Erik and Aaron Mattes in Costa Rica
January 6, 2008 – 7:25 pmAaron’s Active Isolated Stretching will address neck, shoulder, and extremity pain & Erik’s Myoskeletal Alignment will teach SI joint, scoliosis and low back corrections.
Geo writes: “I can’t wait to work with you and Mattes in Costa Rica this May…what is the focus of the work you guys will be presenting?”
Geo, I can only tell you that the workshop description posted on my website says that Aaron will be focusing on neck, shoulder and extremity problems and I’ll be covering low back, scoliosis and sacroiliac pain. However, when we get together it’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen or where we’ll end up. Most people who’ve studied with Aaron are familiar with his contagious energy, passion and boundless knowledge, but few realize what a prankster he is.
Aaron and his wife Judy have been close friends with Teri (my wife) and I for many years. At one point, I worked in Aaron’s original clinic in Sarasota. I’ll never forget that experience. I was really into tennis and he was working on all the stars of the time including Sampras, Agassi and my personal favorite Monica Seles. Monica was just rehabbing from the knife wound to her right ribcage at T4-5 sustained after a match with Steffi Graff. Aaron, knowing I had “star-fever” for her, secretly arranged for me to work on her two days after I arrived.
The paranoia in her training camp from the stabbing created quite an odd therapeutic situation. It was really tense (and quiet) during the sessions with her Dad watching every move. Additionally, I felt uneasy and nervous performing Aaron’s Assisted Stretching routines on such a high profile person…especially one he’d worked on for years. Nevertheless, against my will, he insisted I take her through two-hours of stretching each day. He was really getting a ‘kick’ outta’ watching me sweat while he glared over with a big grin plastered on his face. He further humiliated me one day when I returned from lunch 10 minutes late. In a loud voice (in front of ten other therapists working in the room) he proclaimed that “those Okies just run off a different clock than the rest of us”. I wouldn’t have minded if I were getting paid but this was pure harassment.
Because my anxiety was so obvious, I finally admitted to Monica that I’d only been practicing Aaron’s stretching for a few months and that my background was Rolfing, osteopathy and a new method I’d just developed called the “Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques”. Once I came clean about my insecurity and past training, she completely relaxed, opened up, and began telling me about her experiences with some Rolfer from Germany and how much he’d helped her back problem. Anyway, Aaron gave me a lot of grief those weeks at his clinic and I absolutely plan to get back at him when we get on my Costa Rica turf.
Geo, didn’t you attend the 2007 Costa Rica Retreat with Mr. Anatomy Trains…Tom Myers? Great guy huh? What I like about co-teaching in Costa Rica with prestigious educators such as James Waslaski, David Kent and Tom is that all the teachers and teaching assistants come together in the same room at the same time to help assist the primary presenter. Of course, this opens up a great arena for communal dialog which greatly enhances the learning experience. Personally, I always take home a tremendous amount of information from assisting these renowned instructors. I think the 2008 Retreat will be ‘jam-packed’ with the same energy and excitement and I’m proud to be hosting this event with the legendary Aaron Mattes….ERIK
14 Responses to “Erik and Aaron Mattes in Costa Rica”
I Love Aaron and His Work; have spent over 300 hours admiring and now practicing His Work. The Strengthening part should be Taught to ALL Therapist and Trainers!!! Jack C.
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By Jack C. White on Jan 10, 2008
Right on Jack:
Aaron’s new strengthening book complements the Assisted Stretching routines he’s been teaching for 40 years. Just talked to his wife Judy about our upcoming Costa Rica Retreat and she said Aaron plans on teaching some of the new strengthening stuff along with his AIS routines.
Aaron is one of those Ida Rolf, A.T. Still kinda characters that’ll be in the history books long after he’s gone. I’m just pleased he’s around to enjoy his enormous success. Regrettably, many legendary manual therapy figures were never able to enjoy the fruition of their work.
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Geoffrey reply on July 5, 2008:
What a great time Costa Rica was this year! It was intense, fun, relaxing and thought provoking. Loved the new Myoskeletal Engine concepts introduced, and have been putting them into practice on a daily basis.
Thanks guys……
Erik Dalton reply on July 8, 2008:
Costa Rica 2008 with Aaron was a blast!
Quite a diverse crowd of over 70 enthusiastic participants. Aaron and Judy learned to do the Salza and took the rain forest boat trip.
Did you do the white water rafting expedition?
Looking forward to teaching the 7th Annual “Pain Management in Paradise” next year with my buddy James Waslaski. This will be his third time co-teaching in Costa Rica with me. I keep asking him back because we always have something new and fun to present and the participants have such a great time.
Check out my new Don’t Get Married, part II in the September issue. Read Part I on my site www.erikdalton.com before delving into this new throry on locomotion and pain.
