The Thinking Practitioner
 

The Thinking Practitioner

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Join two of the leading educators in manual therapy, bodywork, and massage therapy, as they delve into the most intriguing issues, questions, research, and client conditions that hands-on practitioners face. Stimulate your thinking with imaginative conversations, tips, and interviews related to the somatic arts and sciences.

Episodes

132: Bodywork and Grief (with Ronna Moore)

Wednesday Nov 27, 2024

Wednesday Nov 27, 2024

In this episode, we delve into the intersection of massage therapy, grief, caretaking, and end-of-life. We touch on global palliative care practices, the role of touch in support for those experiencing grief, navigating sensitive conversations, and creating safe spaces for clients. Our guest, Ronna Moore, a massage therapist with over 40 years of experience, specializes in oncology and palliative care, and is pursuing a doctorate in public health focusing on the role of massage therapy in palliative care. Join us to gain insights into shifting therapeutic mindsets and exploring practical resources to support those experiencing loss.

Key Topics

  • 01:19 Guest Introduction and Personal Connection
  • 02:08 Exploring Grief and Loss in Massage Therapy
  • 03:43 Understanding Palliative Care
  • 05:22 Palliative Care Practices in Different Countries
  • 23:16 The Role of Touch in Therapy
  • 35:18 Role-Playing Therapeutic Conversations
  • 36:46 Navigating Grief in Therapy
  • 37:48 The Importance of Sensitivity
  • 38:10 Avoiding Unhelpful Phrases
  • 39:12 The Paradox of Comfort
  • 40:15 Shifting the Therapist Mindset
  • 47:05 Creating a Safe Space
  • 50:01 Understanding Grief Models
  • 54:46 Resources and Final Thoughts

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Ronna's grief recommendations:

    Frank Osteseski’s book The Five Intentions is a really valuable guide/resource for me in palliative care and its ‘aftermath'.

    I also appreciate Ronald Epstein’s book: Attending: Medicine, Mindfulness and Humanity

    Mary-Frances O’Connor: The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss

    Mary-Frances O’Connor: The Grieving Body (to be published in 2025)

    George Bonnano: The Other Side of Sadness AND George Bonnano: The End of Trauma (both of these have a resilience orientation which appeals to me).

    TED talk by Abraham Vergehese emphasising the humanity of care.

    Articles:

    https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2018-26629-017.    (A polyvagal approach)

    O’Connor, M.-F. (2019). Grief: A Brief History of Research on How Body, Mind, and Brain Adapt. Psychosomatic Medicine, 81(8), 731–738. https://doi.org/10.1097/PSY.0000000000000717

    O’Connor, M.-F., & Seeley, S. H. (2022). Grieving as a form of learning: Insights from neuroscience applied to grief and loss. Current Opinion in Psychology, 43, 317–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2021.08.019

    In Australia, we have a professional body called Grief Australia which is a great resource for PD/education (amongst other things). Perhaps there is something similar in the US.

    https://www.caresearch.com.au/Portals/20/Documents/Health-Professionals/TheRoleOfSkilledCompassionateTouchInGriefSupport_RonnaMoore_ACGBConference2018-1.pdf   

    What's Your Grief (you have already) has some good descriptions of the models of grief I mentioned (Dual Process Model and Growing around Grief), and there are others as well.

    Compassion Cultivation Training: https://med.stanford.edu/psychiatry/education/cme/cct.html

    Mindful Self Compassion: https://centerformsc.org

Sponsor Offers: 

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.)

 

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131: Mindfulness, Hands-On Therapy, and Pain (with Bronnie Lennox Thompson)

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024

Wednesday Nov 13, 2024

In this episode Til Luchau interviews Bronnie Lennox Thompson, a pain management expert from the University of Otago in New Zealand. Bronnie shares insights on supporting people with chronic pain to live well, emphasizing pain’s complexity as a personal, multi-dimensional experience. They discuss the value of hands-on therapy, discussing both physical benefits and its comforting, human connection.

The conversation highlights mindfulness as a tool for managing chronic pain, extending beyond meditation to include simple, everyday practices. Bronnie and Til explain how mindfulness helps people observe pain without reacting, fostering a healthier relationship with their bodies. Bronnie also shares her personal approach to mindfulness through activities like walking and savoring positive moments. This episode offers practical advice for both therapists and anyone seeking a mindful, compassionate approach to managing pain.

Key Topics:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:16 Sponsorship and Special Offers
02:04 Guest Introduction: Dr. Bronnie Lennox Thompson
02:15 Exploring Pain and Mindfulness
05:40 Personal Journey with Pain
08:59 The Role of Hands-On Therapy
19:16 Mindfulness in Clinical Practice
25:13 History and Science of Mindfulness
39:17 Responding vs. Reacting: The Power of Mindfulness
40:12 Practical Applications for Manual Therapists
41:08 Guiding Clients Through Sensory Awareness
42:11 Exploring Sensations and Descriptions
43:38 The Role of Curiosity in Therapy
44:40 Hands-On Techniques and Client Interaction
47:17 Movement and Awareness in Therapy
48:52 Changing Pain Perception Through Attention
51:51 The Therapeutic Session: Beyond Touch
01:00:07 Incorporating Mindfulness into Daily Life
01:06:38 Final Thoughts and Resources

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sponsor Offers: 

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.)

