Pain Free

[dub101]

Has anybody here had experience with the methods of functional anatomist Pete Egoscue? He's written several books on the management and rehab of musculoskeletal pain. Coach also mentions him in his latest CST mag article.

I have successfully used his method to overcome chronic knee pain, and I have continued to use it as a "first line of defense" against any nagging pains I notice. It seems to dovetail perfectly with the posture/alignment portion of Zdorovye.

Just curious about others' experience...

Werner

[bob_stra]

>Has anybody here had experience with the methods of functional
>anatomist Pete Egoscue?

I had exactly 1 class of Egoscue. I still use the mid thoracic kyphosis routine of his (not sure if that's from his first book or what - we got it as a hand out in class).

IIRC, Pete's theories are based on his knowledge of engineering and architecture. There are several good books like this (all of which escape my recall at the moment). A net search on the word tensegrity might turn up some further reading ;-) Ditto +tensegrity +rolfing

I'm keen to get a copy of his original book one day...but my "to be read" list is monsterous already ;(

Slowly but surely ;-)

[dub101]

You say you still use one of his routines, so it must be effective?

I was most intrigued by his books because he avoids jargon, focuses on individual responsibility, and uses a scientific approach.

His books got me thinking more about structural alignment and posture, and the way they fundamentally influence your health. Not quite an earth-shattering revelation, perhaps, but an important step for me!

Anyway, that ultimately led to my interest in Zdorovye (and this forum). :D

Werner

[bob_stra]

> You say you still use one of his routines, so it must be effective?

It's quite relaxing, but kind of static for my liking. I do it when I'm too tired to do anything else, because it relies on the use of gravity to reposition "out of allignment" bits. No active movement required. Similar idea to Sacral Blocking (from S.O.T. - sacro-occipital-technique - as used by chiros & osteos)

Yeah, I'm lazy sometimes ;-)

[James Boelter]

I wrote a little critique of Egoscue, which Coach Sonnon was kind enough to publish as an article in the first issue of Full Circle (or maybe the second). I essentially argued that he made a good start towards addressing the problems of structure and function of the muscles, and an especially good (and passionate) argument for proper corrective exercise to restore proper function as a near cure-all for a plethora of health problems. My disagreement was that, as another poster stated above, his corrective exercises are too static...in Coach Sonnon's parlance, they are 'stuck in simplistic stupidity (SISS)' and don't provide the reader a way to sophisticate his movements for true somatic reeducation. Of course, that can be very difficult to do in a book format...for all I know, his clinic may provide the 'hands on/live' element that makes the difference.

But I am glad I read Egoscue's book for the hope and ideas it provides.

[dub101]

Bob,
Yeah, it is rather static, but also, as you say, relaxing. For many people that could make it easier to stick with. Maybe.
I've never heard of S.O.T. -- I'll check into it.

James,
I see your point about the lack of sophistication. I'll look up your critique. His books have been a good starting point for me. I'm also glad to have read and utilized them.


Werner

[dub101]

James,

Wow! Excellent article.

I think I need to go read all the old issues of Full Circle before I do any more posting! :)

Werner

[bob_stra]

Werner

Just a quick FYI

SOT is *not* static. Rather, one part of the treatment (the sacral blocking) is. Besides which, SOT is something a practicioner does unto you ;(

While you're digging, look for the Maitland method, see what you get.

PS: Static is good ;-) I dig the Egoscue stuff.

[vich]

I went to the Egoscue clinic here in San Diego for a number of treatments for my chronic low back pain.

In my personal case, I agree with the "too static" approach. Apparently his methods either work wonders for you, or do nothing at all. I was in the latter group. I have to say one thing that set my radar off about it is the fact that insurance does not pay for the clinic's services. A red flag in my opinion.

I do hear that many golfers sing his praises for correcting their issues, however.

Vic

[tdennis]

I've never experienced the Egoscue Method in term of pain management, but have experienced his "Patch" that is located at Torrey Pines High School. The camps that use the patch are great in terms of body weight exercises and movement patterns and bring a new dimension back into training - play.
I have been interested in his pain management courses, but have found that the clubbells are taking care of that.
Tim Dennis

[otherwise]

Egoscue static?!?!?! Absolutely not! I've been using 'The Method' to put myself back together after falling on some black ice. This gave me a shoulder separation -- ironically a scant two weeks after starting clubbell training. Now I know I would have been better off correcting my rounded forward shoulders beforehand -- and certaoingly before falling and landing on one of them.
Anyway... SOME of the Egoscue 'muscle tutorials' are static and are designed to allow tightly held muscles and fascia to release (which they do). Others are dynamic -- and would be familiar to anyone into functional exercises of any sort.
I liked the article - it made some good points -- but saying Egoscue's e-cises are all static is just plain wrong. Pete Egoscue's first best-selling book was called The Egoscue Method of Health Through MOTION. Bit of a clue there.

Simon.

[vich]

Egoscue static?!?!?! Absolutely not! I've been using 'The Method' to put myself back together after falling on some black ice. This gave me a shoulder separation -- ironically a scant two weeks after starting Clubbell® training. Now I know I would have been better off correcting my rounded forward shoulders beforehand -- and certaoingly before falling and landing on one of them.
Anyway... SOME of the Egoscue 'muscle tutorials' are static and are designed to allow tightly held muscles and fascia to release (which they do). Others are dynamic -- and would be familiar to anyone into functional exercises of any sort.
I liked the article - it made some good points -- but saying Egoscue's e-cises are all static is just plain wrong. Pete Egoscue's first best-selling book was called The Egoscue Method of Health Through MOTION. Bit of a clue there.

Simon.

Simon,

Speaking of "clues" if you read my post, you'll see that I've not only read his book, but I've been to the Egoscue Clinic in La Jolla, and I stated "in my personal case". I underwent treatment there for a number of weeks. For my lower back pain, MOST of what was prescribed for ME was static.

Vic

[James Boelter]

I am guilty of oversimplifying here; my definition of 'static' didn't mean that the exercises were 'only' static stretches, but that the GROOVE of the prescribed exercises were static. In other words, you did the same prescribed exercise (static or moving) without regard to eventual sophistication and evolution. In yet other words, progress meant doing more reps of the same exercise, or holding it longer, or adding more weight, or simply moving to a new exercise.

I also felt that Egoscue's exercises, for all of his talk about 'reeducating' the muscles of the body, don't really bring about lasting, deep change for most people. And what I have since learned about trigger points, 'hot yoga', chi kung and myofascial healing serves to point out other gaps that his material doesn't cover.

Bob, I wouldn't bother with the original 'Health Through Motion' book unless you are a completist. If you have 'Pain Free', you have the essence of the method and also what Egoscue seems to consider the most important and effective exercises (or new versions of them).

In place of Egoscue, I would now recommend Bonnie Prudden's books, especially 'Myotherapy', which contains excellent discussion of trigger points AND corrective exercise at least as good as anything Egoscue does. But again, the most important part of the Egoscue books, to me, is the hope they provide and the new avenues of thought they may open up for people stuck on the drugs/surgery treadmill.