Here is some insight as to the what, why and how of your body…

Like an onion, your body is comprised of layers. Layer, upon layer, upon layer.  Traditionally, we think layers of skin, adipose (fat), muscle and then bone. But permeating all those layers, acting like a wrapper for every single one of those components: myofascial tissue.

Sometimes wrapped tight (like the retinaculum giving shape to your neck, wrists and ankles). Other times, it is like a satin sheet wrapping each muscle. Allowing muscles to glide over each other during movement, with minimal friction.

But that same myofascial tissue also can become the bane of your existence.

Myofascial tissue serves as a moldable, yet ever firming apparatus designed to support the strenuous activities that we perform repeatedly every minute of every day. But, as those minutes and hours become months and years your myofascial support system can actually limit your true range of motion. And it can impinge nerves, causing pain and numbness, when trying to move beyond the limits of your “myofascial body cast.”

This is evident when people with very muscular upper bodies attempt to reach their arms above their heads. Their grimace exposes the pain occurring when moving beyond the limits of the myofascial shell created as a by product of supporting an otherwise strong upper body physique.

Deep Therapy Bodywork warms, loosens then breaks down myofascial buildup. It frees awkwardly bound tissue, allowing all tissues, to return to “normal position” to improve circulation, stop nerve compression and impingement.
It stretches, rolls, vibrates and shakes muscles, tendons, ligaments and skin to free tension, increase circulation, restore movement and create that somatic sense of “Feeling Awesome” not just while on the table, but for days, weeks and even months to follow.

The computer revolution has brought with it “Computer Posture”. To be true, it was originally known as “Driver’s Posture“. But now, even all the driver’s have computer posture. Holding a pose where the hands and head are at some distance out in front of the body. The hips are in a constant state of flexion with no contraction. The kyphotic curve of the back is exaggerated (and none too happy about it). With computer posture, the head is rotated 5 degrees off center to support the manipulation of a mouse  or control device. 

This “head forward” extended, habitual holding pattern results in horrible pain; just under the shoulder blade near the mid back. Why?   I tell you In my new book!

No. Just kidding…basically, the muscle fibers of the iliocostalis cervicus are so exhausted from suspending the cranium way out over the spine, in a forward position, that the body allows a myofascial shell to be built throughout portions of the muscle fibers. This myofascial tissue is good: in that in helps the muscle to remain in a contracted state for extended periods of time. But now it is bad: in that along multiple points of the path of the muscle, there are adhesions to surrounding tissue. Behavior similar to scar tissue. And when these cross-tissue adhesions form: the common side effect is impingement & compression of nearby innervation.

In the case of the iliocostalis: as it adheres to and then pulls on trapezius, or the rhomboids, the brachial plexus nerve will manifest with numbness, tingling and even sharp stabbing pains under the shoulder blade and down the arms into the fingers. So often it is NOT carpal tunnel syndrome. It is your iliocostalis cervicus fibers becoming, essentially glued to your rhomboid and/or trapezius muscle fibers in such a way that now the brachial plexus nerve is treated like a shirt half tucked in & half out of your underwear…

That ain’t all…

The cross fiber adhesions can even affect the subscapularis muscle. And when the stiffness of the myofascial buildup gets to this point: the usual side effect is sharp, painful breathing. Complaints of a specific pain point just under the shoulder blade almost at the spine. So much pain, that it is difficult to maintain a stationary position, much less sleep. Sound familiar?

Believe me: You may need only one session. 

By relaxing the muscles and releasing the adhesions; your slightly out of joint rib will naturally return to a comfortable position. Often times, you can feel the natural adjustment occurring while the work is being done. It can be euphoric, like the moment that loose baby tooth finally pulls free.

Often, the pain and dysfunction from Computer Posture is felt to the hands. Down the arm, it can feel as though sections of muscle have turned to rock. People describe locked fingers. Either they cannot make a fist, or they cannot release a fist. These effects are due to myofascial buildup. They form during extended periods of isometric contraction. Both sets of muscles that control a joint are working together in concert to allow you to perform precise manipulations. Everything from moving a mouse, holding a steering wheel to the most obvious; typing, causes the muscles of your antebrachium (forearm) to be in a state of mild contraction. Overuse causes the locations of isometric contraction to become hot beds for myofascial build up. 

One place especially vulnerable to becoming thickened and stiff is in the carpal tunnel space of the wrist. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome refers to the pain caused by irritation and damage from their own myelin sheaths from constant movement by a neighboring tendon. The friction results from compression  due to everything being too stiff, thickened and inflamed in the carpal tunnel space. Too often, people diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome resort to surgery as a means to escape the pain. When in fact, all that is needed is an aggressive breakdown of intramuscular myofascial adhesions. Deep Therapy techniques literally break apart those myofascial adhesions. Bone hard sections of muscle are returned to their pliable, flexible state. Joints are freed from stiffness and congestion and are able to again move in a full range of motion. 

Speaking directly to Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
My massage reduces the stiffness, and congestion throughout the retinaculum of the wrists. This reduction decreases external pressure upon the nerve sheaths as well as limiting the contact of moving tissue. With the congestion of the space cleared, and all the tissues free from adhesions and buildup, there is more space for the nerve to exist next to a frequently moving tendon.

If you have been diagnosed with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Or are experiencing similar symptoms. You too may find a world of relief at the other end of just one Deep Therapy session.

Either in addition to computer posture; or as a result of being a runner: you may experience low back pain. This is most commonly due to muscles existing in an inhibited state for hours at a time. Then out of nowhere, these same muscles are called upon to be stretched to their full extension. 

Consider how you stand as 2 basic components:

1. Straighten the knees. Usually the first thing people do. When you stand, do you leave the chair by straightening your legs, not your back?
2. Straighten the back. This is the true stand. Where the head becomes elevated above the shoulders. Often times it is the last thing people do, because it hurts to do.

