting industry. Here you will learn innovative techniques to assess and treat; frozen shoulder, acromioclavicular pain, rotator cuff injuries, bicipital tendonitis, “golfer’s” and “tennis” elbow, carpal tunnel, De Quervain syndrome and trigger fingers. A must take for all corporate and sports massage therapists.

Work Hands

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

A common complaint we see at Stay Tuned Therapeutics, when working with office and production workers, is forearm discomfort. We see many people coming in with pain at the outside, top of the elbow, when the palm is facing down. It may be that the tendons at the lateral condyle are week, and in need of strength rather than the stretch. Stretch is commonly prescribed when anything hurts. What if it is to long and weak already?

Theraband products are a big help, easy to use and affordable. This simple elastic resistance band has many uses, today we will explore finger/wrist extension so those little tendons don't get so beat up.

Fig.1) Start. Begin by making a gentle fist and covering it with the resistance band as shown in the image.

Fig. 2) Slowly extend the fingers and wrist, as shown in Fig. 2. Hold for 4 seconds, then allow the fingers to curl back under, slowly. Slow is a key factor, have control of this movement. This is known as concentric and eccentric exercise.

Do a set of 10 on each wrist/hand, with 4 second holds in extension. Repeat this strength movement 3 times a day. Often times I have seen a much quicker recovery from hand and wrist pain using these strength exercises than I have with stretching the heck out of it......

Inspiration

Pelvic Floor

There are only a few times I can think of when people mention Pelvic Floor. One being after child birth and the other being incontinence (bladder control). The typical prescription is to strengthen the pelvic floor.

There is research to show that the breath is directly related to function the pelvic floor as well. In yoga class we learn to breath deep into the abdomen, we hear the teacher refer to diaphragmatic breathing. It is necessary at this point to be able to allow the pelvic floor to drop and relax. Often times people present with tight adductors, hamstrings, gluteals, and rotators of the hips (piriformis, obturator internus) all of which share fascial connections with the pelvic floor, specifically, levator ani.

Learning to feel

On the in breath, the spine begins to flatten and we lose some degree of our lumbar curve. As we breath deep into the diaphragm, it is necessary to drop the abdominal content toward our knees. This achieved by relaxing the pelvic floor (pelvic diaphragm) and allowing it to expand. Feel your sacrum drop, lengthening the spine.

These exercises have been know to help in some cases of incontinence, systitis and irritable bowl syndrome as well, when the key factor at play is facilitation of the pelvic floor (too tight). Cases such as abuse and assault may create such holding patterns, lending to a life long insult to a persons psyche. Many cases are simply a result of mechanically-produced, excessive tone with a background of dance, athletics and bad Pilates.

Try this simple exercise in breathing, consult your health care provider and manual therapist and see if you begin to feel better.