by Rob McWilliams | Dec 6, 2007 | Uncategorized
Rolf Movement studies ( as carried out by by Rolfers ranging from Mary Bond, Jane Harringtonand Hubert Godard to Monica Caspari) look at how our perceptual style affects relationship to gravity and to our environment. These in turn give insight into the implicit perceptual bias of a given culture, by looking analytically at their movement preferences, in dance, sport, society, etc..
Has anyone done scientific studies on the psychobiology and physiology of cultural patterns in posture and movement? I don’t mean an anecdotal report that, for example, Brazilians move differently than Americans. It would seem to be somehow linked with the Gamma system of innervation, which affects the quality of our motion by receiving signals from the mid-brain. Imagery and emotions affect our muscle tone via these conduits.
by Rob McWilliams | Dec 4, 2007 | Uncategorized
Okay, this is a slightly provocative title to any dance aficionados out there. It is an ironic turn of phrase anymore, “Modern Dance”, because, like “modern art” it refers to a historical style that, like classical ballet, is an extremely useful, even necessary component in Contemporary Dance training, but not really the whole shebang anymore-like since about 1963. In the dance world, this relates to a family tree of choreographers ranging from Isadora Duncan, Mary Wigman, Martha Graham, Kathryn Dunham and Doris Humphrey to Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey and Alwin Nikolais. The early Moderns listed left a legacy, still important in dance training, of dance guided by intent versus steps and tradition. This doen’t always (or often) translate into linear “meaning”. Modern Dance is ( or was) guided by image, texture, form and a sense of gestalt. Merce Cunningham, set in a background of avant-garde artists like Jasper Johns and John Cage, marks the turn to the post-Modern in Dance. So, “modern” ain’t really modern in dance anymore.
What does this have to do with Rolfing? Modern Dance works with movement through concepts as well as set stylistic elements and techniques. This knowledge can help Rolfers work with dancers with that training. Secondly, this is also an avenue for dancers to understand how Rolfing® Structural Integration works. Yes, there are generally accepted “positional strategies” for the ten-series that form a sort of choreographic base for the work. Beyond any “set choreography” of moves and protocols, contemporary Rolfing uses many conceptual strategies ranging from “the learning cycle” and models of seeing, to “pre-movement” orientation in posture and movement initiation. The client and practitioner work together in a “structured improvisation” that combines sensing in the moment with years of training, wisdom and practice. Its a dance that works towards a common goal of more order, release and integration of your sensory faculties and physical capabilities.
In my opinion, the two disciplines inform each other. It was fascinating for me to see my Unit III instructor outline flow diagrams for Rolfing sessions that exactly follow the Phrase Shape patterns given by Doris Humphrey in her seminal work on Modern Dance choreography, “The Art of Making Dances.” Other interesting connections between classical modern dance theory and Rolfing range from Ideokinesis’ “9 Lines of Movement” (based on original work by Mabel Todd; see works of Eric Franklin for best contemporary presentation of this work) to the ever relevant work of Rudolf Von Laban.
Rolfing can be very detail and small-focus oriented, and benefits from an opening of motion awareness and perspective. Dance training and practice can be very unwieldy and subjective, and benefits, in my opinion, from the clarifying felt sense of support offered by Rolfing. Enjoy!
by Rob McWilliams | Nov 29, 2007 | Uncategorized
This article, at http://rheumatology.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/38/10/974?demonstrates the short-term efficacy of steroid injections with “heel pain”. What it didn’t elaborate on was the rate of side effects, and the limits of the long-term effectiveness of this regimen. Basically, the results leveled off at 1 month ( see “Results” area), and they don’t mention what happens after the injections are stopped. Unless the motion inhibiting soft-tissue and joint issues that created the painful swelling are treated, it will probaby come back. Doesn’t that stand to reason?
Meanwhile, the body’s own natural ability to restore normal tissue fluid balance and anti-inflammatory response via the Adrenal cortex has been sidestepped. Rest, better nutrition and improved fluidity and blood-flow as achieved through a proven soft-tissue, range of motion oriented therapeutic approachin the affected area can be sensibly considered, I feel, possibly postponing Steroid and Cortisone injections. Soft-tissue manipulation such as Rolfing® Structural Integration,with a qualified practitioner,without the high rate of sife effects asscoiated with Steroid injection, can be be considered in any comprehensive strategey before using drugs or surgery! We need to look for solutions that treat the causes of our problems, not just the symptoms. That being said, there are, of course, times where drugs and/or surgery are necessary. This needs to be assessed with an understanding of techniques like Rolfing® Structural Integration, and the powerful and documented results they can bring about.
Rheumatology 1999; 38: 974-977
© 1999 British Society for Rheumatology
Steroid injection for heel pain: evidence of short-term effectiveness. A randomized controlled trial
F. Crawford, D. Atkins1, Simon Slade, P. Young and J. Edwards1
Department of Health Sciences and Clinical Evaluation, University of York and
1 Centre for Rheumatology, University College London, London, UK
Correspondence to: F. Crawford, Department of Health Sciences and Clinical Evaluation, Alcuin College, University of York, Heslington, York YO1 5DD, UK.
Objectives. To compare the effectiveness of a steroid injection (25 mg/ml prednisolone acetate) with a local anaesthetic control in the treatment of heel pain and to determine any advantage for patients’ comfort of using a posterior tibial nerve block to anaesthetize the heel prior to infiltration.
