Center for the Healing Arts; aka Roger N. Paradis, MA, LMT

01/18/2023

‼️ Beware of this injury ‼️

Shared from: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/14/5d/0c/145d0ce042a53cf731be9e477ee835cb.jpg

09/04/2022

Foam Rolling and the IT Band...

Thanks to YOGABODY Teachers College http://www.yogabody.com/iha for sponsoring this video. Check out their science-based, online yoga certification courses._...

08/22/2022

🔈 A GREAT IMAGE OF AN ANTERIOR ABDOMINAL CAVITY AND PROXIMAL STRUCTURES
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Credit: the radiologist

09/11/2020

Interesting read...

🔈 POSTURE AND GAIT

The lower limbs function primarily in standing and walking. Typically, the actions of lower limbs muscles are described as if the muscle were acting in isolation, which rarely occurs.

It is important to be familiar with lower limb movements and concentric and eccentric contractions of muscles, and to have a basic understanding of the process of standing and walking.

STANDING AT EASE

When a person is standing at ease with the feet slightly apart and rotated laterally so the toes pint outwards, only a few of the back and lower limb muscles are active. The mechanical arrangement of the joints and muscles are such that a minimum of muscular activity is required to keep from falling. In the stand-easy position, the hip and knee joints are extended and are in their most stable positions (maximal contact of articular surfaces for weight transfer, with supporting ligaments taut).

EXPLANATION OF THE FIGURES

(A) Lateral View

The relationship of the line of gravity to the transverse rotational axes of the pelvis and lower limb in the relaxed standing position I demonstrated. Only minor postural adjustments, mainly by the extensors of the back and the plantarflexors of the ankle, are necessary to maintain this position because the ligaments of the hip and knee are being tightly stretched to provide passive support.

(B) Inferior View

A bipedal platform is formed by the feet during relaxed standing. The weight of the body is symmetrically distributed around the centre of gravity, which falls in the posterior third of a median plane between the slightly parted and laterally rotated feet, anterior to the rotational axes of the ankle joints.

The ankle joint is less stable than the hip and knee joints, and the line of gravity falls between the two limbs, just anterior to the axis of rotation of the ankle joints. Consequently, a tendency to fall forward (forward sway) must be countered periodically by bilateral contraction of the calf muscles (plantarflexion). The spread of splay of the feet increases lateral stability. However, when lateral sway occurs, it is countered by the hip abductors (acting through the IT band). The fibular collateral ligament of the knee joint and the evertor muscles of one side act with the thigh adductors, tibial collateral ligament, and invertor muscles of the contralateral side.

Walking: The Gait Cycle

Locomotion is a complex function. The movements of the lower limbs during walking on a level surface may be divided into alternating swing and stance phases. The gait cycle consists of one cycle of swing and stance by one limb. The stance phase begins with a heel strike, when the heel strikes the ground and begins to assume the body's fll weight (loading response), and ends with a push off by the forefoot – a result of plantarflexion.

Stabilization and resilience are important during locomotion. The invertors and evertors of the foot are principal stabilizers of the foot during the stance phase. Their long tendons, plus those of the flexors of the digits, also help support the arches of the foot during the stance phase, assisting the intrinsic muscles of sole.

08/16/2020

🔈 SERRATUS POSTERIOR INFERIOR - OVERLOOKED CAUSE OF LOWER BACK PAIN

You have a client who tells you this:

'I reached for something and suddenly I felt a sharp spasm in the lower part of my back, slightly to the side of the spine, at the bottom of the ribs, and when I breathe in really deep I can feel it'.

Based on the above description you should suspect that you might be dealing with the Serratus Posterior Inferior muscle.

💡 Where is the Serratus Posterior Inferior muscle?

The Serratus Posterior Inferior muscle connects the lower 4 ribs to four vertebrae (T11, T12, L1, L2) in the low back.

💡 What movements does the Serratus Posterior Inferior muscle control?

✔️ Forced expiration (breathing out when breathing hard)
✔️ Assists with twisting at the waist
✔️ Assists with straightening the trunk (standing up straight)

💡 Activities that cause Serratus Posterior Inferior pain and symptoms:

✔️ Twisting the body when lifting
✔️ Overreaching overhead or to the side of the body
✔️ Lifting something heavy using the back muscles instead of leg muscles
✔️ Sleeping on a sagging or too soft mattress

ℹ️ Trigger Points

Trigger points in the Serratus Posterior Inferior may cause an uncommon local ache radiating over and around the muscle.

This may extend across the back and over the lower ribs, even continuing through the chest to the front of the body.

This discomfort is typically described by clients as a nagging ache.

In many cases this pain remains after other trigger points have been inactivated. This should be a good indicator for the therapist to recheck the Serratus Posterior Inferior for undiscovered trigger points.

👩‍🔬 Stretching for self-release of the Serratus Posterior Inferior

Cross your forearms just above the wrist, at about chest height. Inhale deeply as you slowly raise them up until the area where the arms cross is level with your forehead. Now lower the arms as you exhale.

Do this once or twice, allowing for a brief rest (a few breaths) before repeating. Do this exercise set several times a day.

08/10/2020

Although I've been offering Psychosynthesis coaching services since being certified to do so back in 1995, I seldom advertise it because of the complexity involved in explaining what it is to those who've never heard of it. Rather, I allow those who are searching for a Psychosynthesis coach to find me through Google. This post explains it well so I thought I'd share it with you...

WHAT IS PSYCHOSYNTHESIS ...

