Daily Maestroism

DM #99

Tuesday, August 30th, 2016

DM #99: A hammer makes for a pretty crappy screwdriver. Same goes for when you try to use a technique or an exercise for something it wasn't designed to do.
When it comes to things like hammers and screwdrivers, we understand how they work, and therefore we know the best application. If we were to apply the same mentality to the majority of techniques that we as therapists use, I'm pretty certain that we would come to the conclusion that there really aren't any bad techniques or exercises, just inappropriate applications.
If you follow me at all, you know that I work for @Rocktape, and that I very much buy into it as a treatment modality. All too often I get presented with the ever so well articulated argument that “That stuff doesn't work.” ? While everyone is absolutely entitled to their opinion, I think that part of the issue is that folks don't understand HOW it works, and thus apply it for situations where it wouldn't work, or where it's not appropriate, leading them to think that it does not work. And no, I'm not talking about “putting it on wrong.” Tape will not make a normal movement pattern better, or healthy tissue healthier. It doesn't work like that. But I'll save that for another DM. ?

My point is that if you take a mechanical approach to understanding a technique that perhaps works through neurological mechanisms, there will be plenty of times when that application may not yield the desired results and you will wrongfully throw the baby out with the bathwater (not sure that there's ever a right time to do that, but you get what I mean). If you, like me, like to use the analogy of treatment techniques as tools in your toolbox, then you'd better make sure you understand how each and every single one of those tools works. You wouldn't use a hammer to put in a screw, and you wouldn't use a screwdriver to saw a piece of wood. Learn how your tools work, and watch how your treatments change.

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