Detailed Program

FIRST LEVEL

STRUCTURAL APPROACH (88 HOURS)

Myofascial Induction® is a method of evaluation and treatment where three-dimensional movements and sustained pressures are used throughout the fascial system to remove its restrictions.

In recent years, Myofascial Induction approach has gained an unprecedent field in physiotherapy allowing the expansion of many roots in the profession. The limitations of myofascial system produces pain and slow recovery of the function. It is considered that Myofascial Induction is the forgotten piece in the chain of the treatments performed by practitioners in charge of the restoration of the function and pain relief.

GENERAL GOALS

Ensure that the participant throughout the development of the workshops acquires those skills and abilities that allow him/her  make an appropriate evaluation and treatment in patients affected by Myofascial Dysfunction Syndrome (SDF).

SPECIFIC GOALS

• Analyze the conceptual model of Myofascial Induction (MIT).

• Discuss the concept of the SDF.

• Explain the SDF evaluation process.

• Demonstrate and carry out the SDF evaluation process.

• Introduce the clinical application bases of MIT.

• Analyze the indications and contraindications of MIT.

• Learn and apply the clinical procedures of MIT.

(THEORY)

 1.   Identify the basic elements of the structure, biomechanics and kinematics of the locomotor system of the human body.

2.   Identify the fascial structure of the body.

3.   Describe the molecular structure of the fascia.

4.   Characterize the biomechanical structure of the fascia.

5.   Analyze the pathomechanics of the fascial system.

6.   Differentiate and apply the procedures of evaluation of myofascial syndrome.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES (PRACTICE)

 1.   Apply the most commonly used specific procedures in myofascial restrictions of the spine, thorax and extremities.

2.   Apply the basic procedures of mobilization and deep Myofascial Induction.

First seminar (two and a half days - 22 hours):

Is theoretical - practical and summarizes the basic concepts of Myofascial Dysfunction Syndrome, patient evaluation, basis of treatment and application of the basic techniques of Myofascial Induction.

The program includes the discussion of the following topics:

•  Fascial system concept

• Anatomy of the fascial system

• Histology of connective tissue

• Neuroanatomy of the fascial system

• Biomechanics of the myofascial complex of the human body

• Characteristics of the biophysical concepts of the fascial system

• Trauma of the fascial system and the process of recovery.

• Myofascial restriction and the formation process of Myofascial Dysfunction Syndrome.

• Basis of the evaluation of Myofascial Dysfunction Syndrome.

• Basis of the Myofascial Induction process.

• Principles of treatment.

• Sequence of treatments.

• Patient follow-up.

• Indications and contraindications.

• Application of Basic Superficial Procedures.

• Application of Deep Basic Procedures.

Second seminar (two and a half days - 22 hours):

 Is theoretical - practical. Deals with the application of the procedures of the Myofascial Induction in the most common restrictions of the lumbopelvic and thoracic region. The program includes the discussion and application of the following topics:

•  Analysis of the peculiarities of the biomechanics of the lumbopelvic and thoracic region.

• Evaluation of pathomechanic changes related to myofascial restrictions of the lumbopelvic and thoracic region in relation to the restrictions of the fascial system.

• Application of specific treatments in the lumbopelvic and thoracic region in relation to restrictions of the fascial system.

 
Third seminar (two and a half days - 22 hours):

 Is theoretical and practical. Deals with the application of Myofascial Induction procedures in the most common restrictions in the cervical region and in the shoulder joint complex. The program includes the discussion and application of the following topical:

• Analysis of the peculiarities of biomechanics in the cervical region and the shoulder joint complex with the restrictions of the fascial system.

• Evaluation of pathomechanic changes related to myofascial restrictions in the cervical region and in the shoulder joint complex.

• Application of specific treatments in the cervical region and  the shoulder joint complex.

