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Assessment and Treatment Methods

for Manual Therapists: The Most


Effective and Efficient Treatment Every
Time [Team-IRA] [True PDF] Jeffrey
Burch
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Assessment and Treatment
Methods for Manual Therapists
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ASSESSMENT AND
TREATMENT METHODS
FOR MANUAL THERAPISTS
The Most Effective and Efficient Treatment Every Time

Jeffrey Burch
Illustrated by Peter Anthony
First published in Great Britain in 2024 by Handspring Publishing,
an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Part of John Murray Press
1
Copyright © Jeffrey Burch 2024
The right of Jeffrey Burch to be identified as the Author of the Work has been asserted
by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Images Copyright © Jeffrey Burch 2024
The cover image is for illustrative purposes only, and any person featuring is a model.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted, in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the publisher,
nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is
published and without a similar condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser.
The information contained in this book is not intended to replace the services of trained medical
professionals or to be a substitute for medical advice. You are advised to consult a doctor on any matters
relating to your health, and in particular on any matters that may require diagnosis or medical attention.
A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library and the Library of Congress
ISBN 978 1 83997 874 6
eISBN 978 1 83997 875 3
Printed and bound in Great Britain by CPI Group
Jessica Kingsley Publishers’ policy is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable
products and made from wood grown in sustainable forests. The logging and manufacturing
processes are expected to conform to the environmental regulations of the country of origin.
Handspring Publishing
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
London EC4Y 0DZ
www.handspringpublishing.com
John Murray Press
Part of Hodder & Stoughton Limited
An Hachette UK Company
For my daughters
Meaghan and Belle
Acknowledgements

Jean-Pierre Barral DO for his excellent teaching Mary Frost and Jack Nelson PhD who each
and his many innovations, some of which are edited earlier drafts of portions of this text.
described in this book. My parents Paul and Velma Burch for gifts
Alain Gehin DE for his excellent teaching and of many kinds, including my first anatomical
modeling of good writing. models at age nine.
Mark Thomas DC and Maggie Cooper PT My wife Janhavi McKenzie for her loving
for many years of collegial discussions through support.
which all our manual therapy skills grew.

7
Contents

Acknowledgements 7 Assessment method 14: yes–no questions


(applied kinesiology and a variant) 75
Assessment method 15: developing intuition 77
Invitation 11 Assessment method 16: introduction
to use of the craniosacral rhythm as an
assessment tool 79
How to Use This Book 13
Extended assessment methods 84
Assessment method 17: extended listening 85
1. Foundations 15
Assessment method 18: listening from a
Concepts and history 15 symptomatic area 88
Assessment method 19: assessment algorithm 90

2. Assessment Methods 29
Introduction 29 3. Treatment Methods 93

Assessment algorithm 30 Introduction to treatment techniques 93

General assessment methods 31 Treatment methods in which therapeutic


engagement is made by the client’s
Assessment method 1: general listening 33
system and unwinding is used 97
Assessment method 2: general lift 39
Treatment method 1: classic unwinding 97
Assessment method 3: general tap 42
Treatment method 2: augmented unwinding 107
Local assessment methods 45 Treatment method 3: alternate interrupt
Assessment method 4: local listening 45 unwinding 113
Assessment method 5: local lift 51 Treatment techniques in which tissue
Assessment method 6: local tap 53 engagement is made by the therapist and
Assessment method 7: layer awareness 55 unwinding is used 119
Assessment method 8: layer palpation 56 Treatment method 4: near first barrier stack 119
Assessment method 9: layer listening 58 Treatment method 5: far first barrier stack 126
Assessment method 10: manual thermal Treatment method 6: mixed directions of
evaluation 60 near and far first barrier stack 131
Assessment method 11: ultraslow mobility Treatment method 7: stack–restack: a
testing 63 sequence of single release stacks 138
Assessment method 12: ruling out false Treatment method 8: walking through
positives on orthopedic tests 67 the spectrum of barriers 145
Assessment methods useful for both Treatment method 9: stack and borrow 151
general and local assessment 71
Assessment method 13: mobility testing 71
Treatment method 10: standing adaptation Treatment method 20: first barrier stretch 224
of the sacro-occipital technique (SOT) Treatment method 21: first barrier shear 231
type 4 correction: an application of the
Treatment method 22: middle barrier
stack and borrow technique 159
technique 238
Treatment method 11: scrubbing the walls 161
Treatment method 23: flossing 245
Treatment method 12: pendulum wall
Treatment method 24: circle flossing 253
scrubbing 170
Leverage principles that may be used
Techniques in which therapeutic
with many techniques 261
engagement is made by the therapist and
unwinding is not used 178
Treatment method 13: recoil 178 4. Five In-Depth Treatment Protocols 265
Treatment method 14: accordion
technique, also known as alternating
decompression 185 5. Appendices 277
Treatment method 15: centralizing Appendix 1: Recommended reading 277
(Hoover) technique 192
Appendix 2: How this book came to be: a
Treatment method 16: induction of a
bodily rhythm 200 biographical appendix 280
Treatment method 17: reconstructed A. T. Appendix 3: Mechanical force types 283
Still technique 206
Appendix 4: Space between the stars 286
Treatment method 18: listen and follow 214
Treatment method 19: load and tap 218
About the Author 287
Techniques in which therapeutic
engagement is made by the therapist and
unwinding may or may not occur 224
Invitation

How to deliver the most effective and efficient The book you have in your hands clearly
treatment, aye, that is the question. How to describes 19 assessment methods and 24 treat-
accomplish the most for your client in a reasona- ment methods and how to choose the best ones
ble time and, oh, by the way, comfortably for both for the situation at hand. Ah! So, this is a cook-
client and therapist, that is the question burning book, right? Nope, it is a chef’s manual. Rather
in the heart of manual therapists through the than a linear set of instructions like “In situation
ages. B use treatment method #4,” this book shows
Many great minds have contributed partial you how to find the best method for the unique-
answers, supplying better and better assessment ness of each client at each moment.
methods and more effective treatment methods,
If you have insatiable curiosity,
and then a funny thing happened. Actually, a
couple of funny things. A) Methods were not if you have the dedication to do the best for
always well shared. B) Some therapists came to each client,
believe their methods were not only the best but
if you prefer uniqueness to uniformity,
the only right way.
The truth is there are many assessment if you would rather observe and think than
and treatment methods because each is use- push harder and longer,
ful for some purposes, some of the time. No
if you know you are a reincarnation of Sher-
one assessment method can show everything.
lock Holmes,
Each assessment method has an error rate.
Assessing in more than one way is essential. this is the book for you.

11
How to Use This Book

Start by reading the foundations section. The As you develop some skill with the first meth-
history and concepts presented in it set the ods, read about and begin to practice another
stage for understanding the assessment meth- method. Give each method practice time. Let
ods and treatment methods presented in this each method develop in you before adding
book. Then as you read the descriptions of the another.
methods described in the book, refer to the Each person will find some methods more
foundations section to continue to deepen your compatible than others. You can treat the col-
understanding. lection of methods in this book as a buffet from
Next, read the introductions at the beginning which you choose your favorite foods. By prac-
of the assessment section and the treatment ticing the familiar and compatible methods your
section. clinical skill will grow. Alternatively, you can take
You may want to skim through the assess- on learning all the methods in this book. If you
ment and treatment methods to get a sense of choose this path, do two things. 1) Go to strength,
the scope of methods presented. If so, let this practice, and use the methods which seem eas-
preview wash over you, to get a general sense of iest, more familiar, and more compatible. In
the subject matter. The details will come later. this way your clinical skill will increase rapidly.
Now begin studying the individual methods. 2) Also practice methods that are less familiar,
Read an assessment method and begin to practice less easy, even alien. By learning all the methods
it. Soon, read and begin to practice a treatment in this book, your larger toolbox will contribute
method. Skill with each method can increase for to greater treatment efficiency and effectiveness.
the rest of your career. Perfection means only Whichever path you choose, be patient with
continual growth. Practice is the path to increas- yourself. Celebrate each small step.
ing skill.

13
Part 1

Foundations

CONCEPTS AND HISTORY

Alignment and mobility concepts parts of the range of motion require more effort
Alignment and mobility are two sides of a coin, to occupy. My arm hangs comfortably at my side.
or better, two facets of the same gem. In our No effort on my part is required to keep it here. I
minds as therapists these two facets must always use energy to move my arm out of this easy place
be considered together with goals and methods to accomplish many things.
balanced between them. We do not thrive with Mobility in soft tissue has two facets: how
lack of movement. For health we must walk, lift, far we can move the part, and how much effort
and stretch. is required to move through each portion of the
Life is movement. Thus spoke A. T. Still, range of motion. Any movement from center
echoing Aristotle. Even when we are at rest each requires work. As we move farther from the easy
breath can be felt and seen in all parts of the resting place, the effort required to move, and
body. The rhythms of cardiac pulse, craniosacral in some cases to maintain a position, increases
rhythms, and organ motility are all continuous incrementally.
during life. Together these rhythms form a jazz As a feature of therapeutic assessment, we
symphony with multiple rhythms. explore both how far parts can move related
Any two points of our body move with respect to each other, and the effort required to move
to each other in complex rhythmic ways. In addi- through each part of the range of motion. We
tion, as we move through life, each two points compare our findings with related structures in
move with respect to each other in non-rhythmic the same person including neighboring areas and
paths; these movements are often larger than the similar areas on the other side of the body. We
rhythmic ones. Each pair of neighboring bodily also compare these findings to our store of mem-
parts are related in ranges of motion. ories of other bodies we have worked with. From
Since no two points on the body stay in fixed this exploration and additional data, including
relationship to one another, what do we mean what the client can tell us of their internal expe-
by alignment or position? Position or alignment rience, and what we have learned of the history of
refers to the portion of the range of motion the situation, we formulate a plan to improve the
between two bodily structures which requires no total range of motion and the ease of movement
effort or least effort to maintain. This may or may within the range. If the zone of central ease is
not be in the geographic center of the range of changed, the alignment between the two parts
motion. It is the place of minimum effort. Other is also changed.

