Lisa Sattler's Therapy
December
11, 2000
Lisa Sattler is a therapist in NY. In the following
article about RSD, on The RSI Network you get a glimpse of her
RSI therapy, excerpted below, which confirms many of the concepts we support.
Lisa M. Sattler, MS, PT, New York City, New York, (212) 838-6847, lsattler
erols.com
http://www.ctdrn.org/rsinet/archive/rsinet36-mar99.html
Shared Aspects of RSD/RSI Treatment
- Stretching tight muscles.
- Strengthening weakened/stretched posterior thoracic
postural muscles slowly-starting with active range of motion (AROM) and
building to small weights when compensatory patterns are eliminated.
- Ergonomic workstation revision/instrument modification,
including typing/playing retraining to avoid injurious habits/tendencies.
- Postural retraining, including abdominal muscle strengthening.
- Reintegration of large proximal muscles into upper
extremity activities, including decreasing compensatory motor patterns
to the point of potentially reorganizing old movement patterns, such as:
- Upper traps overrecruited for many arm movements;
- Scalenes overrecruited for breathing;
- Forearm flexors overrecruited for hand-intrinsic
muscles.
- Slow, structured reintegration of irritating activities-work
and nonwork-to include timing all activities that stimulate symptoms or
increase symptoms, stopping before the onset of symptoms.
- Myofascial release/deep tissue work (physical therapy/occupational
therapy). For RSI, this is a temporary measure designed to help increase
circulation and improve flexibility during initial phases of treatment
protocol. For "mild" RSD, the increased proprioceptive input
(feedback from the brain about position of joints) from stimulation of
pressure-sensitive receptors in tissue may help to decrease RSD symptoms.
-
Complementary treatments to augment rehabilitation, decrease pain,
and increase circulation. Patients must be aware of their own limitations
and continue to modify activities to prevent increased symptoms. These
may include:
- Breathing/relaxation training
- Meditation
- Acupuncture
- Medications, if applicable
- Biofeedback
- Yoga
- Tai chi
- Psychological intervention
- Extra massage therapy (especially for whole-back-upper
and lower-myofascial flexibility, and improvement of impaired circulation
a temporary measure designed to assist mobility exercises and stretches
during initial phases of treatment
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Jack Bellis and Suparna Damany All Rights Reserved
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