 
Fourth seminar (two and a half days - 22 hours):

Is theoretical and practical. It deals with the application of Myofascial Induction procedures in the most common restrictions in the upper and lower extremities. The program includes the discussion and application of the following topics:

• Analysis of the peculiarities of biomechanics in the upper and lower extremities with restrictions of the fascial system.

• Evaluation of the related pathomechanic changes in upper and lower extremities.

• Application of specific treatments in upper and lower extremities.

• Final exam type test.

SECOND LEVEL

GLOBAL APPROACH (66 HOURS)

Fascia defines the contour of the body, forming a kind of organ that determines the structure and body movement. The body's response to all kinds of requests for mechanical action is always global. All body components participate in one way or another. The evaluation process, as well as the treatment of myofascial dysfunctions, must include this globality during the application of the global procedures of Myofascial Induction. The patient's entire body participates in the adjustment process and search for a new homeostatic level. This body response requires a careful monitoring of the complex body movements during the process of changes of the fascial system at all levels of its path, including also the myofascial system restrictions related to the activity of the TMJ complex, highlighting among the procedures those applied in the prevertebral part of the cervical spine. The prevertebral region contains a highly specialized and particularly complex fascial system. The application of treatments in this area requires the practitioner a very special care, as well as a high level of handling of movements related to the activity of the fascial system.

The procedures applied to the pathologies of this region include intraoral techniques which are extraordinary in their effectiveness. The globality of the system is completed witha precise route of the meninges within the cranial vault and along the medullar canal. Particularly, the mechanical behavior of the dura is of great interest, related to the changes in its reciprocal tension influenced by the fluctuation of the cerebrospinal fluid. This complex system is not disassociated from the body mechanics, but forms a functional unit.

 The meninges system envelops and protects the cerebrospinal system thus allowing its normal functioning. The unbalance in the mentioned system can produce in the human body various sensory, motor or neurological dysfunctions such as, for example, chronic pain, migraines, cervicalgia, lumbalgia and ciatic, chronic fatigue, general uncoordination, tiredness, etc.

GENERAL GOALS

To ensure the participant acquires and perfects the necessary tools for the evaluation and overall treatment of dysfunctions that affect the fascial system of the body, including the prevertebral region of the TMJ complex, and the meninges.

SPECIFIC COMPETENCES OF KNOWLEDGE (THEORY)

• Analyze the dynamics of the extracellular matrix and its importance in the mechanotransduction process.

• Relate the process and mechanotransduction and its influence on the dynamics of the fascial system.

• Discuss the activation of cellular epigenetic mechanisms.

• Apply the phenomenon of tensegrity in the analysis of the pathomechanic of the musculoskeletal system.

• Know the structural and functional globality of the human body.

• Explain the physiological bases that govern the proper functioning of the meninges system.

• Demonstrate the process of adaptive changes of the human body.

• Learn to recognize tissue inertia patterns and critical sites of treatment.

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES (PRACTICE)

• Develop the diagnostic and therapeutic possibilities of palpation.

• Identify the entrapment patterns of the myofascial system.

• Identify the transversal planes of the fascial system.

• Learn the process of global assessment of fascial dysfunctions.

• Execute the structural procedures of the myofascial system of the human body.

• Execute the global procedures  of the myofascial system of the human body.

• Develop palpation procedures to allow an accurate evaluation of the skull.

• Carry out the different procedures focused on the skull.

• Identify the main myofascial entrapment systems (myofascial hooks, entrapment points, entrapment bands).

First seminar (two and a half days - 22 hours):

  Is theoretical-practical. Deals with the application of Global approach in the treatment process of Myofascial Dysfunction Syndrome. The program includes the analysis, discussion and application of the following topics:

• Analysis of the particularities of the global biomechanics of the fascial system.

• Introduction of mechanical principles based on tensegrity theory and discussion of its importance in the analysis of the biomechanics and pathomechanics of the fascial system.

• Discussion of the anatomy, biomechanics and pathomechanics of the integral system of the cervical fascia.