15
16 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

We are never fully symmetrical. Each of us is address at the annual meeting of the American
like all other people in some ways and we each Osteopathic Association (AOA), subsequently
have substantial unique features. Working to published in the 1954 Yearbook of the AOA. In his
achieve standardized range of motion and align- address and article, Hoover offered a new low
ment is procrustean. While we must keep an eye force treatment method to improve functional
to these standards, the best solution is what is movement in the body.
functional and comfortable for each person. Since Hoover, many workers in the field have
The impossibility of symmetry in our bodies developed a considerable spectrum of functional
underscores the importance of balanced mobility methods. Some methods used before Hoover’s
as a therapeutic goal. Solutions must be found time have been recognized as belonging to this
which keep an eye to an approximation of sym- newer category.
metry alongside constant observation of what Andrew Taylor Still MD, the discoverer of
fluid movement there is throughout a person’s osteopathy, used a wide range of techniques,
body and how comfortable the person is in their most of which were not recorded, to improve
body, the later considerations taking precedence mobility in the body. One of Still’s methods has
when there is a perceived conflict among goals. been painstakingly reconstructed by Richard Van
Buskirk DO. An introduction to this method is
History of alignment and included in this book.
mobility in manual therapy
Mechanical engineer and physicist Wilhelm Many methods to learn and enjoy
Conrad Roentgen accidentally discovered X-rays Mobility is more complex than static alignment.
in 1895, leading to a Nobel Prize in Physics in Therefore, addressing mobility in our bodies
1901. The early decades of the 20th century saw requires the larger set of assessment methods.
the rapid adoption of diagnostic X-rays in health Concurrent with the development of the many
care practice. The first use in chiropractic was in functional treatment methods, many new and ele-
1910. At about the same time, osteopaths started gant methods of assessment have been developed.
to use X-rays. This book describes many of the functional
Although X-ray visualization of motion treatment and assessment methods. Learning
through the use of fluoroscopy began soon after any of these methods can improve your thera-
the use of static X-rays, static films remained peutic effectiveness and efficiency. This book can
more common. Recognition of the dangers of be treated as a buffet from which you can select
X-ray exposure during fluoroscopy has severely appealing methods. For full benefit, take the time
limited its use. The static nature of the X-rays to learn all of them. You will find some easier to
may have contributed to the development of learn than others. Give more time to learning the
therapy models attending more to static align- challenging ones.
ment than to movement. In our practices we encounter many different
In the late 1940s, osteopath Harold V. Hoover situations. For each situation several treatment
recognized that he and many of his colleagues methods are usually effective, but some methods
had become too focused on static alignment, rou- will be more effective and/or more efficient than
tinely forgetting to consider mobility. In his prac- others.
tice he explored methods to assess and remediate Each assessment method provides some
mobility alongside alignment. Hoover brought information. No single assessment method pro-
his colleagues’ attention back to movement as vides all information. Each assessment method
an equal partner in therapy in a 1954 landmark has an error rate. Using several assessment
F O U N D AT I O N S 17

methods leads to a more complete and accurate change in the least time, with the least effort, and
understanding of the situation. the greatest comfort for our client.
If you have previously learned some of the Certain attitudes or mindsets are useful as we
methods in this book, you may find a method apply any assessment methods.
presented here differently than the way you
learned. You may wonder which way is correct. • Openness to experience—I am open to
If we understand “correct” to mean effective, new and surprising things.
the answer is both the variation you learned • Vibrant curiosity—Every aspect of the
earlier and the variation in this book are correct. universe intrigues me.
Additional variations not described here are also • Complete suspension of expectations—I
beneficial. Many variations have been created approach my client without expectations.
and they are all effective. Enjoy them all. I observe accurately what is.
• Genuine compassion—I have an authen-
Assessment concepts tic interest in my client’s viewpoint, suf-
In therapeutic assessment, two questions must fering, and joys. I seek the highest good
be answered: for all.
• Excellent boundaries in every sense—
1. Where in the body should I work? There is a precise and knowable set of
2. What should I do in that location? boundaries between my client and me.
It is beneficial to all concerned to dis-
This therapeutic localization does not mean cover and live on the right side of those
that the effect of treatment is only local. On the boundaries.
contrary, changing anything will change many
things. Some of this change will be immediate, Mechanisms of action
and change will continue for weeks. How do the treatment methods work? The short
Another way to say this is, as therapists, we and true answer is, we don’t know. More can be
must perpetually have in our minds the question: said about the state of our understanding of this
To make the most positive change for the whole question.
person, where can I work on this person and There are currently three dominant hypothe-
what can I do from that location? ses for modes of action of manual therapy:
We use several assessment methods to
answer these questions. No single assessment • neurologic mechanisms
method can show us everything. Two or more • fascial plasticity
assessment methods may confirm each other’s • tissue hydration.
findings. One assessment method may show
features another assessment will miss. Each mechanism of action has its proponents. No
This book describes several assessment meth- one mechanism has been proven to be the sole
ods that provide useful answers to our perpetual mechanism of therapeutic change.
questions. Typically, there is not a single answer, It is usual for therapeutic processes to have
but rather a cluster of solutions that could be more than one mode of action. For example,
useful. Among this cluster of useful solutions, corticosteroids reduce inflammation by at least
one may be a more effective and/or more efficient four mechanisms, two local and two systemic. In
intervention than others. We always seek effi- addition to biochemistry, we must remember the
ciency: the way to provide the greatest positive placebo effect.
18 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

Robert Schleip PhD investigated the vis- While waiting for the research, we will con-
coelasticity of fascia and demonstrated that tinue to use these treatment methods because
viscoelasticity cannot be the sole mechanism of they produce therapeutic results. After aspirin
action for manual therapy. Continuing to search was created by Felix Hoffman in 1897, our first
for answers, Schleip and his colleagues noted understanding of its mode of action came in 1971.
the presence of both contractile tissue and rich Additional modes of action continue to be inves-
proprioceptive innervation in fascia.1 He and tigated. Countless people benefited from aspirin
others posit that the connection of these sensors before we knew anything about how it worked.
and contractile elements through the nervous
system provide a mechanism whereby our touch Introduction to functional methods
therapies might alter the length and elasticity of Functional treatment methods restore appro-
tissue by tactile and proprioceptive conversations priate mobility in a sensitive dialogue between
with the nervous system. All the components of the practitioner and the client’s tissue. Function
this system exist and are linked in ways that give in this context refers to mobility. This contrasts
strong plausibility to this hypothesis. This does with other therapeutic methods which focus
not rule out the possibility that other mecha- more on alignment and less on mobility. As living
nisms also operate. creatures, the spatial relationships in our bodies
Working with fresh human and animal are constantly in motion, never static.
cadavers, I have repeatedly demonstrated that Additional features of functional treatment
many treatment methods change span and methods include:
elasticity of tissue where there are no functional
neurons. Change in tissue span and elasticity in • Forces used range from no force to mod-
this situation is greater than half as much as in erate force. High force is never used.
living, innervated tissue. This demonstrates that Somewhat stronger forces are used in
the neurologic hypothesis does not provide the two situations. A moderately stronger
whole explanation for therapeutic change from force may be exerted at the surface of
manual therapy. the body to deliver a light force deeper
I am confident that more than one mecha- into the body. A few methods briefly use
nism of action is in play during manual therapy. forces near end-feel during some phases
Research in this arena is more fruitful when it of treatment.
studies the contribution of each mechanism, • Speed of treatment ranges from stillness
rather than attempting to prove the exclusive to moderate speed. An exception is when
role of one mechanism. contact is broken as quickly as possible in
This book says little about the mode of action the release phase of the recoil treatment
of each treatment method for the simple reason technique. High velocity thrusts are not
that sufficient research has not been done. I used.
hope readers will pick up the challenge to do this • Precise, detailed assessment is used to
research. Usually when mechanisms of action are discern the best intervention to make
understood, existing therapeutic methods can be at each moment, utilizing a similarly
refined, and new therapeutic methods developed. diverse collection of assessment methods

1 Schleip, R., Gabbriani, G., Wilke, J., Naylor, I., Hinz, B., Zorn, A., Jäger, H., Breul, R., Schreiner, S., and Klingler, W. (2019)
“Fascia is able to actively contract and may thereby influence musculoskeletal dynamics: a histochemical and mechano-
graphic investigation.” Frontiers in Physiology 10, 336.
F O U N D AT I O N S 19

developed to guide treatment with func- methods allow the client’s system more latitude
tional methods. for action than others. Sometimes the direc-
tion for the dance is shared more equally, some-
Additional features of times the therapist is a firmly benevolent guide.
functional methods In some treatment methods, which partner con-
Therapeutic engagement trols the process changes at different phases of
In ballroom dance, one partner is the lead and the treatment. The following descriptions of each
the other partner is the follow. After one partner treatment method specify who makes the first
makes the first move, the two dancers collaborate move, and how control of therapeutic process is
to create beauty. The lead continues to offer more shared after that.
overt control while the follow shapes nuance.
How these roles are shared differs with both the Effort barriErs
type of dance, and with the temperament of the Tissue may be mobility tested in any direction. If
dancers. So it is for manual therapy. the tissue is stretched or compressed very slowly,
At the beginning of each therapeutic episode, at first a certain effort to move the tissue will be
the therapist reaches out to contact the client. perceived. As movement proceeds through the
This is a neutral contact with respect to control. range, increased effort will be required to produce
Then the music starts, and one partner makes the movement. This increase of effort to produce
first move, gracefully directing the other. In some more movement does not follow a smooth curve;
functional treatment methods, the client’s tissue it has steps. We call the first step up or increase in
makes the first move, and the therapist follows. this effort the first barrier. This is often but not
In other functional methods, the therapist makes always a highly beneficial force level at which to
the first move and the client’s tissue responds. treat. Some methods use any other effort barrier
Both ways can work well. In some instances, each up to end-feel.
of these paths will produce better results than the A benefit of treating at the first barrier, or
other. No one choreography is always right. early barriers, is that pain receptors are usually
In some treatment methods, the client’s body not engaged, and stretch receptors are engaged
makes the first move and may continue to lead in a way that does not provoke even subtle fight
throughout the process. In this situation, the or flight responses. Clients will often say they feel
therapist, like a good parent or teacher, is watch- nothing. It will then be necessary to demonstrate
ful for a couple of different patterns that signal to them change in range of motion or alignment
a stalled therapeutic process. If the therapist before and after treatment.
detects one of these patterns, the therapist offers Very important: In equilibrium with the
direction to put the dance back on track. As soon tension of other tissues, any given tissue may
as grace and beauty are restored to the dance, the rest beyond its first barrier. To identify the first
therapist steps back into a pure follow role. barrier, it is always wise to slack a tissue and then
When the therapist is the lead, some treatment let it slowly spring back toward its resting length.
20 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

Force vs deformation curves and the concept of first barrier

1 2

If a substance of uniform texture such as natural latex is With substances of mixed composition, a different pattern
stretched or compressed there is a nearly linear relationship is seen. There will be an initial linear relationship between
between force applied and deformation. force and deformation, then there will be a step up in force
before further deformation occurs. For example, if liquid
latex were mixed with synthetic spandex fibers and allowed
to congeal, the resulting force deformation graph would look
something like the above.

A more complex mixture containing, for example, latex,


spandex, Styrofoam pellets, and a few cotton fibers would
show several steps in the deformation graph. Human tissues
are always mixed in composition so show this stepped
deformation curve behavior.

