Dot Clowes Bowen Therapy

Love these posts from The college of Bowen Studies where I studied my course ..

🦵 Gastrocnemius is a large muscle located in the posterior leg. Posteriorly, is the most superficial of the muscles of the leg, and forms the bulk of the calf. It takes its name from the Greek words 'gaster' meaning stomach or belly, and 'kneme' meaning leg; the combination of the two words means the “belly of the leg”.

🏃 In conjunction with the soleus muscle, it is a component of a composite, three-headed group of muscles referred to as triceps surae. Together, they act in many basic activities, such as walking, running, leaping and standing on your toes.

🦶 The fleshy part of the muscle extends to approximately the midpoint of the calf. In the lower leg, the muscle fibers of gastrocnemius gradually form a broad aponeurosis (a flat sheet of connective tissue, similar to a tendon, that covers muscles). The aponeurosis gradually narrows, and fuses with the fibers of another deeper muscle, the soleus, to form the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is the strongest and thickest tendon in your body, but it can also be prone to injury if you overuse or strain your gastrocnemius muscle.

🤸‍♀️ The gastrocnemius muscle is responsible for plantarflexing your ankle (pointing your toes down) and it also helps to bend your leg. It is mainly used for fast and explosive movements, such as sprinting or leaping. It is not very active when you are standing still or walking slowly. That's why you may feel your calf muscles cramp up if you sit for too long or wear high heels. To prevent this, you should stretch and massage your gastrocnemius muscle regularly, especially before and after exercise.

We hope you like this post and maybe found out something new about the Gastrocnemius muscle. Don't forget to like, share, and comment below! 😊

Trapezius - a muscle that can be responsible headache and shoulder problems.

🤷It has 3 parts to it:
Upper - elevates the pec girdle/elevates the shoulder - the shrugging movement.
Mid - retracts the scapula
Lower - depress the shoulders/scapula

It also works to extend the neck, side flexion of the neck, and assist in rotation of the upper thoracic region.

⚙️ Origin:
External occipital protuberance, nuchal ligament, spinous processes of C7 - T12.
⚙️ Insertion:
Lateral third of the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula.

It’s worth noting that the motor part of this muscle is actually controlled by Cranial Nerve XI. The ability to move the head freely is an important primal function for survival - for both finding of food and moving away from danger. Activities all cranial nerves have in common.

🙌 The neck and upper back work we use in Bowen covers this group of muscles
very nicely.

💪 Freedom of movement by the scapulae is very important for efficient shoulder function/arm movement.

🙌 Tension in this muscle can lead to headaches due its connection to the occipital area, and may also cause restricted head movement.
Because this muscle is involved in thoracic rotation, a combination of this together with creating neck stiffness will add extra stress to the lumbar area and could well be a cause of lower back pain.

Sort the neck/head - sort the lower back.

Thoracolumbar fascia - your classic back pain area. A highly stress loaded area as tissue structures from all over your body will make their way here as an anchoring point.

Any of those structures have the ability to place too much stress on this area, with the result of the brain firing off pain signals as a protective mechanism.
Your back pain is very seldom a back problem.
The whole body needs to be addressed.

Muscle Monday … very interesting about this muscle and explains why we work this area to try to influence release of muscles below …

Trapezius - a muscle that can be responsible headache and shoulder problems.

🤷It has 3 parts to it:
Upper - elevates the pec girdle/elevates the shoulder - the shrugging movement.
Mid - retracts the scapula
Lower - depress the shoulders/scapula

It also works to extend the neck, side flexion of the neck, and assist in rotation of the upper thoracic region.

⚙️ Origin:
External occipital protuberance, nuchal ligament, spinous processes of C7 - T12.
⚙️ Insertion:
Lateral third of the clavicle, acromion, and spine of the scapula.

It’s worth noting that the motor part of this muscle is actually controlled by Cranial Nerve XI. The ability to move the head freely is an important primal function for survival - for both finding of food and moving away from danger. Activities all cranial nerves have in common.

🙌 The neck and upper back work we use in Bowen covers this group of muscles
very nicely.

💪 Freedom of movement by the scapulae is very important for efficient shoulder function/arm movement.

🙌 Tension in this muscle can lead to headaches due its connection to the occipital area, and may also cause restricted head movement.
Because this muscle is involved in thoracic rotation, a combination of this together with creating neck stiffness will add extra stress to the lumbar area and could well be a cause of lower back pain.

Sort the neck/head - sort the lower back.

Another very influential muscle ….

