COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES
Patrick De Bock
Complementary to physiotherapy
o Deliberately making the difference between technique and therapy
o In order to make it easy we’ll use the abbreviation “T&T”
o Hence covering:
Combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each
other
Next to or separate from physiotherapy, meaning more or less standing on
its own
As such T&T =
o Technique: as a not absolutely necessary part of a physiotherapy treatment plan ≈
alongside other PT techniques
o Therapy: standing on its own and as such applicable as a monotherapy
T&T complementary to physiotherapy
o Teaching usually not at a university college level
o Privately organised courses
Subjects very often considered:
o “alternative medicine”
o In the grey zone between medicine and physiotherapy ✓ some even not coming near
medicine or physiotherapy ✓ debatable whether legitimate
Nevertheless, some courses/subjects beyond any doubt
Scientifically well researched and evidence based
Well trained and experienced teaching staff
Deliberately not following definitions such as in:
https://www.medicinenet.com/alternative_medicine/article.htm#tocb
Alternative medicine:
o Too many definitions
o Very often negative connotation which can be unjustified
o Avoid the term in order not to use it incorrectly or evoke unwanted and time
consuming discussions
Watch out for the magic word “holistic”
o Ethically very nice but often far from reality
o Which does not mean that only treating the symptom is unethical!
Some ignore their scientific education/degree
Caution is necessary but do not condemn
It is not all nonsense, crap and rubbish
Learn to approach with an open mind
Nevertheless be critical!!!
ACUPUNCTURE
, T&T in which thin needles are inserted into the body
Key component of traditional Chinese medicine
o Follows concepts such as qi, meridians and acupuncture points
o Often used to attempt pain relief but huge amount of indications ▪ Holistic
o Considered alternative medicine even quackery
Application
o 12 (left/right) meridians + 2 vessels (ventral and dorsal)
o ± 361 acupuncture points
o Needles inserted subcutaneously + turned left/right
o Energy added and/or extracted to rebalance meridian system
o Treatment plans often look:
Low back pain: GV26, SI3, Yaotongxue, BL40, BL37, GV8 ✓
https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/
OSTEOPATHY
T&T that emphasizes physical manipulation
o Myofascial, muscle, organs, bones
o Divided in three sections:
Cranio-sacral
Visceral
Parietal
Peculiar clinical reasoning
Holistic
Considered alternative medicine
Application
o Mostly as a therapy but some use it as a technique
o Often misused as only joint manipulation technique
o Real (good) osteopaths often work with a PT for
Exercise therapy
Pelvic floor rehab…
APPLIED KINESIOLOGY
Claims to diagnose or choose treatment by testing muscles
Mainly for diagnosis, still few treatment options → techniques
o Muscle test shows weak or strong muscle
o Very much in line with osteopathy, extremely helpful in manual therapy
o Can be used with classic diagnostic techniques to confirm or contradict
o Experience absolutely necessary!!
o Considered alternative medicine
Application
o Test individual strong/weak muscle difference
o Start usual clinical examination and insert AK muscle tests to confirm
o Huge advantage if familiar with osteo approach to clinical reasoning
o Make up treatment plan and apply techniques
o Retest using AK muscle tests
, o Test should be strong!
DRY NEEDLING
T&T used to treat active trigger points
Similar to acupuncture
Also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling
Mainly used:
o As a technique alongside other PT techniques
o Rarely as a therapy
Supposed to inactivate MTPs by provoking a local twitch response
Considered alternative medicine
Application
o Anamnesis + Clinical (including palpatory) examination
o Insert needle in active myofascial trigger point
o Re-insert several times
o Don’t touch needle
o Turn needle to the right
o Sometimes high resistance on needle when pulling
o After several muscle twitches pull out needle without resistance
Effects and side effects!!