Often, but not always, the most effective force level at which to treat human tissues is at the first barrier. However, in the
equilibrium of tensional and compressive forces in the human body, some tissues spend most of their time beyond the first
barrier. What this means in terms of treatment strategy is if the therapist wishes to exert a first barrier stretch, it will first be
necessary to compress the tissue so the tensional forces on the tissue are less than the first barrier. The tissue is then slowly
allowed to spring back towards equilibrium. During this controlled return, the therapist will perceive a sudden decrease in
spring within the tissue pushing on his hands. This is the first barrier stretch for the target tissue even though the therapist is
still exerting compression on the sum of tissue forces in the region.
F O U N D AT I O N S 21

End-fEEl and End rangE Engaging fight and flight responses during
In mobility testing, the force required to produce treatment will cause the body to engage contrac-
movement will increase incrementally. Eventu- tile elements resulting in a wrestling match and
ally a state of force and cumulative movement may traumatize or re-traumatize the client.
will be achieved at which no further movement is End-feel mobility testing is useful to observe
readily available. At this state, the next increment the full range of motion. While many functional
of force required to produce movement may well methods are performed at a first barrier, some
produce tissue damage, possibly including tear- use later barriers including a few that briefly use
ing or dislocation. end-feel.

Structural Changes
Straighten A Few Fully
Collagen Fibers Internal Tears Torn Tissue

100
Fourth Barrier
Second Barrier

End-Feel
Force

First Barrier

In this chart, Force is the amount of force


Therapeutic Range Tissue Damage
applied; Deformation is how much the tissue
0
changes shape, which may be lengthening,
100
shortening, bending, or twisting.
Deformation

PacE • skin
In mobility testing and in treatment pace is • muscle
important. Stretch receptors (Pacinian cor- • fascia
puscles) respond to both speed of stretch and • ligament
distance stretched. Through most of the range, • bone
speed of stretch produces more neuron firing • blood vessel
than distance. At end range, distance plays a • nerve
larger role. Pace is therefore very important in • peritoneum
not engaging fight or flight responses. Feel the • pleura
responses of the tissue under your hand. Watch • meninges
your client for the slightest signs of distress. • organ parenchyma.

tissuE tyPEs rElEasE signs


For each functional method, we will see how to Any given bit of tissue may release in any succes-
apply the method to a range of tissue types. Most sion or combination of several ways including:
methods can be used on many different tissue
types. Certain methods are contraindicated for • Unwinding—A progressive unraveling
some specific tissues for safety reasons. Tissue sense with frequent shifts in direction.
types treated include but are not limited to: • Softening—This will occur in usually
22 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

small directional increments, which is Six factors describing each


different than the generalized softening functional method
at the end of a treatment. Some of the features described above and addi-
Note: If the tissue was slack prior tional features are useful to describe, distinguish,
to treatment then the change will be and classify each of the functional treatment
firming rather than softening. methods. The following six factor model summa-
• Temperature change, usually warming. rizes these features and is used in the treatment
• Therapeutic pulse—At first this may method section of this book to describe and
resemble a cardiac pulse; however, it cre- distinguish each of the treatment methods.
scendos and decrescendos in both rate
and intensity over a period usually lasting 1. Tissue engagement
tens of seconds. Engagement between the client’s tissue
• Sense of fluid filling—Subtle edema sig- and the therapist’s hand may be initi-
nals both release and end of treatment in ated by either party. Often when tissue
a particular area for that day. is contacted with a relaxed hand, inher-
ent movement in the client’s tissue will
rEcognizing whEn a trEatmEnt is donE engage the therapist’s hand and pull it
It is very important to recognize when to stop in a particular direction or sequence of
treating a given structure. Over treating inflames directions. Alternatively, the therapist
tissue leading to more fibrosis in the weeks and may initiate the engagement.
months to follow. 2. Force
If tissue is very tight it is important to make Amount of force used varies between
the right amount of change on a given day, and functional methods. Many methods use
then return on another day to continue. It is bet- low force. A few use moderate force, even
ter to undertreat than to over treat. fewer briefly use end-feel. For some func-
Usually, the tissue treated will change fur- tional methods, the amount of force used
ther in the days or weeks between treatments. changes from one phase of a treatment to
It is sometimes necessary to treat again in future the next phase. For example, recoil uses
treatment sessions once or several times. moderate force in the setup phase and no
When to stop may be recognized by any one force in the release.
of several signs: 3. Speed
The speed with which the hands are
• A generalized softening of the tissue moved varies between functional meth-
followed by cessation of unwinding. ods. Usually, the speed is slow to mod-
• Mobility is restored to normal range. erate. In recoil, however, the release is
• A subtle feeling of swelling in the tissue. accomplished with a quick movement.
This is the beginning of edema. 4. Constraint
In some but not all functional methods,
On the way to the point at which one should stop tissue is prevented from moving in cer-
treatment there are usually several increments tain ways. The nature and extent of con-
of release which can be recognized by the release straint varies from method to method:
signs listed above, on this and the preceding page. ranging from no constraint to complete
prevention of movement. For example, in
pure unwinding, the therapist offers no
F O U N D AT I O N S 23

constraint to movement, unless one of end range is reached. At end range, tissue
two special conditions arise. In contrast, failure is a possibility, producing pain and
Hoover’s centralizing technique allows no damage; do not push into this range.
movement. Some functional methods treat at
5. Directiveness a first barrier, others treat at forces less
In some functional methods, the thera- than first barrier. Some methods utilize
pist requires tissue to move in particular barriers in mid-range between first bar-
ways; in other methods, no specific move- rier and end-feel. A few methods briefly
ment is required. The nature and extent use end-feel.
of this directiveness varies from method
to method ranging from non-directive End range is of various types. In mobility testing
through moderately directive to highly any tissue, whether assessing a joint range of
directive. In some methods, directive- motion or stretch in soft tissue, there is a distinct
ness varies between phases of the same anatomic limit beyond which healthy tissue can-
treatment. not be displaced without pain and/or damage.
It is important to clarify the differ- For some joints such as extension at the elbow,
ences between constraint and direc- this end-feel has a distinct bony feel. For other
tiveness. Constraint describes what the healthy joints and soft tissues, there is a gradual
therapist does not allow the tissue to incremental rise of force required to produce
do. Directiveness describes what the movement. At the end, a larger increment of
therapist requires the tissue to do. In both force is required and produces little movement.
instances, the therapist makes a require- In tissue that is fibrosed, edematous, or both, the
ment of the tissue; one forbids action effort required to move through the range will be
while the other is a call to action. Both felt to be greater than normal. In that case, the
may be present in the same treatment end-feel will have a less sharp rise to end-feel, but
method with some things being forbidden rather a more gradual or boggy increase of effort.
while others are required. If there is conscious or unconscious guarding
6. Relationship to effort barriers of an area, attempts by the therapist to produce
In passive range of motion testing, tissue movement will provoke active muscular contrac-
is moved to a comfortable end-feel. If the tion opposed to the therapist’s intended move-
therapist’s hands are kept relaxed and tis- ment. This may or may not be accomplished by a
sue is moved very slowly, the increase in perception of pain on the part of the client. When
resistance to movement will be felt to be guarding is observed, a slower testing speed may
stepwise, rather than a smooth curve. A produce movement without muscular guarding or
certain amount of effort is required to dis- pain; if not, the nature of the end-feel is noted, and
place tissue the first linear or angular dis- it is recognized that anatomic end range has not
tance; then a distinct rise in effort is felt been found. Exploration of and possible reduction
to achieve the next increments of change. of guarding may now become a treatment goal.
This is called the first barrier. With a little
further displacement, a second distinct Primacy
rise of force required to produce posi- Our constant question is “Where can I work on
tional change will be felt. This is called the this person to make the greatest beneficial change
second barrier. A sequence of such barri- for the whole person?” We call this best area to
ers will be felt at unequal increments until work the primary lesion. In this context, primary
24 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

means only the most beneficial structure or area intervention as assistance to what it is already
we can work on at this moment. Primary does trying to do. Because each lesion is connected
not mean it is the strongest restriction; in fact, to other lesions, all interventions we make will
it usually is not the strongest. Primary does not affect areas we have not touched. It is most ben-
mean it is the oldest restriction; age of restriction eficial to treat areas which are changing relatively
has no relationship to primacy. rapidly and are connected to many other lesions.
Our bodies all have many lesions in them. The most primary lesion has the best mix of rap-
These lesions are all connected to other lesions idly changing and widely connected.
by any of several pathways including through the It is possible to identify and characterize sev-
connective tissue matrix and the nervous system. eral lesions in the body, and to determine their
Some lesions are connected to a larger number of relative primacy. Below is a fictional example of
other lesions, other lesions to fewer. At any given how this might be arranged in a person’s body.
moment, some of these lesions are in the process The actual pattern is unique in each person and
of change, others are not. Of those restrictions changes constantly. The higher up on the list we
that are changing, some are changing faster than can treat the greater the benefit for the whole
others. Change in any area affects other areas. If person. Restrictions below the solid line in the
we appropriately treat tissue which is in the pro- list below are not actively changing and therefore
cess of change, the body will readily accept our make the poorest candidates to treat.

Primacy
1. Right wall of mediastinum stiff

2. Left shoulder joint capsule adhesion

3. Greater omentum adhesion

4. Right squamous suture stiff

5. Right C2-3 facet joint stiff

6. Left external iliac artery fibrosed

7. Left outer trochanteric bursa adhered

8. Left radiocarpal joint capsule fibrosity

9. Right olecranon bursa adhered

10. Distal right femur intraosseous strain

11. Superficial fascia over left lateral malleolus fibrosed

Assessment confirmation tests must be used to provide confirmation. An


Each test provides some information. No one test additional test may also provide information that
can provide all information. All tests can pres- no other tests will provide. The following Venn
ent inaccurate information. Therefore, several diagrams give a visual representation of this.
F O U N D AT I O N S 25

Test result confirmation

Circle test 1 Rectangle test 2

The frame of this illustration represents all the information This shaded rectangle represents the information provided
that can be learned about a person’s body. The circle by a second test. It overlaps but is not identical with the data
represents the information provided by a particular test. set provided by the circle test.

Circle + rectangle tests 3 Triangle test 4

Here we see the information available from both the circle A third test looks at a different part of the information about
and rectangle tests. Note the area where the test results can this person which overlaps but is not identical with either of
confirm each other. Each test may provide true information the first two tests.
which is not confirmable in this way.