Sternocleidomastoid - the name created from its locations of attachment/origin

⏺ Manubrium of the sternum
⏺ Clavicle
⏺Mastoid process

⚙️ It’s primary action is to rotate the head to the opposite side ( Left SCM turning head to the right, and vice versa), and flexion of the neck.
It also plays a part with the scalenes in breathing when breathing in.

🧠 Together with Trapezius, they are the only skeletal muscles below the face and head not innervated by spinal nerves, but rather Cranial Nerve Eleven (CN XI).

🟢 They also cover an area enriched with cervical lymph nodes.

⚠️ Apart from being involved in
▪️ shoulder and neck pain and stiffness, they are also involved in
▪️ forward head posture
▪️ migraines
▪️ breathing difficulties
▪️ activating a sympathetic state.

🙌 SCM is extremely close to and linked to the Vagus nerve, hence why TMJ work with SCM “draining” has such a vagal or parasympathetic response.

🙌 Incorporate SCM work with Diaphragmatic work for breathing issues.

🙌 Working on the SCM’s will help drain a large part of the cervical lymphatics, responsible for the efficient draining of Glymphatics (lymph from the brain)

One of the big guns I work with lots …

Glute max - possibly more important than you think.

It’s the largest muscle at the hip and is able to create a lot of force. Which it needs to!
If it can’t, you will run into trouble - literally 😂

⚙️ Origin: phew, quite a few...
▪️ Post. gluteal line of Ilium
▪️ Post. Lower part of Sacrum
▪️ Side of Coccyx
▪️ Aponeurosis of Erec. Spinae
▪️ Sacrotuberous Lig.
▪️ Gluteal aponeurosis
Attaches to thoracolumbar fascia - meaning it has connections to multifidus, Latissimus Dorsi, and posterior obliques.

⚙️ Insertions:
▪️ IT-tract
▪️ Linea Aspera of Femur
▪️ gluteal tuberosity of Femur

One muscle - all those connections!!! 😱
Imagine what it can affect?! ☄️☄️

Basic functions:
✅ Hip extension - helping with movements such as stepping up, climbing or running, but not a lot when walking.
✅ Lateral rotation of hip joint
✅ It is also a big hip/pelvic stabiliser

🙌 They are one of the first muscles I look at when treating shoulder problems. Shoulder/arm movement rely on the opposite hip for stabilisation. Glute issue on one side can lead to shoulder problem on opposite side.

🙌 They are also a lot of the times responsible for lower back pain. Clients will often touch their buttocks when pointing out their back pain.

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Lots of interesting articles below …

Is your lymphatic system perhaps struggling?
Recognise any of the symptoms below..?

Our lymph system is so vast and so hooked up to everything else that it could be struggling without you even recognising the symptoms!

🧠 Lymphoedema is a long-term (chronic) condition that causes swelling in the body's tissues.
🔹 Primary - congenital disorder, but also triggered through injuries.
🔹Secondary - 4 stages. Damage to vessels/nodes, often due to surgery or trauma.

But you don’t need to have Lymphoedema to suffer from a struggling lymph system. Some common signs include:
🔹Fatigue
🔹Puffiness in eyes or face
🔹Headaches
🔹Sinus infections
🔹Soreness of stiffness upon waking
🔹Brain fog
🔹Worsened allergies
🔹Food sensitivities
🔹Increased colds
To name a few....

Sternocleidomastoid - the name created from its locations of attachment/origin

⏺ Manubrium of the sternum
⏺ Clavicle
⏺Mastoid process

⚙️ It’s primary action is to rotate the head to the opposite side ( Left SCM turning head to the right, and vice versa), and flexion of the neck.
It also plays a part with the scalenes in breathing when breathing in.

🧠 Together with Trapezius, they are the only skeletal muscles below the face and head not innervated by spinal nerves, but rather Cranial Nerve Eleven (CN XI).

🟢 They also cover an area enriched with cervical lymph nodes.

⚠️ Apart from being involved in
▪️ shoulder and neck pain and stiffness, they are also involved in
▪️ forward head posture
▪️ migraines
▪️ breathing difficulties
▪️ activating a sympathetic state.

🙌 SCM is extremely close to and linked to the Vagus nerve, hence why TMJ work with SCM “draining” has such a vagal or parasympathetic response.

🙌 Incorporate SCM work with Diaphragmatic work for breathing issues.

