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Teaching palpation

When I was in school, my instructor used some sort of concoction to simulate palpating muscles. When you pushed on the material with a quick, brunt force, it pushed back against you. However, if you let your fingers sink into it gradually, the substance did not resist you. Do any of you know what I am talking about?

Sorry I don't have more information.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Earl Wenk on February 28, 2011 at 1:31pm

We did this using cornstarch & water. We then used our fingers or a tongue depressor to feel the difference in pressure.

Hope this helps!

Earl

Permalink Reply by Melissa DeFrancesco on February 28, 2011 at 1:32pm

Ahh, yes! I bet that was it. Thanks Earl!

Permalink Reply by Alexei Levine on February 28, 2011 at 1:53pm

Sounds like a great idea!

Permalink Reply by Jeff Sims on February 28, 2011 at 5:35pm

Possibly cornstarch. Probably not silly putty.

Permalink Reply by Boris Prilutsky on February 28, 2011 at 8:13pm

Dear Melissa.

I am not a big fan to teach any techniques on the other materials but must be applied on humans. In any case I'm afraid you have misunderstood your instructor. a)we using two different application to simulate muscles as well to palpating muscles.as you described:" quick, brunt force" it is most likely was an example how not to apply techniques on muscles because most likely this physical act will awake muscular protective constriction reflex,which we have to avoid to awake.

I hope my comment was helpful.

Best wishes.

Boris

Permalink Reply by Alexei Levine on February 28, 2011 at 10:03pm

Boris I think you misunderstood, this exercise is to teach exactly what you were describing, that sudden deep pressure will increase resistance.

Boris Prilutsky said:

Dear Melissa.

I am not a big fan to teach any techniques on the other materials but must be applied on humans. In any case I'm afraid you have misunderstood your instructor. a)we using two different application to simulate muscles as well to palpating muscles.as you described:" quick, brunt force" it is most likely was an example how not to apply techniques on muscles because most likely this physical act will awake muscular protective constriction reflex,which we have to avoid to awake.

I hope my comment was helpful.

Best wishes.

Boris

Permalink Reply by Melissa DeFrancesco on March 1, 2011 at 7:12am

Yes, the exercise is supposed to simulate the protective reflex. The students will also palpate on each other, but this allows them to feel this reflex without injuring each other.

Permalink Reply by Boris Prilutsky on March 1, 2011 at 8:05am

Hi Alexei.

very possible that I have misunderstood Mellissa's post and replied this way because of this words:"sort of concoction to simulate palpating muscles."

Best wishes.

Boris

Alexei Levine said:

Boris I think you misunderstood, this exercise is to teach exactly what you were describing, that sudden deep pressure will increase resistance.

Boris Prilutsky said:

Dear Melissa.

I am not a big fan to teach any techniques on the other materials but must be applied on humans. In any case I'm afraid you have misunderstood your instructor. a)we using two different application to simulate muscles as well to palpating muscles.as you described:" quick, brunt force" it is most likely was an example how not to apply techniques on muscles because most likely this physical act will awake muscular protective constriction reflex,which we have to avoid to awake.

I hope my comment was helpful.

Best wishes.

Boris

Permalink Reply by Boris Prilutsky on March 1, 2011 at 8:10am

Dear Melissa.

looks like I did misunderstand your original post.but now it's all clear.

Best wishes.

Boris

Melissa DeFrancesco said:

Yes, the exercise is supposed to simulate the protective reflex. The students will also palpate on each other, but this allows them to feel this reflex without injuring each other.

Permalink Reply by Walt Fritz, PT on March 1, 2011 at 3:53pm

On a similar topic, one thing that I try to get across to the therapists at my seminars is the feel of restricted tissue. One image that works well is to picture pressing into partially thawed chicken. The frozen middle of the piece of chicken is what an area of restriction/scar tissue feels like.

Permalink Reply by Melissa DeFrancesco on March 2, 2011 at 7:03am

Great idea Walt, thanks!

Walt Fritz, PT said:

On a similar topic, one thing that I try to get across to the therapists at my seminars is the feel of restricted tissue. One image that works well is to picture pressing into partially thawed chicken. The frozen middle of the piece of chicken is what an area of restriction/scar tissue feels like.

Permalink Reply by Rhoni Hirst on March 4, 2011 at 5:19pm

Melissa,

We used this exercise once at a convention and it was very messy. The next time, we tried putting it in a large durable freezer bag. Students can then get the benefit of the exercise without the headache of cleaning corn starch off their desks. Just be mindful that you will need to keep adding water if you would like to use it for an extended period of time. Have fun. :)