Bowen Blog

Stay up to date with the latest news, tips, and success stories from our wellness consultant services.

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What inspired me to start offering Bowen Therapy services?

A few years ago I was working at a spa that had a clinical side and a esthetic side to the business. On the clinical side they offered Bowen therapy. I distinctly remember one man who came in regularly for relief from the tremors caused by Parkinson's disease. He was awaiting surgery, but on one particular visit, he arrived completely exhausted from the constant movement of his body. During his Bowen treatment something remarkable happened -the tremors stopped. When he came out he looked transformed -relaxed, younger, and free from the tremors. He continued with Bowen treatements which consistently helped manage the involuntary movements he had been experiencing. Evenutally he had the surgery and now leads a normal life, in part due to the relief Bowen therapy provided. Witnessing this was a profound turning point in my life. Shortly afterward, I became a Bowen practitioner myself, and since then, I've had the privilege of offering this incredible therapy to hundreds of patients. 

3 Reasons Touch Therapy Isn’t Skin Deep

3 Reasons Touch Therapy Isn’t Skin Deep

by Manon Bollinger ND

 

“No pain, no gain” is the mantra people have stamped in their heads. Chiropractors crack bones back into place. Cupping therapy leaves behind purple and red marks. Deep tissue massage breaks apart muscle knots. Trigger points are pressed until it feels tender. There’s this idea that people have to endure discomfort for temporary relief. While some swear by these methods, many continue to suffer from chronic pain. They feel better only until the next session.

The body isn’t a Mr. Potato Head. It’s not built with disconnected parts thrown together. Everything works together as a whole. If there’s a tug on one area, it impacts and affects any area in our body. An upset stomach may trigger pain in the foot. Scar tissue may affect the diaphragm making it difficult to breathe. Numbness in the wrist may start from the shoulders. It’s all interconnected together as a system.

The Secret Is Under Your Skin

Beneath the surface of your skin lies the fascia. Long ago, people used to think it played no role other than cushioning, so they took it out. Over the last few years, research breakthroughs are starting to understand the fascia’s importance. If the fascia isn’t intact or is blocked in any way, it severely impacts the body’s total health.

The living fascia allows the flow of substances like lymphatic vessels, blood vessels, nutrients, and hormones. This is called the ground substance. A healthy fascia is able to self-regulate this substance allowing the body to function well. It’s a dynamic system not just a static body part.

Our mind is connected to the body.

Have you ever had pain boomerang back? You come out of a good massage, and your body is in bliss. Then a few days later, all the creaky joints are back again. Why does this happen? Why doesn’t it ever stay in place? Well the bad news is manipulating the bones, joints and muscles isn’t enough. The good news is there’s a better way to heal.

The key is understanding that the body itself needs to be reprogrammed. The mind body connection is a powerful thing. When you tap into it, the body heals itself on its own. It reboots the system, so everything functions properly again. Touch therapy is not about forcing things back into place. It’s about stimulating the body’s own healing mechanisms to kick in.

Our body holds our emotions.

When you experience grief, sadness or anxiety, your body responds in a certain way. Your shoulders tense and your hips tighten. Your stomach feels like it’s tied into knots.

Most people don’t realize their physical pain is a symptom of an emotional problem as well. Touch is beyond just skin to skin contact. In order to communicate with the body, the therapist needs to be present and connected. It sends signals to the body to release the emotion behind the pain. This is why only a gentle and loving touch allows this information to transition into your body.

A shared success story from a client who benefited from Bowen Therapy

I came to Sue for Bowen therapy in August for 2023 a very broken woman in excrutiating pain. Inflammation raged throughout my body. I couldn't sleep from the pain. I could barely walk and needed a cane and even then could barely walk and I'm only in my 50's! The pain was so excrutiating and it was unbearable. Pain changes the brain and I couldn't even think or speak properly. I didn't want to take pain relief meds and spiral into addiction as is common in these situations.

Since my first treatment with Sue, I could feel vibrations thorughout my whole body. Week after week I could feel the healing working, pain was subsiding and I could sleep... it was life changing. It wasn't a quick fix, I had to be patient with the process slowly but steadily. But I persisted week after week.

Orthopaedic surgeon says I need to do total knee replacement for both my knees and my osteoarthristis is considered severe, but going to Sue, I am able to get more mileage with my own knees without surgery or pain meds. The medical system will tell you it's not possible, it's a placebo, etc... I'm here as testimony that Bowen Therapy really works! I am incredibly grateful for Sue and Bowen Therapy! ~Jacqueline J

Bowen Therapy, Frank Navratil -an exerpt

The following is from Bowen Therapy by Frank Navarati, BSc. ND a Canadian, a world renowned expert on natural medicine and a long-time Bowen pratitioner and instructor. 

