Manual Magic - a Proposal: Booklet Download

[Diane]

Manual Magic - a Proposal: Booklet Download

[proud]

Well I wish my schedule had not conflicted with the recent course in Halifax...

I read this booklet (thanks Diane) and although it's great writing...I still find myself with raised eyebrows. I think I get the gist of what he is writing about but I am still left wondering what on earth Barrett is actually "doing" as a clinician. I actually find Barrett a bit of a magician himself because he writes alot( Ive read a fair amount here in search of what he is in fact doing) but the "doing" aspect is never....actually.....there....

Barrett, you often write about how frustrated you are that the message does not appear to reach the masses. Perhaps less writing and more "meat" would be helpful? Perhaps a manual like Diane's DNM one would stimulate more minds? It would not have to be all encompassing, just some basic guidance to start.

I can tell you that in the clinic I work at( 8 PT's), I have shown them the DNM manual and many have actually utilized some of the techniques with some success. The result is they have asked if there is a course they could take. That's a start.

I am sure had I attended, I would be a bit better able to seperate the wheat from the chalf...I hope....

[Diane]

proud, I've been to Barrett's workshop, and what he teaches is how to do Nothing. Nothing manual anyway, except touch someone, on the skin, through clothes. So really, why would he bother to make a manual?

The other stuff in the workshop you can read here for free.
It really is interesting to attend a workshop, but one is all you'd ever need. Then you'd probably not need any more after that, because you'd spot all the waste of money and start getting pretty picky.

[Julie]

Diane, that's exactly what I was just going to say! Exactly.

[Jason Silvernail]

I've never been to Barrett's workshop but he spent 20 minutes with me and my wife once in an unused conference room at APTA 2005. It was a great 20 minutes and he did exactly what he's said a million times he does. Approaches the patient gently and lets his hands land on them. Neuroscience explains the movement that happens next and what that means about the nature and resolution of the patient's complaint. He also taught a feldenkrais movement awareness exercise and some diaphragmatic breathing. Basically, he did everything he said he does with patients. I didn't get any CEUs or a nifty certificate but it changed forever my understanding of human movement and the use of movement for mechanical pain.

I find it hard to believe that anyone who actually reads here can say they're not sure what it is he does. It's been said so many times. Why did I think saying it again here would help?

[nari]

OK, I'll add to the conversation about doing Nothing.

proud, it is important that the therapist does nothing, except a touch or two. It is also important that the therapist knows about the signs of correction and why they are occuring. Any suggestions or advice or interruption by the therapist will stall or prevent the patient's instinctive movement.

The only difficulty that may arise is the patient often expects and waits for instructions plus guidance. That's how PTs operate, after all, in people's minds. Touch and stand back. The PT needs to be out of the way, even if significant movement does not occur.

Nari

[Barrett Dorko]

With very few (but significant) exceptions I've not gotten the effectiveness of doing nothing thoughtfully across and I doubt proud that you would become one of the exceptions were you to attend my workshop.

Still, the presentation itself has regularly been popular with those who appreciate an experienced and talented speaker and who think that if they listen all day and participate in lab that they've done all that is required of them professionally.

These days I employ Simple Contact in the presence of and very occasionally on therapists who see me every day for weeks. If they express sufficient interest I give them a copy of my course manual and I always invite them here. Absolutely no one has followed up in any fashion I can discern. We all know what the potentially influential group of 16 from St. Augustine has chosen to do in the five months they've been given. It is as if I was never there and we here at Soma Simple didn't exist.

Maybe I should have given them a course manual without words; just pictures of my hands on another.

Think that would work?

[proud]

These days I employ Simple Contact in the presence of and very occasionally on therapists who see me every day for weeks. If they express sufficient interest I give them a copy of my course manual and I always invite them here. Absolutely no one has followed up in any fashion I can discern. We all know what the potentially influential group of 16 from St. Augustine has chosen to do in the five months they've been given. It is as if I was never there and we here at Soma Simple didn't exist.

Maybe I should have given them a course manual without words; just pictures of my hands on another.

Think that would work?

Yep well, my suggestion was just that...a suggestion.

I gather we all live in areas where for the most part things are governed by majority rule. It is up to the minority to get their message to the masses to change minds.

All I am saying is that perhaps your message is lost amongst the poetry and prose. PT's especially orthopeadically driven ones, tend to be looking for what works....the science be dammed. Backwards thinking I know but that's the world we live in.

