Many complaints we see patients have are not purely of musculoskeletal origin. Often the irritation also involves an organ, the nervous system, and/or circulatory congestion. Visceral irritation may be causing pain to occur in a musculoskeletal structure. The reverse may also be true. During our recent session – Treatment of Respiratory System Disorders Using a Manual Therapy Approach – we discussed these and other disorders.

This class, held at the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Greenspring Campus, on April 27-28th reviewed common complaints we see in the clinic involving the respiratory system. In order to understand how aberrant physiology involving the respiratory system can be affecting a patient’s complaints and symptoms, we reviewed the embryology, anatomy, and physiology of the respiratory system. In addition, we presented an overview of the immune system and its function. Various treatment modalities were presented, including techniques to correct dysfunctions involving joints; myofascial restrictions in somatic tissue and the trachea, bronchi, and lungs; autonomic nervous system imbalance; and lymphatic congestion in the respiratory system. We emphasized how to do a proper layer palpation to ensure the appropriate tissue was being treated.

To illustrate all of these concepts, we discussed how asthma, seasonal allergies, and respiratory infection can affect the body. Looking forward to our next session where we’ll address A Manual Therapy Approach to Evaluation and Treatment of Pelvis and Lumbar Spine.

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