 

It is not a conincidence that you have decided to read this book. There is a multitude of events that have led you to opening its cover just as there have been an incomprehensible series of events that had preceded my writing it. Perhaps you are burdened with back or neck pain that just doesn't seem to go away or perhaps you suffer from migraine headches. Perhaps you are searching for an alternative method to assist your health problems other than those used in modern medicine. Maybe you are tired of taking drugs and painkillers and would just like to find a natural method tht is revolutionizing health care around the world.

I believe that we learn from encountering others around us as well as from those from the past, but I also believe that when we are touched or inspired by them even after their death, their energy and spirit stays with us.

What we do with these encounters or so called coincidences is entriely up to us. They can drift by us just as passing mist on a foggy day or they can adhere, permeate the inner reaches of our soul and shape and form our destiny.

Inspiration is a strong mediator of change. It comes from encounters wih events and from people around us that we can identify with or that are close to us. When we are inspired we have the ability to make change. Again that change can be a fleeting one as that passing mist on a foggy day or a permanent one that has the ability to shape and change our life in ways that we have never dreamt possible.

Many years ago I too found myself amidst the fog and encountered a passing mist and chose not to ignore it but to follow its course. It came in the form of a suggestion while living in Australia by an aquaintance to enroll in learning a miraculous techique, called Bowen Therapy. One encounters many natural healing methods throughout life but this method was particularly close to me right from the beginning. It was not a fleeting mist that just passes by, It inspired me to not only learn and study the Bowen method but to practice and eventually teach and pass on my experiences to others.

The Bowen method has been responsible for thousands of cases around the world for what modern medicine calls miracles. As mysterious as its founder, Tom Bowen, it's success has puzzled even the greatest doctors of our time. What this really means is that we still know very little about the human body and how it works. It is true that we have mountains of books on anatomy and physiology and knowledge and theories of how our body systems interact togehter but I believe that we have only uncovered the tip of the iceberg of what we know about our health. The Bowen method seems to go beyond the phyical understanding that modern medicine has today.

With modern society have come modern health problems. Back and neck pain is one of the most common complaints in the world today. Every other person complains about being under intense stress. Chronic fatigue is showing up with alarming rates. What is happening to our body? It seems that it is losing its natural balance and we require this balance to maintain all our body functions.

The sad thing that most of us tend to treat our health problems with some sort of chemical drug, painkillers for neck and back pain, for headaches and migraines, as well as a host of other drugs that claim to heal our ailing conditions. The reality is they do not cure our conditions but only serve to curb the symptoms temporarily and leave the cause of the disease untreated, not to mention those dangerous side effects.

The core cause of a disease is not an easy task to uncover. Many factors are responsible for diseases and the symptoms that we feel. Unfortunately, there is no miracle drug for most of the chronic diseases that we suffer from today. The causes of the health problem have to be tackled holistically, from all angles, which often include nutritional imbalances, psychological causes, lack of exercise, lifestyle habits, levels of stress and amount of water intake. This is the only way that we really can cure the disease at the core level. Bowen Therapy plays an intricate role in balancing energy levels in the body, releasing muscle and nervous tension and revitalizing a congested lyphatic system, often responible for a varitey of pain and inflammation in the body, high anxiety or depression, low immunity or high levels of toxins in the body. In its own wonderful way Bowen acts holistically on all parts of the body, regaining it's natural balance. In short, along with proper nutrition and lifestyle habits, it allows favourable conditions tht allow the body to heal itself.

... I believe that Bowen therapy is one of the greatest discoveries of modern health. I sincerely hope that this opportunity to learn about it does not pass you by as a fleeting whisp of fog but provides direction, inspiration, solution to your health problems and above all change in your views on natural medicine. 

I am ever optimistic that as the fog lifts and as you gain more knowledge about the needs of your individual body it will become more and more clear what you must do to achieve optimum health.

~Frank Navratil

If you would like to read more let me know and I can get you a copy of this wonderful resource.

 

The Healing Power of Pauses

By Manon Bollinger ND 


One of the most unique aspects of BowenFirst™ Therapy is the intentional pauses that occur throughout the treatment. These pauses might seem unusual to those unfamiliar with the technique, but they play a crucial role in the therapy’s effectiveness.

So, why are these pauses so important?