Circle + rectangle + triangle tests 5 Circle + rectangle + triangle + oval tests 6

The potential information provided by each of the first three A fourth test represented by an oval is added. Areas marked 1
tests are shown overlapped here. are examined by only one test and may be true or not. Areas
marked 2 are examined by two tests which is an opportunity
for confirmation or disconfirmation. Similarly, areas marked 3
and 4 are examined by more tests providing opportunity for
further confirmation or disconfirmation.
26 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

Treatment is also a test examine the mobility of a finger joint, we stabilize


Always use at least four tests. Once treatment a proximal phalanx and move a middle phalanx
is initiated, the results of the treatment provide on the stabilized proximal phalanx.
further confirmation or disconfirmation of the There is more than one way to stabilize a body
findings from the first four or more tests. The part and exactly how a body part is stabilized
treatment is also a test. There are four possible strongly influences the results of mobility testing.
results of treatment as a test. There is a large contrast between the results of:

1. The treatment result is as expected from • a strong clamping stabilization of a body


the assessment, suggesting the assess- part preventing any movement, and
ment was largely correct. • a less forceful dynamic stabilization
2. The treatment result is somewhat as where any tendency of the stabilized
expected with additional features, body part to move is met with just
suggesting that the assessment was enough back force to prevent movement.
partially correct. Such a treatment result
may provide additional clues guiding Compared to a dynamic stabilization, a strong
further treatment. stabilization which is insensitive to the dynamics
3. The treatment result is entirely or largely of the movement will give a mobility test result of
different from expected, suggesting the much less both end range, and ease within range.
assessment was largely incorrect. In this Because a dynamic stabilization is more
case consider: like the normal mechanics of the body as we go
a. what additional information the through life, the larger range of motion demon-
results of treatment provide, strated by testing in this way is more realistic.
b. return to earlier steps of assessment Dynamic stabilization requires a constant
to see what may have been missed, alertness by the therapist for any tendency of
and the gently stabilized part to move. The therapist
c. what additional testing may be applies an ever-shifting back load just preventing
useful. movement of the stabilized part. This back load
4. Little or no treatment response is varies from moment to moment in both direc-
observed, suggesting the assessment was tion of load and force of load.
incorrect. The therapist must maintain constant,
a. Return to earlier steps of assessment moment by moment, detailed awareness of:
to see what may have been missed.
b. Consider what additional testing • any tendency of the stabilized part to
may be useful. move
• effort required to move the mobile part
Dynamic stabilization • smoothness of movement of the mobile
This concept applies to both assessment and part
treatment. • range of motion of the mobile part in a
During passive mobility testing we move one succession of directions
body part relative to a neighboring body part. To • slightest signs of distress from the client.
accomplish this, we usually stabilize one body
part with our hands as a platform on which to One awareness cannot be sacrificed for another,
move another body part. As an example, to all must be constantly monitored.
F O U N D AT I O N S 27

does not adequately relate to the fact that these


are entry or leverage points for action on the
whole system.
Clinical Objective
Experience Evidence Primacy
Best The expression “primary restriction” is succinct
Practice
and somewhat descriptive of what we work on
as most of the time we are working on areas of
fibrosity that appear “restricted.” However, we
sometimes work on areas of functional laxity.
Patient Values
An expression, “The point or area on the body
and Experiences
which if worked on in this moment will make the
most beneficial change for the whole person,” is
accurate and descriptive but far too long to be
Best practices practical. The shorthand term primary restric-
tion is used.
Terminology clarification “Area of best leverage at this moment” cap-
While a rose by any other name would smell as tures enough meaning more succinctly. It is still
sweet, we seek names that are both accurately seven words. Primary lesion is more succinct.
descriptive and succinct. Here is a discussion of
terms as they apply to manual therapy: lesions, Fibrosity, adhesion, and contracture
primacy, and fibrosity, adhesion, and contracture. The term fibrosity refers to an excessive ingrowth
of collagen and elastin fibers during repair of an
Lesions injured area of connective tissue. It is useful to
Problems in the body that we address with man- distinguish two varieties of fibrosity: adhesion
ual therapy have sometimes been called “lesions.” and contracture.
As one word, this is succinct; however, it is not
adequately descriptive, even misleading. The adhEsion
term lesion evokes wounds and infections, nei- In many places in our bodies there are lubricated
ther of which are qualities we treat with manual glide planes between two surfaces, which are not
therapy. normally mechanically connected to each other.
For the purposes of manual therapy, lesion Three examples are: 1) the glide plane between
was later defined by Alain Croibier DO as “a local- the visceral pleura and the parietal pleura in
ized area of tissue dysfunction.” This expression the thorax; 2) the glide plane within each bursa;
stands better by itself without reference to the 3) the glide plane between an eyeball and the
term lesion. However, “localized area of tissue surfaces around it, including the eye socket and
dysfunction” is problematic in at least two ways. the eyelids. Sometime during repair, as the fibro-
1) It is a mouthful to say. We can hope for a more blasts generate new fiber to repair a damaged
succinct expression. 2) While it is true, we often membrane, some of the fiber grows through the
apply treatment to local areas, the effect of the lubricant to attach to the other surface. This is
treatment is always on the whole system. The an adhesion.
expression “localized area of tissue dysfunction”
28 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

contracturE fibrosity
Sometimes during tissue repair the fibroblasts Fibrosity is the broader term referring to both
lay down excessive new fiber so that the tissue adhesion and contracture. For us as manual ther-
being repaired has less elasticity than it originally apists it is important to recognize the distinction
had. This is referred to as a contracture. The term between adhesion and contracture. If the fibro-
contracture is somewhat of a misnomer, as it sity is within a structure, we wish to restore the
suggests the action of contracting or shortening. elasticity of that tissue. If two tissues which
A tissue which is fibrosed may become shorter should have a lubricated glide plane between
than it was originally, or more commonly that them have become stuck together, we wish to
tissue has lost elasticity. It is not as stretchy as restore glide. For both adhesion and contracture,
before. Thus, the shortness suggested by the we seek to restore mobility, and while the process
name contracture is a loss of ability to elongate, may be similar, the result of our intervention will
and only less commonly a shortening to less than be different. We wish to separate an adhesion,
its original resting length. fully restoring the lubricated glide plane. For a
contracture we wish to restore elasticity and we
would not want to create a separation between
two things.
Part 2

Assessment Methods

INTRODUCTION

For treatment to be effective and efficient we to this tissue at this time. Additional
must know several things before we begin. In factors inform this decision.
order these are: 3. By making the client aware of the
condition of the tissue both before and
1. What tissue or area is most beneficial to after:
treat at this moment? a. We demonstrate to the client that
2. In detail what is the present condition of change has been made. Many of our
this tissue? treatment methods are so gentle the
3. What is the most effective and efficient client may not otherwise immedi-
method to treat this tissue at this ately recognize change.
moment? b. The client’s overall awareness of
their body can increase.
Each treatment session is usually made up of a
succession of several treatments performed on As described in the introduction to this book, each
a succession of body parts. The above questions assessment method provides some information;
must be answered for each of these body parts. no one assessment method can supply all infor-
At the conclusion of each of the treatment mation. In addition to different tests providing
moments, the condition of the treated tissue different domains of information, it is also true
must be reassessed. Assessing the condition of that each test can provide both true and false
the tissue immediately before and immediately information. Tests all provide more truth than
after each treatment moment has three benefits. falsehood, yet we must be alert to the possibility
of false readings. It is essential to use several tests.
1. We get immediate feedback on the One test may confirm another. One test may pro-
results of our work. This is an essential vide information that no other test does.
way we grow as therapists. There is one test that we always use, which
2. How much the tissue changed in is mobility testing. A central goal of functional
response to the treatment moment methods is to normalize range and ease of move-
compared to how much change we wish ment. Thus, we test mobility. Mobility changes
to make helps inform whether further promptly with treatment and we can assess this
treatment can be applied beneficially change.

29
30 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

While mobility testing is always performed, body from the surface. Some methods
poor mobility by itself is never a sufficient reason describe the shape of the lesion. Some of
to treat. Recognition that a body part is stiff or lax these methods indicate tissue type. Some
is important but is not by itself sufficient reason of them find the nature of the problem in
to treat that area. Another area may be more the area.
primary, offering better leverage on the whole • Mixed general and local assessment
system. methods
Often, change is better made from a distance. One assessment method is useful both
Usually, the solution to a problem of mobility for finding the general area of a primary
and/or pain is not simple; rather, several some- lesion and for further characterizing it.
times surprisingly distant areas must be treated However, this method has lower reliabil-
to resolve the local complaint. ity than many other methods. All assess-
The following sections describe several ment methods are imperfect, which is
assessment methods, divided into four categories. why we always use several assessment
methods for confirmation or disconfir-
• General assessment methods mation findings. While this confirmation
Some assessment methods are useful to process is always important, its use is crit-
find the vicinity of a primary lesion but ical when using any assessment method
give a less detailed understanding of the which has inherently lower reliability.
problem in that area. They are useful as • Extended assessment methods
first approximations, to be followed up Once an area to treat has been located
with other assessment methods that give and characterized, a treatment method
more detailed information. for that area is chosen. Then, as treat-
• Local assessment methods ment proceeds, the therapist may become
Other assessment methods are useful aware of connections to other lesions in
to characterize a lesion in detail. These the body. These felt connections can be
methods apply to all lesions whether the used to amplify the treatment.
lesion is primary. Specific assessment
methods locate the lesion more precisely, The following sections describe in detail the sev-
both with respect to landmarks on the eral assessment methods in these groups.
surface of the body and depth within the

ASSESSMENT ALGORITHM

Rationale and guidelines contrary, changing anything will change many


In therapeutic assessment, two questions must things. Some of this change will be immediate;
be answered: other elements of change will appear over a
period of weeks.
1. Where in the body should I work? Here is a useful paraphrase of this: as ther-
2. What should I do in that location? apists, we must perpetually have in our minds
the question: To make the most positive change
This therapeutic localization does not mean for the whole person, where can I work on this
that the effect of treatment is only local. On the person and what can I do from that location?
ASSESSMENT METHODS 31

We use several assessment methods to answer Inquiry and testing


these questions. No single assessment method
can show everything. One assessment method • Listen on the phone.
may show issues another assessment will miss. • Have the client submit an intake form
Two or more assessment methods may confirm well before the first appointment.
each other’s findings. – Read the intake.
This book describes several assessment – Formulate follow up questions.
methods that provide useful answers to our • Watch movement and posture as the per-
perpetual questions. Typically, there is not a son walks in.
single answer, but rather a cluster of solutions • Start with open questions.
that could be useful. Among this cluster of useful • Follow up with more closed questions.
solutions, however, one may be a more effective • Recognize risk factors.
and/or more efficient intervention than others. – Consider safety of proceeding.
We always seek efficiency: the way to provide the – Keep in mind things not to do.
greatest positive change in the least time and for • Consider tests to be performed.
the least effort. • Observe standing alignment—front, side,
Certain attitudes or mindsets are useful as we and back.
apply any assessment methods. • Observe active movement.
• Perform standing passive movement
• Openness to experience—I am open to testing.
new and surprising things. • As needed, do seated or lying down pas-
• Vibrant curiosity—Every aspect of the sive movement testing.
universe intrigues me. • Do orthopedic testing as indicated.
• Complete suspension of expectations—I • Have the client stand again.
approach my client without expectations. • Apply selected tests starting generally and
I observe accurately what is. moving to specific. Always include mobil-
• Genuine compassion—I treat everyone ity testing as a late step.
with equal respect and caring. • Perform an initial treatment method to
• Excellent boundaries in every sense, the most primary lesion you can find.
including this doublethink—There is a • Return to assessment to locate what has
precise and knowable set of boundaries now become the next primary restriction.
between my client and me. It is beneficial • Cycle assessment and treatment until the
to all concerned to recognize and live on body signals it has had enough treatment
the right side of those boundaries. for today.

