Increased Range of Motion
Criteria include improvement in range and freedom of motion
(specified as how much is appropriate for treatment outcome), pain
free movement throughout a range (passive as well as active).
Improved length and/or quality of sleep
Improved quality of life
Resumption of activities (occupational, recreational, or ADLs)
previously prohibited by pain, fatigue, weakeness or other
impairment related to the presenting complaint
Improved posture
Improved/normalized posture to improve ease of movement
and reduce chronic muscular tension in resistance to gravity.
Improved pyschological well-being
Reduction in anxiety, depression, and ADD
Normalization of muscle tone
Normalization of muscular hypertonicity/hypotonicity
Reduced neurological symptoms
Decrease or cessation of presenting neurological symptoms such as
pain, paresthesia, numbness, or muscle weakness.
Reduced Pain Perception
Measurements include reduced need for pain medication and ability
to perform ADL that had previously been too painful. Decrease or
cessation of pain (possibly using a visual analog scale to measure)
in activities of daily living. Reduced severity of pain.
Acute soft tissue injuries
Acute injuries are accompanied by pain and swelling. Compensatory
hypertonicity, reduced range of motion, and changes in movement
and posture patterns may be observed.
Fibromyalgia Syndrome
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Low back pain
Lumbar back strain and pain
Chronic dysfunctions in postural/movement patterns
Either through injuries or through non-optimum initial learning,
dysfunctional posture and movement patterns are incorporated. These
patterns habituate. They result in increased effort of movement,
muscular patterns of hypertonicity/hypotonicity (e.g. upper and
lower crossed syndromes), and increased wear and tear.
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome
Assessment of posture and movement patterns
Assessment of tissue tension/texture
Compare with Philip Greenman's 'ART' — Asymmetry, Range of
motion, Tissure texture (Principles of Manual Medicine). Assessment
is repeated periodically to measure progress.
Clinical massage treatment techniques
Tissue specific treatment techniques. This entry will be refined
further.