Applied Myoskeletal Therapy

Applied Myoskeletal Therapy is a gentle and effective therapy for the treatment of Musculoskeletal and Neural pain. Leading the way in modern, natural, pain and injury relief and prevention.

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Bowen Therapy

Bowen Therapy is an Australian healing modality now practiced and taught throughout the world. It is suitable for all ages from the new born to the elderly.

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Bowen Therapy

Bowen Therapy: A gentle & effective treatment for a wide range of muscular & joint problems. This is a very relaxing non oil technique using holding points & rolls across muscles & tendons to return the body to its natural balance, resulting in pain relief, improved bodily function & enhanced health & wellbeing. Developed by world famous bodyworker, Australian Thomas A. Bowen (1916 – 1982)

What can I expect of my Treatment?

Applied Myoskeletal Therapy or Bowen Therapy

Applied Myoskeletal Therapy & Bowen Therapy briefly works by releasing contracture of the neurological tension gauges in our muscles & tendons that control our muscle tone. When these gauges are overly tight through physical and/ or

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Emotional trauma, muscular pain & joint restriction often result. Applied Myoskeletal Therapy and Bowen Therapy, by releasing these gauges, allows the muscles & importantly the skeletal structures to return to a neutral, less painful position which gives the body the opportunity to heal. This is usually not instantaneous, just as a small cut will always heal given the right conditions, there is also a time frame that the body requires for the inflammation & healing process to be completed.

During your initial consultation of Applied Myoskeletal Therapy or Bowen Therapy I will advise you of my findings and suggest a treatment regime that offers you the best chance of reduction or elimination of your complaint. A very high percentage of people report improvement after the first or second visit. Treatment frequency is individualised, averaging 1 to 2 treatments a week for 3 to 6 weeks.

The treatment consists of a series of moves or holds across these tension gauges with medium digit pressure applied. It is very relaxing & also benefits many systems of the body aiding to improve health & wellbeing. You may stay fully clothed if you are wearing loose fitting clothing or they have some stretch. If not you will be asked if you would mind partially disrobing & be draped appropriately.

The treatment has pauses or breaks in working on the body. This is a unique & important part of the healing process of Applied Myoskeletal Therapy and Bowen Therapy. Thomas Ambrose Bowen (Bowen Therapy’s originator) proved beyond doubt that these pauses in treatment give superior results. During these rests, averaging for 30 seconds to 2 minutes I allow your body to rest and start its healing process.

How can such light & minimal touch be effective? There is scientific research supporting the many components of Applied Myoskeletal Therapy’s and Bowen Therapy’s efficiency. This is reinforced by John’s full time clinical results of over a decade helping people. There is a saying that "With the right key the door will open easily." Put another way we have all experienced a drawer that became stuck. As hard as you pulled to make it open the more jammed it became. It was not until you pushed it in the opposite direction (closing) that on your next attempt it opened easily. So it is with the human body. It often just needs a skilful, gentle and persuading hand to heal. There are much better ways available than to use force.

The treatments are quality based & long duration is definitely not conductive to optimal results. Because of this I don’t have a set treatment duration for every client. You are an individual with individual needs. When I have reached the optimal result for the treatment I cease work. To continue would jeopardise an optimal outcome. The average time with me for a treatment ranges from 30 to 45 minutes duration. Fees are per treatment not by time for this important reason.

“Applied Myoskeletal Therapy” and “Bowen Therapy”
by John Garfield

“Maximum Precision - Minimum Force – Optimum Outcome”

MUSCLES MOVE BONES

How can a Soft Tissue Therapist trained in Applied Myoskeletal Therapy and Bowen therapy put your spine back into alignment without using a fast, sudden manipulation as performed by a Chiropractor?

Dr Warren Hammer a world renowned chiropractor & author who lectures & trains chiropractors throughout the world in the importance of working on the soft tissues of the body (muscles, tendons, ligaments & fascial connective tissue) has this to say about the spine and its movement ....

To quote Dr Hammer....

“The spine does not support the human body. A tent pole cannot hold up a tent by itself. It is the guy wires that attach to the tent pole that are responsible for the shape and movement of that pole. Movement of the tent pole is limited by the attached guy wires. If the guy wires (muscles & fascia) are stressed due to shortness or tension then the tent pole no matter how it is moved will not be able to substantially affect the guy wires. A subluxation (joint misalignment) does not exist in a vacuum. A vertebral segment is a passive structure made up of bones, discs, cartilage and ligamentous structures. Adjusting this segment cannot adjust all of the supporting chronic soft tissue stress that surrounds it.

Soft tissue treatment of the muscles and fascia is a method of preventing subluxations (joint misalignment). Soft tissue treatment is a method of preventing subluxations from returning after they are treated. An adjustment often cannot prevent a subluxation from reappearing unless all the forces responsible for its appearance are modified.

As a practicing doctor of chiropractic for over 40 years I (Dr Hammer) have realized that the most satisfying part of my practice has been to release patients from care as soon as they have reached maximum improvement. As a famous mentor of mine once stated: "Find it, fix it and leave it alone." For their own benefit, it is necessary to make patients less dependent on the doctor and teach them active care to maintain their progress.

The second most satisfying aspect of practice has been the incorporation into daily practice the constant flow of new scientific information that relates to the clinical improvement of the patient. Of critical importance has been the incorporation of all valid methods and techniques of soft tissue evaluation and treatment.

I believe that all joint manipulations of the human body require evaluation of the soft tissue attachments to these joints. Joints cannot move themselves and the relationship of surrounding muscles and connective tissue both near and far from the sources of pain must be analysed and treated. Soft tissue techniques increase the effectiveness of chiropractic manipulation and are essential for the treatment of extremity lesions i.e. shoulder, hip, knee.” end of quote.

Dr Warren Hammer D.C.
Reference material from Dr Hammer’s Articles.

Drawings of some of the muscles that give our spine its finer movement which also can lock it out of position.