BowenFirst™ Therapy is designed to work with your body’s natural ability to heal itself. The gentle, rolling moves applied by the practitioner send subtle signals to your nervous system. These signals are like instructions, guiding your body to relax, release tension, and begin the healing process. However, the body needs time to respond to these signals—and that’s where the pauses come in.

During each pause, your body is given the opportunity to process the information it’s receiving. Think of it as giving your nervous system a moment to “digest” the therapeutic input. This time allows your body to start making adjustments, whether it’s releasing tight muscles, improving circulation, or reducing stress. The pauses also help to reset the nervous system, which can lead to a profound sense of relaxation and balance.

In many ways, these pauses are as important as the moves themselves. They ensure that the therapy is not rushed and that your body has the space it needs to engage in the healing process fully. It’s a gentle, respectful approach that honors your body’s innate wisdom.

For those new to BowenFirst™ Therapy, these pauses might feel different from other therapies where continuous movement or manipulation is the norm. However, understanding their purpose can help you appreciate the therapy’s unique approach to healing. The pauses are a reminder that true healing isn’t about force or pressure—it’s about giving your body the time and space it needs to heal naturally.

So, the next time you experience BowenFirst™ Therapy and find yourself in one of those moments of stillness, remember that this is when your body is doing some of its most important work. It’s in these pauses that the magic of BowenFirst™ Therapy truly happens.

New Research Shows Benefits of Bowen Therapy on Neck Pain

Research published in June 2023 investigated the effectiveness of Bowen therapy in managing myofascial pain syndrome with symptoms lasting for more than six weeks. The study also examined the long-term effect of Bowen Therapy on functional enhancement, quality of life, and physical and mental well-being.

 

The study was performed by Occupational Therapists at the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care and the Department of Occupational Therapy, Prince of Wales Hospital, Hong Kong.

This study was the first Randomised Controlled Trial in the literature to confirm the efficacy of Bowen Therapy for patients with myofascial neck pain. Compared with conventional treatments, Bowen Therapy increased Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT), improved Cervical Range of Movement (CROM), reduced pain scores, improved occupational performance, improved mood, and improved quality of life. Many of these effects could last at least 12 weeks after completing the Bowen therapy.

Few studies have investigated the effect of Bowen Therapy on PPT. It is a quick, objective measure to quantify pain intensity and deep muscular tissue sensitivity. This study showed that subjective pain scores were significantly reduced immediately after all of the Bowen Therapy sessions and 12 weeks after completing the therapy course. Bowen Therapy appears to elicit a fascial healing process and facilitates further rehabilitation of performance in daily activities in the post-therapy period. Improvement in the deep muscular tissue sensitivity may promote pain tolerance threshold, and other research is recommended. The results suggests that Bowen Therapy may be a superior option to dry needling and trigger-point injection, whose effects diminished after four weeks, according to meta-analysis.

 

The research concluded that Bowen Therapy is an effective treatment for chronic myofascial neck pain. It alleviates pain, improves functional outcomes, and enhances the quality of life. The reduced myofascial neck pain will assist patients’ occupational participation, with enhanced physical and mental well-being. Results of the study demonstrated the non-invasiveness of 12 weeks of Bowen Therapy provides a favourable option among other therapies in managing myofascial neck pain. It is expected that the successful model of care will be further promoted to all pain clinics in Hong Kong and internationally. Additional research should be considered to explore the medium and long-term Bowen Therapy intervention effect in managing myofascial pain at different body parts, compared with pharmacological and other active evidence-based controls.

Theories of How Bowen May Work


Frank Naratil (from: Bowen Therapy Tome Bowen's Gift to the World) continues to say it best...


As the Bowen method spreads rapidly across the globe, many questions have arisen as to why certain moves are used and the rationale of how they work. Unfortunately most of these questions have still been left unanswered. If Tom Bowen was alive today I am sure a large percentage of the Bowen community would love to know how he developed his technique and what it actually does in the body. Unfortunately we are only left now with speculation and theories of how the Bowen method may work.


Perhaps we are really not meant to understand everything that we see but to be just satisfied with that it works. I can't help to think that all the alternative methods of healing that have been scorned and dismissed by modern medicine just because they could never be proved by scientific tests. All the laws that have banned natural healing methods over the years just so that we could achieve this low grade medical care that we are forced to accept today. We will all pay for our lack of being open to new ideas and our lack of abiding by the laws of nature. For all those closed minds our there, remember one thing, we have only scrached the surface of having an understanding about how our bodies work and function and what affects their ability. Modern medicine unfortunately is in it's infancy and despite its claims of medical advances, its rampant use of chemical drugs to treat disease can be only seen as primitive and damaging to our long-term health. This, I hope you can see is not holistic medicine. If it were so successful we would not be suffering from alarming increasing rates of cancer, diabetes, asthma, migraine headaches and allergies among a host of other chronic problems.