Best to you….ERIK
By Erik Dalton on Jan 11, 2008
Erik-
I was in CR last year. I look forward to this year as well. In Costa Rica it’s nice to be able to just chill out, do some study, eat great food, listen to birds, more study, hot tub, yoga, drum. That place is great!! Can’t wait to run in those coffee fields across the street!
I was searching on line and saw that you are an inductee in the massage hall of fame…congrats for that!
I read you are going to make a video covering more low back, SI joint, hip, leg, knee, foot problems. While it is fresh in your head, can you give us a sneak peak at what might cause so many people lateral knee pain. I see it a lot and don’t believe it is always the fascia of TFL and the IT band. I see it on the left primarily and wonder if it has to do with an anterior rotated right ilium, short right leg, also left hip pain. Posterior left sacral base, I think I have heard you talk about this…….Thanks Erik. I look forward to that video, will it have an advanced HS with it??
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Erik Dalton reply on April 13, 2008:
Geo…my man:
Nice article in the latest M & B magazine…good work. Is that two-part High Altitude Sports Massage feature article still in the works. Last time we spoke you were in the middle of Part One. Let us know so our readers can tune it in.
I see many cases of lateral knee pain and I used to think it was much more common in athletes…now I’m not so sure.
True cases of IT-band friction syndrome seem to occur primarily as an over-use disorder in athletes, but one condition that commonly disguises itself as IT-band is what I call Stirrup Spring System (SSS) syndrome.
Simply put, if the soles of the shoe are too cushioned or the running surface is too soft, i.e., sand, the tib anterior and peroneus longus stirrup doesn’t raise the arch and properly distribute ground forces up through the biceps femoris and sacrotuberus ligaments to help secure the sacrum on the ipsilateral side.
It is extremely important that during right heel strike, forces traversing up the lateral fascia through the biceps femoris grip the inferior/lateral border of the sacrum so when more weight is applied during the stance phase, the sacrum will sidebend left and rotate right..taking the pelvis with it.
I’m referencing this process as the Myoskeletal Engine since it contains a combined version of Gracovetsky spinal engine and Greenman’s gait studies.
In the spinal engine model, forces are transmitted through the biceps femoris and SI ligaments into the ipsilateral lumbar erectors which right sidebends the lumbar spine and counter-rotates the pelvis. This winds up the intervertebral discs and thoracolumbar fascia and upon toe-off, releases in a dynamic energy pulse that propels the opposite swing leg through. I believe that for proper pain-free walking or running, both systems must be working properly.
A common problem occurs when the biceps femoris doesn’t take its attachment from the ischial tuberosity with the rest of the hamstrings but, instead, skips over the this bony prominence and attaches directly to the sacrum. This anatomical arrangement allows a contractile tissue (biceps femoris) to be a posterior stabilizer of the sacrum. I believe that many recurring backward sacral torsions result from this funky situation.
Think about about what would happen during forward bending. A tight biceps femoris acting in place of the sacrotuberus ligament in preventing anterior nutation of the sacrum…not good.
And back to your question. A hypercontracted biceps femoris can also pull hard on its distal attachment at the fibular head causing posterior displacement. This, I think, is one of the leading causes of lateral knee pain… often disguising itself as IT-band friction syndrome.
My buddy Robert Schleip and his fellow German researchers believe that this “Stirrup Syndrome” where the biceps femoris syndrome takes its origin at the sacrum occurs in approximately 30 percent of the population.
Thanks for mentioning my Hall of Fame Induction in Panama City, Florida the first week of August. I look forward to joining the ranks of other hard-working therapists and researchers such as John Upledger, Tiffiny Fields, James Waslaski, and Ralph Stephens. I’m honored to be selected and proud to be a part of this wonderful manual therapy community….ERIK
By geo on Jan 21, 2008
I was reading your latest news letter about not getting married to one theory. Well, your right since school I’ve changed mind on what works best about 10,000 times. Anyway, I’ve combined or included some strecthing techniques in my massages to get a better feel of what is going on in there.
Sometimes I actually feel the blood flowing in the muscle belly as I am working on it. Then the once cold pain described by my clients is gone. So far every client I have seen has experienced almost immediate results. It is usually lower lumbar facets or vertabres that are out of place…I usually direct them to see a chiropractor. Is that the best thing to do? Still wondering if I made the right call.
I hope you have some kind of grant to teach struggling therapist these beautiful techniques. I like the abbreviations you use. I’ve been working on your lower crossed syndrome tests by using the legs as my guide. I saw a British Columbian Osteopath do these tests on film at my school here in florida in 2005. So, please write back if you are interested thanks. anita
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By anita ruiz on Feb 6, 2008
Glad you are enjoying my Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques home study program Anita.
If the facet joints are chronically locked from articular cartilage degradation, you’ll probably have very little luck using the myoskeletal method. So, please refer them out to a qualified chiropractor or manipulative osteopath.
The Myoskeletal Alignment Technique is a soft tissue therapy that, in part, uses bones as levers to release deep spinal muscles, ligaments and fibrotic joint capsules that restrain joint motion.
