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Stress is a term in psychology and biology, borrowed from physics and engineering and first
used in the biological context in the 1930s, which has in more recent decades become
commonly used in popular parlance. It refers to the consequence of the failure to respond
adequately to mental, emotional, or physical demands, whether actual or imagined on the
body. When someone perceives a threat, their nervous system responds by releasing a flood
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A diagram of the General Adaptation Syndrome model as designed by Selye. Courtesy of Wikipedia
Stages of Stress
Alarm is the first stage. When the threat or stressor is identified or realized, the body's stress
response is a state of alarm. During this stage, adrenaline will be produced in order to bring
about the fight-or-flight response. There is also some activation of the HPA axis,
producing cortisol.
Resistance is the second stage. If the stressor persists, it becomes necessary to attempt
some means of coping with the stress. Although the body begins to try to adapt to the strains
or demands of the environment, the body cannot keep this up indefinitely, so its resources are
gradually depleted.
Exhaustion is the third and final stage in the GAS model. At this point, all of the body's
resources are eventually depleted and the body is unable to maintain normal function. The
initial autonomic nervous system symptoms may reappear (sweating, raised heart rate, etc.).
If stage three is extended, long-term damage may result, as the body's immune system
becomes exhausted, and bodily functions become impaired, resulting in symptoms and
conditions including ulcers, depression, anxiety, diabetes, digestion disorders,
even cardiovascular problems.
When the body is in this stress state it will commonly present in defensive positions, which
are the return to the foetal position. This shortens muscles of the hip and knee, shoulder
girdle and forearm, cervical region (poke chin) and Tx/diaphragm and Lx/Sx regions.
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Poor breathing with reduced ability of the diaphragm to contract and thereby using
the accessory respiratory muscles including Scalenes and Pec minor.
Ceases the parasympathetic nervous system via the control of the Hypothalamus.
Alters the emotional state which can be embedded into the fascia.
Rapid aging
Weight gain
Heart disease
Cancer
Digestive problems
Irritability, anger
Depression
Insecurity
Loss of libido
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DIAPHRAGMATIC BREATHING
o
We will learn how to get the diaphragm firing and instantly interrupt the stress
response
Correct deep breathing means efficient gas exchange of O2, CO2 and haemoglobin.
Before we activate the diaphragm we need to become aware of the position of the
spine. The more upright you get your thoracic spine the more you open up your ability
to breath.
By correcting your position alone you can increase your oxygen intake by up to 1
litres per minute
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Summary
Psoas Major
ACTION - Flexes the hip joint, flexes the trunk if legs are fixed
Influences the biomechanics and balance of the pelvis and lumbar spine
When tight pulls the Lx spine into lordosis
When doesnt fire reduces the Lx lordosis
Its role in defensive positions is pulling the legs up into a ball
Flex the hip with leg externally rotated and abducted to match the line of the Psoas
Stabilise the opposite Ilium with one hand
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Press down on the elevated straight leg at the ankle whilst the client resists your
pressure
Look for strength and/or cramping in the Quadriceps (sign of overuse of this group)
Check the ability of the client to hold the leg up.
Hamstrings
ACTION extends the hip and flexes the knee, short head flexes the knee only
Adductor Magnus (hamstring portion) extends the hip joint
Exercises for Hamstrings include leg curls, squats and Leg press with Quads
Take the relaxed leg into hip flexion till the client feels the stretch record length
Test the psoas and hamstring and allow the client to register their length/strength
Explain how they work together and why we test together
Work the Reflex points for 30 seconds each side
Now re-test the Psoas and Hamstring and expect dramatic shifts
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Major muscle responsible for keeping us upright, stabilising the pelvis during
movement and power and control in sitting to standing/walking/stair climbing
ACTIONS extends the hip joint, braces the knee in extension, lateral rotation of the
hip.
Quadriceps
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Consist of 2 distinct muscles and actions, Gastrocnemius being the most significant.
As it crosses 2 joints and flexes both the knee and plantar-flexes the ankle if it is not
firing correctly and/or shortened it will impact overall biomechanics.