My suggestion was simple. Lay it out here in case format. Exactly what you do in a session. Why you do it and what you expect etc. Trust me....people read here. Most do not register and certainly most do not post anything. But people read so the audience is here.

Speaking for about 10-11 PT's I hang out with regularily, they state that they find most of your writings appear like ramblings. Just saying what I've heard. This despite my encouragement to the contrary. As much as you may not like it, PT's generally work backwords:

1.) What is the technique?

2) How do I do it?

3) Does it work?

4.) And finally...when all above are satisfied....why?

You are expecting people to proceed from #4( why ie the science).

All I am suggesting anyway is that from experience....Diane's DNM manual has suceeded in peaking the interest of a group of orthopeadic PT's that I work with. That's a start.

I like your writing Barrett, but if your intent is to help move the profession forward....I am afraid the mode of transmision is not working well. I suggested an alternative.

And Jason, thanks by the way for either suggesting A) I do not read or, B) I do read but am to stupid to understand. Thanks for that. Just to be clear....it's neither( at least I and my peers think not...).

[Luke Rickards]

Hi proud,

You seem quite frustrated with the responses to your questions, and no doubt you feel you have good reason for this.

I certainly understand the desire (or need) for the kind of specific instruction - meat, as you call it - that you are looking for. Unfortunately for most of Barrett's students, and I suppose unfortunately for Barrett also, Simple Contact just can't be taught in such a manner. If Barrett were to tell you where to place your hands, when and for how long, I guarantee you would be less successful with the technique, not more. That doesn't mean that clinical direction of any sort is impossible, it's just that the patient's natural response is the most important determinant in the process of treatment, not what you think you should do.

Perhaps this will add to your frustration, but I can only repeat what others have written: that is, this site is already littered with excellent and totally unpoetic descriptions of what Barrett does and why.

[Mary C]

One instruction (how to) that I remember is to touch the skin over areas where a bone is prominent. Since the most prominent bone is the skull, that's where we started.

Mary

[Jason Silvernail]

And Jason, thanks by the way for either suggesting A) I do not read or, B) I do read but am to stupid to understand. Thanks for that. Just to be clear....it's neither( at least I and my peers think not...).

I've suggested neither of those things. Are you sure you applied option A above to my post?

I totally agree with Luke that more specifics are unneeded. I think it's pretty clear that excess devotion to specifics has held manipulative therapy back for quite some time. Why follow that paradigm?

[BB]

Proud,

I think where the frustration occurs is that we've been ruined to a point by our previous education. Most every technique is focused on application, how to "do it" to the person. Simple contact is all about how to allow something from the person. The difference is astounding and tough to change mid-stride. I know.

It's not easy, although its simple. It really is but a laying on of hands and then staying out of the way while pointing out indications of that which they seek.

[proud]

I find it hard to believe that anyone who actually reads here can say they're not sure what it is he does. It's been said so many times. Why did I think saying it again here would help?

Jason, I took that as implication that I must not actually read. Sorry if I read that wrong....

Frustrated? Yes, you could say that. It makes very little sense to me that a) it appears posters here would seemingly rather not direct an inquiring mind about simple contact; and then B) complain that the massess don't seem to care about what Barrett is teaching. Well...I am the masses and one that actually cares to inquire.

I was merely suggesting an alternative mode to transmit the information. Something less than 17 pages with obscure references to various poets and philosphers. Something more specific. I mean, I assume Barrett is doing something no matter how subtle it is.

I have looked through the site( a fair amount of time but certainly not exaustive) and I just cannot "get" what Barrett does in the clinic. Sorry. That's not meant to be argumentative. But as I have always been...if I don't "get" something.....I ask straight up.

That kind of behavior got me in all kinds of trouble while taking my advanced orthopeadic manual therapy courses....I'm pretty sure a couple of instructors never want to see me again. But I was right all along( perhaps they knew it?).....

Ahhh, should have taken the course....

[Diane]

Don't worry proud, I was one of those who didn't believe that there was Nothing to it until after I attended an actual workshop and became convinced I'd not need to attend any others as long as I lived.

Well, not quite true - after Barrett's I went to Shacklock's, which I was already enrolled in, and was interesting. But haven't been on one since. Barrett's was in Sept 05, and Shacklock's was shortly thereafter in November '05. I'd been enrolled for nearly a year by then.

[Barrett Dorko]

It's okay that you weren't in Nova Scotia proud. The people actually in attendance didn't seem to get it either.

What I'm working on now is an emphasis on the presentation itself. I honestly think I can get the ideas across with greater clarity and "stickyness' if I take the advice of those who know how to do that.