Attention to my Madison classmates...

[Crazy Pole]

This thread is for any of my classmates from the Madison course. I'd like to hear how you are doing (good or otherwise) as you process the information and begin to integrate this approach and clinical reasoning into your practice. Please, share your thoughts...

Wes

[Barrett Dorko]

Wes,

Thanks for starting this. Once people get into work this coming week perhaps we'll see a comment or two. I especially enjoyed being there, and when Ray asked about the paradox of blushing when angry I knew why I had wandered through the library the week before. I don't know that I could do this job competently without that sort of constant preparation.

I'm must say that I am sorry I never asked you to hold aloft the coveted Cuyahoga Falls cap you have certainly earned with this thread. Maybe the promise of a prize like that will draw out some more recent workshop participants.

[johnvanpt]

I have used the technique with some success already. I thought I might have to use the fire extiguisher on one patient last night. The heat coming from her occipital area was impressive!

[Crazy Pole]

Barrett, thanks for the second chance. I probably should have just bucked the cultural norm and worn the cap prominently in class.

Johnvanpt, welcome to the board and thank you for contributing to the discussion. At our clinic, I could have issued your patient a cold pack (no formal charge) and still gotten a "unit" towards my productivity. Now I'm starting to show my displeasure for "productivity", but I really do appreciate your contribution.

Myself, I took on a daunting task as my first patient. My wife. She has recently been diagnosed with costochondritis. Myself, I suspect mechanical deformation of tissues. I explained the science behind this and tried my darndest to provide an environment that promoted free movement. Nonetheless, there was no movement, no characteristics of correction. I moved my hands every 3 seconds, as Bobath would have. Still no signs. This woman is so influenced by the culture ("but my momma always told me to suck it in", and "i always thought you were supposed to sit up straight"), that she does not yet seem ready to abandon that ("let's just go to sleep"). I love her nonetheless. I'll keep trying...

Wes

P.S. If any of you see her, please don't tell her I am writing about her. She's a little self-conscious...

[Jon Newman]

Dead man walking!

[nari]

Wes,

I have been trying to get my husband to even consider moving into ideomotor expression, for over a year....
No go.

Good luck...


Nari

[Karie]

Wes,

Where are your handplacements?

Karie

[Crazy Pole]

Karie,

Now, now, I barely know you. I'm not sure that I'm comfortable answering that. And now I am responding from my in-laws house, so I am even less comfortable.

In all seriousness, I worked cranially, around the shoulders, and upper thoracic area. I tried standing and supine. I'll probably have to send her to Cuyahoga Falls within the next few weeks.

nari,

Thanks for the vote of confidence, of sorts. Glad to know that I am not the only one married to someone difficult. That almost sounds like the start of a new thread (loving your mate, despite their difficulties). Actually, sounds more like a daytime talk show.

Gotta go do 50 push-ups for my retired-Air-Force-Colonel-turned-father-in-law,

Wes

[Luke Rickards]

Wes,

Something that I've found useful - don't be too strict with the 3 seconds. I often find myself waiting for 20 secs before ideomotion emerges.

[nari]

Wes,

Sometimes longer than 20 secs, especially when the patient is quite convinced I am going to do something.
With one woman, my touch did not achieve anything, but when she laid her own hand very lightly on the surface of her upper chest (it was quite bony) it took her about 5 seconds.
She squeaked "Oh my god" and although there were no radical movements, she experienced all sorts of SNS changes, and noted that the severe bilateral pain in her feet was resolving. (Her diagnosis was fibromyalgia with likely peripheral neuropathy).

Unfortunately it returned afterwards, but she experienced almost total pain relief for some time and that was the first time for about 6 years. She was pretty happy.

Nari

[Jason Silvernail]

Wes-
I've found that my wife and I can help each other with these movements, but it may be that we were both treated by Barrett at a PT conference last year, so she got to experience the movement and the explanation along with me.
Treating or teaching anyone you have an emotional relationship with can be rough sailing, but I'm sure you don't need me to tell you that...

J

[Barrett Dorko]

I've treated virtually every member of my family with great success over the years. Perhaps this says something about my emotional connection to them, but I doubt it. Maybe I'm just lucky. It is a fact that spouses commonly struggle in this way and when someone tells me that this is who they intend to practice upon I usually cringe.

I feel a need here to emphasize that it isn't the size of the ideomotion that is important, and, indeed, it may not be visible in any way though it is almost always palpable. It is the nature of the movement in response to Simple Contact; a nature that includes the characteristics of correction, that is important.

Karie,

Specific hand placement is both important and unknown to the therapist until after the contact is made. The patient tells them where to go and what to do. Luke and Nari are certainly right about waiting a while at times. I don't mention this to my classes and probably should. I have the sense that most are far too impatient and/or hurried to spend that sort of time, and I'm not kidding.

[christophb]

I constantly remind myself that it is the nature of simple contacts touch to be informative. Early on in the practice of it I found myself wanting to inform people of the new knowledge I acquired vs their ideomotor movement. Since I am a crazed egomaniac, this is slowly starting to disappear (almost a year an a half later ;). Another thing I have discovered is that while most of the time I use light touch, occasionally I will use a deeper, heavier contact to elicit ideomotion.

I also experience difficulty trying to do simple contact on my wife. I found that by wearing the Cuyahoga Falls baseball cap when I worked on her ideomotion flowed endlessly.

Chris

[Barrett Dorko]

Chris,

:note: "Perhaps there was some magic in that old top hat we found, for when we put it on his head he began to dance around."

Name that tune.

[Karie]

"Frosty the Snowman" Barrett

Do I win a prize? :D

I was curious where Wes was working from. I agree the patient tells you where to go! But not in the way he was alluding to, LOL, Wes did you tell your wife what you were telling me :angel:

Wes,

For fun try eliciting ideomotion with your Father in law, those guys were taught never to be in their bodies and feel anything. If you get him to move, nothing will stop you!!! ;)

Patients of mine that are from the military, marines especially, take a while to elicit, but they eventually do. I agree with the comment about taking more time.
You'll be great!

Karie

[BB]

Wes,

I've had issues in the past with treating my wife as well. Take a look at this old post (http://www.somasimple.com/forums/showpost.php?p=21345&postcount=115). It actaully sparked one of the most helpful to me, discussions I've ever had here. Got me past an issue I'd struggled with in the clinic.

Do you have to do your push-up Jack Palance style?

[Crazy Pole]

BB,

Thanks for the laugh. Basically, I do whatever the Colonel asks for at that moment. Thanks also for the link; I'll look into it.

Glad to see the responses thus far. Yet, very little input from my classmates. If you're reading this, please offer any input you might have.

Wes