"Pedes Anatomos"
(Foot Anatomist).
The video lessons are broken down into topics and it is suggested you follow them in the order as follows.
1. Practical application of techniques according to Hippocrates Paragraph 17 (Theory)
Duration 17:53
In this very
important paragraph, Hippocrates provides simple guidelines on the application
of all manual techniques, thumb walking definitely included. This paragraph
answers accurately every time the questions “Where should I press?” “How much
pressure should I use?” “For how long should I press?”
This specific video
will be useful to any hands on (manual) therapist.
2. Foot skeleton (Theory)
Duration 29:20
Duration 33:18 Lecturing on the Cranial nerves and Cranio Sacral reflexology
Will need: Air dry clay white color
4.
Theory around the
ligaments and creating the ligaments. Duration 19:12
In this lesson Ligaments have two functions and can be grouped into two anatomical categories. One function is that of static stabilizers of joints and the second function is sensory or proprioceptive. The presence of mechanoreceptors implies a sensory role for some ligaments and that this afferent information could regulate the stiffness of the muscles surrounding the joint and improve its stability. So it is of benefit to begin a treatment with mobilizations especially on feet with stiff muscles, thus reflexes, in order to reinforce the central nervous system to relax them. This is a trick to aid us in our work. Of course the mobilizations may be practiced during the treatment and at the end.
Will need: Air dry clay another color besides white for the ligaments and printable charts with color markers.
5. Orthopedic Reflexology techniques for the ligaments, mobilizing of the bones (practical) Duration 28:45
Notice: this will be the only hands on demostration of techniques. From the Orthopedic Reflexology repertoire! "A selection of foot ligaments, relative to every Reflexologist!"
In this video I present some manual techniques, low grade mobilizations, thumb walking of course and the Apoxesis techniques (scraping) for these ligaments and their surrounding surfaces.
Third muscle layer – next 3 videos
6. Flexor Hallucis Brevis
Duration 12:11
Lecturing on the significance of this muscle in sports but the elderly also. Special technique to sedate the sympathetic nervous system and tips for when to use this technique.
7. Adductor Hallucis Duration 13:56 "Lucky number 7"
A very special muscle to use for rehabilitation of the hands fine movement, opposition of the thumb specifically. This muscle has a reflexology connection to the trapezius, is very important and helpful for bunion's, morton's neuroma, tingling of the toes.
8. Digitti minimi Duration
6:20
This muscle is the reflex area for the muscles of the arm. I also discuss how to work for tendon or ligament issues of the shoulder and arm thinking feet anatomy and a connection with the urinary bladder taught by Anthony Porter.
9. Second muscle layer and tendons Duration
46:25
This lesson is special for it's association with issues of the all organs. We begin by talking about the tendons in the plantar surface of the foot, with a major focus on the "Master knot of Henry". We highlight Ingham's helper area on the medial lower leg, it's facial connection to the "Deep front line" according to Myers and explain how this area helps in any visceral inflammation the medial knee and much more. I show you the referral area for carpal tunnel issues and some muscles for low back pain. Many techniques are described for these structures. Advice for clawtoes, hammertoes and mallet toes. Connections to respitory muscles.
10. The arteries veins and nerves of the feet Duration 34:52
We draw in the major arteries and nerves in the feet and make Reflexology correlations to major arteries of the body. Two special nerves on the plantar surface of the foot for any kind of inflammation accrding to osteopathic medicine by Barral. Clear explanation on how to work these two nerves. We learn about the bands of retinacula and how they can disrupt blood supply and the baroreceptor reflex. A lot of information from research is mentioned regarding reflexology and heart/blood pressure research.
11. Plantar interossei Duration 12:40
These muscles are reflexes to important respitory muscles. They play a major role in the configuration of the toes and can be used in toe reading. I explain how. Ever wonder where the midline of the hand and foot are?
12. Abductor hallucis Duration 12:58
We begin with an overview of the tarsal tunnel. We create with playdoh this muscle and in a similar way you can create any other muscle. We will draw this muscle on our feet, something you can do and should for any other muscle or tendon, ligament and so on, for training purposes.
13. Plantar fascia - the aponeurosis Duration 04:30
Why should I work on the plantar fascia, and what's it's connection to the superficial back line and the urinary bladder? Thorough explanation of some usefull techniques.
What else besides the videos is included?
• The Pedes Anatomia textbook (pdf) where all relevant anatomical information is described and accompanied with anatomy maps.
• The students will receive in pdf format the Pedes Anatomia foot skeleton charts (4) and a graph measurement for them to print out. The charts are to be printed on paper for drawing or practicing.