GENERAL ASSESSMENT METHODS

In our search for each primary lesion, we first find There are three assessment methods that
a general impression of the restriction’s location point specifically to areas of dysfunction which
and then proceed with additional testing to a are quite primary. We call these three methods
more detailed understanding of the exact size, “general” assessments. Each of the three general
shape, depth, and anatomy of the currently pri- assessment methods is described in detail in the
mary structure(s). following pages. Learn and practice all three
32 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

general assessment methods. Routinely use the restriction allows us to design an effective
all three methods to confirm and extend your and efficient treatment.
assessment of the general location of each pri- Each method of assessment whether general
mary restriction. or local is imperfect. Any assessment method
In some instances, all three of these general can give an impression which is largely correct,
assessment methods provide fairly good informa- partially correct, or incorrect. That is why we
tion, allowing us to confirm and perhaps begin to confirm and extend our understanding by
refine our understanding of the primary restric- comparing the results of several assessment
tion. In other instances, only two of the methods methods. The fewer the number of assess-
will provide useful information. This still pro- ment methods available the less confidence we
vides a measure of confirmation. Occasionally, have in our results. The effects of treatment are
only one of the general assessment methods always a further and often final test. Results
will work well, in which case we can cautiously of treatment may be as expected, partially as
proceed to more detailed characterization of the expected, or not at all as expected.
primary restriction. Many assessment methods point to an area
Once you are confident of the general of dysfunction in the body. Knowing about the
location of a primary restriction, then use local presence of a dysfunction does not tell us how
assessment methods to further characterize the primary the dysfunction is. In this context, “pri-
restriction. Knowledge of the size, shape, depth mary” means that treating the restriction will have
from the surface of the body, and tissue type of the greatest beneficial effect on the whole person.
ASSESSMENT METHODS 33

Assessment method 1: general listening

ASSESSMENT
METHOD 1
Origin Method
Various listening assessment methods have been Lesions are areas with lack of support, or lack of
in use by osteopaths since at least the 1930s. This “lift,” in the body. To find these, have the client
method was developed by Jean-Pierre Barral DO. stand and put a little more load on the top of
their head with your hand. The area of less sup-
Concept port will collapse, usually causing the person to
One of the most important keys to successful lean. To general listen, stand behind your client
treatment is addressing the lesions in the right and place your dominant hand gently but firmly
order. As therapists, we have the constant ques- on the top of the person’s head, contacting the
tion of what to do first and what to do next. For- sagittal suture. Within 3–5 seconds, the client’s
tunately, if we know how to listen, the body will body will lean in some direction. This lean points
tell us what structure to work on next at every toward the primary restriction. When we put the
step of treatment. weight of our hand on their head, the column of
Each of our bodies has several areas of fibro- their body will begin to collapse around a weak
sity and sometimes areas of laxity. These areas spot. This points to the primary restriction.
are all linked by multiple pathways: connective As the person’s body bends, both watch with
tissue fibers, nervous system, vascular, lymphatic, your eyes and feel the direction it goes: Left?
emotional, and hormonal. We won’t always know Right? Forward? Backwards? In addition to
all the pathways by which lesions are linked, but direction, see how far down the body the bend
we can discover the body’s priority for which one is. Is the bend at the neck? At the respiratory
we should work on first to have the strongest diaphragm? Near the top of the pelvis? These
therapeutic effect on the whole person. two factors, direction and distance, point us to
The body is constantly revising its system of the area of the primary restriction. Additional
compensations. New events happen to our bod- assessment methods will then be used to refine
ies, our bodies age, and our bodies constantly try awareness of that area to the precise structure to
to find the best compromises that will leave it be treated.
the most available adaptive capacity to meet new The next step is a method to check if we have
challenges. What we therapists want to find is the the most primary restriction. Leaving your hand
part of the lesional chain which is most ready to on the top of the head, use your other hand to
destabilize. The area which is about to change gently touch the area you suspect of being the
anyway. If we treat this area of imminent desta- primary restriction. As you touch, give subtle
bilization, it will be relatively easy to change, and support, and have an intention to temporarily
the therapeutic effect will strongly ripple out to remove the effects of this lesion from the body’s
the rest of the body. system of compensations. By your touch you
We call this focus of strains, which is about are asking the question, “If I were to treat this
to change, the “primary restriction.” It is primary area, how would it change the system?” As you
only in the sense that it is the one we should work make this inhibitory touch, one of two things will
on first. It usually did not occur first historically. happen. Either the leaned body will right itself or
It is usually not the strongest restriction in the not. If the body rights itself, this confirms your
body. In this context “primary” only means it is assessment of primacy. If the person’s body does
the one we should work on first. not right itself, this tells you that you did not find
the primary restriction.
34 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

Thirteen more points before you touch, results will not be reli-
ASSESSMENT
METHOD 1

able. Coming in too fast can feel like an


1. The weight and/or restrictiveness of impact on the top of the person’s head,
glasses, watches, pagers, cell phones, eliciting guarding. Approach at a moder-
other electronics, and heavier jewelry may ate and somewhat decelerating rate, so
skew the results of listening. Ask clients you get there quickly but do not hover.
to remove these before you begin. Lighter The full weight of your hand can be on
rings and earrings may be left in place. the person’s head, but not the load of your
2. From the client’s perspective, it may feel whole arm. At the same time, you must
odd to have you step behind them and ask hold the weight of your arm out of the
them to close their eyes while you place a contact, and you must be as relaxed as
hand on their head. One way to handle possible to allow movement to happen.
this is to say you are going to check some 7. If a person has practiced chi-gong or some
postural things. Step behind the client, other energetic practices, they may not
check the heights of the iliac crests with deflect to your touch. If you suspect this,
your hands, then check shoulder levels ask about their practice history; if they
with your hands. Finally, ask the client use these methods, ask them to turn it off
to close their eyes for a moment and put for the time being.
your hand on the top of their head. 8. General listening happens within the
3. For general listening, stand at a comfort- first five seconds of contact, usually less.
able distance behind the client. If you are It often happens immediately when you
too close it will be harder to see how the contact. If you are there longer than five
client leans in response to the load on seconds, you may feel the body do many
their head. If you are too far away there interesting things, but none of those
will be strain in your arm, which can skew things point you to what you should work
results. Stand as far away as you comfort- on first.
ably can. 9. The very first direction of lean is the
4. It is important to be centered behind the important one. After the first one, the
person you are listening to; otherwise, body may go a second, third, or fourth
you may unintentionally pull them in a direction. After the first direction, this
particular direction. If your client is much information is not useful. The first
taller than you are, get on a chair or other motion may be quite small and latter
stable support so you don’t have tension motions much larger. Do not be dis-
in your arm which could also skew the tracted by these larger movements. Find
pattern of movement. the first movement.
5. If a person’s eyes are open, they may use 10. There is a variation of general listen-
their visual reference to stay level, and ing you will need in a certain situation,
you will not feel the listening. Having the such as if the person seems to bend near
client shut their eyes may be useful. How- the hips, or if it is difficult to decide if
ever, if they have balancing problems, this the bend is in the legs or in the trunk.
may be counterproductive. To check this, have the person sit down
6. Qualities of your approach to the person’s and general listen again. If the seated lis-
head with your hand are critically impor- tening is the same as standing, then the
tant. If you come in too slowly, hovering lesion is above the sitz bones. If the seated
ASSESSMENT METHODS 35

listening is different than the standing, We say the olecranon process “wit-

ASSESSMENT
METHOD 1
then the primary lesion is below the sitz nesses” the whole upper limb.
bones. c. If the primary restriction is very close
11. Listen from the surface of the body, do to the centerline of the torso, i.e.,
not sink your awareness into the body. near the front of the spine, the person
Entirely, let the information come to you. will not deflect; their body will also
If you sink into the body for listening, the feel woody, with no sense of spring.
results may be inaccurate. There is a more To confirm and refine this, make a
advanced technique which utilizes this. gliding inhibitory contact along the
See below. spine. When you arrive at the level of
12. In addition to location, the shape of the the primary restriction, the person’s
collapse in the body provides clues to head will rise up a little and their body
the size of the area to be treated, and will feel springier under your hand on
sometimes to anatomy. If the lean, fold, their head.
or break is sharp or focal, this suggests a
small area. A larger area of bending sug- General listening in brief
gests a larger primary restriction. If the
deflection is larger, watch for whether the 1. Ask your client to remove glasses,
deflection is in a single direction or if it is watches, electronics, and most jewelry.
curvilinear. If it is curved, this shape may Small rings or earrings with little weight
give an additional clue to anatomy. can be left in place.
13. The response to general listening will 2. Center yourself behind your client. If
look different than usual for three areas your client is much taller than you, get
of the body: on a step stool or chair.
a. If the primary restriction is in the 3. You may wish to have your client close
head, it will feel like a twist under their eyes. This eliminates visual righting
your hand, but the head will not be reflexes which may mask results of this
seen or felt to displace on the neck. Be assessment method.
sure to distinguish this from an upper 4. Quickly and gently lay the palm of your
cervical primary restriction where the dominant hand on their sagittal suture.
head, as a whole, may rotate on the 5. Observe the first direction in which their
top of the neck. body moves. This will happen well within
b. If the primary restriction is in the five seconds.
upper limb, there will be a lateral lean 6. If the primary restriction seems to be at
in the upper thorax. If you see a lateral or below the pelvis, then have the person
lean in the upper thorax, inhibit at sit down and do it again. Is the result the
the olecranon process on that side. If same as standing?
this olecranon contact rights the per- 7. Touch the suspected area of primary
son, the primary restriction is in that lesion with your nondominant hand, with
upper limb. The upper limb includes an inhibitory intention. Does the lean of
the shoulder girdle as well as the arm. the body change or stay the same?
36 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

General listening
ASSESSMENT
METHOD 1

1 2

Stand behind the client at a distance at which you will be As you place the palm of your hand on the top of the client’s
able to place the palm of your hand on the client’s head head, both see with your eyes and feel which direction the
without straining, but not closer. person falls and how far down their body they bend.

3 4

In this example, the client bends left at the waist. With your other hand, touch the client’s body at the area
where they appear to bend in response to the pressure on
their head. Use this second hand to provide subtle support.
If the person straightens up in response to this touch, this
confirms that this is the primary area.

