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In Good Hands

 

Most of my patients are aware of my passion for learning more about human anatomy and how better to help it heal itself through soft tissue manipulation.  As I embarked on my journey in 2014 to become an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner, it became evident early on in the process that visceral manipulation not only provided amazing results for chronic conditions but how overall it played a pivotal role in creating harmony within our bodies.  I wanted to learn more and therefore have embarked on further advanced studies through the Barral Institute.  

Jean-Pierre Barral, a French osteopath since the early 1970's, developed a body of work in visceral manipulation that is nothing short of outstanding in its approach to treating restrictions in the body.  These restrictions and tensions can often develop symptoms far from the root cause.  For example did you know that the liver, if restricted, can affect the articular movements of the right shoulder joint and right sacroiliac (SI) joint?  Another example is how adhesions in a lung can potentially affect rib action which can impact spinal movements and as a result develop dysfunctional relationships with other structures.  In a single day, your internal organs move 30,000 times, your liver alone travels 600 meters.

These dysfunctions of movement in our deep connective tissue and organs, repeated thousands of time in a day, create tension patterns which our bodies have to compensate for.  This creates fixed, abnormal points of tension that the body must move around, and this chronic irritation gives way to functional and structural problems.

Continuing Education Classes Taken in 2018

Continuing Education Classes Taken in 2019

Continuing Education Classes Taken in 2020

  • Due to Covid-19, hands-on courses for VM3 module (Pelvis). http://shop.iahe.com/Workshops/The-Pelvis-VM3-Hybrid was not taken yet.  However the Barral Institute pivoted to allow the theory portion of this module to be done online via Zoom (outlined below)
  • December 2020: Participated in the virtual component (VM3-VC) http://shop.iahe.com/Workshops/The-Pelvis-VM3-Hybrid which presented lectures, as well as anatomy and layered lab palpation exercises that prepared me to attend the VM3-L in-person 3-day class for the practical labs end of October 2021 (this lab was delayed from January 2021 due to Covid).

Continuing Education Classes for 2021-2022

  • Basic Life Support (HCP) - January 2022: One (1) year certification to perform rapid assessment, CPR & AED in a team environment for pre-hospital health care provider
    • Course Content • Glove removal • Primary Assessment • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) • Airway Obstruction • Assisted Ventilation • Basic Life Support special considerations
  • Standard First Aid & CPR Level 3 - February 2021: Three (3) year certification in Standard First Aid, CPR Level C, and AED
    • Course Content: Preparing to respond, The EMS system, Check, Call, Care, Airway emergencies, Breathing and Circulation emergencies, First aid for respiratory and cardiac arrest, Wound care, Head and spine injuries, Bone, muscle and joint injuries, Sudden Medical Emergencies, Environmental Emergencies, Poisons (includes opioid poisoning)
  • VM3 in-person 3-day practical labs - October 2021  http://shop.iahe.com/Workshops/The-Pelvis-VM3

Continuing Education Classes for 2023

NM1 - Neural Manipulation: Neuromeningeal Manipulation; An Integrative Approach to Trauma (Feb. 10-12)

  • This course will study the three primary areas of trauma as they relate to whiplash: physical laws, evaluation and treatment through appropriate lecture, demonstration, and supervised hands-on lab sessions addressing such topics as restrictions in the meningeal system; soft tissues of the cervical and cervicobrachial regions; and the lumbosacral region. 
  • I am SO very excited for this course as current and future patients who have suffered through the effects of whiplash will greatly benefit.  Whiplash is a serious condition will can deeply affect one's quality of life.  Symptoms are as listed below.