o Increased stretchability and pain relief
o Stiff muscles (4 to 72 hours)
,
Patrick De Bock
Complementary to physiotherapy
o Deliberately making the difference between technique and therapy
o In order to make it easy we’ll use the abbreviation “T&T”
o Hence covering:
Combining in such a way as to enhance or emphasize the qualities of each
other
Next to or separate from physiotherapy, meaning more or less standing on
its own
As such T&T =
o Technique: as a not absolutely necessary part of a physiotherapy treatment plan ≈
alongside other PT techniques
o Therapy: standing on its own and as such applicable as a monotherapy
T&T complementary to physiotherapy
o Teaching usually not at a university college level
o Privately organised courses
Subjects very often considered:
o “alternative medicine”
o In the grey zone between medicine and physiotherapy ✓ some even not coming near
medicine or physiotherapy ✓ debatable whether legitimate
Nevertheless, some courses/subjects beyond any doubt
Scientifically well researched and evidence based
Well trained and experienced teaching staff
Deliberately not following definitions such as in:
https://www.medicinenet.com/alternative_medicine/article.htm#tocb
Alternative medicine:
o Too many definitions
o Very often negative connotation which can be unjustified
o Avoid the term in order not to use it incorrectly or evoke unwanted and time
consuming discussions
Watch out for the magic word “holistic”
o Ethically very nice but often far from reality
o Which does not mean that only treating the symptom is unethical!
Some ignore their scientific education/degree
Caution is necessary but do not condemn
It is not all nonsense, crap and rubbish
Learn to approach with an open mind
Nevertheless be critical!!!
ACUPUNCTURE
, T&T in which thin needles are inserted into the body
Key component of traditional Chinese medicine
o Follows concepts such as qi, meridians and acupuncture points
o Often used to attempt pain relief but huge amount of indications ▪ Holistic
o Considered alternative medicine even quackery
Application
o 12 (left/right) meridians + 2 vessels (ventral and dorsal)
o ± 361 acupuncture points
o Needles inserted subcutaneously + turned left/right
o Energy added and/or extracted to rebalance meridian system
o Treatment plans often look:
Low back pain: GV26, SI3, Yaotongxue, BL40, BL37, GV8 ✓
https://theory.yinyanghouse.com/
OSTEOPATHY
T&T that emphasizes physical manipulation
o Myofascial, muscle, organs, bones
o Divided in three sections:
Cranio-sacral
Visceral
Parietal
Peculiar clinical reasoning
Holistic
Considered alternative medicine
Application
o Mostly as a therapy but some use it as a technique
o Often misused as only joint manipulation technique
o Real (good) osteopaths often work with a PT for
Exercise therapy
Pelvic floor rehab…
APPLIED KINESIOLOGY
Claims to diagnose or choose treatment by testing muscles
Mainly for diagnosis, still few treatment options → techniques
o Muscle test shows weak or strong muscle
o Very much in line with osteopathy, extremely helpful in manual therapy
o Can be used with classic diagnostic techniques to confirm or contradict
o Experience absolutely necessary!!
o Considered alternative medicine
Application
o Test individual strong/weak muscle difference
o Start usual clinical examination and insert AK muscle tests to confirm
o Huge advantage if familiar with osteo approach to clinical reasoning
o Make up treatment plan and apply techniques
o Retest using AK muscle tests
, o Test should be strong!
DRY NEEDLING
T&T used to treat active trigger points
Similar to acupuncture
Also known as myofascial trigger point dry needling
Mainly used:
o As a technique alongside other PT techniques
o Rarely as a therapy
Supposed to inactivate MTPs by provoking a local twitch response
Considered alternative medicine
Application
o Anamnesis + Clinical (including palpatory) examination
o Insert needle in active myofascial trigger point
o Re-insert several times
o Don’t touch needle
o Turn needle to the right
o Sometimes high resistance on needle when pulling
o After several muscle twitches pull out needle without resistance
Effects and side effects!!
o Increased stretchability and pain relief
o Stiff muscles (4 to 72 hours)
,
