sensoryapproach

sensoryapproach We will look to create links between these systems, the brain and what

The 16-hour Sensory Approach treatment method is designed to help us, as manual therapists, delve into the research related to the sensory and integumentary system.

01/24/2026

New Episode: Is dosing touch greater than pressing hard?

What if the biggest gains in manual therapy come from how we dose touch—not how much force we use?

In this episode, former elite high jumper & educator Jenny Mapes breaks down her Quadrant of Intentional Treatment and shows why “deep” is about time, attention, and sensory load as much as pressure.

We get into:
• superficial → deep
• global → specific
• touch + motion
• cupping + taping for proprioception
• treating the nervous system first

If you work with athletes (including weekend warriors), blend movement with touch, or want better outcomes without chasing intensity—this one will land.

Listen & share with a colleague who’s ready to rethink “deep” and make treatments more intentional.

01/16/2026

Thought of this today while writing a chapter for my book. Hope it makes sense.

I am so grateful to be surrounded by such an amazing and supportive group of therapists. We all share a great clinic and...
12/17/2025

I am so grateful to be surrounded by such an amazing and supportive group of therapists. We all share a great clinic and for the past eight years, I’ve been fortunate enough to count these therapists amongst my friends and allies.

People don’t improve because the technique is magical.They improve because the brain is.Pain is shaped by expectation, c...
11/28/2025

People don’t improve because the technique is magical.
They improve because the brain is.

Pain is shaped by expectation, connection, touch, and the neurobiological modulator systems that respond to safety.

Manual therapy works in the spaces medicine often overlooks.

Sign in to my free members area to read my latest blog critiquing ‘The Darkside of Musculoskelatal Care’ comprehensive review.

11/24/2025

Pain shouldn’t feel like guesswork.
In this episode, I sit down with therapist, educator, and former pro athlete Julie Pitois, co-creator of the Anatomy Assassin approach—a true-crime style way to solve stubborn pain. The “victim” is the loud symptom; the “criminals” are the hidden contributors: movement habits, stress, sensitive nerves, and underperforming tissues.
We talk about why curiosity beats protocols, how longer intakes and quick assess–treat–reassess loops make sessions more human, and how simple metaphors help clients drop fear and understand what’s actually happening.
Julie shares practical tools—testing in and out of load, pairing manual therapy with movement, and teaching nerves like “subway lines” to explain why symptoms shift.
The goal isn’t to “fix” people—it’s to help them rebuild confidence and capacity.
If you’re a clinician, coach, or just someone who moves, this episode gives you a clear roadmap:
ask better questions, use targeted tests, explain simply, and let results guide the next step.
Subscribe, share, and tell me which metaphor hit home.

Pain isn’t local — it’s relational.A fascinating study from Denmark looked at over 5,000 pain drawings to see where peop...
10/31/2025

Pain isn’t local — it’s relational.

A fascinating study from Denmark looked at over 5,000 pain drawings to see where people hurt and how those pain regions connect.

What they found was extraordinary: pain doesn’t just sit in one area. It forms patterns — mirrored, connected, and often symmetrical.

Over a third of participants had pain on both sides, and more than 90% of them were mirrored almost perfectly.

The researchers proposed three main nervous system patterns:
1️⃣ Pain on one side can activate pain on the other (mirrored facilitation).
2️⃣ Pain can spread to nearby regions on the same side (neighbour facilitation).
3️⃣ Opposite sides can inhibit each other — although sometimes the mirrored effect wins.

💡 So what does this mean for us as massage therapists?
-That pain is part of a conversation happening across the body.
-When your client’s right shoulder hurts, the left side is part of the dialogue.
-When the right leg feels restricted, the left leg’s movement might be key to restoring balance.
-Treating both sides isn’t just good practice — it’s good neuroscience.
-Pain may be a signal, but more importantly... it’s a map.

And every session is a chance to help the body find its way home again.