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130: The Body of Grief (with JS Park)

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024

Joon Park, author of "As Long as You Need" discusses grief and its impact on bodyworkers and their clients with Til Luchau. Park, a hospital chaplain, shares his experiences with grief, trauma, and the importance of acknowledging and integrating pain rather than suppressing it. He emphasizes the role of the body in grief, the concept of "letting in" rather than "letting go," and the significance of rituals and community in processing loss. The conversation also touches on the idea of the "intimate stranger" and the therapeutic power of touch and presence.

Key Topics:

•Grief isn’t about “letting go” but “letting in” and honoring the lost.
•Societal pressures often encourage suppressing grief.
•Parallels between grief and trauma: both require embracing pain rather than avoiding it.
•Physical manifestations of grief and the role of bodywork in processing it.
•Importance of rituals in grief (including the "ritual" of getting bodywork) for emotional and physical healing.
•The significance of community and meaningful connections in combating loneliness.
•The “intimate stranger” concept, where trust can build quickly with clients.
•Touch as non-verbal "prayer" and support in grief.
•Encouraging open conversations about grief and loss, and building authentic relationships.

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Sponsor Offers: 

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.)

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129: Is Your Touch Aging Out? (with Til Luchau & Whitney Lowe)

Wednesday Oct 16, 2024

Wednesday Oct 16, 2024

A new study shows that our fingertips lose sensitivity as we age. What are the implications for massage and bodywork practitioners? Tune in and listen as Til and Whitney think it through, and along the way, share fascinating tidbits about tactile sensitivity training, and its relevance to actual practice. 

Key Topics:

•Introduction and Sponsor Message (00:00 - 01:30)

•Discussion of Tactile Sensitivity Study (01:30 - 03:30)

•Decline in tactile sensitivity, especially in fingers with age

•Importance of glabrous skin (hairless skin) in mechanoreception

•Mechanoreceptors and Aging (03:30 - 06:00)

•Von Frey monofilament test used to measure sensitivity

•Examples of exercises to improve tactile sensitivity in manual therapy

•Proprioception and Sensory Discrimination (06:00 - 09:00)

•Importance of spatial discrimination in manual therapy

•Stiffness testing for practitioners

•Tactile Acuity and Practice (09:00 - 12:00)

•Training methods for developing tactile sensitivity, including touch games and exercises

•Aging and Mechanoreceptor Deterioration (12:00 - 16:00)

•Impact of aging on nerve function and tissue hydration

•Central processing changes in the brain affecting tactile perception

•Implications for Clients and Practitioners (16:00 - 23:00)

•Loss of sensitivity and its effect on daily activities and manual therapy

•Correlation between pain and reduced tactile sensitivity

•Qualitative vs Quantitative Touch in Therapy (23:00 - 30:00)

•Debate on whether tactile acuity is essential for effective manual therapy

•Importance of qualitative touch and attentiveness in client care

•Social Grooming and Pleasant Touch (30:00 - 38:00)

•The role of pleasant touch in therapy, linked to brain processes

•Sensitivity in non-fingertip areas (forearms, cheeks) and its significance

•Takeaways on Tactile Sensitivity and Aging (38:00 - 45:00)

•Summary of findings on aging and tactile sensitivity

•Importance of listening and touch quality in manual therapy

Get the video and full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Samain-Aupic, Léonard, Mariama Dione, Edith Ribot-Ciscar, Rochelle Ackerley, and Jean-Marc Aimonetti. “Relations between Tactile Sensitivity of the Finger, Arm, and Cheek Skin over the Lifespan Showing Decline Only on the Finger.” Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience 16 (July 2, 2024): 1387136. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2024.1387136.
  • Bartsch, Katja Martina, Robert Schleip, Alberto Zullo, Kerstin Hoppe, and Werner Klingler. “The Stiffness Comparison Test: A Pilot Study to Determine Inter-Individual Differences in Palpatory Skill Related to Gender, Age, and Occupation-Related Experience.” Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies 24, no. 4 (October 2020): 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2020.06.009.

Sponsor Offers: 

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.)

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128: Tendon Pain Update (with Jill Cook)

Wednesday Oct 02, 2024

Wednesday Oct 02, 2024

Whitney interviews tendon expert Dr. Jill Cook, who discusses the current understanding of tendinopathy as a degenerative condition, emphasizing the importance of proper loading in rehabilitation. She explains why she advises against traditional treatments like friction massage and stretching, why anti-inflammatory medications are ineffective, and highlights the risks of certain drugs on tendon health. Throughout the conversation, Dr. Cook provides evidence-based insights for all manual therapists on treating tendinopathies effectively.


Key Topics:

  1. Shift from thinking of tendinopathies as inflammatory conditions to degenerative conditions (03:01 - 04:24)
  2. Factors that contribute to pain in tendinopathies (04:40 - 05:41)
  3. Clinical signs and symptoms of tendinopathy (06:06 - 08:34)
  4. The role of loading and compression in tendon pathology (08:54 - 16:45)
  5. Treatment strategies for tendinopathies, including friction massage and anti-inflammatory medications (19:06 - 31:48)
  6. Medically-induced tendinopathies, such as those caused by fluoroquinolone antibiotics (32:05 - 35:04)
  7. The role of active movement and soft tissue treatments in tendinopathy rehabilitation (35:30 - 38:29)

Get the full transcript at Til or Whitney's sites! 

Resources mentioned in this episode:

  • Jill Cook: J.Cook@latrobe.edu.au
  • 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

Sponsor Offers: 

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.)

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