by Walt Fritz, PT on April 30, 2012
I believe curiosity is one of the strongest assets that make a therapist successful. But, curiosity on the part of my patients can reap even bigger outcomes.
I have an acquaintance who is a mental health therapist. In her office she keeps a toy magic wand. Among others things, she will often give it to a client, often a child, and ask them if they could do anything, what would they do to fix things. It is not an uncommon approach in mental health, and it often gives the client freedom to dream and wish. I use a similar strategy during myofascial release treatment. Picture this scenario…your client has seen a vast number of “specialists” all whom have proclaimed what is wrong (diagnosis), or what should be done (previously unsuccessful treatment history). Our client sits there, listening to the experts come up with one more thing that probably will not work, at least completely. Many, if not all, of our clients hold inside what they really think is wrong or what should be done, but what do they know, they are not the expert. So they follow along, like a dog on a leash, from one dead end to another.
What if you asked them what they think they needed; give them the credit they deserve? I will frequently ask my clients “If I could do anything for you, what would it be?” After they say “fix my pain” (they usually say this!), I ask them to feel and think; what could I do that would help. With uncanny accuracy, they come up with helpful advice for me. Me, the expert.
Be curious. Get out your magic wand.
For Now,
Walt Fritz, PT
by Walt Fritz, PT on April 5, 2012
A funny thing happens when you use a modality long enough; technique seems less important. In the beginning, the techniques were everything. How many classes could I take and how many new techniques could I learn? Of course there were plenty of new seminars to fill my needs, each promising more and more. But after a point I realized that the techniques were the easy part of myofascial release. What was the essence of this work was the development of the feel. I’ve written about this feel in the past, as it is the basis of what I do on a daily basis, as well as what I try to give to each therapist that takes one of my seminars.
The feel is making a complete feedback loop. Touching into your patient, sensing an area of tightness that feels like the cause of pain. You then make your patient aware of the area you located and seek their feedback. Confirmation completes the loop. This sounds simple, it sounds like what we all do daily, and for some of us it is. But I believe that there s a deeper awareness that therapists need to hone in themselves before they can fully sense and connect to this feel.
Techniques are easy, we make them up each day, based on situation and need. Moving your hand, direction, or intent ever so slightly can drastically change the effect. Knowing the anatomy is helpful, but not essential. Whether you are a believer of the fascia’s influence on pain or not, the interconnectedness of the body blurs the line between one structure and another. We develop hundreds of variations on what we already know every time we touch and treat a patient. See if you can deepen technique, by honing your feel.
For now,
Walt Fritz, PT
