Bowen Technique By Karen
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A shoulder / hand mystery solved with the Bowen Technique
Posted on 20 January, 2013 at 7:25 |
![]() |
Case
Studies Positive Health magazine
– July 2008
A shoulder / hand mystery solved with the Bowen Technique by Janie Godfrey A. was a fit and healthy 55 year old man
who held down a very responsible, physically demanding job which he loved. He had been off work for the 4 months, since
mid-June, due to a problem with his right hand. It began with a lack of movement in fingers and wrist. He had some chiropractic treatments and the
chiropractor said there was a lump in his right posterior shoulder. Blood tests were all clear. After a lengthy wait to see a consultant, he
had an x-ray, which revealed a lump on the bone and an MRI scan which showed
swelling on the tendons in the shoulder.
His right hand had been getting more and more swollen, painful and
restricted since July with points of pain if he clenched his fist.
The
consultant did not know what was wrong but wanted to give a cortisone injection
into the shoulder but A. refused this treatment. A. then went to a rheumatologist, privately,
and he diagnosed rheumatoid (inflammatory) arthritis and wanted A. to take
methotrexate. Methotrexate can reduce
inflammation but one of its actions is to reduce the activity of the immune
system and many advise that it be used only to treat the life-threatening
stages of cancer due to its negative side effects. A. was advised that taking this drug would
mean he would have to give up his physically demanding job and that he would
also have to give up driving. Not a
welcome prognosis for an active and fit 55 year old.
A. arrived to try Bowen Technique treatment
on 22 October, having read a short article about Bowen in a local
magazine. For his first Bowen treatment,
I decided to begin with the minimum amount of moves and to have longer breaks
between them to gauge his response. When
I came back into the room after a 5 minute break about 2/3 of the way through
the treatment, A. reported that he had been experiencing very substantial
involuntary twitches and jerks of his shoulders and arms, very predominantly on
the right side. I observed this for a
bit and did not interfere by giving more treatment at this stage but allowed
A.’s body to continue its spontaneous reaction until it naturally began to
quiet down after some 10 minutes. During
the break after another small set of Bowen moves, A.’s whole body began to
undulate from head to toe in a very gentle wave-like pattern. Again, this went on for approximately 5 – 10
minutes and his reaction was, first of all, amazement and secondly, he couldn’t
help but laugh out loud, which he said felt very good. After this spell of whole-body movement, his
teeth began to chatter, which again continued for some minutes and included some
very forceful leg movements, like running.
Throughout these most extraordinary
responses, he experienced no pain.
Indeed, the predominant feeling was one of relief and release. And then these responses all stopped as if
someone had snapped their fingers and A. was utterly relaxed on the bed, all
muscles quiet. When he got up from
the treatment, he felt “infinitely better”,
with only a small twinge discernable between his shoulder blades.
Over the next week, before his second
Bowen, he experienced varying degrees of involuntary twitching and jerks,
especially in his right shoulder and arm.
These were accompanied by episodes of stinging and itching in his right
wrist, hand and fingers, with his right hand at one point feeling hot
internally but not externally. A. had Bowen treatments at weekly intervals
on 29 October, 4 and 11 November. Between treatments, he continued to have a
variety of twitches, spasms, itches and stiffness in his right arm, hand,
shoulder and neck. However, these were
usually experienced upon waking and wore off increasingly quickly each day as
he got up and moved around. He was
feeling fit and well enough to return to his work on 18 November,
after 5 months off.
The swelling in his hand was decreasing
during this period as well, to the point that at his treatment on 2
December, only the top knuckle on his index finger still showed a small degree
of swelling. In January, he reported
that all swelling in the right arm/hand/fingers was gone and he had good
function in all parts of it. A. continued
to come for Bowen treatments once every 3 weeks for some time, always
experiencing some degree of the involuntary muscle twitching, jerks or waves,
but never again as spectacular or prolonged as during his first two or three
treatments. A. wanted to have a Bowen
treatment every three weeks for about two years after this primary resolution
of his original problem, as he felt it kept him in peak form and was obviously
still working with the releases necessary as indicated by his muscle activity. As of writing, A. has felt so well and
confident that he has had only four Bowen treatments in the last year: February, May, August and November.