5 6

In this example, the client bends in the neck. In this example, the client bends at the ankle.
ASSESSMENT METHODS 37

General listening special cases

ASSESSMENT
METHOD 1
7 8

If the top of the head is felt to rotate, but visually the head In contrast, if the top of the head is felt to move and the
does not move, this indicates a primary lesion in the head. head is seen to rotate on the neck, this indicates an upper
cervical primary lesion.

9 10

If the client does not bend but has no spring, feeling like In this situation of too stiff steadiness, a gliding inhibitory
a wooden post, this indicates a primary lesion deep in the contact down the spine will identify the level of the primary
trunk immediately anterior to the spine. lesion by restoring the springiness of the spine.

11 12

A side shift or lean in the upper thorax may indicate either If an inhibitory contact on the olecranon process brings the
an upper thoracic primary lesion, or a primary lesion in the person back upright this indicates the primary restriction is
upper limb. The witness point for the whole upper limb in the upper limb. If the olecranon process inhibitory contact
including the shoulder girdle is the olecranon process. does not right the person this points to an upper thoracic
primary restriction.
38 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

Witness points for use with How to identify new witness points
ASSESSMENT
METHOD 1

general assessment methods First, find a primary restriction using the general
Origin listening.
The original concept and application were Next, touch additional anatomically related
developed by early osteopaths; the exact origins points using inhibitory contact. If one of these
have been lost. Additional witness points were other points is found to also correct the leaning
discovered by others later. The middle scalene, or tilting shown by general listening, this other
left triangular ligament, and lateral malleolus point may be a witness point.
were discovered by Jean-Pierre Barral DO. The From the anatomical relationship of the
greater trochanter and digit tips were discovered two points found which both inhibit general
by Jeffrey Burch. There are likely more witness listening, form a hypothesis about the anatomic
points yet to be discovered. Happy hunting. territory which the possible witness point may
witness.
Witness Witnesses these structures In future treatment with many clients, any
point time a primary restriction is found near this
Cranial Cranial vault structures hypothesized witness point, make an inhibitory
vertex contact on the possible witness point to see if it
Occipital Cranial base structures also inhibits the general listening lean or tilt. Use
squama this type of testing with many people to try to
Maxillae Facial bones and related structures disconfirm your hypothesis.
(Each maxilla witnesses the maxilla, nasal If the hypothesized witness point often rights
bone, and zygoma on that side. Each
maxilla also witnesses the vomer and the body, this both supports the hypothesis and
ethmoid. Neither maxilla witnesses the starts to define the anatomical area witnessed
mandible. Sutures and soft tissues are by the point, which may or may not be identical
also witnessed.)
with the originally hypothesized territory.
Middle All parietal pleura and wall of the
If the hypothesized witness point stands up
scalene mediastinum on the same side
muscle over time, test it with respect to primary restric-
Olecranon Whole upper limb on the same side,
tions a little farther away to further define the
process including all features of the shoulder territory witnessed by the new witness point.
girdle

Left All of the structures suspending the liver Note, it is possible to listen from a witness point.
triangular from the respiratory diaphragm (left and If a primary restriction is found within the realm
ligament right triangular ligaments and anterior
of the liver and posterior coronary ligaments) witnessed by a point, then the next task is to
determine where within that realm the primary
Greater Lower limb on the same side
trochanter restriction is. One step toward this is to listen
Lateral Foot and ankle
from the witness point. This will point toward
malleolus the lesion, but not fully define it. This method
Tips of The ray associated with that digit tends to provide a grainy image, which must be
each finger from the tip of the finger or toe up to followed up with additional assessment methods.
or toe the carpo-metacarpal joint of tarso- This method was developed by Rihab Yakub.
metatarsal joint
ASSESSMENT METHODS 39

Assessment method 2: general lift

Origin occiPut and mandiblE

ASSESSMENT
METHOD 2
Jeffrey Burch. This lift contact is often used and provides infor-
mation about structures below the head.
Concept
In the general listening assessment method, we put occiPut and sPhEnoid
pressure down on the top of the head. In response If an occiput and mandible lift does not show a
to this pressure, the client’s body folds around the lean, but occiput and sphenoid does, then a cra-
primary restriction and leans in that direction. nial base strain is indicated.
If the body is lifted up, areas that are flexible
lengthen, bound areas do not. This results in frontal and PariEtal bonEs
the body leaning toward the areas that cannot If a frontal and parietal lift shows a lean but
lengthen. The body will feel tethered down to occiput and sphenoid do not, then a cranial vault
that area. restriction is indicated.
The results of the general lift test often match
the results of general listening but not always. any cErvical vErtEbra
Areas of laxity are less likely to be found with gen- If an occiput and mandible lift produce a lean
eral lift. Lesions superior to the areas of contact for but no hold superior to that does, and if the lean
general lift will not be found. General listening is appears to be in the neck, then a succession of
also imperfect. When the results of general listen- lifts at progressively more inferior cervical verte-
ing and general lift are different, the discrepancy brae will localize the restriction in the neck.
can be resolved using local listening and inhibition.
first ribs hEld antErior and suPErior
Method A lift here may provide more detailed information
Ask the client to stand in a relaxed fashion. Gen- about a restriction in the thorax than a lift from
tly contact as described below and slowly lift. It any part superior to this. More superior contacts
may be useful to have the client slump a little may point inferiorly to something in the thorax,
or to slightly compress the client down before but this upper thoracic hold will provide a more
lifting up. detailed picture.
As you slowly and gently lift, notice the
first direction of lean and/or felt sense of teth- Combining assessment methods
ering down. Note how far down the body the General listening, ultraslow mobility testing
tethering is. (page 63), and lift listening can be combined in
Lifting can be done from several locations. Lift- this way. With both hands, contact broadly on
ing from each location somewhat shifts the focus the top of the head, thumbs together along the
of the lift, including more of certain body areas and midline. Compress down a bit more strongly
excluding other areas. Lifting will provide infor- than for usual general listening. Slowly slack the
mation about tissues below the contact for lifting pressure, feeling the person spring back up in
but not above the areas lifted. Making a succession an ultraslow mobility fashion. Once neutral has
of lifts at progressively more inferior areas until been reached, continue very slowly lifting the
the lean vanishes is one way to localize the restric- parietal bones.
tion. Similarly, moving upward with a succession This method may be adapted for more infe-
of lifts until a lean appears localizes a restriction. rior contacts.
40 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

General lift
ASSESSMENT
METHOD 2

1 2

Stand beside your client. Support the occiput broadly with With this two hand contact, lift straight up, gently, and at
one hand. Support the mandible on the length of the thumb a moderate pace. As you lift, watch and feel for where the
and pointer finger of the other hand with the chin resting on body tilts at a point below your lifting hands. Note both
the web of that hand. the location of the tilt and the direction. These point to a
primary lesion.

3 4

If the primary lesion is in the neck, the head will tilt. Observe This example shows a tilt at the waist in a left-posterior
both the direction of tilt and exact level in the neck where direction.
the tilt occurs. You must catch this “on the fly” as you
lift. Once you have lifted the movement is over.

With both hands used to lift the occiput and mandible, the lack of a third hand means less opportunity to employ inhibitory
contact to confirm and refine the general lift finding. After the location of the apparent primary restriction has been found
with a general lift, try a one-handed lift of the occiput, which frees the other hand to use for inhibitory contact. With a single-
handed occipital lift, the direction of lift load is somewhat different. Lifting straight up on the occiput without a hand on the
mandible would flex the neck. To compensate for this, use the occipital hand to give a slight rotary load posteriorly around a
transverse axis through the atlanto-occipital articulation. This is a dynamic rotary load which does not rock the head back but
keeps the head going straight up instead of allowing the neck to flex.
ASSESSMENT METHODS 41

General lift (cont.)

ASSESSMENT
METHOD 2
5 6

Lifting from the occiput and mandible will not find primary Lifting from the occiput and sphenoid will provide more
restrictions above the lifting hands. Lifting with one hand on information about the cranial base, but not the vault. For the
the occiput and the other hand under the zygomatic arches lifts shown in frames 5, 6, and 7, the tissue pulls must be felt.
provides more information about the lower part of the face, There will be nothing to see.
and the relationships between the facial bones and the
cranial base.

Lifting from the parietal bones and frontal bone will provide
more information about the cranial vault. Some information
about the cranial base will be felt, but in less detail than
lifting from the occiput and sphenoid.

Lifting from higher in the head, above the mandible and occiput, provides more information about the head; however, higher
lift points may miss some information lower in the body. Therefore, it is best to start with the lift from the occiput and
mandible.
Lift listening, general listening, and general tap often point to the same lesion, confirming primacy. In situations where lift
listening, general listening, and general tap point to two or more lesions, use local listening and inhibition to learn which of the
two or three lesions found with general assessment methods is the most primary.
Once the general location of a primary lesion has been found, other assessment methods are used to refine awareness of the
lesion to specific depth in the body and tissue type.
42 A S S E S S M E N T A N D T R E AT M E N T M E T H O D S F O R M A N U A L T H E R A P I S T S

Assessment method 3: general tap

Origin Verification and refinement


Jeffrey Burch. Sonar taps will lead you to areas of reduced
ASSESSMENT

mobility. When the tap is delivered on the top


METHOD 3

Concept of the head, the disturbance found is usually


Many creatures, including bats and dolphins, primary. Other methods can be used to further
learn about their world by emitting sound waves verify the finding and confirm primacy.
that echo back. The creature interprets the General listening and/or lift listening should
reflected sound to learn about the shape and be compared with general tap data. Do they point
movement of the world around it. Woodpeckers to the same area? If not, local listen and inhibit
find grubs in wood by tapping on trees. Humans between the two findings to determine relative
have learned to use this principle as sonar and primacy.
ultrasound imaging. Geologists put shock waves Further refinement and confirmation then
through the ground to learn more about the proceed in the usual way which may include any
layered structure of rock. Waves used can be or all of the following, and/or other assessment
audible, supersonic, or subsonic. The general tap methods.
assessment method uses a single tap, much as a
woodpecker does. • Local listening to an area will show
whether an actively changing somatic
Principle dysfunction has been found, and if it is
A single impulse is put into the body perpendic- actively changing, then local listening will
ular to the surface. How this ripples out through help further localize the issue.
the body is both seen with the eyes as ripples • Manual thermal assessment may provide
in the client’s body and felt with the hand as verification and additional detail.
reflected impulses. • Layer listening and/or layer palpation will
further help localize the issue.
Method • If the restriction found by tap from the
With a single finger, deliver a tap to the top of top of the head is a relatively large area
the head. Rather than bouncing off the head, of the body, then local taps can refine
leave the now relaxed finger in contact with the localization.
head. Both feel with the finger the echo reflected • Yes/no questions may provide additional
from the body and see with the eyes where tissue information.
moves in response to the tap. With the combined • As with all other assessment methods,
visual and felt sense information locate the pri- always confirm with mobility testing.
mary restriction.
This may be done standing, seated, or supine.
Seated will tend to miss information inferior to
the sitz bones. Supine will make it harder to see
information posterior in the body with the eye;
however, posterior information may still be felt
with the hand.
ASSESSMENT METHODS 43

General tap

ASSESSMENT
METHOD 3
1 2

Stand behind the client with the tip of your middle finger Tap the top of the client’s head with the tip (not pad) of
poised over the highest point of the client’s head. your middle finger and stay in contact with the client’s head
in a relaxed way so you can feel the reflection of your tap
impulse back from the person’s body. In addition to feeling
the echo of the tap, look for a subtle directional ripple in
the client’s body. In this example, this points to a primary
restriction near the left hip.

