Linking techniques around the spine
By Dorthe Krogsgaard and Peter Lund Frandsen, Denmark – March 2010
Back pain is one of the most widespread health problems with major costs for the individual as well as the society. It has been estimated that 80 percent of the adult western population suffer from at least one incidence of back pain and 10 percent experience a period with chronic low back pain. (Archives of Internal Medicine Feb. 2009).
Our approach to the treatment of back pain includes a wide palette of reflexology techniques. We work with spine reflexes from various reflexology traditions, we look at connections between the back and other parts of the musculoskeletal system and we bring in reflexes for specific muscles and joints. We also introduce Nerve reflex points (courtesy of MNT-NR International) which provide a rapid analgesic effect and relaxation of tense areas.
In this article we describe the concept of working with multiple reflexes simultaneously. By linking two reflex areas you can often achieve a faster and deeper treatment effect. Here we use back pain as an example.
Linking of foot reflex and body area
Find the sore area on the back (in the picture it is thoracic 10), and the equivalent reflex area on the foot. If there is acute pain, try to hold a gentle static pressure with the hand on the back, while treating the foot reflex with the other hand. This linking provides an additional energy exchange between the areas, while at the same time increasing the client's focus on the therapy.
You can vary the technique so that the static hold is on the foot reflex, while you massage the back. Or you can hold still in both places and let the energy flow do the work.
Linking T10 with the T10 foot reflex. From the DVD "Round about: The Spine" © Touchpoint 2010
Linking spine reflexes on the foot and lower leg
A fascinating technique is to treat the spine using two different reflex systems together. In this example we combine a spine reflex on the lower leg (see box) with the classic spine reflex on the foot.
Again, you may choose to keep a steady grip on one place while you treat the other or vice versa, you can hold steady in both places, or you can even work both areas together.
By comparing the findings ( i.e. texture of the tissue, pain, moisture, etc.) from the two different reflex systems you often acquire useful information about the client’s condition.
Linking T3 reflex on the lower leg with T3 reflex on the foot. From the DVD “Round about: The Spine” © Touchpoint 2010
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Linking spinal nerve points to other reflexes
One can also exploit the fact that all nerves to the entire body (except the head) comes from the back. One way is to link reflex points for the spinal nerves with other reflex areas, such as organ reflexes or other reflexes that react with pain and/or tissue changes.
Nerve reflex points for the spinal nerves - © Touchpoint and MNT-NR International
These linking techniques can be used during the course of a normal reflexology session. It is natural to use them when you encounter a particularly congested reflex area, and/or if the client has many acute pains.
Round about: The Spine
The workshop includes a wide variety of reflexology techniques, in addition to linking you learn nerve reflex points for the spinal nerves, precise reflexes for back muscles, treatment of the sacro-iliac joint, analysis and correction of posture and gait, assessment of spinal mobility, spine reflexes on the lower leg, and more.
Due to the central nervous system connections, an effective treatment of the back is also the gateway to the treatment of most other problems in the body.
More info
You can find more information about the "Round about: The Spine" workshop here ->
Here you can view a short video demonstrating linking techniques with the spine reflex on the lower leg
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