As we venture into areas that we cannot fully explain, we cannot help but to feel a sense of mystery with what Tom Bowen has left us. The Bowen method is as mysterious as its founder and I believe holds many secrets for our long term health and well being. Let's take a look at some possible theories that have been suggested for how the Bowen method may work.

Nerve stimulation theory


The Bowen move that is administrated to the body triggers an impulse in the nervous system that activates a host of communication channels to and from the brain which results in nerve reflexes that relax and balance body muscles, relieve muscle spasms and stimlate the function of body organs. The result is increased circulation of blood, lymph and energy flow in the body. Bowen therapy helps the body remember how to heal through its stimulation of its sense organs, the proprioceptors that are used for fine movement and balance. The messages sent to the nervous system return from the brain where they act to remind the body to regain normal movement in our joints, muscles, and tendons.

Vibrational theory

The unique rolling action of the Bowen method over specific locations on the body generates vibrational patterns at specific frequencies. These frequencies correspond to specific areas of the body depending on where the moves are made. Just as the tuning of a piano or guitar strings, the Bowen method assists in rebalancing and tuning the body's system. In generating ideal vibrational patterns the body can reach a state of homeostasis or harmony. In this way it provides a catalyst for the healing process.

Meridan theory


The locations of each of the Bowen moves correlate with research into the meridan energy system, acupressure and acupuncture, which are known to stimulate and balance the body's energy levels. As we know with acupuncture there exist meridians in the body which may explain why a Bowen move on a distant site on the body will trigger a reflex or reaction in a location elsewhere.

Stress release theory


The body endures tremendous stress during times of physical trauma, poor postures and deep emotional conflicts. This affects the autonomic nervous system and is responsible for stress reactions such as the "fight or flight" reaction, which reduces the ability of the body to rest, recover and regenerate. The Bowen method balances the autonomic nervous system so that the stress dominated sympathetic side is reduced. As a result of this stress release, muscle tension decreases, hypersensitivity of the nerves is reduced, acute pain is relieved and the healing is accelerated.

It seems that it is human nature to try to understand all that we can and to attempt to prove any new technique by scientific methods. Remember, there are just so many factors that influence our health and they go far beyond just the physical. If we accept the fact that we currently know just a fraction of how the body works we will maintain an open mind to new ideas and learning will come as we gain more experience. A closed mind learns nothing.

Whatever the reason why Bowen performs as it does, we know that other forces are at work than just what we can physically see. Whether the Bowen method stimulates nervous impulses, alters vibrational patterns in the body, activates the meridan energy system, or releases the stress reaction, we know it works in mysterious ways that we are only just starting to understand. Just because we cannot prove a theory does not mean we should stop performing the Bowen method. As it has helped so many thousands of people around the world to deal with chronic pain and ill health and has no known negative side effects. I believe that despite our inability to find an explanation of how it works, it still deserves a firm place in our current health system.

The What, The How, and The 2-Minute Break of Bowen


What is the Bowen Technique?

The Bowen Technique was created by Tom Bowen in the 1950s as a way to eliminate pain and suffering. He had a gift for noticing subtle imbalances in the human body, and he was determined to find a way to correct them as quickly as possible. Tom considered himself an Osteopathic Practitioner and the therapy was primarily taught by Osteopathic Practitioners. The Bowen Technique encompasses as one system many osteopathic principles, tenets, and techniques.

This specific form of treatment is done in a “rolling motion” with the thumbs and forefingers on different places of the body as deemed necessary by the therapist. The overlying skin is gently moved over the underlying tissue in a small designated area, as far as your skin is able to move. This helps to stimulate nerve pathways, allowing the different nervous systems within your body to interact.


Before moving from one designated area to the next, your therapist will take a small break known as the “two-minute break”. This break or therapeutic pause allows for optimum interaction between the nervous system and increases the effectiveness of pain relief and healing.


By allowing the body to rest for a couple of minutes before moving on to the next area, the process of repair becomes initiated. While these “breaks” are sometimes a difficult concept to grasp, they are explained best by the College of Bowen Studies:

“The most fundamental principle of Bowen is that it is the client that is doing the work, not the therapist, and for this to happen the body needs time to be left alone.”


How does Bowen Therapy work?


While the Bowen Technique promotes relief, recovery, and healing through physical touch, the method is focused on the brain’s response to the specific acts of physical touch.