10/31/2025

🎓 KinesioTaping Foundations – 16 Hours (NCBTMB Approved)
📍 Pittsburgh, PA – Dec 13–14, 2025
🧠 Learn. Move. Tape. Transform.
Massage Therapists, PTs, PTAs, OTs, ATCs — this course is for YOU 👇
Join Troy Lavigne, LMT, CKTI for an immersive 2-day lab-based training that blends science, touch, and movement to help you achieve better results with every client.
You’ll learn to:
✔️ Apply foundational + advanced taping techniques
✔️ Screen and assess movement dysfunction
✔️ Combine evidence + intuition for smarter care
💻 Complete a 4-hour online pre-course before class
💲 Regular $450 (after)
📦 Materials included
🎧 Podcast: The Sensory Approach to Manual Therapy
🌐 https://www.troylavigne.com/classes/psmt
⚡️ Limited seats — tap the link in bio or DM to register!

10/22/2025

🧠 + 🤲 = NEXT LEVEL MASSAGE THERAPY

For just 48 hours: Save $75 off your registration for the “Neuroscience of Massage Therapy” weekend in Dickinson.

Price = $375 until Friday at noon eastern

Why settle for standard when you can explore how the brain, nervous system and manual therapy intersect?

Seats limited!

Register here → https://www.troylavigne.com/classes/dickinson

10/22/2025

🧠 + 🤲 = NEXT LEVEL MASSAGE THERAPY

For just 48 hours: Save $75 off your registration for the “Neuroscience of Massage Therapy” weekend in Dickinson.

Why settle for standard when you can explore how the brain, nervous system and manual therapy intersect?

Seats limited.

Register here → https://www.troylavigne.com/classes/dickinson

What if relief starts with being seen, not being pressed? Our conversation with author and massage therapist Rachel Rich...
10/09/2025

What if relief starts with being seen, not being pressed? Our conversation with author and massage therapist Rachel Richards follows a surprising path—from the isolating rules of an eating disorder and the highs of stage life to a quiet, practical discovery: slow, kind touch can change how pain feels, and a camera can carry that care to people who may never set foot in a clinic. Rachel shares how a tiny, two‑minute breathing-and-touch video went viral, why self‑massage gives agency to those who feel safest at home, and how community comments can be as therapeutic as any technique.

We dig into the science without losing the human thread. You’ll hear how C‑tactile fibers respond to gentle, unhurried contact; why therapeutic alliance consistently predicts outcomes; and how reframing rest as an active practice builds resilience against burnout. We also talk about trust—how it’s earned in the first moments with light, predictable touch and clear consent—and about customization, shaping care to the person’s goals rather than the diagnosis.

Across it all runs a simple idea: connection reduces threat. Whether it’s holding a hand, tracing a fingertip to anchor breath, or reading “me too” from someone halfway around the world, social safety turns the nervous system down and opens the door to change. Rachel’s YouTube work shows what access can look like: free, practical tools; a friendly face; and an invitation to participate in your own relief.

If you’re a clinician, you’ll leave with fresh ways to center empathy and build simple take‑home practices. If you’re a listener in pain, you’ll find techniques you can try today—and a reminder that you’re not alone. If this conversation helps, share it with someone who needs a gentler approach, subscribe for future episodes, and leave a review to help others find us.

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1671958/episodes/17983837

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1671958/support

Massage Therapists! Ready to add KinesioTaping® to your toolbox?Join us in Tumwater, WA – Oct. 25–26 for a hands-on Kine...
10/07/2025

Massage Therapists! Ready to add KinesioTaping® to your toolbox?

Join us in Tumwater, WA – Oct. 25–26 for a hands-on KinesioTaping® Foundations class at Bodymechanics School!

✅ 16 NCBTMB CE hours
✅ Boost client results in pain relief, support & recovery
💵 $530 USD
⏰ 8:30 AM–5:30 PM both days

🛑Registration closes Oct. 14 – don’t wait!

👉 Sign up here:
🔗 www.troylavigne.com/classes/bodymechanicsschoolofmassage

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Tuesday 12pm - 4pm
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Thursday 8:30am - 2:30pm

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