• Discussion of the anatomy, biomechanics and pathomechanics of the integral thoracolumbar and abdominal fascial system.

• Discussion of the anatomy, biomechanics and pathomechanics of the integral pelvic floor system.

• Application of global Myofascial Induction treatments.

• Evaluation of changes related to myofascial restrictions in the approach to global dysfunction of the fascial system as  myofascial hooks, fascial entrapment points and fascial entrapment bands.

Second seminar (two and a half days - 22 hours):

THIRD LEVEL

INTEGRATED APPROACH (110 HOURS)

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE METHOD

The contemporary analysis of body movement focuses mainly on the complex processes and mechanisms that converge within the extracellular matrix. The multidisciplinary study of the extracellular matrix, its dynamics and interactions with other structures, have allowed progress in the understanding of the human biology. The study of cellular mechanobiology begins to reveal the way in which cells, organs and body systems adapt to gravitational forces. This has allowed the analysis of biomechanics and body pathomechanics, can be analyzed at different levels of construction.

The possibility of examining the dynamics of living organisms on a very small scale of construction, through sophisticated electronic microscopes and new methodologies, as well as the confluence between various scientific disciplines, have accelerated the progress of research, forcing us to review the old interpretations.

These facts seem to shape a new paradigm of understanding body movement which, many times, highlights the fragile and, perhaps, too simplified model of body movement that we have used in the past.

On the other hand, the neuroscientific development of the last 20 years, as well as the creation of large bioengineering departments in the main universities and research centers, allow us to glimpse a surprising future regarding the neuronal phenomena that underlie the body movement.

Therefore, the orthodox concepts used to understand the pathogenesis of the musculoskeletal system require the immediate inclusion of these advances.

The challenge in the study of the living matter is the definition of a theoretical framework that allows the understanding of a highly organized biological system, and of those complex structures that are dedicated to the acquisition and conversion of not only metabolic energy, but also information. We generally separate the social sciences from the natural sciences, the chemistry of physics, and biology of psychology. However, precisely the confluence between the different disciplines is what marks the contemporary scientific development. The new tools available to physics and engineering (for example, measurement and analysis of nano-scale movement) made it possible to refine the tasks that belonged exclusively to biology.

In any case, despite these important advances, the biological complexity of the human body is still undecipherable and unintelligible. And this is even more difficult when it is only analyzed in isolation or without “linking the molecule to the muscle”.

 Living organisms are hierarchical structures that integrate their smallest constituent parts (DNA molecules, proteins, carbohydrates, lipids) across multiple levels of organization; from organelles to cells, tissues, organs and organism. Therefore, one of the challenges of biomedicine is to understand how so many different molecules interact, assemble and organize a final body, exhibiting properties that cannot be explained exclusively in terms of the individual properties of each of the components, or only at an observational  level.

Also physical concepts such as dynamics, stability and stochastic are unpayable (National Research Council, 2010) to elucidate vital processes such as: adaptation to the environment, fluctuating phenomena (periodic or casual), molecular motors (kinesin), creation and persistence of memories, the nitrogen cycle.

The current proposals used in the understanding of biology, encourage us to place ourselves in the zone of overlap between biochemistry and biophysics, beyond clearly identifying that even today the hegemonic model is the biochemist.

Research on nanomaterials and nanoengineering has allowed us to clarify several questions about the capacity for self-organization and self-assembly that invariably characterizes the vital processes, at various scales, of the protein to that of planetary ecosystems (exchange of living organisms with the environment) .

The multiple impulses that our body receives throughout life lead to the accommodation of the womb, considering its plastic nature. Thus, in a way, adaptation occurs and individual experience is fixed for each of us. The researchers set out to explain how mechanical forces can translate into subtle physiological changes that can be disastrous for tissue behavior. This can be exemplified in the advances in the understanding of diffuse axonal lesion in the brain after brain trauma. Studies indicate that integrins, the proteins that manage charges in the extracellular environment of neurons, are the crucial link between external forces and internal physiological changes.