In most cases, the problem is not your posterior back muscles. It is your Illio-Psoas Complex. Specially, the Psoas (pronounced So’Azz!). The primary job of psoas is to lift the knee upwards (flexion of the hip in proper anatomical). But when you are in a seated position, your knees are already in the upward lifted position. But you are not working to hold the position, so it is referred to as: Inhibited flexion. No work is being done to maintain the position. Then, after hours of inhibited flexion, the posterior muscles of the glutes and hamstrings activate to pull the illio-psoas into a nice elongated state. Still no contraction. Just changing from short to long. The pain from the pull that is generated during that act; along the forward facing portion of your spine, is enough to cause some people to sit back down. It is simply too painful too stretch that muscle system unless it is done very slowly. Thus, the slow second half to your stand. Is your hand on your back? Your hip? Leaning to one side? Tear drop in your eye? Deep Therapy can help.

If you were running, and thus over using the illio-psoas complex prior to any extended period of sitting you can now also include the components of injury recovery into the state of inhibited flexion. Now the tissue is in an inflamed state with an increased white blood cell count. Lymphatic movement has decreased. Thus, the increased metabolic byproducts from running are not escaping the inflamed area because of inhibition. Not to mention, the hips are already a lymphatic choke  point for the entire leg. This creates stiffness in the tissue. Stretching inhibited tissue that is also stiff due to inflammation can not only be more painful, it can lead to scar tissue buildup nearing the muscle attachment points. Like a slow whiplash.

This particular type of work is done ONLY during Deep Therapy Sessions. For almost everyone, working the hip joint is extremely sensitive. The slightest touch can feel like stabbing. Pinning the tissues can feel like burning. The rewards make it worth it. Even by releasing the distal aspect of the psoas (the thigh bone part) the effect can often radiate all the way to the low back. Depending upon my ability to access the superior tissues (above the leg) and your sensitivity to the work, successfully massing the illio-psoas complex through the ventral wall muscles (the side & stomach) provides relief that has been described as life changing. 

Sciatica or pseudo-Sciatica, refers to pain experienced as a result of impingement and/or compression of the sciatic nerve. This nerve emerges from either side the spine throughout the lumbar and sacral regions (L4-S3). On each side, they travel under your gluteus muscles to the piriformis muscles. They then take a shortcut through the piriformis muscles. Essentially bisecting the muscles, before travelling deep, between the fibers of the biceps femoris muscles, and all the way down each leg._[1]

Are you experiencing a dull, constant pain in your leg? Does that pain turn into lightning bolts of pain, upon movement?

Your piriformis muscle may be inflamed due to overuse, or chronic inhibition. Or more plainly: The muscle you sit on may be irritated because you are running, or you sit on a wallet for hours. Of course, it doesn’t have to just be running. Or just a wallet. The issue is that due to muscular inflammation, the sciatic nerve is now being strangled, impinged and/or compressed as it passes through the piriformis muscle. In these scenarios the stabbing pains are usually felt to the knee. In any event, this piriformis related impingement is referred to as pseudo-sciatic.

True sciatica is diagnosed when the impingement of the sciatic nerve is occurring shortly after emerging from the spine in the lumbar/sacral region. When the impingement is so close to the spine, it feels like the entire leg is affected. 

Do you feel stabbing pains all the way, or almost to the toes? Does the dull, throbbing extend well beyond the knee(s)? 

There is actually an inverse relationship between the distance from the “point of impingement” to spine and the distance down the leg the resulting pain is felt.

If the pain goes to the toes, the impingement is probably closer to the spine. And that is sciatica.

If the pain goes to about the knee, the impingement is probably mid-butt. A case of pseudo-sciatica.

Why is it important to know?
In the case of pseudo-sciatica, the fastest path to relief is by working up to aggressive pro & cross fiber friction of the piriformis from greater trochanter attachment throughout the surface attachments of the ilium. Or plainly, use the knuckles of the fist in rapid deep strokes all over the piriformis. 

For sciatica, the approach is to relax the lordotic curve, and then soften all the fascia, tendon and ligature working laterally to flush and strip the origins of the gluteal muscles. Or plainly, use detailed fingertips, or a scraper to work from the middle of the low back, out towards the hip.

Both massage indications provide wonderful relief to sciatic and pseudo-sciatic pain. The results can be immediate, with the effects lasting forever.

As humans we are designed to walk and run in an upright fashion. But by doing so, we are doing the two activities that generate the most amount of force shockwaves through the body. That force is absorbed first in the feet (where it further depends on your gait) by your amazing foot structure. Some of that force is absorbed by the unique structure that make your tibia & fibula. Still, the knee receives a beating with every step. So much so, that this joint contains unique structures called meniscus. Similar to the disks between vertebra, the meniscus absorb shock. Your hips, from the head of the femur to the sacrum act like an accordion to dispel force before finally sending it up through the spine. 

But the first 3 primary shock absorption points: Ankles, Knees & Hips are where most of the dysfunction that is causing pain occurs. By using Deep Therapy techniques in the Popliteal Fossa (back of the knee) and at the Ischial Tuberosity (sit bone) the non muscular tissues of the tendons, ligaments, meniscus and other soft tissues are dramatically decongested of trapped metabolic waste and myofascial build up. By working aggressively with tendonous attachments, pliability and flexibility is restored that reverberates through the entire muscle. 

Using scraping techniques, the chronically hardened tissues of the foot, crus (calf) and thigh are once again released and rehydrated. The normal perception of this sensation is that your leg will feel weightless, with a gentle buzzing sensation as oxygen rich blood makes its way easily into tissue previously so tight and congested.