Category Archives: Physiology
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Vagus Nerves and Inflammation
Posted on September 18, 2019 by Dawn in Articles, Human Body, Physiology, Questions and Answers, SMRTAlthough chronic inflammation progresses silently, it is the cause of most chronic diseases and presents a major threat to the health and longevity of individuals. Inflammation is considered a major contributor to several diseases, such as: Cardiovascular diseases Diabetes Rheumatoid Arthritis Cancer Allergic Asthma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Alzheimers Chronic Kidney Disease Inflammatory Bowel […]
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Working on the Abdominal Muscles
Posted on July 7, 2017 by Dawn in Abdomen, Human Body, massage therapy, Massage Therapy Continuing Education, NCBTMB approved continuing education, Physiology, Ribs, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueHow often do you work on the abdominal muscles? What do you do? When using SMRT, we teach therapists to balance left and right abdominal muscle tone by working directly with each of the abdominal muscles. The Respiratory Diaphragm We begin with releases for the respiratory diaphragm. The respiratory diaphragm is of major importance to […]
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SMRT as Continuing Education for Personal Trainers
Posted on June 16, 2017 by Dawn in Anatomy, Feet, Human Body, Knees, Legs, Lower Extremities, Physiology, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueIn May, I became a certified personal trainer. I did this mainly to add value to my teaching and the SMRT video streaming service. I also did this because several states have prohibited bodyworkers from giving clients stretches or exercises and I think more will follow suit. I feel like the exercise piece is the […]
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Manual Therapy for the Anterior Neck
Posted on May 26, 2016 by Dawn in Anatomy, Articles, Head & Neck, Human Body, Physiology, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueRecently I read an article about a woman suing a massage therapist and Massage Envy. The woman believes that the massage therapist was aggressive enough on her anterior neck that it lead to a stroke. I do not know if this is possible, but I do not know that it is impossible. Since that article […]
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Balancing the Lower Leg
Posted on July 27, 2015 by Dawn in Anatomy, Legs, Lower Leg, Massage Therapy Continuing Education, NCBTMB approved continuing education, Physiology, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueMuscles that attach to the fibula include: extensor digitorum longus ibularis (peroneus) longus fibularis (peroneus) brevis fibularis (peroneus) tertius tibialis anterior tibialis posterior extensor hallucis longus flexor hallucis longus and tibialis posterior. Tension in the muscles in the lateral compartment of the lower leg can pull the fibula closer to the tibia. More tension […]
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Research on Craniosacral Therapy
Posted on July 27, 2015 by Dawn in Articles, PhysiologyHere is an interesting blog post from the Upledger Institute by Tim Hutton Ph.D., CST-D. on recent research on CSF and the Upledger Pressurestat Model. https://www.facebook.com/notes/upledger-institute-craniosacral-therapy-study-group/a-comment-from-tim-hutton-phd-cst-d-recent-researchon-csf-and-the-upledger-pres/10151575767747856
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Suboccipital Muscle Tension
Posted on June 5, 2015 by Dawn in Anatomy, Head & Neck, NCBTMB approved continuing education, Physiology, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueI want to explore tension in the suboccipital muscles and what the causes of that tension may be. First, let’s make a direct connection between the position of the occiput on the atlas (C1) and tension in the suboccipital triangle muscles (namely: rectus capitis posterior major, rectus capitis posterior minor, obliquus capitis inferior, and […]
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The Posterior Sling
Posted on May 4, 2015 by Dawn in Anatomy, Articles, Back & Spine, Elbow, Feet, Knees, Legs, Lower Back, Lower Leg, NCBTMB approved continuing education, Physiology, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueBy Dawn Lewis The posterior sling is comprised of the latissimus dorsi muscle on one side of the body, the ipsilateral or same side thoracolumbar fascia and then transferring to the opposite side or contralateral thoracolumbar fascia and the opposite side gluteus maximus. We will explore the implications of this in 3 ways: 1) Latissimus […]
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Iliotibial Band (ITB)
Posted on September 3, 2014 by Dawn in Human Body, massage therapy, Massage Therapy Continuing Education, Muscle Pain, NCBTMB approved continuing education, Physiology, Questions and Answers, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueThe iliotibial band (ITB) or tract (ITT) is for some of us impenetrable. I have clients who use foam rollers, percussers, heavy stretching with bands, etc. and still cannot effectively soften the ITT. I have students who use t-bars, elbows, stretches, deep pressure, etc. and, after all that work, simply do not get the […]
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More on Releasing Tight Hips