Even mechanisms so instituted in biology as those of the balance of the internal environment and homeostasis have been reviewed in recent years. In 1936, the Hungarian Hans Seyle identified a defense mechanism that triggers in organisms against aggression. This mechanism was later known as stress, and its commissioning seemed complete to the maintenance of homeostasis (balance of similar elements) within the organism. Recently (since the eighties of the last century) it has been argued that homeostasis is related only to adaptive responses limited in time and directed towards primary stimuli, while at present it is necessary to refer to the concept of allostasis (equilibrium by different elements) . Allostasis takes into account - in addition to the primary stimuli - the burdens from the environment, society, psychic conditioning and memory of previous damage. Depending on the allostasis, the autonomic nervous system, the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis, the cardiovascular system, the metabolism and the immune system are activated through biological mediators such as glucocorticoids, catecholamines, excitatory amino acids, cytokines, GABA, dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), and so on. It is important to underline that the allostatic response involves a cognitive evaluation by the organism, in which converge, in a different proportion for each individual, not only the genetic tendencies, but also the responses triggered in circumstances of stress occurred previously, as if a process of apprehension was involved. Maybe also changes due to evolution, such as adaptations to mutated environmental factors, play a role in such cognitive evaluation. When the response is inadequate, or the set of stressors is prolonged excessively over time, the allostatic mechanism is blocked and an allostatic load is generated, which in turn translates into a general exhaustion, creating a predisposition to physical or psycological diseases. From the above can be evidenced that in a holistically expanded context - from the physiological to the behavioral and the environmental - a mechanism intended to defend aggressions can become a pathological potential, even more aggressive, for the organism in which it triggers, of the triggering phenomena (the subsystems do not react, or react erratically). So, this may be called sensitized organism.  

Body posture changes throughout our lives. As a consequence of these changes, adaptations are necessary. These changes, which eventually lead the body to a series of painful dysfunctions, are also related to changes at the visceral level and the meningeal system. The viscera are mechanically linked with the myofascial system forming a kind of own system (viscerofascial system). A similar situation occurs at the level of the meningeal system.

Mechanical joints through the connections of the miodural bridge and the large nuchal ligament create a link between the myofascial system and the meningeal system. This way, changes in the viscerofascial system and the meningeal system can influence the mechanical behavior of the musculoskeletal system.

Considering the above, both systems must be evaluated and, if necessary, treated in a comprehensive therapeutic approach referred to the fascial system.

The development of the five seminars of LEVEL III, aims to integrate the practical theoretical knowledge acquired by the student at the previous levels in the somato-sensory myofascial integration.

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Get the participant to acquire and perfect the necessary tools for the evaluation and treatment of dysfunctions that affect the meningeal, viscerofascial systems, as well as the postural pattern of the body, incorporating them into an integral treatment of the fascial system.

SPECIFIC COMPETENCES OF KNOWLEDGE (THEORY)

 1.   Relate the dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system with the process of allostasis.

2.   Identify the main fascial dynamic centers and discuss their characteristics. Dynamic movement centers.

3.   Deepen the knowledge of anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and neurophysiology of the viscerofascial system.

4.   Integrate the analysis on the pathomechanics of the viscerofascial system with the myofascial and meningeal systems.