Was
the consultant correct in diagnosing A.’s problem as rheumatoid arthritis? Who knows, but it didn’t matter with the
gentle, non-invasive Bowen treatment. One of the main guidelines of Bowen is that we do not diagnose a
condition, but treat the body as a whole, without referral to a named disease. A. had a problem, a real mystery of a problem
and needed something to help. His
recovery from the symptoms he was suffering was a very welcome resolution of
the mystery – and a very different one than might have been expected if he had
taken a very powerful medication and resigned from his job due to
disability. The body is a self-repairing
mechanism and Bowen, in common with other therapies, is able to encourage this
self-healing ability.
About
the Author
Janie Godfrey Cert ECBS VTCT MBTER is a Bowen
Technique practitioner covering the Frome, Somerset area. She trained in The Bowen Technique with the
European College of Bowen Studies and has been in practice since 1998. She also holds a certificate in Clinical
Pastoral Education and is a full member of
the professional regulating body for accredited Bowen therapists, the Bowen
Therapists' European Register - www.bter.org, and is a member of the NHS Directory of
Alternative and Complementary Therapists. Contents
provided by the European School of Bowen Studies (ECBS)
For
further details about the Bowen Technique please contact Karen on 01954 260 982
/ 07714 995 299 or email [email protected] |
The Bowen Technique ~ Treatment of shoulders
Posted on 20 January, 2013 at 7:18 |
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In Touch The Journal of the Organisation of
Chartered Physiotherapists in Private Practice AUTUMN
ISSUE 2004 No. 108
The Bowen Technique ~
Treatment of shoulders
Julian
Baker
There can be little more generalised in terms of a diagnosis as ‘Frozen Shoulder.’ The term is often enough to strike dread into the hearts of even the most experienced physical therapist, encompassing as it does so many possibilities, both in terms of aetiology as well as treatment. Blacks Medical
dictionary defines a frozen shoulder as
“a painful
complaint of the shoulder, accompanied by stiffness and considerable limitation
of movement….”.
It continues in
this vein, coming to the conclusion that spontaneous remission is the general
outcome, “although this might take in excess of 18 months.”!
As it stands,
Bowen therapists tend to like the presentation of a classic frozen shoulder, as
it often gives a faster outcome than other, even apparently more simple,
cases. The key to why Bowen is so
effective lies in the principles of how Bowen differs from many other approaches
and it’s worth outlining what Bowen is all about before continuing.
The Bowen
Technique is named after Australian body worker Tom Bowen. An untrained therapist who worked out of a
house in Geelong, Victoria, Tom Bowen was credited with treating upwards of
12,000 patients per year and referred to himself as an osteopath. He showed few others his methods, but six men
were given access to some of his work, and after Bowen’s death in 1982 the
teaching of some of his techniques began.
The work is very
subtle, using fingers and thumbs to work over soft tissue and applying very
little pressure. The effect of the Bowen
move is to create a gentle disturbance in the underlying fascia, which in turn
prompts a central nervous system response. There are many variations of Bowen’s approach that have sprung up over
the years, some of which apply a great deal more pressure than others, but many
of the principles remain the same. The
move itself involves the movement of ‘skin slack’ prior to the application of
pressure to the structure. The move is
then made in opposition to the direction of the skin slack and is a rolling
type of action, made with sufficient pressure to create the disturbance, but
without allowing the muscle to flick.
Another feature
of the technique is the addition of breaks in between sets of moves, where the
practitioner leaves the room (where appropriate) and allows the work to start
the process. This is an important
feature which has a big effect on the outcome of the work, and enables the
experienced therapist to vary the moves being performed according the changes
that are taking place.
Although most
of the moves are performed with patients either prone or supine, a significant
number, the shoulder amongst them, are performed with the client sitting or
standing. There are many approaches that
the skilled Bowen therapist can take with a shoulder condition, but pretty much
all of them start with the very simple deltoid moves, which will be described
later.
From the
perspective of the Bowen therapist there are three considerations when working
with a shoulder. The first is the
presentation of a specific shoulder problem, where a therapist can work locally
in the region of the shoulder very simply and usually to good effect. For this approach to be as effective as it
should be, it is important to establish that there are no other causes or
reasons as to why the shoulder is restricted or in pain. Imbalances or problems in the Temporo
Mandibular Joint, whiplash, or other cervical problems might lead to this state
of affairs and even issues involving the diaphragm or respiratory system will
have an effect on shoulder and ROM.
For the most
part we are referring here to chronic conditions of the shoulder, which have
probably been treated previously with traditional techniques, possibly even
surgery but which have not responded fully.
