Listen

Description

Sponsor: RePowerU -- a free fitness practices assessment (a 10-minute questionnaire)

Christine Bell

Christine Bell has more than 20 years of experience and expertise in treating orthopedic and sports injuries. Having worked in Australia, the UK and the USA she has learned many treatment methods and techniques and treated a vast array of sports and orthopedic conditions. She is an expert in many techniques for healing injured athletes, including Dry Needling, which is a super fast method of healing the soft tissues of an athletes body.
Contact Christine here: https://aussie-pt.com/contact/

Mobility & Strength Class Video: https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/ZiE8tLNNrVTgvEJKjuN4aX28t5QQnnpejNOtholCGJ3f9t8f2k81M2yLCdCZy3wD.WJ4JM9iStHsHnhDQ Passcode: 71L&VPo+ 

Note: you need a long foam roller, a mat, hand weights and a small looped band for this workout. 

Notes from Discussion with Christie Bell, P.T.

Christine is in the business of fixing injured athletes

Q: Why are you so good?

The first thing I look at is the cause of the injury.  I don’t just look at the spot that is painful.  I look for the source of the problem.  Further up or down the chain, that is directly influencing the injury.  Look at the overall body.

The key is to have enough time.  I book 1 hour sessions to have enough time to get to the bottom of what is happening.  What is it they are doing that is causing that pain.

Lately there are a lot of problems related to working at home…which is not setup for sitting in a good posture for a long time.

Q:  What is your backstory?

Grew up in Australia.  Primary sport was basketball.  Always spraining ankles.  The physios helped me a lot, and I eventually wanted to do that.  I got my PT education in Australia and later Boston, MA USA.

Q:  What is Dry Needling, and how does it help?

Dry Needling is a fairly new modality.  It is based on trigger points.  A PT is trained to deal with trigger points, but it is hard to get at the trigger that can be deep in the muscle.  So, a needle can get down into the muscle without having to push through the overlaying tissue.  Plus Needling takes a second vs. 30-60 minutes, maybe multiple times rubbing on the trigger point.  It is fast.

Trigger Point — like a lentil (bean) under the muscle or a tight, ropey band in the muscle that is switched on all the time.  Can be from over use 

Referral pain — a spinal / nerve being pinched by a tight muscle in the back that is causing a nerve pinch.  Sciatic nerve pain is a sharp pain.  A referred trigger point is usually a dull muscle pain.

Q:  What is “Dry” needle?  

Same as acupuncture needle.  The needle is very thin since there is not hollow channel inside for delivering liquid like you would use for an injection.  Because it is so thin, you usually cannot feel it.

Q:  Acupuncture vs. Dry Needling?

Acupuncture is based on meridians where as dry needling is doing directly to the muscle to relieve trigger points.  Acupuncture is for systemic issues more than muscle issues.

Q:  What is Dry Needling use for?

Muscle issues and tendon issues.   Neck, back, thumb, tennis / golfer e