3 4

This example points to a primary restriction near the right In this example, the reflection and ripple point to the right
temporomandibular joint. elbow.
Another random document with
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For several weeks the family had no word of his whereabouts. After a
while Mrs. McReigh heard that a man answering to her husband’s
description had come under the observation of the police of several New
England cities.
Detectives were appealed to, and, in the course of a month, traced the
missing man to Norwalk, Conn., and discovered that while he appeared to
be in perfect health, his mind was blank as to his whole previous existence.
Nothing could be done to arouse him to his past personality.
The wife and family physician were summoned, but McReigh could not
be made to recollect himself. Specialists were consulted at the time, and it
was their judgment that he would never recover his mental balance. They
suggested only one chance. If an idea, something that had been an
absorbing part of his life, could be brought suddenly to his mind, the
reaction might accomplish that for which they hoped.
McReigh went to Worcester, Mass., some weeks ago and registered at
the largest hotel. Each night he would sit in the mezzanine balcony, intently
watching the piano player, who was a fair young woman with beautiful
blond hair. He sat there continuously and silently, always with a set look of
wonderment as the music was unfolded under the deft touch of the little
player.
The night McReigh recovered his reason was witnessed by several
others who were sitting by him, listening to the music. The little pianist was
playing, as usual, mostly soft, low music, that was soothing and restful,
until she came to the last selection, “The Song of the Winds.” As she came
to the final measure, with the crash of falling trees and overturned homes,
McReigh arose from his chair and staggered toward the piano, and in an
instant the little player and McReigh were locked in arms’ tight embrace.
There were just two words spoken—“Tom” and “Frances.” Then the
woman collapsed and McReigh had to be carried away, his face an ashy
color. Both were cared for by the house doctor.
It afterward developed that the little pianist was Mrs. McReigh. Acting
on the advice of specialists, she had followed her memoryless husband from
city to city. Being people of wealth, she was able to go at any length to
accomplish her purpose.
McReigh was supplied with funds through the management of the
different hotels at which he registered, without his knowledge, and the wife
consented to pose as a musician in need of employment in order that she
could be able to play in the presence of her husband. “The Song of the
Winds” was McReigh’s best-known and favorite composition. McReigh
was under the watchful eye of his wife from the time of his discovery in
Norwalk.
McReigh’s memory was perfectly normal the following day, and man
and wife returned to their home in Boston with plans for a second
honeymoon through the West to celebrate the glad occasion.

Habit Saved His Life.


Habit saved George Lee, of Los Angeles, Cal., forty-five years old,
recently, when he plotted against his life. He placed the muzzle of a
revolver in his mouth, put his mind in order for the end, and was pulling the
trigger, when he heard some one call, “Right!”
It was a word used more frequently than any other in his work in a
downtown grocery. There Lee was accustomed to carry packages across a
long room. Several persons were similarly occupied, and when they would
meet, going in opposite directions, the one with a load on his shoulder
would always cry, “Right!” The right hand of the other would go up in
signal that he would observe the rules of the meeting, for the contents of the
boxes were fragile, and any interference might cause a loss that would be
deducted from their wages.
While his finger was drawing at the trigger, from outside came the clear
call, “Right!” voiced by the conversation of passers-by.
From habit, Lee’s right hand started to lift in signal, the finger released
the trigger, and the shell exploded, but the minor twitch that had come when
he heard the word of warning switched the aim, so the bullet left a harmless
wound in his cheek. Other persons heard the shot, hastened to the room, and
rushed Lee off to the receiving hospital, where his wound was dressed, and
his spirits revived by the promise that a job would be given him.

Has Relic of One Bald-headed Indian.


Bart J. Marrs, of Hailey, Idaho, has in his possession a valued keepsake
in the shape of the scalp lock from the head of a forgotten Sioux chieftain.
Most relics of the long ago are valued from their intimate relationship to
the forbears of their present-day owner. Particularly is this true when the
relic symbolizes some event of momentous importance to the original
possessor.
The trouble with many souvenirs of the misty past is that they may have
been made but a few days ago in Chicago or in Connecticut and placed on
the market, judiciously, of course, at so much per. With Judge Marrs’
memento, however, is a family tradition which not only proves its
authenticity but lends it an added interest.
Redskins who have seen the scalp of Oogley Moogley in the judge’s
home are perfectly satisfied that it is extremely bad medicine to attempt the
rough stuff with members of the Marrs clan.
Old Oogley Moogley was at one time taken back East to hold converse
with the Great White Father in behalf of his fellow tribesmen. At least, so
runs the tradition.
While honoring the honorific city of Boston with his august copper-
colored presence, he was made much of by the supercultured, hyphenated
ladies of the hub of the universe. One lady, whose talents and inclinations
lay in the direction of poesy and letters, was greatly impressed with the
æsthetic suggestion conveyed by the name of “Oogley Moogley.”
That gentleman’s dignified bearing and his majestic manner of
declaiming “Ugh!” on the slightest provocation were equally impressive
and awe-inspiring.
The lady resolved to come to the Golden West, look up the antecedents
of the famous chieftain, and trace his personal handle back to its
philological root. This for the sweet sake of poesy.
It was only after an hour’s converse with the oldest inhabitant, several
futile calls on the Indian agent and the Catholic father of the post, that she
learned from an educated Indian that “Oogley Moogley” was simply the
warrior’s distorted pronunciation of the epithet “Ugly Mug,” bestowed upon
him by the whites. Her dudgeon was up, likewise her dander, and she lost
no time in leaving the post and traversing the waste places that lay on the
road to Boston.
But Oogley came to an ignominious end. Several Sioux uprisings had
taken place in his neighborhood within short periods. On one of his
nocturnal prowls, peaceful or not it was never learnt, Oogley ran up against
the member of the Marrs family who put the Indian sign on him.
Advancing stealthily to the Marrs cabin, he put his head through a white
man’s window for the last time. It may have been that he was desirous only
of obtaining a slice of New England pie, a strip of bacon, or begging the
loan of a bit of chewing tobacco. The owner of the cabin didn’t ask. He
simply put his own construction on the act, drew his trusty bowie knife out
of his boot, and grabbed Oogley’s scalp lock in one hand; and one fell blow
spelled “finis” for the affair. At the same time, future generations of the
Marrs family were enriched by the acquisition of a relic that is a relic.
And Judge Marrs, in answer to the query made famous a few years ago
by extensive advertising of a remedy for hairless-headed gentlemen, “Did
you ever see a bald-headed Indian?” truthfully replies:
“No, but my granddaddy did.”

Ingenious Anglers Work Great Scheme.


Because of an unpardonable oversight, Carl Selzer and Louis Gunther,
anglers, of Grand Rapids, Mich., are lamenting the loss of a half dozen
trained minnows which not only proved their contention that fish are
susceptible to learning, but brought about an unparalleled catch of pickerel.
Selzer, who is an active secretary of the Y. M. C. A., and Gunther, a
German professor, have fished the waters of the Michigan northlands for
years. On a trip last fall, while strikes were lagging, they entered on a
discussion as to the intellectual capabilities of a fish, and both agreed that it
would be as possible to educate them along certain lines as it would be to
teach a dumb animal tricks. Each one had lost many a good fish because of
its ability to eject a hook from its mouth after “falling for” the lure of a
brilliant bait, and this point alone suggested the learning of the trick from
some other fish of wider experience.
During the winter the discussion was revived, and Gunther and Selzer
decided to work out their theory, if possible. They visited the State fish
hatchery and procured a dozen minnows and placed them in a tank kept in
the barn at the rear of Gunther’s home. Into the tank they lowered a square
cage made of small-meshed wire. From the start the minnows discovered
that the meshes would admit the passage of their bodies, and they flitted
through the cage freely in securing the bits of food which the two
experimentalists artfully placed within.
After a few days a plan for frightening the minnows was introduced.
Gunther dropped a large stone in one end of the tank. With the splash the
minnows darted into the cage. When all was quiet again, they would
venture forth, and, with another splash, caused by the dropping of the stone,
they would flit back through the meshes. Soon they grew to realize that the
wire cage was a haven of protection, and no matter what the method used
by the two men to frighten them, they would always respond with a dash
through the wires.
Several weeks ago Gunther and Selzer planned a weekend trip. They
placed their trained minnows in a water container, packed up their
appliances, and boxed the cage. Arriving at a northern lake in good season,
they immediately rowed to a favorite pickerel “ground.” Gunther held the
cage just under the water, and Selzer placed the minnows within. Then it
was lowered easily about ten feet and suspended. Both men then baited
their hooks with other live minnows and dropped them to the depth of the
cage and about five feet away. Inside of a half hour they had made a record
catch. Their idea had worked as they planned that it should.
The minnows swam from the cage, investigating after their curious
fashion, and attracted a number of voracious pickerel, but as soon as they
caught sight of the big fish, for which they held a congenital fear, they
darted back into the cage, realizing, by reason of past experiences, that it
was their stronghold.
The pickerel, flashing up, struck their pointed snouts against the wires,
and, like Tantalus, were repulsed. Then, their greed thoroughly aroused,
they swam about for a few moments, gloating on the possibilities, until
satisfied that a feast was impossible. As they turned to fin away, their eyes
caught the minnows adorning the hooks lowered by the two fishermen. In
an instant, acting on the belief that the minnows were a part of the school
which had eluded them, they struck and were caught.
For nearly an hour Selzer and Gunther continued to pull in the big pikes,
and when they decided the afternoon’s sport was over, they had gathered a
larger mess than they had ever caught before. That night they placed their
trained minnows in a perforated can and hung it over the side of the wharf.
Gunther, who attended to this duty, accidentally failed to lock the can.
During the night, in some manner, the lid was raised, and the next morning
it was discovered that the minnows had disappeared.
Both men firmly believe that some pickerel, piqued because of a failure
in the afternoon to secure one of the minnows, followed the boat and
negotiated the raising of the lid, and had successfully satisfied an aching
appetite.
The incident cut the trip short, but the theory was proved, and Selzer and
Gunther are now busy training another dozen minnows for future
excursions.

Cow Puzzles Kentucky.