A tight Calf will unlock the knee in the stance phase of Gait and load the Quads
instead of the natural transfer up the lateral component of the leg, up and across the
sacrum and up the contralateral side of the trunk. The spine should be the engine of
all our movements and if this is not the case the body will lock up quickly
ACTION flex the ankle (aiding in pushing off in running or walking) and flexion of
the knee (not Soleus)
Exercises include standing or seated calve raises
This test is a flexibility test and with the leg extended fully you are looking at the
dorsiflexion of the ankle
Push the knee into full extension and the angle of dorsiflexion should be a minimum
0
0
0
0
of 15 past 90 and good flexibility 30 40 past 90
Tibialis Anterior
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Rectus Abdominus, Obliques internal and external and Transverse Abdominus all
have similar actions but can become very dysfunctional in their alignment similar to
setting up a tent with all the tent wires strung in different tensions.
ACTION flexion of the trunk, lateral flexion, rotation and tertiary stability, raises the
intra-abdominal pressure to provide stability (TA)
Exercises include crunches, sit-ups, leg raises, planks
Instruct your client to cross arms and perform a sit up and assist them if required
Ensure you have one arm locking their legs down by applying weight onto the knees
with your arm
Once in this position put your other forearm onto their crossed arms and push them
back to the table/floor whilst they resist
Make sure that the client is not cheating by using the neck; get them to slightly extend
the neck back to neutral and open the jaw
Variations include obliques where they twist their trunks and resist your pressure.
Main reflex is inside the thighs just posterior to the Adductor Longus
The Rectus Abdominus is more distal and the Obliques and TA are superior and up
to the attachment area of the Adductors
Activation of the total region by slapping, finger kneading ensure that all muscles are
fully neurally stimulated and can assist in correct core function and less focus on the
Jaw and neck
The secondary region is on the back running in the mid-thoracic area, rubbing with
the flat of your hand is sufficient to stimulate it but in conjunction with the front region
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Jaw
st
When we lock or tense up the jaw, which is a common activity when stressed, it affects the 1
nd
and 2 Vertebrae which dampens the neural activity throughout the body. It can also be felt
at the Gluts and will affect stride length.
Once we jaw bite the body becomes weak and will stay that way till we do something
about it.
Lock the jaw and walk
o Feel the tension throughout the body
o Decreased stride length
o Test the diaphragm reflex
o Touch toes and feel where you are tight, then open your mouth wide and
redo the move
Open your jaw as wide as you can and see how many fingers you can get into it
Massage the masseter and pterygoids and work softly into any areas of increased
pain
Then move up and massage the temporalis muscle looking for superficial fascial skin
bind
Instruct your client to move the jaw from side to side for 30 seconds
Retest the jaw width with the fingers
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Also re-check the hamstring and calf length to see if there is greater ROM (what
affects the top will affect the bottom)
Pelvic floor
Not to forget the necessity of the pelvic floor to assist in the
stability of the lower core and the correlation to lower back
pain; a group of tissues that include the long and broad
ligaments.
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Client bends their knee to 90 then pulls their ankle to the chin
Should be able to reach the chin on both sides
Assess length, pain, bilateral evenness
Test the lats by asking the client to internally rotate the straight arm and hold to the
side of the body
Ask them to hold it there and you pull outwards
If the piriformis on the left is the problem it is usually the lat on the right too
th
Front reflex is the most efficient and found between 7 & 8 ribs directly under the
nipple
Palpate the lower ribs and work up for this landmark (ie move 2 up)
Usually quite tender so go gently
th
th
Also points located between the 7 & 8 ribs approx 3cm lateral to the spine but less
common
Once activated re-check the Piriformis and Lat to test improvement
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Functional mobility of the shoulder and arm requires a stable and dynamic base from
the Tx spine.
When Tx tight especially into extension then the shoulder ROM is impaired and will
compensate for its ADL needs
Impacts T1 T4/5 therefore instigate neck and shoulder pain
o
First 165 is done from the shoulder joint and scapula
o
Last 15 from thoracic rotation (one arm) or thoracic extension (both arms)
Activating the anterior Tx area will allow for increased length, flexibility and function
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After completing this sequencing for strength and function you should be able to effectively
assess, treat and give home programming for your clients. This treatment is very applicable to
the more stressed clients but you must show them the how and why this works so that they
can take ownership of their defensive sympathetic responses and manage the stress when
they acknowledge it.
Thanks!
Neuro-lymphatic points
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