In the case of
an acute shoulder injury, this is where Bowen really comes into its own. It is rare that we need to spend more than
two or three sessions, one week apart with an acute shoulder, providing rest is
given and there is no tearing. It is
widely felt among existing converts to the technique, that Bowen is probably
the most effective tool currently available for acute injuries, especially
given that due to its gentleness, treatment can be offered immediately
following injury.
Typical
sporting injuries Grade 1 or 2 sprain in the acromioclavicular joint or even
the glenohumeral joint can be treated immediately and to excellent effect and
experience has suggested that the early treatment of these conditions, reduces
the incidence of future dislocation.
The second
element is the consideration of the shoulder in treating other areas of the
arm, neck and shoulder. The brachial
plexus is a major element in this area and conditions such as carpal tunnel,
and even tennis elbow can be effectively helped prior to localised treatment by
working the shoulder area. Brachial
plexus is a nerve bundle all too often overlooked when addressing shoulder and
arm conditions and yet, in my experience, provides the solution to a lot of
referred problems.
The third is
the concept of fascial connections through and over the shoulder area and down
the level of the pelvis and hips, thereby affecting knees on the opposite side
to the presenting shoulder. This idea of
the fascial connection has been explored brilliantly by Tom Myers, in his book
Anatomy Trains. The initial
Bowen treatment for a shoulder problem will involve addressing many of these
areas through the initial basic procedures.
The patient will be laid prone and a series of moves made through both
the lower and upper back. An important
focus for the practitioner will be ensuring the release of levator scapula. It can often be all too easy to be drawn into
working specific areas of pain, but it’s worth remembering that the deltoid
only functions in harmony with the normal movement of the scapula. With its attachment to the superior medial
angle of the scapula and with the role of elevating and rotating the scapula,
working the levator gives the rest of the structure the opportunity to
re-establish normal movement.
Another
standard Bowen move is over the supraspinatus, a small muscle which provides a
huge amount of power to the deltoid and which is innervated by a branch of the
brachial plexus. Two medial Bowen moves
from its lateral aspect, can have a big effect on the pain that is often felt
into the middle of the deltoid on abduction.
Once the
surrounding areas of the shoulder have been addressed, the actual shoulder
itself is then treated, with the patient either standing or sitting. The classical shoulder move varies from most
of the other moves in the Bowen repertoire, as it is made with the arm in movement.
Traditionally
and preferably, the move is made with the assistance of another person, who
will hold and carry the arm across the body, whilst the therapist is
concentrating on the movement at the posterior border of the deltoid. This however is often impractical and the
move can easily be adapted to a single-handed technique.
The first move
is found by following the line of the axillary crease posteriorly until a dip
is found at the back of the shoulder. Accuracy is very important here, as the
margin for error when working the shoulder is very small. The position of this move is a major muscular
junction for the shoulders and upper body and, if in the right place, takes in
not only the deltoid, but also the long head of the triceps, infraspinatus and
teres minor.
If working with
an assistant, the move is made with the thumbs, whilst the assistant carries
the arm across the body, ensuring that the arm is as relaxed as possible. The
solo move requires a lot of concentration from the operator, to not only ensure
that the move is made properly, but that the client is relaxed and that the arm
is in the correct position, 45º from the body, with the elbow at chest or
breast height.
The arm is
pushed towards the opposite shoulder, creating a tension through the entire
shoulder girdle, at which point the therapist jars the mid deltoid area with
the heel of his or her hand. This
creates a reverberation through the structure and also jars the axillary nerve.
The arm is then
carried carefully back to its original position, where again it is checked to
ensure it is relaxed. A move across the
anterior border of the deltoid, still following the line of the axillary crease
is made with fingers or thumbs. This
move not only works the deltoid, but on a deeper level subscapularis and
coracoacromial ligament.
Once perfected,
these moves take only a few seconds to perform after which the standard rest
time of three to five minutes is given before re-assessing the shoulder. The moves can be performed a second time, but
care needs to be taken so as not to further inflame the shoulder. The results can often be quite startling,
with even long standing ‘frozen’ shoulders responding within five or ten
minutes. In one case a gentleman who
volunteered to be demonstrated on, had 100% relief from a very restricted
shoulder, which had been present for over eight years.
