Connective Tissue Series: Connective Tissue Foundations (FR1&2), is a prerequisite class for for Advanced Connective Tissue, Hand Skills/Practical Integration and the Mentorship Program. Familial, self-care providers or clients with major health issues may request permission to take this class.
Class Prerequisites: None
Course Description and Purpose: Connective Tissue Series: Foundations is the first level of Connective Tissue Regulators. This three-day course is designed to help students new to this work discover how to assess and modify restrictions throughout the fascial system of the body and is the framework for the Connective Tissue Series (prerequisite for other levels of this Series). Students learn to locate the regulator for the fascial system, use the regulator to determine the site of the most significant fascial tension, and use the movement of the regulator to generate changes in clients which benefit pain levels and range of motion by changing the tensions within the fascial system.
Practitioners are exposed to new models in the assessment of and therapy for soft tissue problems involving ligaments, tendons, and myofascial units. Self-corrective mechanisms are utilized to effect rapid and long-term changes in tissues. These techniques can make large changes in range of motion, movement quality and pain level. All therapists using manual therapy in their practices will easily be able to integrate techniques learned in this class into their practices, adding to both efficacy and efficiency.
Course Learning Outcomes : Students will be able to demonstrate:
- Locating the regulator for the fascial system
- Use of the regulator to determine the site of the most significant fascial tension
- Use of the movement of the regulator to create changes in range of motion by affecting the tensions within the fascial system
- Locate the representations of the regulators for evaluation of tendons, ligaments and myofascial units
- Generate measurable changes in tendons, ligaments, joint capsules and muscle units utilizing the fulcra and regulators
Course Outline: Please note that time adds up to 10 contact hours, allowing for 5 minute a.m. and p.m. breaks. The breakdown here is a guideline. Some groups prefer to have longer breaks and shorter lunches, depending on proximity of eating establishments. Some groups prefer the option of an early start and/or shorter lunch on the final day of the course to allow for travel time.
Day One: a.m. 9:00-12:30 (2.5 hours theory, 1.0 hours lab)
- Lecture: Historical perspective of techniques and theory
- Lecture: New theories regarding connective tissue properties
- Lab: Hand Skills
- Demonstrations
- Introduction of Regulator
- Lab: Vertical Arm, Tracing Homunculus
- Lunch 12:30-1:30
Day One: p.m. 1:30 - 5:00 (2 hours theory, 1.5 hour lab)
- Lecture and Demonstration: Introduction of Main Fascial Fulcrum
- Lab: Evaluation of fascial restrictions utilizing fascial “Homunculus”
- Break
- Lecture and Demonstration: Basic Treatment
- Lab: Finding and treating fascial tensions- simple form
- Review, questions and answers
Day Two: a.m. 9:00-12:30 (2.0 hours theory, 1.5 hours lab)
- Review, questions and answers
- Lecture and Demonstration: Review of evaluation and simple form treatment.
- Lecture and demonstration: Using vertical movement at fulcra to enhance treatment effect.
- Lab: Enhanced treatment.
- Break
- Lecture and Demonstration: Using positioning to enhance treatment, and minor regulators
- Lab: Treatment with positioning and minor regulators.
- Review, questions and answers
Day Two: p.m. 1:30-5:00 (2 hours theory, 1.5 hours lab)
- Review of Fascial Regulators 1
- Lecture and Demonstrations: Theories of connective tissue
- Lecture and Demonstrations: Evaluation technique for ligaments
- Lab: Palpation of ligamentous homunculus
- Lecture and Demonstrations: Treatment techniques for ligaments
- Lab: Assessment and treatment of ligament tension.
- Review, questions and answers
- Lunch 12:30 – 1:30
Day Three: a.m. 9:00 – 12:30 (2 hours theory, 1.5 hours lab)
- Review, questions and answers
- Lecture and Demonstrations: Identification of tendon representation site
- Lecture: Evaluation techniques for tendons
- Demonstration and Lab: Tendon treatment
- Break
- Lecture, Demonstrations and Lab: Treatment for tendons, utilizing fulcra and regulators
- Lunch 12:30 – 2:00
Day Three: p.m. 2:00 – 5:00 (2 hours theory, 1 hour lab)
- Lecture and Demonstration: Joint Capsule Homunculus
- Lab: Outline Homunculus, assess and treat joint capsule
- Lecture, Demonstrations and Lab: Evaluation of restrictions within a myofascial unit
- Lecture, Demonstrations and Lab: Treatment of myofascial units
- Review, questions and Answers
Total: 12.5 hours theory and concepts, 7.5 hours lab and skills: 20 contact hours, allowing for breaks.
Course Presenters: Each of these instructors presents the class in its entirety: Frank Lowen, LMT; Marianne McGreevy, MA PT; Kris Roy, PT; Rosemary Hegarty, PT; Laurie Levine-Lowen, OTR/L, LMT; Shawn Flot, MPT; Jacqueline Faulkner, ST.
Illuminatis/Biovalent ® Systems ( Provider Number P3337) is recognized by the Board of Certification, Inc. to offer continuing education (CE) for Certified Athletic Trainers (ATs). This program has been approved for a maximum of 20 hours of Category A CE. ATs are responsible for claiming only those hours actually spent participating in the CE activity. BOC Approved Provider Number: P3337.
Illumatinatis/Biovalent ® Systems (Provider Number 447205-00) is approved by the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (NCBTMB) as a Continuing Education Provider.
Illuminatis/Biovalent Systems, 8300 San Pedro, NE, Suite B, Albuquerque, NM 87113 (505) 291-8100