Methods. A double-blind randomized controlled trial using a 2×2 design in a hospital-based rheumatology clinic. Subjects comprised 106 patients with heel pain referred by general practitioners and other rheumatologists working in Camden and Islington Health Authority. Main outcome measures: heel pain reduction at 1, 3 and 6 months, and patient comfort at the time of injection. All outcomes were measured using a 10 cm visual analogue scale.
Results. A statistically significant reduction in pain was detected at 1 month (P=0.02) in favour of steroid injection, but thereafter no differences could be detected. Patient comfort was not significantly affected by anaesthesia of the heel (P=0.5).
Conclusions. A steroid injection can provide relief from heel pain in the short term. There appears to be no increase in patient comfort from anaesthetizing the heel prior to infiltration.
by Rob McWilliams | Nov 26, 2007 | Uncategorized
I was in ballet class today, and I had the opportunity to take barre behind a wonderful young dancer who will be performing in the upcoming shows with Lemon Spongcake Contemporary Ballet, directed by Robert Sherl-Machherndl. These will be December 1st, 8 PM and 2nd, 2PM at Boulder’s Dairy Center for the Arts. What was neat was that she preferred to do barre barefoot! Being a dyed in the wool modern dancer ( who has worked a lot in Contemporary Ballet) I told her how cool I thought that was. She said being barefoot just felt better, and we discussed the need to spread and splay the toes, to counteract bunion formation and related pain and stiffness ( for more info, please see my blog on bunions on this site). It was nice for me to see a young, strong ballerina who was so familiar with her own anatomical and kinesiological needs.
What I notice is that as I functionally balance abductors and abductors around the bunion and whole foot, my awareness and use of my feet in ballet improves, in adagio, jumps and turns. For example, I can feel and control the two way action of pulling up into relèvé and pushing down into the floor through the same foot in pirouettes with more clarity and precision. This is good! The point is, ballet fans, that training your foot to widen between the big and second toes, and to generally increase articulation and widening of the foot will improve your technique and improve the health of the foot and lower leg. That could be pretty important to you, yes?
by Rob McWilliams | Nov 21, 2007 | Uncategorized
Nothing is quite so bothersome to a dancer as sore, dysfunctional feet, especially the big toe. Sadly, nothing is more common! Bunions, especially, can be a problem, to ballet dancers, and to any dancer who emphasizes turnout and relèvés, or who, possibly, has a genetic or learned tendency to develop a bunion. I was sort of all of the above (ballet, modern, genetics), and had the additional problem of having broken my big toe twice, leaving floating bone chips, developing bone spurs between the phalanges ( toe segments) of the toe and between the toe and the metatarsal. Also, neurological damage in my lower back made the great toe and the second toe and dorsal surface of my foot them go numb. The result of this was a very unhappy foot (to say nothing of the hip!) This has improved greatly with time and Rolfing treatment of the toes, ankle, leg and spine.
One thing dancers might not consider: damage to the hinge capacity of the big toe ( hallucis longus) OR walking in constant turned-out position both severely restrict the normal functioning of the gait. When your leg isn’t able to easily “swing back” behind you in your stride, the psoas muscle never stretches in a “normal” way while walking. This is very important for a more relaxed and fluid body and has neurological benefits, such as stimulation of the lumbar plexus. This helps bring on or sustain parasympathetic responses like contentment! So, fixing your bunions won’t just improve your dancing skill and pleasure, it’s good for your overall health!
If you can’t come see me or another qualified Rolfer, treat your bunions by icing them and gentle tissue manipulation and awareness exercises like the following:
1. Try gentle counter-rotations between each phalange, and between the proximal phalange and the metatarsal.
2. Repeat the above, gently emphasizing flexion/extension and abduction/adduction of each toe segment or phalange.
3. In a standing position, put the foot in a parallel side position; anchor yourself from the big toe, and twist away from the extended foot, splaying your toes; actively push through your big toe to rotate your hips and torso away from that foot.
4. From the “splayed” foot position above, with the foot behind, twist against that leg, softening back and down into the lateral heel surface; now push through from the little toe and lateral surface, and use an oppositional twist in your torso to accentuate this stretch.
5. Come back to an internediate position and hinge through the big toe and metatarsal joints; I like to add a full body torsoforward at the waist and hip joints, allowing the lower abdominals and pelvic floor to completely relax; try to maintain the slight “splayed” rotation sense in the toes/metatarsals, spreading the space between big toe and second toe especially.
6. Can’t figure that out? Play around and find ways to push from and then hinge through the big toes that open the space between big and second toes!
7. Seated or standing, try to lift and lower and articlulate between each metatarsal and each cuneiform or “tarsal” bone.
8. Fan the toes up, then lay them down in sequence, starting with the little toe. Pay special attention to fixing the toes in place as you reach the big toe in and away from the other toes. Fix the big toe in place and reach the little toe away from the big toe, in order to start this exercise again. Keep working on this until it gets easier to feel the balance of work between the abductor hallucis and adductor hallucis.
People suffering from bunions ( like me!) need to tonify and re-pattern movement in these muscles and related areas, ranging from the sling-like supporting action of tibialis posterior in combination with fibularis( aka peroneous)brevis and longus to the stirrup-like support from tibialis anterior and fibularis longus.
Want more info? Please email me at robmcwilliams@mac.com, and I’ll be happy to reply and dialogue with you about this and related topics.
Thanks!!
