Therapy Notes - Torso Archives

Therapist Notes – Rectus Abdominus and Pyramidalis

Sagittal suture restrictions are classically known from Applied Kinesiology as a governing the rectus abdominus. Test to localize the sutural restriction before and after treatment. Frontomax and Frontonasal techniques govern the pubic symphysis. Test to the pubic symphysis before and after the technique to verify proper release. From the Structural Overview in Neuromuscular Assessment Guides: …

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Therapist Notes – Iliopsoas Complex (Deep Abdominals)

Abdominal pain and irritation, groin, low back, neuromuscular, oitf-deep abdominals, oitf-iliopsoas, oitf-psoas-minor, pain, referral patterns, self-care, sports, stiff back, therapy-notes

Therapist are usually very opinionated about their approach to the iliopsoas complex. Its impact on posture, digestion, emotions, and much more is fodder for lengthy bodywork discussions. Even after 30 years, I’ve learned more by putting together these illustrations and posts. I find that craniostructural work is always the first step for lasting relief, followed …

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Therapist Notes – Pain Along One Side of the Sacrum

hip, low back, neuromuscular, oitf-intrinsic back, oitf-intrinsic-spine, oitf-multifidi-rotatores, Sacral, therapy-notes

Release of the lumbosacral joint relieves this trigger point. Specifically, the sacrum is posterior on the side of pain. Gentle sustained anterior pressure with slight inferior traction will cause the sacrum to shift and the swelling and tenderness to release immediately. I’ve demonstrated this many times in classes to the surprise of students who struggle …

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Therapist Notes – Latissimus Dorsi

clients, oitf-extrinsic-back-muscles, oitf-latissimus-dorsi, therapy-notes, torso into arm

Latissimus Dorsi, like sartorius, hangs loose. It can have active trigger points without creating a lot of pain until it is unexpectedly drawn taut through a reaching movement. That makes it easy to overlook this muscle as the cause of pain. It also makes it easy for the client to manage this until it becomes a level …

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Therapist Notes – Subclavius

oitf-chest-extrinsic, oitf-subclavius, oitf-thoracic-outlet, therapy-notes

Anatomy Review? Paget-Schroetter syndrome is a specific form of thoracic outlet syndrome where the subclavian artery moves medially until it is restricted with pressure from the subclavius muscle. The arm becomes chronically swollen and bluish. It is more common among athletes that weight lift or play tennis. In one case, I noticed that a woman’s …

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Therapy Notes – Quadratus Lumborum

clients, oitf-multifidi-rotatores, oitf-quadratus-lumborum, therapy-notes

It is important to understand the shift in anatomy that occurs as a person ages. In their early teens, the os coxae are 3 separate bones, there is no iliolumbar ligament and the multifidi are thick and strong. By their 60s, both os coxae have fused onto the sacrum and the iliolumbar ligament has come …

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Therapy Notes – Pectoralis Minor

neuromuscular, oitf-breathing, oitf-chest-extrinsic, oitf-clavicular-pec, oitf-pectoralis-major, oitf-sternal-pec, oitf-thoracic-outlet, therapy-notes

A chronically shortened pectoralis minor produces the distinctive protracted shoulder that does not lay down like the other shoulder when the client is on their back. It is easy to release with a little posterior static pressure on the greater tubercle while lifting displaced ribs off the upper thoracic vertebrae. Even in chronic cases, this …

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Therapy Notes – Pectoralis Major

neuromuscular, oitf-breathing, oitf-chest-extrinsic, oitf-clavicular-pec, oitf-pectoralis-major, oitf-sternal-pec, therapy-notes

The pectoralis major is a broad, fan-shaped muscle made of flat overlapping strips that covers the anterior ribs. Pecs are often the victim of cervical problems. They are innervated by the brachial plexus and are intertwined with THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME. They also perpetuate THORACIC OUTLET SYNDROME by holding pectoralis minor short, which entraps the brachial …

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Therapist Notes – Pain at the Base of the Head and Under Shoulder Blade

back of head, between shoulder blades, forward-head-posture, neck, neuromuscular, oitf-multifidi-rotatores, oitf-neck, R20, shoulder, shoulder blade, stiff, therapy-notes, upper back

Treatment of trigger points that create starts with atlas mobilizations. Once the upper cervical area is mobilized, trigger points in the suboccipital region release more easily and comfortably. Then, follow up with direct treatment along the lamina groove. It is worth noting that this complaint is usually two other patterns. Displacements in the upper cervical …

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Therapy Notes – Upper Trapezius

back of head, forward-head-posture, headache, oitf-extrinsic-back-muscles, oitf-trapezius, therapy-notes

Great illustrations of the three section are in this post about the anatomy of trapezius. Start with cranial work around the jugular foramen. This includes mobilizing the atlas and releasing the suboccipital muscles. Continue with treating the cervical lamina groove. The mobilization of those first five vertebrae will make the rest of this treatment more …

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Therapy Notes – Torso

Therapist Notes – Rectus Abdominus and Pyramidalis

Therapist Notes – Iliopsoas Complex (Deep Abdominals)

Therapist Notes – Pain Along One Side of the Sacrum

Therapist Notes – Latissimus Dorsi

Therapist Notes – Subclavius

Therapy Notes – Quadratus Lumborum

Therapy Notes – Pectoralis Minor

Therapy Notes – Pectoralis Major

Therapist Notes – Pain at the Base of the Head and Under Shoulder Blade

Therapy Notes – Upper Trapezius

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