A Review of NMT Torso/Pelvis Seminar!

This past weekend, I attended (along with my twin brother Franz and RKC John Vandenbrink both from the San Diego area)) my 5th seminar from NMT Center, the premeire company teaching NMT in North America and now even in Europe and Japan (http://www.nmtcenter.com/). I have also trained in Neuromuscular Therapy from the St. John's Methods in the late 90's and early 2000's and am now pleased to soon be certified from this other prestigious organization.

The seminar covered soft-tissue techniques for the torso and pelvic areas and included soft-tissue release techniques for the following muscles:

*Trapezius

*Posterior Mid-Thorax

*Latissimus Dorsi

*Intercostal Group

*Lamina Groove (on either spine of the spine)

*Pelvic and Sacral ligaments (those that are accessible)

*Erector Spinae (including deeper muscles such as multifidus, etc.)

*Sacrotuberous ligament (part of posterior oblique muscle-sling system)

*Gluteal Group

*Quadratus Lumborum

*Lateral Abdomen (obliques)

*Rectus Abdominus

*Respiratory Diaphragm

*Psoas/Iliacus

In essence, this seminar covered what many today call the "core."

The seminar started on Friday at 1Pm and is the same lecture given before all NMT Seminars that explains the foundational principles that NMT is based upon. It is always open to guests for free to help educate others what NMT is all about. The intstructor for this course was a man named Don Kelley, who has decades of experience in massage, teaching, cadaver dissection, and much more. To say he was a wealth of knowledge would be an understatement. Fortunately, he was also hillarious and had a great sense of humour which made the long weekend much more enjoyable.

One of the first things that these Friday lectures always emphasize is that the body is not a collection of individual "parts," and that the teaching of the NMT techniques as individual muscles is only to aid in learning. Throughout the weekend Don kept mentioning that is important to think "globally" when dealing with specific painful areas and I couldn't agree more.

Many painful conditions are the results of some tightness/restriction or dysfunction often far removed from the site of pain. Trigger points, nerve pain, and visceral dysfunctions come to mind here.

One concept that Don mentioned that really stuck with me was that next to basic survival needs (food, shelter, water, etc.), the body will always try to achieve

and maintain the following:

1)Ease

2)Comfort

3)Pleasure

Additionally, the body always tries to maintain some semblance of balance with the head and neck so that the visual field lines up with the horizon. The body doesn't want to feel dis-oriented or dizzy as this is a threat to survival.

So when one is injured for example, he or she will position him/herself to try to achieve the most amount of ease, comfort, and pleasure (as well as maintain eyes, ears and teeth level with the horizon); even if this leads to compensations elsewhere in the body that can cause pain and injury later. By the time someone comes into your office, they have had so many life "incidents" that will have led to multiple compensations/adaptations that you really don't know how much of the iceberg is looming under the water (see picture at top!).

In essence, "life is cumulative." When adaptations and compensations (which are healthy in a biological sense) cannot occur anymore, de-compensation occurs and eventual injury and/or disease processes will take place.

Another key tenet of NMT is that there are three primary types of stress that are always affecting all of us all the time. They are:

1)Biomechanical Stressors (overuse, misuse, trauma, disuse, congenital, etc.)

2)Biochemical Stressors (nutritional deficiency, ischemia, dehydration, inflammation, toxicity, endorcine imbalance, immune disorder, etc.)

3)Psychosocial (anxiety, depression, unresolved emotional states, somatization, etc.)

All of these factors converge to create our own individual reality of health and living. Often, when trying to improve health/performance and decrease pain, it is necessary to take steps to improve factors in each of the above-mentioned categories. Massage by itself is not always enough. Doing exercises, stretches, joint mobility work, eating better, staying euhydrated (adequately hydrated), fixing ergonomics and movement habits, improving breathing habits, (I could go on and on...) are important. But focusing on just one aspect (i.e. joint mobility work is the current craze right now) of health often misses the "Big Picture."

I mean, who cares if one's joints aren't as mobile and coordinated as possible if that person is de-hydrated, eating a diet of pro-inflammatory foods, not sleeping well and is stressed beyond belief from a bad divorce for example. Isolated joint exercises aren't gonna be my focus with that person. There may be several things this person needs that I CANNOT provide; this is where referal to another practioner comes in handy. Of course I will preach maintaing at least adequate levels of exercise as well as optimizing food and water intake as these key health habits are essential to support the body in a time of distress.

