Taught by Theresa Gagnon
Dates: TBD 2 Days
9am to 4pm with an hour for lunch.
Educational investment $395
Healing for the fascial system is addressed. Traditional anatomy books are based on dissections of numerous bodies. Anatomists have looked at the skin and removed its attachments, superficial fascia.
They have dissected away the layers of fascia in order to gain access to the bones, organs and muscles below. It has not been until more recent times that the fascia itself has ever been considered to be any more than some tissue that gets in the way of looking at more important structures. In October of 2007, Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, MA hosted the first International Fascia Conference. Researchers, osteopaths, medical doctors, PhDs, bodyworkers and acupuncturists from all over the world came together to share innovative new information about fascia. Some of the conclusions of studies have supported what fascial bodyworkers have “known” for years.
1. That the fascia is comprised of myofibroblasts and has contractile properties similar to smooth muscle (Schleip, Zorn, Lehmann, Horn, and Klingler).
2. That fascia is comprised of layers of collagen fibers with adipose in between that allow layers to slide and move. This sliding mechanism can be altered and restricted by overuse, trauma, or surgery (Stecco, Porzionato, and Gabelli).
3. That fascia contains free and encapsulated nerve endings, particularly Rufinni and Pacini corpuscles, indicating that fascia plays a role in proprioception (Stecco, Porzionato, and Gabelli).
4. That the structure of the collagen matrix of the dermis can be changed by manual techniques in areas where patients have chronic pain or motion restrictions. The changes in tension can be palpated before and after treatment and are thought to be caused by changes in mechanical forces of fibroblasts (Pohl).
Day 1: Consists of morning lecture and demonstration and afternoon practice on horses.
Day 2: Practice on horses, questions and answers. Equine Postural and gait analysis.