Beyond “The Head Bone’s Connected to the Neck Bone….” Treating Headaches & Concussions to Plantar Fasciitis and Aliments In-Between; Why Manual (Hands-On) Therapy Works

It is a mouthful, but my recent trip West helped me determine the title for this Blog entry.  What began as a solo trip to attend an Ursa Educational Institute for Manual Therapy class in California (formerly Ursa Foundation in Edmonds, WA) quickly grew to include my wife, Ellen with a side trip to Reno to visit her friend Susie May Hahl & family.   The trip to Reno took us far from the casinos and deep into the beauty of the surrounding area.  We spent the days boating on Pyramid Lake, hiking the Flume Trail and paddle boarding on the crystal clear water of Lake Tahoe.   While there was no lack of conversation, Susie and I spent a lot of time discussing a subject I have long been interested in due to my research and subsequent presentation in graduate school on the Biomechanics of Running and Walking.  Susie works at the Reno Running Company (RRC) (in addition to her fulltime job as a 1st grade teacher) and her love of running shows.  On Sunday, I joined the RRC’s Social Running Club morning run, toured the store, reviewed their Running Lab techniques and conferred with Susie and RRC’s owner & the 2014 USA Off-Road Triathlete of the Year; Matt Balzer about a quick (and critical) non-weight bearing method of assessing forefoot and rearfoot mechanics.  I am grateful to have had the opportunity to observe how the professional RRC staff recommends footwear, which will help me better serve my patients.  Thanks to Susie, Matt, Aimee, Sam, and Ivy for the hospitality!  See them and their wonderful store at renorunningcompany.com

As our trip continued we spent a few days in San Francisco, walking the hilly city from Chinatown to the Golden Gate Bridge.  Finally, we were off to Sacramento to attend the Ursa Educational Institute  course.  I have colleagues and patients ask why I travel so far to attend continuing education classes.  Beginning in 1989 (well before it was mandated by the Wisconsin Physical Therapy Association that PT’s attend classes to obtain CEU’s), I was introduced to the specific techniques and thought-process unique to Ursa practitioners.  I have yet to be disappointed by the high-quality instruction of what I know to be the most productive method of treatment I can offer my patients.  Once again, the class was a weekend full of theory, methods and hands-on guidance & growth.  The course title: ‘A Comparison of Manual Therapy for Treatment of the Face & Skull’ might lead some to believe that the instruction was solely from the neck up.  I knew this would not be the case and  was excited to see how the treatment of the entire body (yes, the head bone’s connected to the neck bone….on down)  would once again be the hub of the class despite the title.  Long ago I learned that the effectiveness of the practitioner depends upon how each individual patient is treated from head to toe. As changes occur, reevaluation is performed from treatment to treatment.  EveryBODY is unique and so is the presentation of ailments, pathology and pain.   Now it’s back to work in Appleton, where I look forward to using the additional layer of knowledge gained from this recent course to aid in the manual therapy treatment I provide my patients…….from head to toe. 

Next up….  Why I love owning a private practice clinic!  

Reno Running Company's running lab; looking at video of foot/ankle mechanics.

Flume Trail above Lake Tahoe - quite a bit of smoke from area fires obstructed views; but still beautiful.

This is what the wildfires do to the sunset on a 'clear' day.

A more normal appearance for Lake Tahoe. Despite the haze during our visit, water clarity was amazing!

The world famous Golden Gate Bridge - a 'cool' walk on a cool day.

Chinatown.....we're not in Wisconsin anymore!

The view after climbing Lombard Street. San Francisco is quite the walking city.

Atop the deYoung Museum in Golden Gate Park - just a couple blocks from our Airbnb.