Hopefully, what is starting to become evident is that NMT is based on a big picture approach as well as acknowledging the following six principles (the Friday lecture really explains these thoroughly):

1. Ischemia- this is basically a lack of oxygen (hypoxia) that results from increased vascular constriciton in stressed/strained muscle tissue. Ischemia is a major reason for much of the pain that people experience on a day to day basis.

2. Trigger Points- areas of hyperirritability (usually found in muscles and tendons) that when stimulated, refer various sensations to distant areas of the body. These referal sensations can include pain, burning, numbness, tingling and even itching. It is important to rule out more sinister causes of these symptoms since certain visceral problems will often masquerade as muscle or joint problems.

3. Nerve Compression/Entrapment/Tension -pressure on nerves by either soft tissues (muscle, tendon, ligaments, fascia, skin, etc...) or by osseous structures (bone).

4. Postural Distortion and Movement Imbalances- genetically acquired imbalances (i.e. short leg, hemi-pelvis) and/or poor postural/movement habits (sitting too long in a slumped posture, wearing high-heel shoes) can over time lead to dysfuncitonal compensations that lead to increased pain syndromes. Over time, chronically stressed/strained tissues can become tense, shortened, and fibrotic resulting in permanant changes in bony alingment of the body.

5. Nutritional Factors- deficiencies in essential nutrients (water, protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals) needed for optimum cellular metabolism or inclusion of substances that are toxic (excessive alcohol, smoking, pesticides, etc..) can increase inflammatory processes in the body leading to increased pain and general poor health.

6. Emotional/Psychological Wellbeing- this refers to how well people mange the stress in their lives. Excessive or poorly managed emotional stress can intensify pain in the body.

One of the things I really love about NMT as a system, is that it acknowledges ALL of the possible factors that can be involved in a person's pain or dysfunctions. It doesn't claim that massage is the answer for everything and actually goes a long way into explaining all the times and circumstances where massage is NOT appropriate.

All in all it was a great weekend and wonderful learning experience. I picked up a couple of techniques that I know are going to be particuarly effective for my clients (especially an easier way to release the diaphragm)!

Organic Versus Conventional Foods

This post is bound to stir up some deep discussion, as the choice of whether to purchase and eat organic versus conventional foods is a hot topic these days.

First off, let's define what "organic" actually means. Basically, organic referes to foods and crops that are grown or developed (in the case of animals) without the use of synthetic hormones or antibiotics, chemicals, or fertilizers. The USDA states the following in their informational brochure for the general public (http://www.ams.usda.gov/nop/Consumers/brochure.html ):

"Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals that are given no antibiotics or growth hormones. Organic food is produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation. Before a product can be labeled "organic," a Government-approved certifier inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. Companies that handle or process organic food before it gets to your local supermarket or restaurant must be certified, too."

All this sounds pretty good to me. Based on that description, I can't see why anyone wouldn't want to eat and support Organic agriculture and products. When you dig deeper however, it is evident that Organic foods are not always the best choice for various reason which I will discuss next.

1) Do Organic farmers use Peticides? First, most people assume that Organic farmers do not use pesticides; this is NOT true. They do use pesticides, only ones that are from "natural" sources which means they have to use a lot more to get the same effect as the modern day "synthetic" variations which are more efficient.

According the Brian Dunning, a skeptical consumer advocate who creates some very informative podcasts from his free website (www.skeptoid.com):

"Since the organic pesticides and fungicides are less efficient than their modern synthetic counterparts, up to seven times as much of it must be used. Organic pesticides include rotenone, which has been shown to cause the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease and is a natural poison used in hunting by some native tribes; pyrethrum, which is carcinogenic; sabadilla, which is highly toxic to honeybees; and fermented urine."

(Remember, small amounts of the above-mentioned "natural" chemicals doesn't mean increased health risk for consumers any more than the allowable and tested "synthetic" and conventional pesticies used today).

Also, many organic crops are grown in composted animal feces (manure) which adds to the risk of bacterial contamination. Brian Dunning (mentioned above) also stated the following noteworthy statistics in his podcast:

"In the United States, 2006 brought two major outbreaks of E. coli, both resulting in deaths and numerous illnesses, ultimately traced to organically grown spinach and lettuce. According to the Center for Global Food Issues, organic foods make up about 1% of all the food sold in the United States, but it accounts for 8% of E. coli cases."

