Body, Mind & Spirit Articles and Latest News

Lomi Lomi as a massage with movements: a conceptual synthesis?

Altern Ther Health Med. 2009 Nov-Dec;15(6):44-9

Authors: Posadzki P, Smith TO, Lizis P

This article narratively reviews the evidence of 2 therapeutic modalities, massage and passive movement. The authors suggest that these 2 treatment techniques may be combined as 1 treatment to be used in a variety of clinical settings. We present the rationale through which the concept of massage with movement (MWM) has been developed and constructed from the principles of passive movements with gentle massage during Lomi Lomi massage. It is hypothesized that through further investigation and empirical studies, this concept may allow bodywork and movement therapists, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists to combine the positive effects of passive movements with those of massage for patients’ health benefits, most notably through enhanced relaxation.

PMID: 19943576 [PubMed - in process]

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Clinical supervision for ‘potent’ practice.

Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1997 Apr;3(2):38-41

Authors: Mackereth P

The author has received regular supervision since completing his training in biodynamic massage therapy. This is a requirement of the Code of Conduct for the Association of Holistic Biodynamic Massage Therapists. Initially, this proved difficult to arrange as supervisors familiar with this form of bodywork were based either in London or Cambridge, UK and the author has been living and working in the North West of England. One-to-one supervision was tried over the telephone, supported by 3-monthly meetings with a supervisor in London. Four years ago, the author was able to obtain monthly one-to-one supervision locally. He is now a member of a small supervision group who meet for 3 hours per month. More recently, he has taken on the role of supervisor with a focus on working with nurses involved in either complementary therapies and/or in developing clinical supervision. The following article explores the concept of supervision with the intention of sharing these experiences and promoting discussion on an understanding of the process and potential application within therapeutic nursing work.

PMID: 9432428 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Biodynamic massage.

Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery. 1996 Apr;2(2):47-51

Authors: Westland G

This paper introduces biodynamic massage, locates it in the field of massage, and body psychotherapy, describes some of its historical development and basic theoretical assumptions. A case study illustrates its usage in an National Health Service facility.

PMID: 9439273 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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[The efficacy of restoring the professional health of flight personnel in a combat unit]

Lik Sprava. 1994 Jul-Aug;(7-8):149-52

Authors: Shakula AV, Varus VI

It is shown in the paper that sanitary and rehabilitative measures (graded physical exercise, saunas, manual massage with the elements of biodynamic correction of the spinal column, relaxation exercises in the framework of remedial gymnastics, electrotranquilization of the central nervous system, psychosomatic self-regulation, functional music, video programmes, self-massage of biologically active points, specific diet) taken under conditions of drill by command of the flying personnel, tend to lead to lowering of the general morbidity rate (by a factor of 1.7), work losses (by a factor of 1.8), probability of occurring of iatrogenic diseases (by a factor of 1.6), thereby promoting rise in the level of functional efficiency of the pilot and safety of flights.

PMID: 7900344 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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Related Articles

‘Being a Chameleon’: labour processes of male nurses performing bodywork.

J Adv Nurs. 2009 Oct 12;

Authors: Fisher MJ

fisher m.j. (2009) ‘Being a Chameleon’: labour processes of male nurses performing bodywork. Journal of Advanced NursingAbstract Title. ‘Being a Chameleon’: labour processes of male nurses performing bodywork. Aim. This paper is a report of a study examining the labour processes of male nurses in the conduct of bodywork, and is part of a broader study of social practices that configure masculinity through the lives of male nurses. Background. Bodywork is defined as the direct work on others’ bodies, and involves interactions of bodies and the control of emotions. As the body is an arena in which social practice occurs then bodywork is a form of social engagement. Bodywork is inextricably intertwined with gender where bodywork is socially structured and culturally accepted as women’s work. Method. Life history method was used in this study. Twenty-one life stories from male registered nurses were gathered in 2003-2004 using semi-structured interviews. Each life story underwent structural analysis, using a four-dimension structural model of gender relations. Findings. The ability of male nurses to do bodywork and provide care is dependent on the way they ‘do’ gender, that is, they have to be perceived to be performing the masculine identity that best represents the individual patient’s ideology of what it is to be a man, which is set in a particular location and time. In addition, they have to counter the representations of the male nurse, whether it is homosexual, paedophile or heterosexual deviant. Respondents develop labour processes and workplace strategies to overcome the effects of gender stereotypes that may hinder their nursing work. Conclusion. Nursing procedures, policies and texts should reflect the complexity and multiplicity in the conduct of bodywork in nursing and refrain from representing essentialist ways (reinforcing nursing as feminine) of doing nursing.

PMID: 19824908 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Rolfing structural integration treatment of cervical spine dysfunction.

