The Thinking Practitioner

In honor of the upcoming Hip Jam, Whitney and Til discuss the controversies, disagreements, considerations, and their own views on the infamous psoas muscle in manual therapy and massage in this "Greatest Hits" rebroadcast of ep25. Download the handout with detailed episode notes, techniques and tests, and a special chapter from Til’s book from https://a-t.tv/ttp-psoas/, plus check out the Hip Jam at https://bit.ly/Hip-Jam-TTP Topics include:  Psoas: Holy Grail muscle, or wholly irrelevant?  Psoas and back pain, leg length, etc.;  Safety considerations;  What Til and Whitney actually do (and don’t do) in practice.  Get the full transcript and handout at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources discussed in this episode:  Free Episode Handout with extras  Book: Yoga Biomechanics (Mitchell 2018)  Blog: ‘Psoas, So What’ (Ingraham 2015)  Study: Psoas and lumbar disability (Wagner et al 2018)  Video: Whitney Lowe demonstrates a modified Thomas test  Video: Til Luchau demonstrates a hands-on psoas technique  Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Episode image copyright Primal Pictures, used by permission  Sponsor Offers:  The Hip Jam bit.ly/Hip-Jam-TTP Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Lowe  |  About Til Luchau  |  Email Us  (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

In celebration of Til's upcoming "Leg Knee & Foot" online course, he and Whitney geek out on conditions, anatomy, function, and biomechanics of the ankle and foot. Topics include:  How the structure of the foot/ankle complex determines function Are we over over-pronation yet?  Plantar fasciitis/fasciosis, bunions, hammertoes, and other things you wouldn’t have thought of as ankle issues. Episode Outline: Structure of the foot/ankle complex Medial side deltoid ligament complex Lateral side ATF, CF, PTF How does structure govern function Distal tibiofibular joint & talocrural joint form mortise & tenon Primary supporting ligaments Mechanics of the region: Talocrural motions: dorsiflexion & plantarflexion Type I and type II limitations Subtalar motions: inversion & eversion Pronation and supination (definitions and confusion) Phases of gait Some common issues/problems Valgus and varus angulations (toes and calcaneal region) “Overpronation” Bunions & hammertoes Plantar fasciitis Tendon overuse (Achilles tendon etc.) Trauma: sprains breaks Nerve entrapments mimicking soft-tissue pathology (i.e. tarsal tunnel syndrome, Baxter’s neuropathy, etc.) Resources and references discussed in this episode: Til Luchau’s “Principles: Leg Knee & Foot” live-online course (join live thru mid-September ‘21, or later by recording)  Trail Guide to Movement: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Podcast anatomy image from Advanced Myofascial Techniques, Volume 1. Used under license from Primal Pictures. Til Luchau’s “Principles: Leg Knee & Foot” live-online course (join live thru mid-September, or later by recording)  Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Whitney and Til unfold the controversies, compare thoughts, and share approaches for working with the iliotibial band. Download the free handout!  Topics include:  Little-known facts, well-known myths, and over-heated controversies about the ITB,  When and why would (or wouldn’t) we work, roll, or massage the ITB (aka the iliotibial tract or fascia lata)?  Hands-on techniques for some of the most common ITB-related client complaints.  Get the HANDOUT and full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites, plus sign up for Til's upcoming Leg Knee & Foot course!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Baker RL, Fredericson M. Iliotibial Band Syndrome in Runners. Biomechanical Implications and Exercise Interventions. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2016;27(1):53-77. doi:10.1016/j.pmr.2015.08.001 Aderem J, Louw QA. Biomechanical risk factors associated with iliotibial band syndrome in runners: A systematic review Rehabilitation, physical therapy and occupational health. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2015;16(1):7-9. doi:10.1186/s12891-015-0808-7 Fairclough J, Hayashi K, Toumi H, et al. The functional anatomy of the iliotibial band during flexion and extension of the knee: implications for understanding iliotibial band syndrome. J Anat. 2006;208(3):309-316. doi:JOA531 [pii]10.1111/j.1469-7580.2006.00531.x Podcast ITB image used under license by the National Library of Medicine Visible Human Project. Arrows show location of ITB. Til Luchau’s “Principles: Leg Knee & Foot” live-online course (join live thru mid-September, or later by recording)  Download this episodes free handout for full references and more Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe talk with researcher and Robert Schleip about fascia, movement, and research updates in the newly released second edition of Fascia in Sport and Movement, co-edited by Jan Wilke. Topics include:  Should bodywork cost half of what movement therapy costs? {joke!} Is the issue fascial stiffness, or fascial shearing? What does fascias' extensive sensory innervation mean for manual therapists? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Book: Fascia in Sport & Movement at Handspring (Get 15% off with coupon code TTP)  fasciaresearch.de somatics.de Fascia Research Society  Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Whitney talks to Doug Nelson about the challenges and learning experiences of a great massage career spanning over four decades.  Topics include:  What keeps you going after all this time? What are some of the most fascinating lessons your clients have provided for you? How do we all learn to be humble in the face of our own fallibility in the clinic and the classroom? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Doug's Book: Table Lessons NMT Midwest Massage Therapy Foundation Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  Healwell: save 10% Healwell courses when you join the Healwell Community at community.healwell.org  About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Til Luchau talks about trauma, psychedelic psychotherapy, and the body, with Marcela Ot'alora G., the principal investigator in a very promising FDA-approved study into MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Topics include:  How does trauma relate to bodywork, and how does MDMA therapy help with trauma? How is psychedelic therapy different from just taking psychedelics? What can we learn from your MDMA/PTSD study that can help us be more effective as massage and manual therapy practitioners?  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Marcela Ot'alora’s Tim Ferriss Podcast interview About MAPS.org (and training as an MDMA psychotherapist) About the MDMA/PTSD Study Apply to be a subject in the MDMA/PTSD clinical trials Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Til and Whitney talk to Cathy Ryan RMT about her book 'Traumatic Scar Tissue Management: Massage Therapy Principles, Practice and Protocols,' co-authored with Nancy Keenan Smith.  Topics include:  How has fascial research informed our understanding of scars?  Is it about the "fuzz," or the fluids?  Erasing scars, once and for all. (Not really.)  Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Book: Traumatic Scar Tissue Management: Massage Therapy Principles, Practice and Protocols (save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout) Book: Oncology Massage (save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout) Email Cathy Ryan: cryanrmt@gmail.com Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Episode image credit: Nancy Keenan Smith Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  Healwell: save 10% Healwell courses when you join the Healwell Community at community.healwell.org  About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Whitney and Til talk to Diane Matkowski (a.k.a. the Massage Mentor) to find out what gave her the chutzpah to ask 10 of her favorite massage and bodywork teachers to teach in her first online event, what it was like when nearly 600 people showed up, and what she's working on next. Topics include:  There are a lot of male teachers in our field. Where are the women? (Here.) Finding your thing, and going for it. Do we have to be good at business, to be good practitioners? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: The Hip Jam Oct 4-8, 2021 The Massage Mentor Institute (online courses) Inside Job (upcoming training) Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Lowe  | About Til Luchau  |  Email Us: info@thethinkingpractitioner.com (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

