Off and on for months now I had been dealing with my right hip feeling extremely tight and uncomfortable. Occasionally it would become so bad that it would stick and feel like my hip had popped out of place and it would take a few minutes to regain full movement again.
I began to notice what felt like a large knot in my hip / Gluteus Maximus (rear end). I tried foam rolling, massage, stretching, hot showers and baths, and though I would find some relief the knot remained.
Chiropractic techniques can help to release muscle and ligament tightness as well as realign the spine and other bones.
Having gone in for an office visit this morning I informed Dr. Kaster of the pain I was experiencing. Upon my description, he knew immediately what was wrong. It was a misalignment of the sacrum (the bone between the hip bones at the lower end of the spine itself). The result for me has been a tension and knotting of the sacrotuberous ligament on my right side – which is what I was feeling as a lumpy area of tension.
He then implemented what is known as The Logan Technique. Named after Dr. Logan who was a master of pelvic biomechanics who pioneered his own way of thinking which lead to a full spine tonal technique that can be performed on anyone regardless of health or age.
From the patient perspective, this felt very similar to deep trigger point therapy. The adjustment is done with the pad of the thumb applying direct pressure to that knot in the ligament. It is an intense sensation.
From the physician standpoint, there is a lot more to it. There are three steps to the Logan Technique.
Step One – Analysis
In my case the lesion to be worked on to attempt to get it to release adherence was obvious and I could even point directly to the spot. If that is not the case, the doctor will check both sides in order to find the exact issue.
Step Two – Correction
The patient will lie on their stomach flat on the adjustment table while the doctor is seated at the side of the table.
The thumb pad is to contact directly under the sacrotuberous ligament.
When contact is made, the doctor is looking for three things:
1. Pulsation on the thumb pad
2. Relaxation of the lumbar musculature
3. Shallow breathing
Scanning hand (auxiliary contacts): index, middle and ring fingers of the superior hand, contact the L5, L4, and L3 spinous processes. Once a relaxation of the area is palpated, the doctor will relocate these fingers to the next three cephalad spinous processes.
This process repeats until the scanning hand reaches the atlas. At this point, the scanning hand’s index finger and thumb pad will contact the posterior aspect of the transverse processes of the atlas.
The line of correction (LOC) for the contact hand: M-L, S-I. Six to eight ounces of pressure. Be sure to implement “ceiling” into your line of correction.
“ceiling” represents directing your contact upwards toward the ceiling, to ensure that you are underneath the sacrotuberous ligament.
Step Three – Completing the Adjustment
While on the atlas contact with the scanning hand, a pulse will eventually be palpated.
Therefore, the doctor will palpate a pulsation at both the atlas and the sacrotuberous contacts simultaneously.
This pulsation is defined as the cranial-rhythmic impulse, which is cerebral spinal fluid pulsating from the sacrum to the occiput.
Once pulsations on both contacts are palpated, the doctor will change his scanning hand’s bilateral contact on the atlas, to a unilateral atlas contact on the ipsilateral side of the sacrotuberous contact.
The doctor will then remove the remaining contact from the atlas, and will “set” the sacrotuberous contact by increasing the pressure to 10 to12 ounces and releasing the contact during an exhalation from the patient.
The adjustment is now completed. [1]
The Logan Technique is very gentle yet extremely effective in helping to correct misalignments which in turn provides relief of pain, muscle spasms, impingement and nerve irritation.
I realize most of that is more technical and in-depth than most of us care to delve into. What is important to me is that following the adjustment this morning Dr. Kaster sent me home to apply ice therapy to the area worked on. Though tender to the touch, it feels like that knot is finally loosening up and hopefully will be disappearing all together soon.
I am forever thankful for Dr. Kaster and his staff, they save me on a pretty consistent basis.
Sincerely,
Sarah B.
References: [1] https://www.canadianchiropractor.ca/techniques/technique-toolbox-september-2009-1573 Thank you to www.candadianchiropractor.ca for their in-depth description of the Logan Technique.