Why Consider Remedial Therapy

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Conventional Remedial Therapy is based on the fundamentals of Physiotherapy and aims to release tightness, promote circulation, enhance muscle activation and strength through postural correction and soft tissue massage. The Remedial Therapy I practice is a fusion of East and West combining the conventional model with knowledge of the effects of energetic Qi flow.

 

Bringing understanding of energetic Qi flow to assessment gives insight to conditions not well understood by conventional therapy. It is often key to understanding dysfunction, pain and injury in our body and results beyond expectation can be achieved attending to this energetic flow. While I may speak much about energy…the treatment is physical. There are no incantations or invocations. I do not discount energetic and spiritual healing practices but no amount of these overcomes distortion from a postural or structural anomaly imposing chronic strain on the body's structure.

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Energetically, the principle factor at play is that a proximal block at hip or shoulder has a distal effect in the limb. In our University training we discussed many conditions for which we were not given a treatment plan nor timeline to resolution. Conventional treatment outcomes for these conditions are poor and the expectation was that we would merely provide limited temporary relief.  However, I have observed chronic and acute conditions down the backline of the lower limb or elbow, forearm and wrist in the upper limbs are frequently the result of a proximal energetic Qi flow blockage that can be eliminated by appropriately targeted Remedial therapy. For example, conditions such as Plantar Fasciitis, Chronic Compartment Syndrome, Piriformis Syndrome, Repetitive Strain Injury and Carpal Tunnel. Where the condition has not degenerated to rupture or bony spurs, it may only require one to three treatment sessions for resolution.

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Even in the event of lumbar injury, assessment of structural leg length is not considered in medical examination in this country. A structurally short right leg is a dominant genetic trait and with few exceptions we are all affected by it to some degree impacting the pelvis, lower limbs and spine. This postural anomaly characterised by Two Signature Traits and Three Cardinal Signs generates chronic strain through the soft tissue of the pelvis and lumbro-sacral region. I describe this as Short Right Leg Syndrome.

 

While I consider it to be a contributory factor in lumbar pain and injury, in other respects biomechanical and neurological effects are minimal. Hence, it is largely dismissed by conventional therapists. SRLS is responsible for mobility issues in the lower limbs and spine. Flexibility through the pelvis is preventative. Where acute symptoms are experienced, use of a thin adjusting heel lift under the structurally short leg often proves to be extraordinarily therapeutic.​

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While the scope of practice for Remedial Therapy is pain, dysfunction and injury affecting mobility, it is well known there are beneficial side effects to internal health and vitality from massage treatment. This is better understood considering there are twelve bilateral organ or acupuncture meridian channels described by Traditional Chinese Medicine. Removing postural strain and releasing soft tissue tightness with Remedial Massage Therapy improves energetic Qi flow through these channels. This has a direct consequence on health as internal organ function improves with increased energy flow.

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Delving deeper reveals the connection between emotion, energetic Qi flow and the state of soft tissue. This is discussed in my articles on the Heart and Wholistic Massage Therapy. Simply put, clearing postural and fascial blockages enables energetic Qi to flow smoothly again, taking with it the burden of accumulated emotional trauma. This is fundamental to all massage therapy.