A study into
the effect of The Bowen Technique for ‘Frozen’ Shoulders looked at 100
volunteers with non-specific, gradual onset shoulder pain. They were each given four treatments with
half the group being given Bowen and the other half a specific hands on placebo
treatment. The groups were not told
which was which, but the treated group reported considerably greater improvement
than the placebo.
Average improvement
for abduction was 40% and horizontal abduction 28% percent. Overall 67% of the treatment group improved
with their degree of improvement ‘statistically significant.’
It’s worth
pointing out that this study gave no form of exercises and adhered strictly to
a proscribed set of moves, irrespective of other factors already mentioned,
which might have impacted on their condition as compliance and other factors
would have impacted greatly on the outcomes.
The
Bowen Technique was introduced to the UK only eleven years ago, and yet in that
short space of time has had a big influence in the field of soft tissue
therapies. Regarded originally as a
complementary therapy, it is fast becoming the therapy of choice for many
physiotherapists. Annie Sewart a private
physiotherapist based in Bristol, has been using Bowen for over six years. As well as practicing reflexology and
aromatherapy she claims that she has received the best results using Bowen
estimating an overall success rate of 80%.
There are of course
hundreds of additions to even this one procedure and it is important to
remember that Bowen is not simply a series of procedures, but a system of
bodywork, with a set series of principles, but literally millions of
variations. We simply have to decide
‘Where do we start?’
Contents
provided by the European School of Bowen Studies (ECBS)
For
further details about the Bowen Technique please contact Karen on 01954 260 982
/ 07714 995 299 or email [email protected] |
The Bowen Technique - Frozen Shoulder
Posted on 13 January, 2013 at 10:25 |
![]() |
from Physiotherapy
FRONTLINE April 3 2002 Vol 8 No 7
NEWS
Clinical Evidence points to effectiveness of
Bowen for frozen shoulder
The Bowen technique, a complementary
therapy developed in Australia during the last century, is gaining popularity
with healthcare professionals. New
research suggests it can aid patients with frozen shoulder, reports RACHEL
POTTER
Use of the Bowen technique can lead to a significant
improvement in range of movement for frozen shoulder patients, says a new
study. Bowen is a non-invasive, hands-on
treatment gaining popularity with physios wishing to offer a complementary
therapy in their professional practice.
The study involved 100 volunteers with non-specific, gradual onset
shoulder pain. Each was given four
treatment sessions with an experienced Bowen practitioner. Half were given the normal Bowen technique
for shoulder pain, and the other half received a similar hands-on placebo
treatment. Patients had no idea whether
they were receiving the treatment or placebo. Patient improvement was ‘considerably greater’ for the treatment group, according to the study results. Average improvement for shoulder abduction was 40 per cent for the treatment group, and eight per cent for the placebo group. Forward flexion improvement was 28 per cent for the treatment group, seven per cent for the placebo group. And horizontal abduction improvement was 24 per cent for the treatment group, compared to eight per cent for the placebo group. However, placebo group improvements were higher than expected, with 50 per cent of patients showing some improvement. In comparison,
67 per cent of the treatment patients improved, and their degree of improvement
was statistically significant. The study
results were ‘extremely encouraging’, conclude authors Julian Baker, director
of the European College of Bowen Studies, and sports
injury therapist Helen Kinnear. It also
demonstrates the cost-effectiveness of Bowen, as patients showed improvement
after only a few basic sessions. Anneke
Loode is a chartered physiotherapist trained in the Bowen technique, and told
Frontline that the new research backs up her own experience. The results were very promising, she said,
particularly as only basic shoulder moves were used. ‘When I started the course in the Bowen
technique I didn’t expect it to dramatically change the way I work,’ said
Anneke, who works at the East Grinstead Physiotherapy Clinic, East Sussex. ‘But it did.
I was quite amazed by the results.
‘I can confirm the results from the study into frozen shoulders from my
own experience. In the 11 years I have
treated patients in private practice I have never seen a frozen shoulder
improve so quickly. The Bowen technique
has definitely made the way I treat patients more complete.’
Contents
provided by the European School of Bowen Studies (ECBS)
For
further details about the Bowen Technique please contact Karen on 01954 260 982
/ 07714 995 299 or email [email protected] |
The Bowen Technique - Frozen Shoulder
Posted on 13 January, 2013 at 10:22 |
![]() |
Today’s Therapist
International
Trade Journal - Issue 39
Mar Apr 2006
The Bowen
Technique - Frozen Shoulder by Janie Godfrey with Julian
Baker
The term ‘frozen shoulder’ can strike dread
into the heart of even the most experienced physical therapist, as it
encompasses so many possibilities, both in terms of aetiology as well as
treatment. As it stands, Bowen
therapists tend to like the presentation of a classic frozen shoulder, as it
often gives a faster outcome than other, even apparently simpler, cases.
