Interesting image to show how imbalance in the body can cause ongoing problems in seemingly unrelated areas......

Choice Health & Wellbeing International Trade Journal  

February March 2010   

The Bowen Technique - Knee & Ankle Study                                 

by Janie Godfrey  

Every year for the past 6 or so years, the professional membership body for accredited Bowen Technique therapists (the Bowen Therapists’ European Register – BTER) has organised a study of the effect of Bowen on a number of different conditions.  These studies are designed to provide tangible evidence of how Bowen can help with a variety of conditions.  

One of the first was adult asthma, followed by migraine, back pain, PMS, neck and shoulder problems.  The neck and shoulder pain study of last year documented that 86% of the volunteers being treated in study showed a partial to full recovery after a series of only three treatments.  30% reported a full recover, while a further 56% said that their condition had improved to some extent.  Fewer than 10% reported that there had been no change.    

This year, the study focused on knee and ankle complaints.  BTER asked for practitioners around the country to volunteer to recruit and treat people in their local areas for the study.  

The clients recruited had to commit to receiving three treatments, one week apart, and could not have had Bowen treatment previously.  While the number of both practitioners and, therefore, client volunteers was down somewhat this year (the recession?), there were still plenty of documented cases to compile information about what Bowen can do. 

And the results are very good:   

 19%         full recovery 

 69%         partial recovery (with over half of the ‘partially recovereds’ saying the recovery was 70% or more) 

 12%         no change   

In my own group of volunteers, the resolution of the complaints they brought to the study was between 60% - 98%.   

Susan J. was probably the most surprising result.  She is a 52 year old lady who had been diagnosed 7 years ago with arthritis in her knees and the cartilage was badly worn down on the inside (medial) edges of the knee joints, but still there on the outer edges.  Hence, she was in constant pain with a dull ache in her knees and occasional sharp stabs.  

She took painkillers to try to dull it.  Her work requires that she is constantly on her feet, so there was no way to avoid the wear and tear.    

In the week after her first Bowen, her knees were fine for 24 hours and then she had aches in both knees, but the pain was intermittent with significant periods that were pain free, which amazed her.  She also found she was sleeping much better.   

After the second treatment, she was having longer periods with no pain in the knees and when pain did occur, it was stronger and more focused but in shorter bursts.  The knee pain was no longer waking her and it was taking much less time to ’ease’ her knees into the day upon arising.  

Two weeks after her third treatment she reported having much more energy generally, the knee pain was still much less severe, was not lasting as long when it did occur and it was not settling into the constant ache anymore—this was completely gone.  

At the end of the three sessions of the formal Knee & Ankle study, which took place in April 2009, Susan estimated a partial recovery in her knees of 65%.  Not a complete resolution, but a really significant and welcome outcome.  

Susan continued to have some Bowen treatments after the period of the study, having her last one in August 2009.  Her knees continued with little or no pain, never enough to take painkillers, until mid-November, when the pain began to trouble her more often again and she contacted her doctor to have another x-ray.  This revealed that the cartilage is now completely gone on the inside edges of her knees and she will have an operation in the next few months to replace one knee and, depending on how that goes, will then think of having the other one done.  

Given the extent of the missing cartilage, Bowen bought Susan a considerable amount of time without pain.      

Another volunteer’s response shows how unpredictable arthritis can be in response to Bowen.  

Debbie C., a 60-year-old lady, had long-standing (20 years) arthritis in her right knee.  It was very painful going up and down stairs and hills and it often seized up during the night and after sitting for a long time.  It was slightly swollen and very sensitive to any knocks or jars.  

Like Susan J., Debbie did not want to have surgery if she could avoid it.  In addition to her right knee arthritis, Debbie’s right ankle and foot tended to roll in an uneven pattern when she walked, felt uncomfortable and clicked a lot.  

After her first Bowen, Debbie’s right knee was pretty much the same but her right ankle was clicking less often.  After the second treatment, her right ankle was much improved—she hadn’t had any discomfort and hadn’t had to wiggle it constantly, as she had before Bowen, when in bed to relieve the discomfort.  

This problem was almost certainly the effect of years of trying to avoid adding more pain to her right knee by, consciously and unconsciously, adopting a way of walking and using the muscles in her lower leg that had now developed its own set of problems.  