5.   Identify viscerofascial structures related to dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system.

6.   Know the functioning of the postural tonic system.

7.   Know the different ways of entering information. Exoentries.

8.   Know the different mechanoreceptors and how they work. Entrances.

9.   Know the different ways of mechanotransmission at medular level.

10.    Know the different centers of brain management at a sensitive and motor level.

11.    Identify the phases of cognitive learning within the current  biosicosocial health model.

12.    Know the motor response pathways and their manual modulation (selective manual induction. (SMI).

13.    How to integrate a new dynamic pattern of the different parts.

14.    Know the treatment procedures for alterations of these pathways.

15.    Know the different manual procedures to optimize the mechanoreceptor function. SMI.

16.    Static / Dynamic Integration

PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCES (PRACTICE)

 1.   Analyze and apply the comprehensive treatment of fascial dynamic centers.

2.   Know the different levels of palpation and learn to recognize them.

3.   Learn to take the tissue to the point of balanced membranous tension.

4.   Learn to integrate and reassess the patient after the treatment.

5.   Develop palpation procedures to allow an accurate evaluation of visceral dysfunctions.

6.   Apply therapeutic procedures related to the treatment of visceral dysfunctions.

7.   Evaluate static and dynamic patterns from the concept of tensegrity.

8.   Assess the dysfunction of the information input pathways of the postural tonic system.

9.   Trace the treatment process in three phases: search, settlement and reorganization.

10.    Self-treatment

 
First seminar Integrated Procedures of Myofascial Induction ®. (two and a half days - 22 hours).

 GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Get the participant to acquire and perfect the necessary tools for the evaluation and overall treatment of dysfunctions that affect the fascial system. The program includes the discussion and application of:

Specific competences of knowledge (theory)

• Develop the concept of systems.

• Understand the fascial system as a complex biological system.

• Describe the phenomenon of intercellular communication and its importance in the physiology of complex biological systems.

• Relate the intercellular communication process and its influence on the dynamics of the fascial system.

• Analyze the processing of nervous system information from a neuroglial model.

• Relate fascial plasticity to neural dynamics.

• Analyze the phenomenon of body perception and pain.

• Discuss the pleasure-pain-allergy phenomenon.

• Analyze myofascial dysfunction from an allostatic perspective.

• Analyze the global movement from the concept: "dynamic centers of movement"

• Discuss the stability of body movement.

• Learn to recognize tissue inertia patterns and critical treatment sites.

• develop the concept of boundaries and its importance in the therapeutic process.

• Develop the practical aspects of integrated procedures.

Professional skills (practice) 

• Develop the diagnostic and therapeutic capabilities of the fascial system within a complex system.

• Learn the technical aspects of integrated procedures.

• Learn the process of systemic assessment of fascial dysfunctions.

• Have the ability to identify, describe and differentiate the procedures required in the therapeutic process of Myofascial Induction.

• Know, design and apply the therapeutic process.

• Evaluate the dynamic patterns of integrated movement.

• Trace the treatment process in three phases: search, settlement and reorganization.

• Apply the most commonly used specific procedures in fascial system restrictions.

• Apply the procedures of sustained myofascial mobilization and Induction.

• Execute the global procedures of the myofascial system of the human body.

• Learn to integrate and reassess the patient after the treatment.

• Having the ability to assess the patient's responses / reactions during the therapeutic process.

• Know the consequent physiological and structural changes of the therapeutic process.

• Recognize risk situations.

• Relate the reassessment process with therapeutic progress.

Second seminar Myofascial Induction applied to the integration of body circuits (two and a half days - 22 hours):

 GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To ensure the participant acquires and perfects the necessary tools for the evaluation and global treatment of dysfunctions that affect “body fluids”. Is theoretical and practical. Deals with the application of Myofascial Induction in different circulatory systems of the body. The program includes the discussion and application of:

• The importance of different body fluid media for health.

• The importance of the liquid system within the Nervous System.

• The characteristics of the cerebrospinal fluid and its integration into the interstitial fluid of the cerebral parenchyma.

• General lines of exploration and treatment in relation to body fluids.

• Awareness of the body, palpatory and personal attitude of the practitioner.

• The different elements of attention.

• Patient contact: hand position and contact quality.

• Different levels of palpation and learn to recognize them.

• Concept of fulcrum, classify the types of fulcrums and describe their characteristics.

• Identify the physiological and pathological patterns of fulcrum movement.