There are three
considerations when working with a shoulder.
The first is the presentation of a specific shoulder problem, where a
therapist can work locally in the region of the shoulder very simply and
usually to good effect. For this to be
as effective as it should be, it is important to establish that there are no
other reasons why the shoulder is restricted or in pain. Imbalances or problems in the temporo
mandibular joint, whiplash, or other cervical problems might lead to shoulder
problems. Even issues involving the
diaphragm or respiratory system can have an effect on a shoulder.
Bowen really
comes into its own in the case of an acute shoulder injury. It is rare that we need to spend more than
two or three sessions one week apart with an acute shoulder, providing rest is
given and there is no tearing. Many feel that Bowen is probably the most
effective tool currently available for acute injuries, especially as treatment
can be offered immediately following injury because of the gentleness of
Bowen. Typical sporting injuries can be
treated immediately and to excellent effect.
Experience suggests that the early treatment of these conditions reduces
the incidence of future dislocation.
The second
element is the consideration of the shoulder in treating other areas of the
arm, neck and shoulder. The brachial
plexus is a major element in this area and conditions such as carpal tunnel,
and even tennis elbow can be effectively helped prior to localised treatment by
working the shoulder area. Brachial
plexus is a nerve bundle all too often overlooked when addressing shoulder and
arm conditions and yet it can provide the solution to a lot of referred
problems.
The third is
the concept of fascial connections through and over the shoulder area and down
the level of the pelvis and hips, thereby affecting knees on the opposite side
to the presenting shoulder. This idea of
the fascial connection has been explored brilliantly by Tom Myers, in his book
Anatomy Trains.
The initial
Bowen treatment for a shoulder problem will involve addressing many of these
areas through the initial basic procedures.
The patient will be laid prone and a series of moves made through both
the lower and upper back. An important
focus for the practitioner will be ensuring the release of levator
scapula. It can often be all too easy to
be drawn into working specific areas of pain, but it’s worth remembering that
the deltoid only functions in harmony with the normal movement of the
scapula. With its attachment to the
superior medial angle of the scapula and with the role of elevating and
rotating the scapula, working the levator gives the rest of the structure the
opportunity to re-establish normal movement.
Another
standard Bowen move is over the supraspinatus, a small muscle which provides a
huge amount of power to the deltoid and which is innervated by a branch of the
brachial plexus. Two medial Bowen moves
from its lateral aspect, can have a big effect on the pain that is often felt
into the middle of the deltoid on abduction.
Once the
surrounding areas of the shoulder have been addressed, the actual shoulder
itself is then treated, with the patient either standing or sitting. The classical shoulder move varies from most
of the other moves in the Bowen repertoire, as it is made with the arm in
movement.
The results can
often be quite startling, with even long standing ‘frozen’ shoulders responding
within five or ten minutes. In one case
a gentleman who volunteered to be demonstrated on, had 100% relief from a very
restricted shoulder, which had been present for over eight years.
A study into
the effect of The Bowen Technique for ‘Frozen’ Shoulders looked at 100
volunteers with non-specific, gradual onset shoulder pain. They were each given four treatments with
half the group being given Bowen and the other half a specific hands on placebo
treatment. The groups were not told
which was which, but the treated group reported considerably greater
improvement than the placebo.
Average
improvement for abduction was 40% and horizontal abduction 28% percent. Overall 67% of the treatment group improved
with their degree of improvement ‘statistically significant.’
It’s worth pointing out that this study
gave no form of exercises and adhered strictly to a proscribed set of moves,
irrespective of other factors already mentioned, which might have impacted on
their condition as compliance and other factors would have impacted greatly on
the outcomes.
There are of
course hundreds of additions to even this one procedure and it is important to
remember that Bowen is not simply a series of procedures, but a system of
bodywork, with a set series of principles, but literally millions of
variations.
Contents
provided by the European School of Bowen Studies (ECBS)
For
further details about the Bowen Technique please contact Karen on 01954 260 982
/ 07714 995 299 or email [email protected] |
Categories
- Helping Yourself (1)
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- Noses (1)
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- Frozen Shoulder (4)
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