Understanding Myoskeletal Alignment
Myoskeletal alignment therapy is a methodology employed by Myoskeletal therapists such as myself. I received certification as a Myoskeletal therapist from Erik Dalton's Freedom from Pain Institute and continue to study the methods avidly. Posture and body mechanics are an incredible influence on health and mobility. Various groups within the medical community put strong emphasis on spinal alignment and proper body mechanics. This is admirable and the ability of these doctors to diagnose and apply specific treatment should not be minimized. Chiropractors, MDs, and Osteopaths will all reinforce the necessity to exhibit good spinal alignment and body mechanics. The ability to perform x-ray and other diagnostics makes them invaluable.
While it is generally agreed that good body mechanics and good posture facilitate good spinal alignment and a host of positive results, the methods used to achieve this are inconsistent and, in my opinion, varying greatly in effectiveness. Massage therapists are not doctors and will never diagnose or prescribe. Only a doctor can do that properly and legally. I am not a doctor and have no intention of diagnosing or prescribing. What we are looking at is keeping a healthy system healthy or assessing a situation without diagnosing and influencing muscles and soft connective tissue of the body.
Take a look at your body as though it were a very complex tent with supporting poles (bones) and stretchy supporting lines (muscles,tendons, ligaments,and other connective tissue.) When your tent is leaning there are several options that may be attempted to set it right. There are those who would say that the best approach is to cut the supports, straighten the poles, and reattach. This may be true although I feel mostly in the extreme circumstances. There are those who feel that quickly pushing the poles into place will solve the problem by stretching the shorter cables. I don't see this as effective since the connective tissues almost always rebound and it just leads to constant need to "adjust" these poles again. There are those who simply try to tighten any long cables through exercise but this may be a one sided approach. There are those, and primary among these are massage therapists, who will simply loosen everything in the belief that all will feel better. This is generally true for a time but the position sensors of the soft tissues have not been reset and they will usually return to their old position after the period of extended relaxation. All of these methods can, and for some people, do work.
On the other hand the Myoskeletal therapist sees the tent poles as simply an indication of the wire condition. If your tent is leaning, adjust the wires, not the poles. This is very specific work based on testing, assessment, adjustment of specific muscle tension,and reassessment. It makes more sense to me and can also be beneficial in combination with other styles of treatment. Find what works for you!
If you have a problem that needs diagnosis then see a doctor.
If you want to maintain functional alignment using the spine as a guide to
soft tissue condition then talk to me about what may be done to help ward
off discomfort and disability. Let Myoskeletal alignment be a part of your
wellness routine and deal with less pain while experiencing more mobility.
Some of the techniques may be incorporated into your normal massage or you
may schedule a dedicated session.