The brain is an extremely interesting and impressive part of the body, as it receives and interprets information from your sensory organs. This includes light, sound, pain, and movement. Every second, there are approximately 600,000 signals that are traveling back and forth between the brain and the body, each one being interpreted and responded to. Whenever you see, hear, feel, or even think, your brain uses its past experience to categorize the sensation and respond to it accordingly.


However, in the case of the Bowen Technique, the brain is not able to respond immediately. This is where neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to develop new neural connections in response to environmental changes, and the “two-minute break” come into play. The body needs time to create a response to the uncommon sensation, and the break is used as a way to evoke that. The brain will send signals to the area that was just treated and will formulate a concluding response based on the sensation. Since you will most likely be lying down at this point, the response is usually a deep relaxation, which helps to stimulate the healing process and achieve pain relief.

~Jenna Howe Osteopath, Victoria BC

Bowen For Athletes

Bowen  for athletes is a strategic tool for recovery, mobility, and injury prevention. It’s not about pushing harder—it’s about moving smarter to balance your training, improve proprioception, and support long-term performance. Bowen Therapy is increasingly recognized as a valuable tool for athletes, helping to treat and prevent sports injuries and improve performance.

It involves gentle rolling hand movements that stimulate the nervous system, promoting pain relief and relaxation without the need for forceful manipulation.

Athletes such as rugby players, golfers, dancers, cyclists, runners, soccer, tennis players even swimmers all have reported improved performance and reduced injury rates after using Bowen Therapy.

The therapy can be particularly effective in enhancing recovery, reducing stress, and balancing the body's systems, making it a popular choice among high-end athletes.

A growing number of athletes and sports professionals are discovering that regular Bowen sessions enhance performance and reduces the chance of injury.

Some sports teams have a Bowen therapist on their books alongside their physiotherapist and team doctor to improve the overall performance and well-being of their team. From a team perspective it can make the difference between success and failure.

Frequent Bowen treatments helps your body be brought back in to balance and when injury does occur the road to recovery is, on the whole, a lot quicker.

*Special rates can be negotiated for bulk bookings and local teams. Please feel free to contact us today.

How Does Bowen Therapy Help and Treatment

How does Bowen Therapy help?

Bowen Therapy helps to reduce physical, emotional, and mental stress; improves joint mobility, increases circulation of lymphatic and venous fluid, enhances the assimilation of nutrients, and eliminates toxins. While there are very few specific situations in which a particular ‘procedure’ is contraindicated, the Bowen technique is appropriate to use on individuals of all ages and in all degrees of health, as no rigorous manipulations are made. 

Treatment

As Bowen shifts the patient from the Sympathetic state (Fight or Flight, Freeze mode) to the parasympathetic state (rest, relax, repair mode) that is when ultimate healing can take place.

  •  A Bowen Therapy session involves one or more ‘Procedures’, each of which consists of several sets of moves.
  • Between each set of moves, the practitioner pauses for as many minutes as are needed for the body to integrate and respond to the messages being sent.
  • The nervous system then begins to adjust the tension level in the muscles, and the client is ready for the next set of moves.
  • The Practitioner delivers signals to the nervous system at specific locations (on Muscles, Tendons, Ligaments, and nerves), and the body does the rest, responding in its own time, as it is able.
  • The moves send subtle vibrational messages along nerve pathways to the brain, these powerful stimulations will reset and balance the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).
  • The ANS controls 80% of bodily functions and is very susceptible to many external stressors.
  • Most people today live in a constant state of high stress and sympathetic ANS over-stimulation (fight or flight, freeze mode) The Resetting and Balancing of the ANS immediately results in improvements of all the body systems and organs.
  • As Bowen shifts the Client from the Sympathetic state (Fight or Flight, Freeze mode) to the parasympathetic state (rest, relax, repair mode) that is when ultimate healing can take place.
  • When there is reduced stress-orientated dominance of the Sympathetic part of the  Nervous system, muscle tension decreases, nerve hypersensitivity is reduced and the feedback loops that control acute pain in the body are interrupted.

Think of it this way…

  • Imagine that your body is a bowl of water (after all, we are made up of 80% water).
  • Now imagine a small rock falling into the middle of that bowl. The ripples start out fast and tight together, with every rebound the ripples get wider and slower, until they eventually come to a complete stop, and the water is still and calm.
  • That is how Bowen is perceived to work through the body, as it continues to offer relief, release, and repair of tissues for 4-7 days after treatment. Some bodies will often process Bowen work for several weeks after receiving treatment.
    • ~Catherine Dowhaniuk

 

Biohacking


Biohacking is a practice that involves making small, strategic changes to your habits and behaviors to improve your overall health and well-being. It can include various methods such as diet modifications, lifestyle changes, and the use of technology to track and improve your biological functions. For example, you can start with simple biohacks like intermittent fasting, optimizing sleep, or using wearable devices to monitor your health metrics.

