What a refreshingly honest and thought provoking observation
................! I couldn't agree more!
Linda K
----- Original Message -----
From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: 02 October 2000 12:29
Subject: Treating Musculoskeletal Problems
> If any one thing that characterises the resolution of musculoskeletal pain
> and dysfunction, it is the large number of different approaches which
enjoy
> some measure of success. It has never been established that there is
> definitely one best method of treating problems of the back, shoulder,
legs,
> arms, yet the claims of many qualified and 'informal' therapists suggest
that
> they alone have developed methods that are far better than any others. In
> fact, some of these therapists use such a mixture of different methods,
that,
> given sufficient time, effort and psychological stroking, they have to
> produce some progress.
>
> Some of these therapists, especially those with informal or self-awarded
> 'credentials', spend an inordinate amount of time applying an extensive
> collage of muscle and other tests borrowed from physical therapy,
> chiropractic and elsewhere. These tests are by no means universally
accepted
> or corroborated by science. They are often applied in static postures and
> assessed by palpation, finger pressure or home-made combinations of string
> and putty, but they seem to create an aura of thoroughness, scientific
> precision and reproducibility that impresses clients into parting with
tidy
> sums of money. The fact that research has shown something like one third
of
> all such strategies to work because of a placebo effect ensures that there
> will always be a significant number of satisfied clients to perpetuate
some
> healing myths.
>
> At the opposite end of the scale, there are some therapists and even
> individuals who never bother to rely on any therapists, who simply
advocate a
> rather generalised exercise, stretching and lifestyle regime in many cases
of
> musculoskeletal disorder. They apply few if any tests, advise clients to
> work within sensible ranges of exercise intensity, modified by basic
> perceptions of pain and effort - and lo and behold, they, too enjoy a very
> significant degree of success!
>
> This leads us to question if most functional tests, other than basic
> palpatory assessments and those reported by the client in normal
"functional'
> activities, generally are a waste of time in the treatment of most
> musculoskeletal disorders (excluding fractures, pathological disorders and
> serious medical conditions). Are these static muscle tests for
identifying
> "weak", "unfiring", "imbalanced" and "lazy" transversus abdominis, rotator
> cuff, multifidus, piriformis, psoas and other 'key' muscles generally
> redundant or do they play an essential role in treating musculoskeletal
> problems? Do exercises based upon such "muscle testing" methods
definitely
> enjoy a greater level of success than very general regimes based upon a
> thorough classical medical 'interrogation' of the client?
>
> Dr Mel C Siff
> Denver, USA
> [log in to unmask]
> http://www.egroups.com/group/supertraining
>
>
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