Posted on July 29, 2014 by Dawn in Physiology, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique, Testimonials and ReviewsA few months ago I told you all about a man I had done 2 minutes of iliopsoas releases on in my chiropractors office. I have been seeing this man every 2 weeks for the past 4 months. His wife told me today that his hip pain has not been this good in over 15 […]
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Omohyoid Muscle
Posted on July 25, 2014 by Dawn in NCBTMB approved continuing education, Physiology, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueLet’s examine the omohyoid muscle. Omohyoid, or omohyoideus, is a muscle with two bellies. The inferior belly originates from the superior border of the scapula and runs from posterior to anterior across the superior shoulder toward the clavicle. The central tendon of omohyoid (i.e., the tendon between the inferior and superior bellies) is attached […]
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Adductor Magnus
Posted on June 17, 2014 by Dawn in Physiology, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueToday I worked on a gentleman whose adductors were incredibly tight and painful to the touch. There was a moment when I did a release and all of his tenderness dissipated. The tissue then allowed me to sink several inches deeper into his inner thigh. The release I did was specifically for adductor magnus. Adductor […]
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Working with the Ribcage
Posted on June 12, 2014 by Dawn in bodywork, Physiology, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueThis week I worked on a new client, who happens to be a fellow massage therapist. She presented with an issue that I have written about in the past. Her upper right rib cage was posterior and it was immobile. Her scapula was shifted lateral, into abduction, because of the rib position. Her pain radiated […]
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Weak Knee Week
Posted on May 14, 2014 by Dawn in Muscle Pain, Physiology, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique, Testimonials and ReviewsThis week seems to be knee week. I have one client who has had her left ACL replaced twice. Her ACL appears to have stretched again and she is choosing to not undergo surgery again, but is coupling massage with a personal trainer to maintain functional biomechanics while building the muscle strength in her left leg. Another client, fell […]
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Dental Work and Neck Pain
Posted on March 10, 2014 by Dawn in Physiology, Spontaneous Muscle Release Technique, Testimonials and ReviewsToday I had a new client. When I first saw her, I knew that I wanted to work on her neck, head, and upper back. I asked her what she would like to have worked on and she told me she was having pain on the inside of her right leg each time she brought […]
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Case Study – Beth’s Knee
Posted on February 25, 2014 by Dawn in Anatomy, bodywork, Physiology, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueBeth’s right knee hurts so bad she can hardly walk, she told me when she arrived for her appointment. Thankfully, Beth had scheduled a 2-hour session. I begin by assessing the alignment and mobility of Beth’s right femur. The femur was fairly immobile and out of its natural placement. It was anterior at the hip […]
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New Course: Lower Extremities
Posted on November 5, 2013 by Dawn in Anatomy, CE's on DVD, Human Body, Massage CE's on DVD, Massage Therapy Continuing Education, Muscle Pain, NCBTMB approved continuing education, Physiology, Press Releases for Full Circle, SMRT, Spontaneous Muscle Release TechniqueAurora, CO – Full Circle School, Inc. will be teaching in several new locations in 2014. New locations include Couer d’Alene, ID, Hot Springs, AR, Watford City, ND, and Rochester, MN. We will also be returning to Winter Park, FL and Seattle, WA, as well as teaching in Colorado and Texas. All courses are Spontaneous […]
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The Muscle Bone Relationship
Posted on June 25, 2013 by Dawn in Anatomy, Human Body, Physiology(Published in Massage Magazine April, 2013) I once had a women in the Tennessee government tell me that as a massage therapist I was not legally allowed to touch bones. I asked her how I was supposed to give a massage without touching bones, and she replied, "I don't know, but you have to find […]
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Deep Tissue Work with Less Pain and Effort
Posted on July 20, 2012 by Dawn in Anatomy, Human Body, Muscle Pain, PhysiologyDeep-Tissue Work with Less Pain and Effort Deep-tissue massage could be defined as a set of moves designed to guide the therapist into deeper tissues, or as a variety of strokes meant to treat a specific area of pain. Then again, deep-tissue massage could be defined as any technique that allows the therapist to contact […]
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Chronic Neck Pain 3 of 3
Posted on September 10, 2011 by Dawn in Anatomy, Human Body, Muscle Pain, Physiology, Questions and AnswersIssue: Chronic neck pain, continued….. Solution: The 66 year old client I am working on is an avid book reader. He drives for a living and reads in the car while waiting for customers. He cannot, however, lift the book up for any length of time because of his shoulder injuries. So, he lays the […]
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