After the third Bowen, her right knee was still much the same with the pain from the arthritis, but the ankle remained much improved and she also reported great relief from shoulder and neck problems!  

So she estimated an 85% improvement in the right ankle but no change in the knee—and outside the focus of the Knee & Ankle study, her shoulder had improved!  

Typical of Bowen treatments – people come for one thing and find other things getting better.    

With many thanks to Susan and Debbie for permission to share their case histories  

© E.C.B.S & Janie Godfrey

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]

Today’s Therapist International Trade Journal   -   Issue 37  Nov Dec 2005    

The Bowen Technique - Knees, ankles and feet                                           

by Janie Godfrey  

As with most parts of our body, we take our legs for granted until something goes wrong.  They uncomplainingly carry us around, over hill and dale, up and down stairs and, for some of us, delivering stellar performances on the fields of sport.  

The complexity of their functioning is amazing and their durability in the face of what we demand of them is remarkable.   

There are many case histories of The Bowen Technique relieving a wide variety of leg injuries, relieving pain, prompting repair and restoration of function.  

Bowen practitioner and teacher Alastair Rattray treated a woman who came to him who had had continuous throbbing pain down her right leg for 8 months after her surgeon had done an arthroscopy on her knee.  While under anaesthetic he had attempted to manipulate the leg to straighten it, had severely torn the attachments of the hamstrings at both the pelvic insertion point and the back of the knee, which was severely swollen and very painful.  

She had suffered a stroke the day after and as a result the surgeon had refused to treat her further.  She had had some physiotherapy with mixed success during the 8 months period.  She had great difficulty walking and when she stood up, she had to pause before starting to walk.  

After three Bowen treatments, she was walking very much better and no longer had to pause before starting to walk.  After 4 treatments, the throbbing pain went.  

She also benefited from using apple cider vinegar packs in conjunction with her Bowen treatment.  This is an old-fashioned remedy but nonetheless is a good aid to Bowen treatment as it draws swelling and fluid away from injury and is typically applied to a sprain or a twist but can also be used with  bruises, inflammation, soreness and areas of redness or heat.  The vinegar is applied by soaking a flannel in neat vinegar (can be diluted for use with small children or on those with sensitive skin).  The wet cloth can be applied on unbroken skin directly to the bruise or inflamed area and then wrapped lightly in cling film in order to retain the moisture and left on for one to two hours.  

Treatment continues on this lady as she has difficulty in containing her energy and rushes off doing too much.   

Another Bowen practitioner/teacher who has found Bowen to be exceptionally helpful with leg injuries is Paula Esson, who has coached at national level for England Basketball.  

One of the players, Diana, had had the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee surgically repaired.  She then found herself struggling with swelling and pain in the damaged knee which led to a lack of mobility and hence difficulty performing at   National League Level and, consequently, she had not played a game for two months. 

Following the first Bowen treatment the swelling reduced considerably although the pain remained.  At the end of treatment two the sharp pain had reduced to a mild ache.  Diana returned to basketball and did not experience any discomfort or swelling during or after competition. Nor did she experience any further problems and successfully completed the season - an achievement that she never expected since the medical diagnosis was that basketball should be seen as part of her past.  This was accomplished with two treatments.   

Bowen treatment, in combination with apple cider vinegar, saved the day for another of Paula’s basketball players with no time to lose.  

18-year-old Anne was an England Junior Basketball Team Member.  She had badly strained her left ankle during a practice match and it was important to have her match fit within two days, ready to play an international.  

The first treatment was given when the incident occurred.  Apple cider vinegar applied in the evening brought the swelling down.  Bowen treatment was repeated the following day with rest and elevation.  

On the match day the ankle was carefully strapped with meditape to support the injured area.  Anne played the entire match without experiencing pain or discomfort and no further injury was incurred.   

And, not to forget the feet – a woman in her 40’s had been limping for 4 months due to a painful foot.  Her doctor diagnosed her problem as interdigital neuritis (Morton’s Foot Pain) and made an appointment for her to see an orthopaedic specialist, saying that surgery might be the answer.  After only one Bowen treatment the pain disappeared and she happily cancelled her hospital appointment.   

An important research study has now been completed on the effect of Bowen Technique treatment on hamstring flexibility and is due to be published by early 2006.    

© E.C.B.S       

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]