The SMTO Conference 2011 was presented by Steven Goldstein, Australia, entitled 'Fibromyalgia: Clinical Approaches for the Manual Therapist''. A brief synopsis of the Seminar can be found below.

The recipient of the Nick Carter Memorial Salver for Services to Massage Therapy was Joyce Gillespie (seen here with SMTO Chairman, Maggie Brooks-Carter).. Joyce has been very active in the field of massage for people with cancer and had founded the Iris Foundation which is now a Scottish charity. Established in October 2010, it aims to provide a curriculum of oncology massage training as well as oncology massage to all, including free treatments to those who cannot afford it. The model is dynamic and could be used for other chronic conditions. All present applauded Joyce’s endeavours.

Training Summary:

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome, characterized by widespread body pain and pain at specific tender points. Clients can exhibit a range of symptoms including fatigue, sleep disturbance, muscle soreness and headaches. 

Join Steven Goldstein BHSc MST Musculoskeletal Therapy who will review current evidence based research that links the benefit of massage with people suffering from fibromyalgia. 

This will be followed by the hands-on component where Steven will demonstrate and instruct on possible treatment protocols that can be integrated into your practice.

Fibromyalgia is a chronic syndrome, characterized by widespread body pain and pain at specific tender points. Clients can exhibit a range of symptoms including fatigue, sleep disturbance, muscle soreness and headaches. 

Join Steven Goldstein BHSc MST Musculoskeletal Therapy who will review current evidence based research that links the benefit of massage with people suffering from fibromyalgia. 

This will be followed by the hands-on component where Steven will demonstrate and instruct on possible treatment protocols that can be integrated into your practice.

1. Participants will be introduced to the complexity of Fibromyalgia as a syndrome

2. How does the manual therapist participate as an overall health care provider?

3. Participants will understand and discuss the definition of the official diagnosis of Fibromyalgia by the College of Rheumatology

4. Participants will be introduced to and palpate 18 major diagnostic points for Fibromyalgia

5. Participants will be introduced to and discuss the multi-faceted etiology of Fibromyalgia syndrome which includes dysregulation syndrome, muscle pathology, neuroendocrine abnormalities and pain processors and neurotransmitters

6. Participants will understand the concept of Central Sensitisation and how ANS techniques are utilised to address this neurophysical model

7. Participants will be introduced and discuss the HPA Axis

8. Participants will be introduced and discuss Dr Gillicks premise for Fibromyalgia

9. Participants will be introduced to and discuss chronic pain in relationship to sufferers of Fibromyalgia

10. Participants will be introduced to and discuss observations presented by Dr Devin Starlaynl from 200 patient reviews

11. Participants will be introduced to the signs and symptoms presented and subjective/objective phenomena presented with a physical examination

12. Participants will be introduced to and learn fundamental health history questions to be posed to those suffering from Fibromyalgia

13. Participants will be introduced to the complexity of treatment involved in Fibromyalgia

14. Participants will view, practice and palpate various approaches and techniques to address Fibromyalgia pain from a soft tissue perspective including perspectives from Dalton, Chaitow, Comeaux, Myers, Prilutsky, Goldstein and Starlanyl

DAY ONE

Theoretical information:

• Definition of Fibromyalgia

• Clinical Research Articles:

  • Bio-Pathophysiological Mechanisms of FMS

  • Fibromyalgia and the Concept of Central Sensitisation and adaption for Bodywork

  • Importance of the HPA Axis and the Autonomic Nervous System

• Dr Gillick's Premise for Fibromyalgia

• Mediations used Allopathically for Fibromyalgia

• Observations presented by Dr Devin Starlaynl from 200 patient reviews

• Signs and symptoms presented and subjective/objective phenomena presented with a physical examination

• Fundamental health history questions to be posed to those suffering from Fibromyalgia

• Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire

• View, practice and palpate various approaches and techniques to address Fibromyalgia pain from a soft-tissue perspective

Palpatory assessment:

• Diagnostic Tender Points and Palpation

• Including Ease-Bind Palpatory Assessment

• Cardinal Lines of Myofascial Tension - Superficial Back Line (SBL), Superficial Front Line (SFL), Lateral Line (LL)

Practical approaches:

• Indirect osteopathic approaches

  • Autonomic nervous system techniques

    • IFR Integrative Fascial Release's Two Point (Mann-Goldstein) for Transverse Planes which treat the following areas:

      • umbilical/pubis area for Enteric Nervous System/Vagus nerve parasympathetic stimulation

      • respiratory diaphragm

      • thoracic outlet/GH joint

      • Hyoid/infra & supra hyoids

      • cranial base

    • Two Point with Imagery: Spinal Float & Spinal Awareness Exercise

    • Diaphragmatic Breathing

  • Indirect Manual Therapy Treatment

    • The Fulcrum 3D Planar Release (Giammatteo) Applied to SFL/Pubis Symphysis

    • PRT Positional Release Technique concepts modified for Fibromyalgia

DAY TWO

Practical approaches:

• Indirect osteopathic approaches

  • Autonomic nervous system techniques

    • Two Point for Lower Extremity

      • inguinal crease/GTO hamstring

      • knee - medial/collateral ligaments and patella/popliteal fossa

      • ankle - anterior/posterior: talus/calcaneus and medial/lateral: malleolar

• Direct IFR MFR Approaches

  • use of static compression 

    • lateral leg release at greater trochanter/gluteal fascia

  • fascial grasps, sleeve twists and capsular restrictions

    • lower extremity 

    • upper extremity

  • introduction of leverage compression

    • hip/innominate neutral lever

  • modified myofascial pain syndrome (Trigger Point) technique

  • Joint mobilisations/joint play concepts

    • ankle rock

  • JET Joint Energy Technique which will introduce low load resistives designed to address joint, ligament and myofascial directional restrictions 5%-10%

    • innominates resistives

      • ramic innominate up/downslip

      • ASIS rotational resistive

  • Upper Extremity Linkage

    • radial/scaphoid 'hinge'

  • oscillatory 'dance' an introduction (Comeaux, Lederman, Goldstein)

• Massage Table, 2 pillows/bolsters, towels (for draping)

• Notebook & Pen

• Wear loose comfortable clothing that allows movement

• Bring shorts (male & female); Sports bra or equivalent (female)

• An open mind ready to learn!

Steven Goldstein, an American émigré to Australia in 1999, resides in Melbourne, Australia, where he holds a Bachelor of Health Science in Musculoskeletal Therapy and Bachelor of Arts in Education.  He is an innovative massage educator instructing his unique blend of direct myofascial, indirect osteopathic releasing methods and somatic approaches known as Integrative Fascial Release internationally since 1995. www.fascialrelease.com 

Steven chairs the Australian Association Massage Therapists (AAMT) National Education Subcommittee from 2004 and chairs the Internal Course Advisory Committee for Musculoskeletal Therapy Degree at Endeavour College of Natural Health since 2005. With the AAMT, he is on the select subcommittee that is examining standards and scope of practice for massage/manual therapy in Australia.

He is a regular contributor to AAMT Journal and NHP Canada’s Connections magazines, he has been a frequent presenter at conferences in Australia for various associations including: AAMT, ATMS, IRMA Myotherapy, Olympic Soft-Tissue Injury Forum in Melbourne and the Bowen Federation of Australia BTFA.  And just recently return from presenting Fibromyalgia: Clinical Approaches for the Manual Therapist at the 21^st NHP Canada National Conference (which he will be presenting at the SMTO Conference in Edinburgh in March 2011).

NHP Canada has available instructional DVD’s produced by Complimentary Health Seminars in Australia and Canada on topics of SI Joint Dysfunction and Fibromyalgia.

Steven has blended global lines of myofascial tension (Myers) (Schleip) (Paoletti), with articular receptor facilitation to unwrap and unwind soft-tissue with little or no force. He has drawn from the work of Micheal Shea for Autonomic Nervous System approach and expression as the foundation of any soft-tissue work, and Craniosacral therapy to facilitate change to transverse planes.

Techniques include the ‘Two Point’ , the ‘Fulcrum’, Static & Leverage Compressions which are introduced simply and one dimensionally, then combined by ‘osteopathic stacking’ to introduce more complex releasing patterns with constant autonomic nervous system awareness, expression and response. Sound structural underpinning knowledge with an indirect approach, allows the practitioner to work more quietly and effectively.

Dynamic, playful, profound and informative is his trademark as an educator.