Biohacking doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Simple activities like eating a healthier diet, exercising regularly, and managing stress can all be considered forms of biohacking. These activities involve changing inputs and signals you send to your body to get a desired output or result, which is the essence of biohacking.
Some popular biohacks include:


Intermittent fasting: Alternating between eating and fasting periods to help with weight management and blood sugar control.

Optimizing sleep: Ensuring you get enough deep sleep and REM sleep to improve memory, emotional stability, and physical health.

Wearable devices: Using fitness trackers, sleep trackers, and smartwatches to collect and analyze data to provide personal health information.

Meditation: Practicing mindfulness to focus on your body and how you feel, which can help you make small changes that can make a big difference.

Bowen Therapy: Rebooting the nervous system and leaning in to resting, digesting and healing. Improving your outlook, reducing stress and enhansing performance and overall health.

Biohacking can be practiced by anyone who wants to improve their health and well-being. However, it's important to approach biohacking with caution and seek thorough information or expert advice, especially when using invasive methods or experimenting with supplements.

Biohacking can be a powerful tool for enhancing your physical and mental performance, but it's important to approach it safely and responsibly. Always consult with a healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle, especially if you have any underlying health conditions.

Conditions treated with Bowen Therapy

Many scientific studies have shown the effectiveness of Bowen Therapy in the treatment of many different ailments.

It has been shown to be immensely effective in the prevention, repair, and recovery of sports injuries, and can offer relief minutes after a sporting injury has occurred. It is able to immediately reduce harmful inflammation and allow the injury to heal at an accelerated rate, often with minimal follow-up treatments needed. It’s not surprising more high-end athletes are turning to Bowen as it doesn’t just heal the body, it can put it into an optimal state for greater performance.

The list below is not exhaustive, but does cover a number of ailments and conditions highlighting the most common problems experienced. 

Musculoskeletal Conditions:

  • Arthritis Pain – Balance/Posture/Gait Problems/Disorders
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Eyesight problems
  • Foot/Ankle Problems
  • Frozen Shoulder/Shoulder Pain/Limited Range of Motion
  • Headaches/Migraines
  • Knee/Hip Pain/Restriction
  • Leg Length Discrepancy
  • Pelvic Pain/Restriction
  • Plantar’s Fasciitis
  • Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
  • Scoliosis/Kyphosis
  • Shin Splints
  • Sprung Rib/Chest Pain/Discomfort of unknown origin
  • Teeth Grinding/Crowding
  • Tendonitis/Tendonosis
  • Tennis/Golfers Elbow
  • Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ)
  • Vertigo/Dizziness
  • Whiplash

Respiratory Conditions:

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Bronchitis/Emphysema
  • Cold/Cough
  • Diaphragm Restriction/Problems
  • Earache/Infection
  • Hay Fever
  • Sinusitis
  • Tinnitus 

Emotional/Mental:

  • ADHD/ADD
  • Anxiety
  • Dyslexia
  • Enuresis (Bed Wetting)
  • Grief
  • Mild Depression
  • Shock
  • Stress

Digestive:

  • Bloating
  • Bowel Problems
  • Crohn’s Disease/Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Constipation
  • Heartburn/Indigestion
  • Hemorrhoids
  • Hernia
  • Kidney/Bladder Problems
  • Liver/Pancreas/Gallbladder Problems
  • Nausea

Nervous System:

  • Angina
  • Facial Paralysis/Bell’s Palsy
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Sciatica
  • Tingling/Numbness in Extremities

Reproduction:

  • Colic (Infants) – often cured after only one treatment
  • Fibrocystic Breasts (Breast lumps)
  • Infertility/Conception
  • Lactation Problems
  • Mastitis
  • Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
  • Prostatic Problems
  • Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) 

Endocrine:

  • Adrenal Exhaustion
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome 

Lymphatic:

  • Glandular Fever/Swollen Glands
  • Lymphatic Congestion 

If you are experiencing symptoms of any of these conditions, consider booking an appointment with Sue to try Bowen’s Therapy. Give us a call and we’ll be happy to help!

Knee pain (long version)

 

Despite knee pain being a common problem among clients, it somehow rarely managed attention in any of my writing.

