A few things about me: I have one foot that points out a bit. I walk like half a duck. Nothing big, I'm probably the only one who notices this, but it's there. If you stood me up for a postural examination, I would be in pretty much the same place as 99% of the therapists who take my Foundations Seminars; I'm crooked! But, so are about 99% of the people out there in the world. Some look like ducks, some like pigeons, some like Quasimodo, others like who-knows-what! Look around you, how many people look like that chart hanging on the wall at school, showing "perfect posture? It will be a small number that fits this "norm" of perfect posture. Do a bit of man/woman-on-the-street interviewing. Are those people who have imperfect posture suffering from pain? A certain percentage will have pain, but most will not. So why do we apply different standards to those who walk into our clinic/practice?

Physical Therapy 101 taught me to look at posture as a means of determining asymmetry. Asymmetry leads to pain. MFR 101 taught the same thing. Both are quite incorrect. I have said many times in this blog that, in the past, I treated with the mindset of returning the body to a more perfect postural alignment will bring about diminished pain, but now I realize that much more is happening than just a change in alignment. If the imperfect posture as a cause of pain logic was true, everyone with less than perfect posture would have pain. We all know that this is not true.

The lesson? Stop looking for ducks. Posture is a very small part of a much deeper assessment that therapists must perform. Think of all of the things we are accomplishing every time we touch and interact with someone. It is a rich, deep body that we impact when we treat. Postural correction, if that is a patient's true goal, is fine. But, please consider letting posture play a more minor role. Quack.

 Please check out my other blog entries listed below.

Private and Individualized Seminars by Foundations in Myofascial Release 

A recent trend for many health related facilities is to bring in quality continuing education for their therapists. I have done a number of these over the past few years for a wide variety of agencies, including hospitals, home health care agencies, and private clinics. Myofascial release is a highly adaptable modality that is well suited to a wide variety of conditions and disorders. If you have an interest in bringing this sort of training to your facility, simply drop us an email or call at 585-244-6180.   

New Locations for Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars 

We have added a few more locations to round out the 2013 schedule, including a special seminar for speech-language pathologists in Chicago, IL; Lafayette, IN; Syracuse, NY; Dallas, TX, and a special Foundations I Seminar to be held this May in Rochester, New York. Check out the entire schedule below.

For Now,

Walt Fritz, PT

You have many options when it comes to continuing education training. Myofascial Release is a powerful modality for eliminating pain and restoring function, but how do you choose? Foundations Seminars draw strongly Walt Fritz's background as a physical therapist, as well as a Myofascial Release practitioner. He has been a New York State Licensed Physical Therapist since 1985 and has been practicing Myofascial Release since 1992. He spent 10 years teaching nationally with other well-regarded practitioners and started his own seminars in 2005. Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars delve deeply into the evaluation of soft tissue dysfunction from both a more traditional fascia perspective as well as looking at pain through the lens of neuroscience. Through deep evaluation you will explore postural and movement pattern disorders. Treatment then proceeds in a logical manner.

It is important to know your strengths as both a therapist and teacher. Walt's strengths lie in his ability to effectively connect his students with the "Feel" of soft tissue restriction and its elimination. Using a gentle approach, he eliminates the need for aggressive work, which is hard on both the patient as well as the therapist. He has taken the work he was taught and moved in a direction of logic and simplicity, without the heavy trappings of New Age teachings. Learning is an ongoing process for all of us, and Foundations Seminars follows this trend. We review all relevant explanations for pain and dysfunction, from the more traditional models of "fascial restriction" to newer models based on scientifically accepted pain theory. Neuromodulatory treatment is introduced along side myofascial release. The overlap is at times quite amazing!

All Foundations Seminars attend to the individual needs and background of all participants. The intended audience includes massage therapists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, nurses, chiropractors, and physicians. Instruction is in a very approachable and interactive style. Small class size guarantees individualized one on one attention.

The incorporation of a deep model of evaluative understanding regarding the nature of dysfunction within the body aids in connecting the theory of Myofascial Release to the application of treatment. You will leave Foundations I Seminar prepared to use Myofascial Release from your first day back at work. Walt makes himself available for follow up consultation as needed, so you never feel alone in this process.

Foundations Seminars are packed with technique, theory, and evaluation. There is considerable lab time where you will get plenty of one-on-one instruction, assuring you to have a positive learning experience. Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars provide explanations for the workings of myofascial release from both the bio mechanical model, as well as introducing neurobiological explanations.

Foundations in Myofascial Release Seminars emphasize a solid orthopedic basis for evaluation and treatment, small group trainings, and a high degree of one-on-one interaction; does this sound like what you are seeking?  

Myofascial Release...Demystified.

I have found myofascial release to be the most effective method for both finding the causes of pain, as well as eliminating them. My goal is to pass this along to you.  

Walt Fritz, PT