Til and Whitney talk to Healwell’s Cal Cates about how their work with death and dying brought perspective and presence to their work as a massage therapist; and to living itself.    Topics include:  How is “being a massage therapist in the modern world a total setup”? What do we say when our clients just want results? How do our personal experiences influence the way we engage with our clients? Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! Resources and references discussed in this episode:  "Death, Dying, and the Breakability of Us All" article in Massage & Bodywork  Interdisciplinary podcast  “Opening to the Mystery” online retreat   Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  Healwell: save 10% on the“Opening to the Mystery” online retreat save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout at healwell.org    Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking. Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com. About Whitney Lowe  |  About Til Luchau  |  Email Us  (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)

How often do we think about the assumptions that inform our decisions? Til Luchau talks to writer Ruth Werner about her recent work on critical thinking skills, steps, and stages.  Topics include:  What is the big deal about critical thinking?  What are the signs that I might not be thinking critically? Is intuition the opposite of critical thinking? And more. Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites!  Resources and references discussed in this episode: Supplemental video: Ruth interviews Til: “What is critical thinking?” “Critical Thinking” article in Massage & Bodywork magazine I Have a Client Who... Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner (podcast) A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology (book) What Next? COVID-19 Updates for Massage Therapists (online course) Ruth Werners’ site: www.ruthwerner.com Whitney Lowe’s site: AcademyOfClinicalMassage.com  Til Luchau’s site: Advanced-Trainings.com  Sponsor Offers:  The Shoulder Jam event, via Til or Whitney‘s links  Books of Discovery: save 15% by entering "thinking" at checkout on booksofdiscovery.com.  ABMP: save $24 on new membership at abmp.com/thinking.  Handspring Publishing: save 20% by entering “TTP” at checkout at handspringpublishing.com.  About Whitney Lowe  |  About Til Luchau  |  Email Us  (The Thinking Practitioner Podcast is intended for professional practitioners of manual and movement therapies: bodywork, massage therapy, structural integration, chiropractic, myofascial and myotherapy, orthopedic, sports massage, physical therapy, osteopathy, yoga, strength and conditioning, and similar professions. It is not medical or treatment advice.)