Knee pain that clients arrive with has been highly varied.  For some it’s sharp knee pain, others dull aches.  For some it’s felt on stairs, while others it’s when walking on flat.  Sometimes it hurts more when the knee is bent, sometimes more when straight  The location of knee pain is also variable – outside, inner knee, above, below, behind…

With so many different presentations of knee pain, there’s no one solution. But there is a very common outcome – most clients feel reduced knee pain using Bowen Therapy.

In this blog, I’m going to give an overview of 6 of the more common knee pain problems I encounter.

Basic knee anatomy

For a joint that basically works like a hinge, there’s a fair bit of complexity in the knee.

Bones

The knee joins the femur (the thigh bone) to the tibia (the big shin bone).  The fibula (the smaller shin bone) and the patella (the knee cap) also make up the knee joints.

The main knee joint is the tibiofemoral joint, between the tibia and the femur.  There is also the patellofemoral joint between the femur and the patella.

Ligaments

Ligaments join the bones at the knee and provide joint stability.  The collateral ligaments are on the inside and outside of the knee, and prevent the femur sliding sideways. There are also two cruciate (cross) ligaments on the anterior (front) and posterior (back) of the joint.  These cruciate ligaments prevents the femur from sliding forward or backward on the tibia.  You’ve probably mostly heard about the anterior cruciate ligament by it’s initials – the ACL.

There is also cartilage that acts like a shock absorber between the femur and tibia, the medial and lateral menisci.

Muscles

A few key sets of muscles in the leg move the knee joint. 

The hamstring group (biceps femoris, semitendinosus and semimembranosus) connects the sit-bone on the back to the pelvis to the tibia and fibula.  The pair of gastrocnemius muscles join the femur to the heel (via the achilles tendon). Tucked away in the bend of the knee is the small popliteus, joining the top of the tibia to the bottom of the femur. These hamstrings, gastrocnemius and popliteus muscles are the key muscles that flex, or bend, the knee.

The quadricep group (rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus intermedius and vastus medialis) are key muscles that extend, or straighten the knee.   The rectus femoris originates on the pelvis, while the vastus lateralis and medialis originate on the femur.  All these muscles join into a single tendon above the knee. This tendon then connects to the top and sides of the patella before attaching to the top of the tibia.

Knee pain – different location, different cause

The cause of knee pain is dependent on the location that the pain is felt.

Dull ache at various points around the knee joint is often felt by those with arthritis (and you’ll need a doctor to diagnose this for you).

Sharp pains at the outside of the knee is often cause by problems with the iliotibial band, while pain on the inside of the knee may be related to meniscus or ligament injuries.

Pain above the knee cap may be related to irritation of quadricep muscles. 

Below the knee cap may be jumper’s knee caused by impact or Osgood-Schlatter disease in younger people.

Pain at the knee cap, often worse when walking down stairs, may be runners knee, impacted by tracking of the patella. 

Pain in the back of the knee may be caused by a Baker’s Cyst or could be related to muscle firing patterns on knee flexion.

Knee pain almost anywhere on the knee

Knees are one joint commonly affected by arthritis.

Osteoarthritis may give pain and stiffness in the knee.  It may be particularly worse after periods of non-movement – getting out of bed in the morning or sitting for a long period. The knee may also be stiff or sore when climbing stairs, walking or kneeling, and sometimes feels like it might give way.  Osteoarthritis pain can sometimes get worse throughout the course of the day.

Rheumatoid arthritis is an inflammatory condition. Pain may be strongest in the morning, and feel better through the day as movement increases.

Exercise, weight loss, pain medication, ice packs, and mobility aids are the usual self-care for osteoarthritis.

Bowen Therapy can’t help rid you of arthritis, but is great for improving mobility and thus reduced pain.  Bowen moves around the knees have reduced the pain for many, and regular maintenance treatments help people continue an active life.  With knee pain and restricted movement often comes compensatory patterns – regular Bowen treatments can also help prevent other problems that arise from compensations.

Knee pain above the knee cap

Pain in the lower thigh, just above the knee cap, is often the result of quadriceps tendonitis. 

This is often a problem of overuse, with contributing factors of alignment. Repetitive stresses on the knee structure can lead to injury, strain or irritation of the quadriceps muscles and tendons.  Those doing activities such as running, jumping, or sports with quick starts and stops tend to experience this problem more frequently. However, even those who don’t play sports can experience this problem.

The area is often warm and very tender to touch, with pain more noticeable when the knee is moving.  Many find that their knee is stiff when getting up in the morning or after a period of inactivity, as well as during and after exercise.  The pain may be mild, or strong enough to prevent athletes from playing their sport.

