02/10/2023
Bowen Therapy has become a bit more interesting since I've implemented IOS work 🙌 💛 🙌
Copied: Importance of Symmetry Page Graham Pennington
Case Study: Treatment of chronic symptoms attributed to spondylolisthesis in a 65-year-old female
Donna, a 65 year old massage therapist, presented to the clinic complaining of chronic and constant back pain and aching in both legs. These symptoms had been present for almost four months. In addition to the pain, she also complained of weakness in both legs, especially in both quadriceps muscles, as well as a frequent throbbing sensation that extended into the front of her right lower leg. A recent MRI scan showed L5-S1 spondylolisthesis and her symptoms had been attributed to this.
In the months since the onset of her symptoms, Donna had been treated by a physiotherapist, a chiropractor, and a masseur, but so far, had experienced little benefit.
From my perspective, the case was a little bit unusual in that Donna was accompanied by her friend who just happened to be a local osteopath. After speaking with Donna, I invited him to join us in the treatment room.
Donna lay prone on the treatment table and I began my assessment. Ever curious, I provided commentary to her friend and asked him a number of questions about how he worked and how he assessed (it was a nice sharing of professional approach). I showed him that Donna showed a 1cm short left leg in the prone position with her face in the face slot of the table and he showed polite interest. I had her turn her head to the right and her right leg became 1 cm short. I pointed this out to him and his interest became genuine. I explained the significance of the Double Cervical Turn Test (i.e. it indicates the patient’s main issue is either a sphenoid or coccyx dysfunction) and we discussed the importance of holistic assessment and treatments in world that is becoming ever “reductionist”.
After the Lower and Upper Back Procedures, I had Donna turn supine and I began to assess her neck using the basic moves of the Neck Procedure. The paraspinal bundle on the right side was tense so I released the right pterygoid/temporalis. After a two-minute break, I could feel the responding release in the target tissue and the paraspinal bundle, so I had her turn prone again to see if the presentation had changed. My new osteopath friend was fully engaged in the treatment now. He told me he could see the change in her jaw and in her breathing since I released the pterygoid/temporalis, and I made a note that I should try to be more observant.
Assessment in the prone position showed a short right leg with no change on head turn or knee flexion. Using the right leg as the lever, I applied a coccyx correction (reverse coccyx procedure). During the procedure, she tensed significantly, due to the tender sensations around her tailbone, but I completed the procedure and then let her rest for a few minutes. When I returned, she told me she could feel warm sensations “flowing” into her legs following the coccyx move. She showed symmetry, so the treatment was concluded. I told the osteopath it would be nice to swap treatments one day and I asked Donna to return in a week.
Donna returned a week later, and she was elated. She couldn’t believe how much better she was. She said she had no pain, no weakness, no throbbing or tingling sensations in her legs. She said she would say she was at least 95% better. I assessed Donna and she showed symmetry. I completed the BRM’s but everything felt unremarkable, so the treatment was concluded.
I assessed Donna two weeks after the second treatment, and she continues to maintain symmetry and is pain free. Her osteopath friend has been in for a treatment, and I’ve had one with him too. Now he tells me he is going to introduce some Bowen into his practice.