The lesson from this: WASH YOUR FOODS CAREFULLY AND BE LEARY OF BAGGED LETTUCE AND SPINACH.

2) Are Organic Foods Healthier? Organic fruits, grains, veggies, etc. are actually genetically identical to their conventional counterparts. The only thing that differs is the manner in which they are grown and cultivated. It does appear that SOME tests show slightly higher levels of certain nutrients in certain fruits and vegetables (probably due to the better soil but are these effects going to mean much superior health and wellness compared to conventional foods? I'm not sure). If you really believe that Orgainc foods are going to keep healthier, than by all means spend the extra money. The problem is when someone who can't afford to buy Organic fruits and vegetables ends up eating none.

PLEASE, AT LEAST EAT THE CONVENTIONAL, THE BENEFITS OUTWAY THE RISKS.

3) Are Organic Farming Methods better for the environment? From my research, it actually seems as of Organic farming methods take up more land and yield fewer crops per acre. This is essentially how all farming used to be done before modern agriculture. It was very inefficient and that is why so much of the population used to be involved in the farming industry compared to just a few percent of the population today. Also, fewer people would be fed if we relied exclusively on Organic farming methods.

4) Organic Foods Give a Blow to Big Evil Food Corporations. This is more than false. Actually, more and more big food corporations are getting into the Organic food market becasue of higher prices that can be charged. These are the same companies that sell the conventional food products, so either way, they win. But you gotta eat something. If you really want pure, nor coporate food, then grow your own and have your own farm (not a bad idea for some).

THE BOTTOM LINE: Organic foods may be a little more nutritious (how significant this is I don't know) and do promote less synthetic pesticides being entered into the environment. However, they do seem to come with a slightly higher risk of bacterial contamination (read: E. Coli) and are significantly more expensive and less efficient in food volume produced per acre. I guess it's really a personal decision but the science doesn't really support the notion that Organic foods are significantly more nutritious or better for the environment for that matter (less efficient crops means more land needed and more de-forestation). I occasionally buy Orgainc produce and meats just for the "health" of it, but I'm not sure I'm anything more than a little more broke in the bank department.

What Makes A Great Coach?

" A PhD is knowing everything about nothing, coaching is knowing something about everything"

- Istvan Balyi (world-renowned athletic development coach)

I love that statement from Istvan Balyi. It really sums up to me the concept of being a great sporting or conditioning coach. To really be a good, if not great coach, one must have a broad understanding of the following disciplines of sports science:

1. Nutrition (hydration and fueling for optimum physical and mental performance)

2. The Training Process (including assessment, fitness programming, and periodization)

3. Biomechanics (physics applied to the human body and it's interaction with the environment)

4. Physiology (including energy systems, basic homeostasis, hormonal responses, etc.)

5. Psychology (including goal setting, mental skills training, overcoming mental barriers)

6. Motor Control/Motor Learning (including how we learn, retain, and accomplish skills)

7. Restoration/Recovery (including sleep, massage, stretching , joint mobility, etc..)

Of course there are many other facets involved in succesful coaching but these are a great start. This just shows how integrated all subjects really are when it comes to coaching. You don't have a PhD in any of these topics to be a great coach, but you really do have to study a lot of different disciplines to gain an awareness of the entire training process.

The problem with "specialist" knowledge if any one of the above mentioned subjects is that it tends to bias the coach towards seeing every problem as a problem of (enter one of the above here) and therefore limit the solution for such problems. For instance, if a client/athlete has run into a barrier with a particular lift (Squats for example), as a Sports Psychologist, I might focus on more goal setting or mental priming techniques to solve the issue. On the other hand, if I'm an expert on Nutrition, I might be more concerned with proper pre-worout fueling and hydration whereas a Biomechanist might be focused on altering squatting technique to help take advantage of key biomechanical qualities of the muscles, tendons, and ligaments in question. In the final analysis, ALL of the above ideas might be related to the limitation in performance on any given day.

The bottom line: You must keep a macro-view of the entire training process and then be able to focus in on specific scientific disciplines when needed. This is where communication with one of those PhD's (or their textbooks) might come in handy. Just remember though, just becasue someone has a PhD doesn't make them the best candidate for coaching!