What is the State of Kentucky going to do with Alex Steve and his cow
Fanny?
Steve is up against it. He was planning to make Fanny help him earn a
living. He intended to start an ice-cream business, with her aid, up in
Cannonsburg, Pa., where his daughter and four grandchildren live. And now
the law says he must either sell Fanny or stay right where he is with the cow
—that is, in a box car.
Steve was a miner in Dobra, W. Va., and one day, not long ago, he had
one of his feet crushed in an accident and had to give up mining. So Steve
decided to go to Cannonsburg to his daughter. He loaded his household
goods into a box car, built Fanny a stall in one end, and set up his bed in the
other end of the car. Besides Fanny, he had seven chickens in a box as
traveling companions. He paid seventy-five dollars and sixty cents for
transportation. That was nearly two weeks ago.
The C. & O. Railroad landed Steve and his outfit in Covington, Ky., and
tried to turn over the car to the Pennsylvania line for the rest of the journey.
The Pennsylvania Railroad officials refused to accept it, because Fanny was
barred from entering the State of Pennsylvania by the foot-and-mouth-
disease quarantine. No cow, no matter how healthy, can be taken in until the
quarantine is lifted.
Steve and his outfit can’t go on and can’t go back to Dobra. They can’t
stay in Covington, because Steve has only thirteen cents to his name. The
car contains a little feed for Fanny and a little cracked corn for the chickens.
Steve has been living chiefly on the milk Fanny gave him and the
schmierkäse he made from it, and occasionally some eggs from the
chickens. Outside of that, he hasn’t had much else to eat for several days.
Steve doesn’t want to sell Fanny, for, if he does, the ice-cream business
will be impossible, but if he must, he wants one hundred dollars for her. He
says he paid seventy-five dollars for her six months ago and she now
represents his only means of livelihood. He claims the railroad only wants
to give him thirty dollars for Fanny. In the meantime he is still stranded
with his cow and chickens in his freight-car home in the railroad yards in
Covington, Ky.

Two Thousand Air Pilots Engaged in Western War


Zone.
It is estimated that the total number of aëroplane pilots engaged in active
service with the Germans and the Allies in France and Belgium is nearly
two thousand. Fully five thousand pilots in uniform and new aviators are
still far from the front. These include Italian aviators.
Comparatively few German aëroplanes are seen on the French front,
probably for the reason that German pilots seldom accept battle with the
French aëroplane, which they are sent in chase, but they promptly speed
back to the German lines when pursued in their turn. Over the German lines
they are protected by many types of efficient antiaircraft guns. These
include an automatic gun, which shoots shells vertically more than ten
thousand feet at the rate of thirty per minute.

The Nick Carter Stories


ISSUED EVERY SATURDAY BEAUTIFUL COLORED COVERS
When it comes to detective stories worth while, the Nick Carter Stories
contain the only ones that should be considered. They are not overdrawn
tales of bloodshed. They rather show the working of one of the finest minds
ever conceived by a writer. The name of Nick Carter is familiar all over the
world, for the stories of his adventures may be read in twenty languages. No
other stories have withstood the severe test of time so well as those
contained in the Nick Carter Stories. It proves conclusively that they are
the best. We give herewith a list of some of the back numbers in print. You
can have your news dealer order them, or they will be sent direct by the
publishers to any address upon receipt of the price in money or postage
stamps.
714—The Taxicab Riddle.
717—The Master Rogue’s Alibi.
719—The Dead Letter.
720—The Allerton Millions.
728—The Mummy’s Head.
729—The Statue Clue.
730—The Torn Card.
731—Under Desperation’s Spur.
732—The Connecting Link.
733—The Abduction Syndicate.
736—The Toils of a Siren.
738—A Plot Within a Plot.
739—The Dead Accomplice.
741—The Green Scarab.
746—The Secret Entrance.
747—The Cavern Mystery.
748—The Disappearing Fortune.
749—A Voice from the Past.
752—The Spider’s Web.
753—The Man With a Crutch.
754—The Rajah’s Regalia.
755—Saved from Death.
756—The Man Inside.
757—Out for Vengeance.
758—The Poisons of Exili.
759—The Antique Vial.
760—The House of Slumber.
761—A Double Identity.
762—“The Mocker’s” Stratagem.
763—The Man that Came Back.
764—The Tracks in the Snow.
765—The Babbington Case.
766—The Masters of Millions.
767—The Blue Stain.
768—The Lost Clew.
770—The Turn of a Card.
771—A Message in the Dust.
772—A Royal Flush.
774—The Great Buddha Beryl.
775—The Vanishing Heiress.
776—The Unfinished Letter.
777—A Difficult Trail.
782—A Woman’s Stratagem.
783—The Cliff Castle Affair.
784—A Prisoner of the Tomb.
785—A Resourceful Foe.
789—The Great Hotel Tragedies.
795—Zanoni, the Transfigured.
796—The Lure of Gold.
797—The Man With a Chest.
798—A Shadowed Life.
799—The Secret Agent.
800—A Plot for a Crown.
801—The Red Button.
802—Up Against It.
803—The Gold Certificate.
804—Jack Wise’s Hurry Call.
805—Nick Carter’s Ocean Chase.
807—Nick Carter’s Advertisement.
808—The Kregoff Necklace.
811—Nick Carter and the Nihilists.
812—Nick Carter and the Convict Gang.
813—Nick Carter and the Guilty Governor.
814—The Triangled Coin.
815—Ninety-nine—and One.
816—Coin Number 77.
NEW SERIES
NICK CARTER STORIES
1—The Man from Nowhere.
2—The Face at the Window.
3—A Fight for a Million.
4—Nick Carter’s Land Office.
5—Nick Carter and the Professor.
6—Nick Carter as a Mill Hand.
7—A Single Clew.
8—The Emerald Snake.
9—The Currie Outfit.
10—Nick Carter and the Kidnapped Heiress.
11—Nick Carter Strikes Oil.
12—Nick Carter’s Hunt for a Treasure.
13—A Mystery of the Highway.
14—The Silent Passenger.
15—Jack Dreen’s Secret.
16—Nick Carter’s Pipe Line Case.
17—Nick Carter and the Gold Thieves.
18—Nick Carter’s Auto Chase.
19—The Corrigan Inheritance.
20—The Keen Eye of Denton.
21—The Spider’s Parlor.
22—Nick Carter’s Quick Guess.
23—Nick Carter and the Murderess.
24—Nick Carter and the Pay Car.
25—The Stolen Antique.
26—The Crook League.
27—An English Cracksman.
28—Nick Carter’s Still Hunt.
29—Nick Carter’s Electric Shock.
30—Nick Carter and the Stolen Duchess.
31—The Purple Spot.
32—The Stolen Groom.
33—The Inverted Cross.
34—Nick Carter and Keno McCall.
35—Nick Carter’s Death Trap.
36—Nick Carter’s Siamese Puzzle.
37—The Man Outside.
38—The Death Chamber.
39—The Wind and the Wire.
40—Nick Carter’s Three Cornered Chase.
41—Dazaar, the Arch-Fiend.
42—The Queen of the Seven.
43—Crossed Wires.
44—A Crimson Clew.
45—The Third Man.
46—The Sign of the Dagger.
47—The Devil Worshipers.
48—The Cross of Daggers.
49—At Risk of Life.
50—The Deeper Game.
51—The Code Message.
52—The Last of the Seven.
53—Ten-Ichi, the Wonderful.
54—The Secret Order of Associated Crooks.
55—The Golden Hair Clew.
56—Back From the Dead.
57—Through Dark Ways.
58—When Aces Were Trumps.
59—The Gambler’s Last Hand.
60—The Murder at Linden Fells.
61—A Game for Millions.
62—Under Cover.
63—The Last Call.
64—Mercedes Danton’s Double.
65—The Millionaire’s Nemesis.
66—A Princess of the Underworld.
67—The Crook’s Blind.
68—The Fatal Hour.
69—Blood Money.
70—A Queen of Her Kind.
71—Isabel Benton’s Trump Card.
72—A Princess of Hades.
73—A Prince of Plotters.
74—The Crook’s Double.
75—For Life and Honor.
76—A Compact With Dazaar.
77—In the Shadow of Dazaar.
78—The Crime of a Money King.
79—Birds of Prey.
80—The Unknown Dead.
81—The Severed Hand.
82—The Terrible Game of Millions.
83—A Dead Man’s Power.
84—The Secrets of an Old House.
85—The Wolf Within.
86—The Yellow Coupon.
87—In the Toils.
88—The Stolen Radium.
89—A Crime in Paradise.
90—Behind Prison Bars.
91—The Blind Man’s Daughter.
92—On the Brink of Ruin.
93—Letter of Fire.
94—The $100,000 Kiss.
95—Outlaws of the Militia.
96—The Opium-Runners.
97—In Record Time.
98—The Wag-Nuk Clew.
99—The Middle Link.
100—The Crystal Maze.
101—A New Serpent in Eden.
102—The Auburn Sensation.
103—A Dying Chance.
104—The Gargoni Girdle.
105—Twice in Jeopardy.
106—The Ghost Launch.
107—Up in the Air.
108—The Girl Prisoner.
109—The Red Plague.
110—The Arson Trust.
111—The King of the Firebugs.
112—“Lifter’s” of the Lofts.
113—French Jimmie and His Forty Thieves.
114—The Death Plot.
115—The Evil Formula.
116—The Blue Button.
117—The Deadly Parallel.
118—The Vivisectionists.
119—The Stolen Brain.
120—An Uncanny Revenge.
121—The Call of Death.
122—The Suicide.
123—Half a Million Ransom.
124—The Girl Kidnapper.
125—The Pirate Yacht.
126—The Crime of the White Hand.
127—Found in the Jungle.
128—Six Men in a Loop.
129—The Jewels of Wat Chang.
130—The Crime in the Tower.
131—The Fatal Message.
132—Broken Bars.
133—Won by Magic.
134—The Secret of Shangore.
135—Straight to the Goal.
136—The Man They Held Back.
137—The Seal of Gijon.
138—The Traitors of the Tropics.
139—The Pressing Peril.
140—The Melting-Pot.
141—The Duplicate Night.
142—The Edge of a Crime.
143—The Sultan’s Pearls.
144—The Clew of the White Collar.
Dated June 19th, 1915.
145—An Unsolved Mystery.
Dated June 26th, 1915.
146—Paying the Price.
Dated July 3d, 1915.
147—On Death’s Trail.
Dated July 10th, 1915.
148—The Mark of Cain.
PRICE, FIVE CENTS PER COPY. If you want any back numbers of
our weeklies and cannot procure them from your news
dealer, they can be obtained direct from this office. Postage stamps taken
the same as money.

STREET & SMITH, Publishers, 79-89 Seventh Ave., NEW YORK CITY
*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK NICK CARTER
STORIES NO. 151, JULY 31, 1915: THE MYSTERY OF THE
CROSSED NEEDLES; OR NICK CARTER AND THE YELLOW
TONG ***

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