Practice with a research mind

This page is intended to serve the clinician as a bridge between current research and possible applications to manual therapy. In an effort to build this bridge, I am currently focusing on the combination of fascia research (with an emphasis on fluids), manual therapy and movement which attempt to interface with multiple body systems. The Fascia Research Society (of which am a Founding Member) exists to promote this bridge of information and is the most reliable source of current research information for fascia related topics.

For the time being I have chosen to focus on fascia research and fluids because, unless one is a Google search engine, it is probably not possible to be current with research on all body systems. This is not to say other systems are not important, but fascia and even more so fluids are the most widely spread phenomena throughout the body and interact with every other system.  

I will not be making comments about how I view the application of this research in light of the manual therapy which I practice. Both clinical application and research are there with virtually unlimited possibilities for those who have eyes to see, minds to understand and hard-won hand skills to interface with the fluids which nourish all tissue ecosystems.

Perhaps only surgeons know what the body’s interior really looks like in real time through direct in vivo experience. So unless you are a surgeon (and maybe even if you are) and unless you are flat broke (then hock one or several of your anatomy books) and get the DVD Interior Architecture: Strolling Under the Skin.  Produced by Dr. Jean-Claude Guimberteau, plastic/reconstructive surgeon of 35 plus years, It shows a system of the body that heretofore has been ignored, neglected and even trashed by traditional anatomists to get to the so-called “more important stuff.” With patient permission (some people will do anything to be on camera) and using an endoscope at mostly 25-50x plus during actual surgery, Dr. Guimberteau shows a high definition portrayal of a virtually neglected fascial system. He refers to this system of fascia as the MVCAS (multimicrovacuolar collagenous (dynamic) absorbing system).
Upon loading the DVD go immediately to minute 17 and play til the end of the video, then go back and review the rest. When you have more time watch the movie “Terminator.”  You make the comparisons.

One of our locals, Dr. Gerald Pollack, of the UW (yes the Huskies!) has some current research on types of water in the body that may be very pertinent for manual therapists whose practice utilizes the dynamics of fluids.

The workshop Fluids!Fascia!Therapy! is evolving due to ongoing research of the largely heretofore overlooked and/or neglected primary mechanotransduction role of fluids on endothelial cells, cilia and other tissues.
Since fascia has been called “the Cinderella” of tissues, fluids are for the most part the overlooked and fundamental mechanotransductive force that has woven her shape and perhaps her gown.  While the knowledge of these forces has existed for more than a century, during the past two decades the rise of research involving the development and use of microfluidic devices, substrates and the ability to measure fluid shear stresses has opened new avenues of an old frontier where no one had gone before.
Practice with a research mind. Make it so. And…engage.