Ep 180 – Cauda Equina: “I Have a Client Who . . .” Pathology Conversations with Ruth Werner

White question marks hanging from string against a blue background.

A client was involved in a motor vehicle accident three years ago. Since then, she’s had numbness and weakness in her legs, and she struggles with incontinence, balance, and fatigue. Oh, and she had a baby, and hopes to have another.

What is going on, and what are the safety parameters for massage therapy?

Resources:  

Pocket Pathology: abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app


Image of Cauda Equina


Image of Saddle Anesthesia

Cauda Equina Syndrome - OrthoInfo - AAOS (no date). Available at: www.orthoinfo.org/en/diseases--conditions/cauda-equina-syndrome/ (Accessed: 1 December 2021).

Cauda Equina Syndrome – Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatments (no date). Available at: www.aans.org/en/Patients/Neurosurgical-Conditions-and-Treatments/Cauda-Equina-Syndrome (Accessed: 1 December 2021).

Stuart, A. (no date) Cauda Equina Syndrome: Symptoms, Treatment, Surgery, and More, WebMD. Available at: www.webmd.com/back-pain/guide/cauda-equina-syndrome-overview (Accessed: 30 November 2021).

Yang, S.-D., Chen, Q. and Ding, W.-Y. (2018) ‘Cauda Equina Syndrome Due to Vigorous Back Massage With Spinal Manipulation in a Patient With Pre-Existing Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Case Report and Literature Review’, American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 97(4), pp. e23–e26. https://doi.org/10.1097/PHM.0000000000000809.

Author Images: 
Ruth Werner, author of A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology.
Ruth Werner's logo, blue R and W interlinked.
Author Bio: 

Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist's Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP's partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner’s books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com

Sponsors: 

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About Anatomy Trains:  

Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.  

Website: anatomytrains.com  

Email: info@anatomytrains.com   

Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains  

Instagram: instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial  

YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA  

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