Course Highlights

  • Study the three primary areas of trauma as they relate to whiplash: physical laws, evaluation and treatment.
  • Learn the appropriate anatomy and physiology for treatment of whiplash and trauma conditions.
  • Learn to locate and release restrictions along the meningeal system.
  • Assess injuries to the soft tissues of the cervical region and learn treatment protocols for optimal release.
  • Learn tests to determine restriction patterns of the cervicobrachial region.
  • Understand how whiplash creates restriction patterns throughout the body.
  • Identify techniques that encompass the whole body, as the whole body receives collision forces in a whiplash injury, not just the cervical spine.
  • Learn to evaluate restrictions in the lumbosacral region.
  • Discover new applications of visceral manipulation principles and techniques as they can be utilized for patients presenting whiplash and other conditions involving trauma.
  • Compare treatment sequence and tests for whiplash and traumatic injuries.

Symptoms

  1. Neck pain and stiffness
  2. Worsening of pain with neck movement
  3. Loss of range of motion in the neck
  4. Headaches, most often starting at the base of the skull
  5. Tenderness or pain in the shoulder, upper back or arms
  6. Tingling or numbness in the arms
  7. Fatigue
  8. Dizziness

Some people also have:

  1. Blurred vision
  2. Ringing in the ears (tinnitus)
  3. Sleep disturbances
  4. Irritability
  5. Difficulty concentrating
  6. Memory problems
  7. Depression

Continuing Education Classes for 2024

Standard First Aid & CPR Level 3 - January 2024: Three (3) year certification in Standard First Aid, CPR Level C, and AED

Course Content: Preparing to respond, The EMS system, Check, Call, Care, Airway emergencies, Breathing and Circulation emergencies, First aid for respiratory and cardiac arrest, Wound care, Head and spine injuries, Bone, muscle and joint injuries, Sudden Medical Emergencies, Environmental Emergencies, Poisons (includes opioid poisoning).

CS1 Craniosacral Therapy, Upledger Institute - Sept. 5 - 8

  • Dr. John E. Upledger developed the manual therapy he titled "CranioSacral Therapy." CranioSacral Therapy (CST) is a multi-faceted body of work that helps restore function of the craniosacral system: the brain, spinal cord and the fluids and membranes protecting these precious structures.
  • Gentle techniques that assess and help normalize the craniosacral system, so the body can begin to self-correct. By unraveling pain and dysfunction at the source, you'll naturally help eliminate stress, strengthen resistance to disease, and enhance health in every dimension.

CST has been shown to help:

  • Remove barriers to self-healing, whether those are physical, mental, emotional or energetic in nature.
  • Assist in autonomic nervous system regulation and downregulate sympathetic overdrive.
  • Release restrictions in the fascial network of the body, enabling clients to have a better representation in their somato-sensory cortex.
  • Support a healthy interface between the musculoskeletal system and the nervous system, where inherent tensions can be reflected up and down the spinal cord.
  • Restore balance to the body’s numerous energetic and fluid systems.
  • Increase ROM (Range of Motion) and strength, improve tolerance for ADLs (Activities of Daily Living), and facilitate a higher quality of life based on functional assessment tools.
  • Release residual effects of trauma, illness, old injuries, and accidents.
  • Improve overall wellbeing.

What is visceral manipulation?  

As defined by the Barral Institute http://www.barralinstitute.com, where I am currently pursuing ongoing in-depth series of courses, it is:

1:  gentle manual therapy that assesses the structural relationships between the viscera (organs), and their fascial or ligamentous attachments to the various systems in the body.

2:  assists functional and structural imbalances throughout the body including musculoskeletal, vascular, nervous, urogenital, respiratory, digestive, eliminatory, neuroendocrine and lymphatic dysfunction. 

Visceral manipulation is a soft and extremely effective approach to treating a variety of conditions through organ specific fascial mobilizations and fascial releases to other affected areas and systems of the body.  An organ in good health has physiologic motion.  The techiques are used to "wake up" and help with the natural shearing and gliding between the planes of the tissues.

Visceral manipulation is within the scope of practice for RMTs who are members of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario and is an integral part of osteopathic philosophy and treatments.

For those of you who have chronic conditions that are deeply impacting your quality of life, don't lose hope!  Your body not only wants to get better, it has amazing self-healing capabilities...it just needs a little helping hand.