A recent study concluded that adolescent back pain and back pain in children is not associated with carrying a backpack, Dr Joe Muscolino critically unpacked the reasoning of such a research. Children and adolescents commonly report back pain. Research shows the prevalence of complaints by the end of adolescence reaches levels comparable with adults. There
Stretching has long been recommended to increase range of motion (ROM) around a joint. However, stretching may induce other acute effects on the neuromuscular system. For instance, some studies showed a single bout of static stretching can reduce maximal voluntary strength, muscle power or evoke contractile properties have been recorded. However such studies usually
Prehypertension, also known as high normal blood pressure, is a condition when a person’s blood pressure is elevated above ideal normal, but not to the level considered hypertension. Lowering the risk of prehypertension developing into hypertension is therefore essential. Massage therapy has been suggested as a treatment to control blood pressure. A study from University
A study from Taiwan published in Journal of Sports Science investigated that the immediate effects of foam rolling, vibration rolling, and static stretching as a part of a warm-up regimen on the flexibility, knee joint proprioception, muscle strength, and dynamic balance of the lower extremity in young adults. Compared with the pre-intervention, vibration rolling induced
A self massage device called Fascia-ReleaZer® (FR) was developed for treating myofascial tissue. FR is unique in that it combines a number of features—vibrational oscillation, form edges for leverage, and a vibro-shearing effect. This is unlike foam rolling where the roller is pressed against muscles A randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the practicality
DEAR ART, I’m taking an advanced continuing education class and the instructors are trying hard to elicit a strong emotional release when demonstrating on models. This upsets me. I feel this is unethical and potentially harmful, and it conflicts with my previous training. What is your opinion? —FRANK DEAR FRANK, I can empathize with your
Pain & Relationships with Your Client by Art Riggs A few years ago, Tom Myers wrote an interesting article about pain in which he focused upon the subjective qualities of discomfort that our clients experience in bodywork. I particularly liked Tom’s metaphor of three kinds of pain: – Pain entering the body—from injury or other
A new study by researchers from NYU School of Medicine reveals, what we already know, that there is a zone of tissue known as the interstitium that is composed of layers of interconnected, fluid-filled compartments, below the skin’s surface, which surrounds musculature, vessels, and nerves, and lines the digestive tract, lungs, and urinary system. The
A new study by researchers from NYU School of Medicine pathologist reveals, what we already know, that there are layers of interconnected, fluid-filled compartments below the skin’s surface, which line the digestive tract, lungs and urinary systems, and surrounding arteries, veins, and surround the muscle. A meshwork of strong (collagen) and flexible (elastin) connective tissue
The Lancet medical journal recently published three papers on Low Back Pain which asserted that low back pain has increased dramatically in recent years and is now the leading cause of disability globally. The review found that most medical treatments for low back pain rely heavily on scans, surgeries and opioids prescriptions that are mostly