• Tissue inertia patterns and critical treatment sites.

• Balanced membranous tension.

• Membranous tension point balanced.

• Treatment in three phases: search, settlement and reorganization.

• Procedures in the meningeal system.

• Integration and reassessment of the patient after the performed treatment.

Third seminar Viscerofascia induction (two and a half days - 22 hours)

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

To ensure the participant acquires and improves the necessary tools for the evaluation and global treatment of dysfunctions that affect the fascial system from the approach of the viscerofascial system. It is theoretical and practical. Is about the application of viscerofascia induction. The program includes the discussion and application of: 

• Anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology and neurophysiology of the viscerofascial system.

• Large visceral aponeurotic systems.

• Influence of viscerofascial dysfunctions in the pathomechanics of body movement.

• Analysis on the pathomechanics of the viscerofascial system with the myofascial and meningeal systems.

• Sensitive innervation of the viscerofascial system.

• Assessment of viscerofascial structures and relate it to dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system.

• Identification of viscerofascial structures related to dysfunctions of the musculoskeletal system.

• Teaching and application of therapeutic procedures related to the treatment of visceral dysfunctions.

Fourth seminar Myofascial integration of the body matrix (two and a half days - 22 hours):

GENERAL OBJECTIVE:

To ensure the participant acquires and perfects  the necessary tools for the evaluation and global treatment of the dysfunctions that affect the fascial system from the approach of the integration of the body matrix.

 Is theoretical and practical. Deals with the application of myofascial integration and the nervous system. The program includes the discussion and application of:

• The human posture from the concept of tensegrity.

• Static and dynamic patterns from the concept of tensegrity.

• Functioning of the postural tonic system.

• Assessment and treatment procedures for alterations of the information input pathways of the postural tonic system.

• Different ways of entering information. Exoentre…?

• Different mechanoreceptors and their operation. Entrances.

• Different ways of mechanotransmission at the medullar level.

• Different centers of cerebral management at a sensitive and motor level.

• Phases of cognitive learning.

• Motor response pathways, and their manual modulation. (Selective manual induction, SMI).

• Integration of a new dynamic pattern of the different parts.

• Static / Dynamic Integration.

• Self Treatment.

Fifth seminar. Myofascial integration - Concept of Fascial Dynamic Centers (two and a half days - 22 hours)

GENERAL OBJECTIVE

Achieve the integration of therapeutic procedures of the Myofascial Induction in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries. Apply the Myofascial Induction process through the fascial distributors. It is theoretical and practical. Deals with the application of the integrated procedures of Myofascial Induction. The program includes the discussion and application of:

• The dynamics of the extracellular matrix and its importance in the mechanotransduction process.

• The extracellular matrix as a biophysical filter with protective, nutritional function, cell innervation, immune response, angiogenesis, fibrosis and tissue repair.

• The activation of cellular epigenetic mechanisms.

• Phenomena of cellular communication.

• Dynamics of integrins.

• The mechanotransduction process and its influence on the dynamics of the fascial system.

• Fascial connectivity and dynamics of mechanoreceptors.

• Fascial plasticity with neural dynamics.

• The phenomenon of tensegrity in the analysis of the pathomechanics of the musculoskeletal system.

• The extracellular matrix of the nervous system and its importance in the dynamics of perineuronal networks.

• The importance of glial cells and the tripartite synapse.

• The dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system with the process of allostasis.

• The concept of fascial distributors.

• The dynamics of fascial distributors with the behavior of mechanoreceptors.

• The main types of the fascial dynamic centers  and discuss their characteristics.

• Application of therapeutic processes related to the treatment of surface dynamic centers.

• Application of therapeutic processes related to the treatment of primary bone dynamic centers.

• Application of therapeutic processes related to the treatment of dynamic bone centers.

• Analysis and application in the integral treatment of fascial dynamic centers.

• Final exam type test.