Experience In practice since 1990. Two years on staff at a hospital Wellness and Rehabilitation Center.
Organizations belong to Association for Hanna Somatic Educators, Association of Bodywork and Massage Professionals, Association for Humanistic Psychology
Publications Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, American Journal of Pain Management, Somatics: Magazine-Journal of the Mind-Body Arts and Sciences. More complete listing at somatics.com/gold.htm
Education/Credentials Certifications: Hanna Somatic Education, the Dr. Ida P. Rolf method of Structural Integration (partial list)
Question I am a seventeen year old college student. I think I injured myself in dance last year. Last fall I had horrible neck and shoulder pain that extended into my hands so it was too painful too write. I quit dance and the pain eventually subsided. I tried dance in spring, the pain came back and I went to a physical therapist. The pain did eventually subside. However, now I have started college and the pain is back. I can't stop bending my head down from reading because reading is what I do. The pain is only getting worse. What can I do?
Answer Hi, Laura,
I don't think dance caused your injury; it would have had to be something forceful and sudden like a fall, blow -- or maybe a hard yank (dance?).
In any case, your neck muscles are being held tight by protective reflexes. The way out is to recapture control of those muscles through movement training.
I say more in my articles on whiplash injuries and on completing recovery from an injury, at somatics.com/page4.htm, including how to recover.