There is a question that every person who practises Psychosynthesis fears more than any other question. When possible, he avoids it, he faces it with embarrassment, hides panic.
The question is: what is Psychosynthesis?
Of course, the question is more than legitimate. A layman wants to know. What do we tell him?... See More...

WHAT IS PSYCHOSYNTHESIS ...

There is a question that every person who practises Psychosynthesis fears more than any other question. When possible, he avoids it, he faces it with embarrassment, hides panic.
The question is: what is Psychosynthesis?
Of course, the question is more than legitimate. A layman wants to know. What do we tell him?

Usually, the answer is a generic babble that leaves everyone unsatisfied: "Psychosynthesis is a school of psychology founded by the psychiatrist Roberto Assagioli at the beginning of the last century ..." and so on. But it would be difficult to be exhaustive in a few words.

After all, Psychosynthesis deals with visualisation and psychosomatics, humour and meditation, unconscious and educational performance, Eastern philosophies and human relations, Plato and Freud, psychoneuroimmunology and soul, creativity and addictions etc., etc.

How to explain everything in a few words and not leave out anything essential? On the other hand, it would be unfair to think that Psychosynthesis is a collection of randomly assembled techniques and ideas. Because it is a system with very precise coordinates. An open system, in which new contributions and discoveries can find hospitality, but with its unmistakable physiognomy.
If I had to get embarrassed and describe in a few words what Psychosynthesis is, I would say that it is a TRAINING IN THE ART OF LIVING and that is based on five fundamental points:

1 - We hurt ourselves unnecessarily.
With wrong mental habits, prejudices, negative images of ourselves and others, remnants of past traumas, tensions that no longer have a reason to be, inner ghosts left too free, we harm ourselves and others. But with a few precautions, this work of unconscious self-harm can be avoided.

2 - We can do ourselves good.
By this, I mean that there are some easy techniques with which we can improve the quality of our life. Just using them, we can put latent or misused energies at our service.

3 - There are unexpressed potentials in us.
In any age of life, in any situation we find ourselves, there are resources of intelligence, strength, love, creativity in us which we have not yet manifested. We have not reached our final version yet. There is always room for some new development.

4 - Even if we are conditioned by our genetic inheritance, by the society in which we live, by our history, by a thousand factors beyond our control, we still have a wide space of freedom in which we can make choices. Choices of values, ideas, behaviours.

5 - Relationships with others are fundamental.
By this, I mean that each of us not only has relationships with others, but it is these relationships, in the sense that the relationships we have with others are the substance of our life.
These relationships are strong and true, or weak and false; they are fertile or destructive; they are stuck or in progress; they are alive or dead. As our relationships are, so is our life. And luckily, we can change our relationships.

In reality, the only right way to understand what is Psychosynthesis is by getting into it little by little, understanding its concepts, and above all to practise it, because Psychosynthesis is above all practice.

For many years I have been trying to explain myself and explain what psychosynthesis is. And I always discover deeper levels, new aspects and perspectives.
It is an exciting adventure because Psychosynthesis guides us to the discovery of what a human being is. And there is never an end to this discovery.

From ‘Introduzione alla Psicosintesi’ by Piero Ferrucci

Source

08/06/2020

Good information, but remember to include gluteus medius work along with it...

PLANTAR FASCIITIS SELF-TREATMENT

Regular, gentle stretching of your Achilles tendon and plantar fascia may help to ease your symptoms. This is because most people with plantar fasciitis have a slight tightness of their Achilles tendon. If this is the case, it tends to pull at the back of your heel and has a knock-on effect of keeping your plantar fascia tight. Also, when you are asleep overnight, your plantar fascia tends to tighten up (which is why it is usually most painful first thing in the morning). The aim of these exercises is to loosen up the tendons and fascia gently above and below your heel.

1. Soleus Stretch
With both knees apart and your toes facing forward, lean into the wall until you feel the stretch in your lower calf. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times.

2. Step Stretch
Stand with your toes on a step and your heels off the edge. Slowly lower your heels down, hold for 15 seconds, and then lift your heels to their starting position. You can either do both feet at the same time, or one foot at a time. Repeat five times.

3. Roll Stretch
Using a mini roll, roll it back and forth from your toes to your heels. Alternatively you can use a tennis ball or a glass bottle.

4. Plantar Fascia Massage
Using two fingers, apply small circular friction to any tight knots or lumps in the plantar fascia. The pressure should be deep, but not so much that you tighten up with pain.

5. Elastic Strap Stretch
Sit on the floor with your legs straight in from of you. Take a stretch strap and place it around your toes. Gently pull the strap towards you. Hold for 15-30 seconds, then release. Repeat 3 times.

6. Toe Stretch
Place just toes up on the wall with the ball of the foot and heel on the ground. Lean into the wall slowly until stretch is felt. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat 3 times.

Can plantar fasciitis be prevented?
There are certain things that you can do to try to prevent plantar fasciitis, especially if you have had it before. These include:

▪️Regularly changing training shoes used for running or walking
▪️Wearing shoes with good cushioning in the heels and good arch support
▪️Losing weight if you are overweight
▪️Regularly stretching the plantar fascia and Achilles tendon, especially before exercise
▪️Avoiding exercising on hard surfaces

07/03/2020

Interesting read...

06/18/2020

Business is beginning to pick up!

05/22/2020

The governor of NH announced today that massage therapists can re-open their practice with some restrictions and under certain guidelines on Monday June 1.