Since it is not a high velocity fast-paced modality, it is often ineffective for arthritic or chronically fixated joints.
Our Freedom From Pain Institute is a post-graduate vocational school that teaches weekend workshops around the world to licensed therapists.
Since we have no campus here, we are unable to offer grants. However, there are schools that teach the Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques as part of their regular curricula.
Call Dianna Pitman at 800-709-5054 for a list of massage colleges here in the USA.
Best to you and keep up the good work with your Upper and Lower Crossed Syndromes.
ERIK
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By Erik Dalton on Feb 19, 2008
Hi Erik,
Am looking forward to the seminar in Costa Rica at the end of April.
There seems to be an epidemic of post pregnancy symphysis pubis issues and related si joint pain and dysfunction in my area..lots of impatient female athletes… I am hoping to get more insight into treating this issue without asking them to wear a belt and such. I have had more success treating pyrimidalis and pectineus along with sacral ligaments. See you in Costa Rica. Kimberly
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By kimberly on Mar 29, 2008
Hello Kimberly:
Fortunately, I’ll be addressing many of these SI joint issues in my Costa Rica presentation. However, I would like to offer some tips for treating post pregnancy pelvic pain.
My Advanced Myoskeletal Techniques book has a chapter (Miracle of Motherhood) devoted solely to pregnancy issues and how to deal with specific problems related to aberrant childbirth presentations such as the enormous increase in “Sunny Side Up” babies. You can also access a condensed version of the chapter by visiting www.ErikDalton.com and clicking on the “Articles” link.
I’ll try to comment on this issue when I get back home from New Orleans on Friday. Thanks for writing it.
Aaron and I look forward to seeing you in Costa Rica. Got a good group coming to the “Pain Management in Paradise” workshop…should be fun…ERIK
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By Erik Dalton on Apr 2, 2008
Hello Erik,
My husband would love to go to your seminar that will be held in Dallas next June. He was at the one in Long Beach last September (We are from Quebec, Canada). I wanted to know if there was a way to get in touch with participants and maybe share a room and reduce the expenses.
Thanks for your help
Dominique
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By Dominique on Apr 12, 2008
Dominique:
Look forward to seeing your husband in Dallas, Texas at the Advanced Myoskeletal Alignment workshop for Neck, Back and Rotator Cuff Pain.
It is to be held at the world famous Ken Cooper Clinic and Spa and we have arranged a special room rate for all participants.
Please contact my promoter Michael Holloway at www.TakeMyRegistration.com and he will supply you with a list of therapists signed up for this workshop. You can also call Michael at 561.251.0970 if that would be easier for you.
Thanks for your interest in the Myoskeletal Alignment Techniques….ERIK
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By Erik Dalton on Apr 13, 2008
Hello There Erik-
I confess, it’s been a while since my last posting…..It has been one busy spring for me. Thank you for mentioning my articles. The first one I did was titled “Inspiration by Education”- a look at how pursuing dreams makes things come to life. The series I am working on now is half way there. Working with many of the worlds best athletes during altitude training has allowed me to take a close look at the effects of Myoskeletal on the function of breathing. I am still playing with the title but it may be called “Altitude Sports Massage….The high Road to Beijing 2008” This is to be published in July, just in time for the Olympic Games.
The Myoskeletal Engine concepts have one again proven to revolutionize the massage world, in my opinion. Weren’t you the one who introduced the massage community to Janda’s Upper and Lower Crossed Syndrome? Well, you have done it again. I just finished a camp with the Canadian National Triathlon Team (Simon Whitfield), 3rd place finisher at Ironman AZ, Jordan Rapp, currently working with Mo Farah from the UK, and a few of the fastest Kenyans too!! What a joy it is to watch these guys do their workouts! Nathan Deakes took the bronze in Athens in the 20k racewalk, he is training in Flagstaff now and he knows the power of the Myoskeletal engine! This work you are presenting has again given me a fresh eye, and it comes through in the work these folks are receiving and the benefit they are feeling. For most of these athletes, it is in part about keeping these springing systems fresh. Some do need some fine-tuning and the results they report are really quite amazing. Fastest times at altitude, better recovery, easy breath…..very interesting.
I can’t wait for a bit of respite there in beautiful Costa Rica this coming week, I think I still have some space in my brain for you and Mattes to cram in some more concepts. If not I will make room……Thanks again Erik for all your efforts, and giving unselfishly to the massage therapy community, you make a big difference!
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By Geoffrey on Apr 22, 2008
Oh, and wanted to let you know I am taking Myoskeletal to the Olympic Trials for Track and Field, Eugene ‘08. This event is held June 26-July 6 in Eugene, Oregon. Look into http://www.eugene08.com/ to get involved, again spots are going quick, quite a long process to get involved! I am going to have some fun this summer!
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By Geoffrey on Apr 22, 2008