reflexology

[Gunnhild Bruno]

Now that the folks who have studied this stuff in depth have weighed in on the TENS, I'm now curious if the premise of shiatsu and massage that I put forward hold water. I have worked on people who would have congested spasmed muscle tissue ranging in size from grapes to golf balls. These would (usually) seem to go away, I figured because the knot of muscle had released per the fatigue principle. Does Western medicine explain that particular phenomenology? I'm not challenging anyone or anything here, I'd like an alternative view or explanation.

Sounds pretty close to trigger point theory to me.

[Jonathon Sullivan]

When dealing with sciatica before I read some mention of an electrical test which is supposed to be used to help determine nerve damage. Here's a link to a blurb about it, but not sure if this is what the OP was dealing with or not.

http://www.medicinenet.com/nerve_con...st/article.htm

Nerve conduction studies are something different--they're diagnostic, not therapeutic.

[killyouintheface]

Nerve conduction studies are something different--they're diagnostic, not therapeutic.

They are also not awesome at all. I have one every year or so.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Sounds pretty close to trigger point theory to me.

You're right, except trigger point theory concentrates on just that, single points. Shiatsu does that too but it adds the (surprise!) dimension of the meridians as some associated areas to work on to clear the imbalance and restore harmony. I've done a mixture of both. Shiatsu tends to work better on the head, face, and upper neck. That sheath of muscle that transits the top of the head is a source way more headaches than you might believe possible. So you divide the skull into 3-4 parallel lines from back to front and start with the thumb pressures at 3 second intervals. I've had it work on others and myself well over 50% of the time. Trigger point works better on the traps, shoulder blades, and rhomboids. Just one more hitherto unidentified and undiscussed talent I have. Only The Ssshadow knooowss, heh-heh-heh.

[Mark Rippetoe]

I have no doubt that it works because I've used it many times. But when I see Meridians, Imbalance, and Harmony in a sentence, well, I guess you are from California.

[Jonathon Sullivan]

They are also not awesome at all. I have one every year or so.

When I was a second-year, I made a little money by volunteering for some research with NCV studies conducted by the Dept of Neurology. It involved needles in the gluteal folds and what felt like some serious voltages. It wasn't worth it.

[Mark E. Hurling]

Owww, damn Rip. That really stung. I'm an Illinois boy who just ingested too much pink tofu before I knew better. Besides, that stuff comes from our friends far West they're from the mysterious East. Now what I've been describing here is forcible realignment of bodily structures in a theraputic manner. Those visitors from the East have also taught me the forcible realignment of bodily structures in a non-theraputic manner. It's called jujitsu. My chiro thinks these phrases are just funny as hell. Of course when I describe to her how I sometimes get as tweaked as I do on the mat, she looks and listens with look of mingled horror and intense fascination. I think it's almost like porn for her.

[JM3]

I thought TENS was a sex toy. So I may have no credibility- but Ive only heard of Reflexologist refer to organs in their work. The point of a Reflexology treatment is thoroughness of area covered - you hit all angles and imagine every square inch of the sole having been palpated when you are done. thumbs and fingers are needed to find points which might need work. Soft tissue work is best done with the hands- theres a little more going on there than just randomly applied electrical current- and you have to palpate to find stuff.

[killyouintheface]

When I was a second-year, I made a little money by volunteering for some research with NCV studies conducted by the Dept of Neurology. It involved needles in the gluteal folds and what felt like some serious voltages. It wasn't worth it.

And the less signal your nerves can pass, the more voltage you get as they attempt to get a valid reading. For me the doctor running the electromyogram/nerve conduction study usually does my arm or lower back for a baseline reading, and they goes into my hamstrings, quads and calves to see whether there's any progress (for good or ill) in the damage to my peripheral nerves.

I thought TENS was a sex toy.

Well, it's certainly HANDY as a sex toy.

[Carlos Daniel]

When I was a second-year, I made a little money by volunteering for some research with NCV studies conducted by the Dept of Neurology. It involved needles in the gluteal folds and what felt like some serious voltages. It wasn't worth it.

I find it interesting that one makes money by volunteering in America.