🙌 Working on the SCM’s will help drain a large part of the cervical lymphatics, responsible for the efficient draining of Glymphatics (lymph from the brain)

Muscles don't have a mind of their own. The tension they hold is controlled by the brain. They can't just decide "You know what, I'm going to be very tight today and give you your neck pain".
What makes it difficult is that there are a thousand reasons why the brain would make certain muscles tighter than others.
That's why you have to acknowledge and work on other areas apart from where pain is felt in order to give the nervous system more reference points to work with.
The cause of pain is often not where pain is felt.

This gives us all food for thought …

It’s hard to always feel positive thoughts
but maybe it’s time to reflect on if we are
doing ourselves harm by continuing to feel stressed day in day out ..
🤔🤔🤔🤔

💥It’s a Catch-22 actually!💥

Your thoughts will affect your vagus.
And your vagus can affect your thoughts.

🧠The brain won’t question what you’re thinking.

So if you’re thinking negative and stressful thoughts - which we all do, cause we’re human! - your nervous system will respond accordingly.

❗️Those type of thoughts will initiate a stress response by the brain and all the physiological and biological responses that goes with fight or flight.

Your body will become flooded with stress hormones, and the ventral vagus will be suppressed - the last thing you need as a stress response is to feel all chilled out and zen!

Now imagine these thoughts or emotions carrying on for days, weeks, months, even years…..

A chronic suppressed vagus will render your body to becoming highly inflammatory, the stuff that diseases and auto-immune problems are made of.

So be careful how you talk to yourself, and the stories you make up in your head.
Learning to love yourself is sooooo important ❤️

Be you. Always.

Food for thought … not something everyone takes into consideration when having procedures done … good to be aware …

🚩I guess it’s something most people don’t think about - the effect of injections into your face on your nervous system……

The trigeminal nerve actually comes to the surface in a very popular cosmetic area…
Not to mention the Facial nerve.

These are cranial nerves - meaning they’re hooked up directly to your brain stem.

But also, they hook up directly to your vagus nerve!!

Mess with your trigeminal and facial nerve and there is almost no way that you won’t be affecting the vagus.

Just think about it for a minute…

And please, I’m not judging, I’d just like to create some awareness ❤️

Lovely testimonial …..

Bowen Therapy vs Locked Shoulder - A Surfers Testimonial Bowen Therapy is fantastic for fixing locked shoulders.This is one of many testimonials showing how Bowen can transform a locked shoulder into a thing of the...

Absolutely fabulous explanation of how Chronic Pain works and can be influenced by how we interact with it ... a fantastic listen if you have the patience and time .. its a fabulous training for a multitude of physical and mental issues ..... Phil Parker is amazing .... I have seen first hand how effective it can be ..... just listen carefully to the nuggets of information dispensed throughout ......

How to reduce pain Dr Phil Parker Dr Phil Parker - MIND BODY CONNECTION expert.Phil provides tools and tips for reducing pain and breaking the cycle of chronic pain http://www.philparker.org

Hello to everyone who follows my page and apologies for being pretty rubbish at connecting with my Bowen Therapy page and posting more often.
However this blog u tube video of Phil Parker of The LIGHTING PROCESS is just the jewel in the crown for me .
If you can have the patience and time to just listen carefully to this you will learn an awful lot about Chronic pain . I so so believe this is the way forward to understanding pain at a different level and how to influence Chronic pain . I know it works from various clients feedback . It is neuroscience at its best and an alternative way of directing our focus elsewhere to try to influence the pain circle /loop.
The Lightening Process is hugely influential in treating a multitude of varying illness like Chronic Fatigue .. Post Covid Symptoms... phobias ... Fibromyalgia ... Mental health ..... etc etc It is worth investigaating further if you feel this format of healing is for you and its all on the Lightening Process Website and theyy are very communicative aand helpful in discussing where you can do the 3 day course (afternoons) ITs so easy and accessible .(PS No Im not connected in any way to Phil but feel passionately about its effectiveness if you are truely open to believing You personally can influence your physical and mental health.

How to reduce pain Dr Phil Parker Dr Phil Parker - MIND BODY CONNECTION expert.Phil provides tools and tips for reducing pain and breaking the cycle of chronic pain http://www.philparker.org

This reminds us to look after our spinal health .. be it working on your posture or lifting correctly or sitting correctly or just recognising the signs your may be getting tweaks which indicate all is not right and you may need some bodywork to get it back where it should be ….

Thoracolumbar fascia - your classic back pain area. A highly stress loaded area as tissue structures from all over your body will make their way here as an anchoring point.

Any of those structures have the ability to place too much stress on this area, with the result of the brain firing off pain signals as a protective mechanism.
Your back pain is very seldom a back problem.
The whole body needs looking at.