My experience with this was thankfully a short-lived injury years ago.  I’d only recently started to hike – how hard could walking be ?  one foot after the other !  But, at the end of a long downhill, my lower thighs were burning.  The next morning, the pain was worse, and walking down stairs was difficult.  No Bowen for me back then, but lots of rest and words of advice from seasoned hikers:  “you were using your knees going downhill,” I was told “but you need to use your quads.”

Bowen would have gotten me back to action faster, helping muscles recover and bringing a level of balance back to legs and body.  Key is also strength exercises, ensuring that the quadriceps are strong enough and are firing – especially for those downhills and quick stops.

Knee pain below the knee cap

Pain felt below the kneecap may be a sign of patellar tendonitis.  This is inflammation in the patella tendon, that connects the kneecap to the shinbone.

Micro-tears from repetitive stress during jumping may result in inflammation of the patella tendon.  Thus, the condition is often referred to as jumper’s knee.  It is an injury that’s often specific to athletes who play jumping sports such as basketball, volleyball, or long jump.  Overtraining or playing sport on hard surfaces are also risk factors.

Rest is commonly recommended to give the tendon time to repair, together with ice and anti-inflammatories.  Knee braces are also useful for many.

The underlying cause is often linked to poor quadricep flexibility, preventing the knee from bending as well as it should.  Bringing balance to the body through Bowen Therapy, with focus on leg musculature, will help with recovery. 

Knee pain on the knee cap

Pain on or around the kneecap is likely to be caused by patellofemoral pain syndrome. 

This is usually a pain that comes on gradually, and is most noticeable when going up or down stairs, kneeling or running.  It often develops as an overuse injury, seen commonly in runners – thus, often known as “runner’s knee”.

With this problem, the pain is often caused by the kneecap not tracking smoothly in the groove in the femur when the knee is bending or straightening.

There are a number of possible underlying causes, many of which are related.  Altered firing patterns in the quadricep muscles, over-pronation of the foot, and imbalances in thigh muscles can contribute to the patella being pulled from the best position.

Bowen therapy can help bring balance to the pelvis and muscles of the thigh.  Strengthening exercises will probably also be needed to maintain that balance and keep the patella tracking correctly.

Knee pain on the outside of the knee

Pain on the outside of the knee could be from widely varied causes. It may be a sign of a torn collateral ligament or meniscus – these need to be properly checked by a doctor if this is suspected.

Sharp pain on the outside of the knee or the hip is commonly caused by iliotibial band tightness.

The iliotibial band is part of the tensor fascia latae muscle, running from the pelvis/gluteal muscles in the buttocks, down the side of the thigh to the side of the shinbone. 

If something causes the iliotibial band to be under increased tension, it may rub against the side of the knee when bending, resulting in pain.

Reducing the tightness and friction on the iliotibial band is the goal.  This can only be achieved through work further up the body, working with muscles that influence pelvic stability.

Knee pain behind the knee

Pain behind the knee is one of the more common problems I see.  Many people come for general knee pain, then advise that they have a Baker’s Cyst.

A Baker’s Cyst is swelling or a fluid filled lump behind the knee.  It is often the result of some other knee joint problem such as injury, arthritis or gout.

When it’s small, it usually causes no problems.  However, if it grows larger, it may cause pain.  It may cause stiffness or tightness behind the knee, and prevent the knee from straightening.

Bowen Therapy can specifically treat a Baker’s Cyst, but it also treats the body and legs to help them function well.  Focus generally needs to be on the back line of the leg – the hamstrings and gastrocnemius will likely receive some extra attention.

Clients who visit for other reasons such as general lower back, hip or knee problems often comment that their Baker’s Cyst has reduced in size or disappeared.

Bowen Therapy for knee pain

Bowen Therapy is a gentle and non-invasive treatment option for knee pain.

Assessment of posture, leg length and muscle tension helps determine treatment to bring balance to the body as a whole. Specific moves help target muscles that directly impact the knee.

For some with a recent injury, recovery may be fast, within a few treatments.

Long-term knee problems may require more time to resolve, as the body will have taken on compensatory patterns.  These compensatory patterns need to also be addressed, or the problem (and knee pain) will return.

For chronic knee problems, regular maintenance is what’s really needed. This is especially the case for managing arthritic pain, or for Baker’s Cysts that tend to flare up and give frequent problems. Work with your Bowen Therapist to determine the best frequency for you.

This article has been taken from Simply Bowen Therapy, please follow link for more details: www.simplybowentherapy.com.au


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