Olympian and Ironman
I met Krige when he first came to my clinic seeking help with his training and performance in an upcoming Paralympic Games. As a hand-cycling athlete, he wanted to increase his ability to contract his abdominals as well as improve his range of motion with his shoulders. He had specific groin pain as well.
We designed a treatment plan to include myofascial release at the hip and through his abs in order to lengthen the muscles that had been shortened from repetitive use. On the first visit of several, we discovered trigger points in his abs that referred pain to his groin as well as to his foot! Yes, his foot! The trigger point referred to what is called a “phantom pain.” When these trigger points were released, his abdominal muscles lengthened. The range of motion in his shoulders increased so he would have great “reach and pull.” Krige reported greater strength during daily training. He went on to the Olympics and competed very well. Two years later Krige returned to my clinic again for help in strengthening and training for an upcoming triathlon. He had limitations in his over-hand free-style stroke which limited his ability to turn his head to breathe during the swimming competition. He had pain in his neck on one side and headaches. The problem was rooted in the medial rotators of his shoulders. His Lats had also shortened. With myofascial release, neuromuscular therapy and MET stretches, we lengthened his Lats. We did the same treatment on the neck muscles that rotated his head to the opposite side. After his first visit, Krige went directly to the pool to train. He returned the same week for more treatment and was happy to report that he had taken a full minute off of his best time! Krige attributed this to his ability to reach further with the one arm and the ability to turn his head without limitation or pain, in order to breathe. Each week thereafter he reported a continual drop off of his best time. Krige is a determined human and a remarkable athlete. He knows firsthand the value of supplementing his training with manual therapy and giving himself the winning edge in competition. It has been an honor to be a part of this championship athlete’s journey. Shared with permission. |
TMJ - TMD Play That Funky Music
Sometimes it is a quick fix.
I met with Brandon, a college student, who had been diagnosed with TMD, Tempora Mandibular Disorder, which was causing severe jaw pain and headaches. The medical recommendation was TMJ surgery. Brandon’s mother brought him to me ”just to see if there’s something else “ that could be done. His mother was a student of mine and knew enough to ask for another opinion. I put Brandon through several tests. I found numerous trigger points in his neck and shoulders that ALL referred pain to his jaw, which was his chief complaint. Working on those trigger points relieved pain. All of this was done without ever touching his jaw! What was causing this particular set of symptoms and pain? The grouping of muscles with the trigger points seemed odd to me, so I did further investigating about ergonomics and posture. I decided to put each muscle that housed a trigger point into a shortened, contracted position. As I moved Brandon’s body into the position that was consistent with the trigger points that I found, his pose started taking shape into something familiar to me. "Do you play guitar"? I asked. “Yes, I teach it as well", Brandon said. "Are you looking at your fret hand as you play"? I asked. “Yes",” he answered, beginning to understand. “Well, Brandon, quit looking at your hand when you play"! I said. I taught some stretches and proper ergonomics. No more pain. No more treatment. Surgery was not needed. "Brandon, what in your jaw were they going to cut on anyway"? "Uhh, I really dont know". Shared with permission. |
Mid back Pain ...It Hurts To Breathe Deep
My wife received a call from a friend requesting that I help her with her back pain. I agreed to see her. I learned that she suffered from debilitating back pain in her mid back for the last eight months. Bending to pick something up off of the floor, twisting, and deep breathing caused pain. Secondary complaint was her neck pain. She could not rotate her head very far without pain.
She received long term treatment for her back pain to no avail. Actually, her back pain worsened after treatment. I palpated her mid back in the location that she indicated. It was tender. But, since she had been receiving treatment for so long in that immediate area, I decided to look for the culprit elsewhere. I turned her over on her back and began looking for trigger points in her abdominal muscles and diaphragm. It was almost immediate that we located 4 different trigger points that referred pain to the exact location in her back. It was intense. After relieving those trigger points I looked a little higher on her ribs for cardiac arrhythmia trigger points that usually mimic panic attacks. Sure enough, they were there. They cause a feeling of nervousness and trembling that is typical of such trigger points. I worked on her for 20 minutes. She stood up, tested it by bending over to pick up her shoe. No pain. She twisted above the waist. No pain. She took a deep breath. No pain. I questioned her about repetitive activity that could put those abdominal muscles in such a shortened and twisted positioned that could be inhibiting her diaphragm from contracting enabling her to breathe properly. When I put her in the specific shortened position as these muscles indicated she immediately knew that it was her hobby of quilting that was to blame. Actually her posture while quilting was to blame. Leaned forward, shoulders rounded and head forward all inhibited her breathing. She was forced to breathe using her chest and neck muscles more than her diaphragm. She had developed several trigger points in her abdominals and diaphragm that referred to her back. The problem was not in her back. She is correcting her posture and breathing pattern with the homework that I gave her to do. She may need a second appointment. But, then again, she may not. Thank you SO much. I feel so much better tonight, and I’m making a concerted effort to keep my posture correct – I have to ‘unlearn’ some bad posture habits. You gave me a lot of good advice. Blessings, Michele Shared with permission. |
The first time I went to Bobby, I had been walking on the ball of my right foot for weeks. I couldn't straighten my leg. (I have a severe back injury, so debilitating pain and mobility are challenges for me. The back injuries have also affected my right leg.) By the end of the hour-long treatment with Bobby, my leg had straightened out! I literally hobbled into his office, but I walked out minus a limp. I laughed and cried at the unexpected result.
I know how hard it is to try "just one more thing" when you are struggling with a chronic problem, especially when that problem seems to be in charge of your life. You name the vitamin, special herb, topical creams, back brace, special cushions, all kinds of non-invasive medical treatments, and I've tried them. Some things help. Many do not. Bobby doesn't offer false promises, but he clearly supports anyone's desire to improve. Dealing with chronic pain is a hard road. If you're going to survive it, you have to surround yourself with a team of people who are "for" you. Bobby is part of my team.
How to describe Bobby? Bobby is professional, kind, intuitive, compassionate and gifted. He tackles complex issues with simplicity and wisdom. Bobby's knowledge base is amazing. He has a love of learning, strives for excellence and instinctively seems to "get it." I am not a quick fix or an easy fix, but the treatments help me take less pain meds and stay comfortable for longer periods of time. Anything that eases pain is a blessing.
Even writing this down, I'm smiling over my leg straightening out. Thank you, Bobby. You've given me a huge gift, and I am grateful.
I know how hard it is to try "just one more thing" when you are struggling with a chronic problem, especially when that problem seems to be in charge of your life. You name the vitamin, special herb, topical creams, back brace, special cushions, all kinds of non-invasive medical treatments, and I've tried them. Some things help. Many do not. Bobby doesn't offer false promises, but he clearly supports anyone's desire to improve. Dealing with chronic pain is a hard road. If you're going to survive it, you have to surround yourself with a team of people who are "for" you. Bobby is part of my team.
How to describe Bobby? Bobby is professional, kind, intuitive, compassionate and gifted. He tackles complex issues with simplicity and wisdom. Bobby's knowledge base is amazing. He has a love of learning, strives for excellence and instinctively seems to "get it." I am not a quick fix or an easy fix, but the treatments help me take less pain meds and stay comfortable for longer periods of time. Anything that eases pain is a blessing.
Even writing this down, I'm smiling over my leg straightening out. Thank you, Bobby. You've given me a huge gift, and I am grateful.