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2009 Jul;13(3):229-38

Authors: James H, Castaneda L, Miller ME, Findley T

BACKGROUND: Misalignments in the body compromise the architectural integrity. At the tissue level, fascia shortens and thickens as the body engages in compensatory strategies to maintain itself upright; these changes are known as myofascial contractions. In physical therapy, there are several methods by which practitioners treat neck dysfunction. However, studies showing the effect of those techniques are limited. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of rolfing structural integration (RSI) in neck motion and pain levels of 31 subjects who received RSI. RSI is a type of therapy that focuses on aligning the human body with gravity. METHODS: This retrospective study, over a period of 3 years of clinical practice, analyzes changes in motion and pain levels at the neck for 31 subjects who completed the RSI in 10 basic sessions. Participants were evaluated before and after they received RSI. The data collected included: age, sex, occupation, referral source, diagnosis, height, weight, photographs of postural views, range of motion (ROM), pain, and functional complaints. ROM was assessed with the use of an arthordial protractor. Data analysis using three-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tested the hypothesis at a significance of 0.5. RESULTS: The mean pain levels and active range of motion (AROM) of the neck before RSI significantly changed after the treatment (p<0.5): there was a decrease in pain and an increase in AROM. Pain levels/AROM-Age within-subject effect demonstrated significant difference only in pain at best and rotation right; the mean pain levels in the older group decreased by 67%, and the mean AROM for rotation right in the younger group increased by 34%. DISCUSSION: In this sample, pain now was reduced more than pain best and pain worst. Increased motion for lateral flexion was more than rotation, extension, and flexion. CONCLUSION: This investigation demonstrates that the basic 10 sessions of RSI, when applied by a physical therapist with advanced RSI certification, is capable of significantly decreasing pain and increasing AROM in adult subjects, male and female, with complaints of cervical spine dysfunction regardless of age.

PMID: 19524847 [PubMed - in process]

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Rosen Method Bodywork: An Exploratory Study of an Uncharted Complementary Therapy.

J Altern Complement Med. 2009 Aug 21;

Authors: Hoffren-Larsson R, Gustafsson B, Falkenberg T

Abstract Objectives: This exploratory study examines the Rosen Method Bodywork (RMB), a complementary (CAM) therapy method that previously lacked scientific documentation. The objectives of this study were to describe (1) why clients consult RMB and (2) what kind of help or benefit (if any) the clients perceive. Methods: The study comprised a survey of 53 Swedish RMB clients sampled from therapists, based on a criterion of personal experience of the therapy method, responding to a questionnaire collecting both qualitative and quantitative data. The quantitative data were analyzed descriptively and the qualitative data were analyzed by applying content analysis. Results: Reasons to use the therapy method included physical health problems, psychological problems, and a need for personal growth. A majority of the clients reported that the therapy had helped them with their problems to “a very high” or “high” degree. The main finding is five different categories describing the benefits: enhanced psychological health, enhanced physical health, increased awareness of the mind-body connection, support for personal growth, and self-initiated life changes. Conclusions: Most RMB clients in this study indicated satisfaction with the treatment. The perceived benefits were found to be related to five separate categories. However, the results of this exploratory study cannot be generalized to a target population or to any conclusions about causality, as there is reason to assume that clients with positive experiences were overrepresented in the study population, due to the selection procedure. The results indicate that an analysis focusing on the interaction between client and therapist from a nursing theoretical perspective may increase the knowledge about mechanisms that create perceived benefits, since several aspects of the therapy seem to be related to high-quality nursing.

PMID: 19697993 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Charge transfer in the living matrix.

J Bodyw Mov Ther. 2009 Jul;13(3):215-28

Authors: Oschman JL

The living matrix is defined as the continuous molecular fabric of the organism, consisting of fascia, the other connective tissues, extracellular matrices, integrins, cytoskeletons, nuclear matrices and DNA. The extracellular, cellular and nuclear biopolymers or ground substances constitute a body-wide reservoir of charge that can maintain electrical homeostasis and “inflammatory preparedness” throughout the organism. Recent research has emphasized the significance of charge transfer in relation to the scavenging or neutralization of free radicals delivered to sites of injury during and after the oxidative burst. Evidence comes from studies of the role of electrons in mitigating the consequences of inflammation when living systems are connected to the earth (earthing). The phenomenon helps explain how bodywork and movement therapies can facilitate the resolution of acute or chronic injuries, and how patients with inflammatory conditions may “deplete” a therapist during hands-on treatments. It is suggested that barefoot contact with the earth as well as hands-on and hands-off therapies facilitate healing by stimulating the migration of charges into sites of acute or chronic inflammation. One hypothesis to explain the effects of earthing is that charges from the ground substance reservoir prevent “collateral damage” to healthy tissues in the vicinity of an injury. A second hypothesis is that earthing allows electrons to replenish charge in the ground substance reservoirs, making electrons available throughout the body.

PMID: 19524846 [PubMed - in process]

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Effects of soft tissue mobilization (Rolfing pelvic lift) on parasympathetic tone in two age groups.

Phys Ther. 1988 Mar;68(3):352-6

Authors: Cottingham JT, Porges SW, Lyon T

The effects of a soft tissue mobilization procedure, the Rolfing pelvic lift, on parasympathetic tone was studied in healthy adult men. Parasympathetic tone was assessed 1) by quantifying the amplitude of the respiratory sinus arrhythmia from the heart rate pattern and 2) by measuring heart rate. Heart rate patterns were assessed during the pelvic lift and during the durational touch and baseline control conditions. Two groups of healthy subjects were tested: Group 1 contained 20 subjects aged 26 to 41 years, and Group 2 contained 10 subjects aged 55 to 68 years. In Group 1, the pelvic lift elicited a somatovisceral-parasympathetic reflex characterized by a significant increase in parasympathetic tone relative to durational touch and baseline conditions. Group 2 did not exhibit a parasympathetic change during the pelvic lift. The results of this study contribute to our understanding of pelvic mobilization techniques and may help to explain why these techniques have been clinically successful in treating myofascial pain syndromes and other musculoskeletal dysfunctions characterized by reduced parasympathetic tone and excessive sympathetic activity.

PMID: 3279437 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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[Rolfing–man is and reacts as a whole. Alternative treatment. Interview by Lene S. Gården.]

Sygeplejersken. 1986 May 14;86(20):12-4

Authors: Stewart M, Jensen L

PMID: 3644550 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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