- Facetime meeting with Spiros and Certificate of Achievement "Pedes anatomos"
General information on Pedes Anatomia
Pedes
Anatomia is a training module of Orthopedic Reflexology, unique in that the
student engages in a 100% hands on learning process through artistic creation
of the anatomical parts of the feet. Meaning the intrinsic muscles, ligaments, tendons,
arteries, bones and nerves. The art
mediums used may be any of the following:
·
Air
drying clay
·
Homemade
play dough
·
Commercially
sold play-dough
·
Drawing
pencils, markers or pens or paints/brushes
Learning
anatomy for most is a challenge on its own requiring amounts of energy for memorization;
the challenge is greater for parts like the feet and hands that contain many
other smaller parts. Yet in many of these cases this is still knowledge based
on memory and often fades away over time. There exist three different learning styles,
them being visual, auditory and kinesthetic or tactile learning. Though the statistics vary when we speak
about training in general, when it comes to anatomy auditory is at its lowest,
visual average and kinesthetic at its prime, something obvious when you think
of dissection labs or massage/reflexology/bodywork training.
But even
then, the anatomy of the feet is neglected, possibly due to the many small
detailed structures and the four layers of intrinsic muscles. This is evident
when one goes through anatomy atlases or sports kinesiology books; in most of
them put simply the intrinsic muscles of the feet are absent. This absence is
also present in massage, reflexology or other bodywork trainings. And further
on this continues in every day practice, think of how many foot problems are
diagnosed as “plantar
fasciitis”, the answer is most of them.
Pedes Anatomia, is an online training module that combines
all three learning styles but engages the student at the comfort of their home
and at their free time to emphasize on the kinesthetic and tactile style. This
is accomplished by the student turning into an artist forming shaping and
eventually creating the anatomical parts he has just watched on the training
video and following the directions he has heard.
Incorporating
mediums like clay, play dough and drawing the student can now learn by engaging
and creating in an artistic, playful and carefree environment something as
challenging as feet anatomy. For the brain this procedure will be new and fun,
an exploration! There will be creational repetition in order to obtain the
desired or satisfactory artistic result on any given anatomical part. And once
the student is satisfied with his/her creation the knowledge will have been
absorbed and never forgotten, stored in our long term memory because the
student created it with their own hands.
This
creation will happen through fine movements from our hands intrinsic muscles
which in turn will engage the higher brain centers involved in such movements,
through art we will be able to express and search our emotions thus engaging
our mid brain. Through creative repetition every part will be created better
and better engaging autonomic and automated centers like the brain stem and
cerebellum. This knowledge eventually will be stored in our hands and in our
nervous system for life, creating confidence for life on such a challenging
topic.
The average Reflexologist most of the time applies techniques
to the feet through projection of an anatomical map of the body on them in a
smaller scale of course. We all began
with one map, a basic one and from there on started to learn other maps or
systems to project on the feet. A wonderful complement to this traditional training
would be to train in Pedes Anatomia because:
·
During
the creation of the parts in the training videos I talk extensively about the
reflexology correlations to that given part exactly as I do in my three day
Orthopedic Reflexology training, something very much appreciated by all
participants. So it’s always Reflexology. Also discussed are Chinese meridian
associations and above all Hippocratic meridian.
·
Eunice
Ingham’s theory of Reflexology effectiveness is based on the breaking down of
accumulated uric acid restoring blood flow. From her time a few other theories
have surfaced explaining how Reflexology works, for example irritated nerve
endings, calcifications of connective tissue, energy etc. Hippocrates
introduced science to the art of medicine and we will approach all of these
different theories “of action” of Reflexology through the anatomy. Hippocrates
contributes to these theories because he gave us specific detailed guidance on
the effect manual techniques have on tissues and joints depending on the two variants
amount of pressure and time of application. You will learn these guidelines and
be in a position to apply them on the tissues of the feet where your reflex
charts are projected.
·
You
will teach yourself to think and project our reflexology maps on the feet in
three dimensions as opposed to one or two dimensions as our charts are usually
made.
Because organs and muscles overlap on the body, the same happens on the
feet when we project the body on them, after all there are five layers of
tissue in the feet! So once the training begins you will start applying techniques
varying in depth on any aspect of the foot to reach the reflex of interest.
·
You
will teach yourself which of your wonderful techniques to apply depending on
the structures you are touching on any given part of the foot, a joint cannot
have the same requirements as a muscle or a tendon can it? Once you know what
you are touching you will know which techniques are best suited.
·
Though
experimenting in my trainings on and off with mediums such as clay and drawing,
this course came to life during the Covid-19 lockdown. I did not have my
training materials with me at home and due to isolation I could not get them so
I had to improvise. Through improvising I discovered I was making art in a way,
and through art in this difficult period for all, my feelings surfaced I could
express myself; I found a way to heal and support myself.
Pedes Anatomy
are Greek words and would translate as follows:
Pedes mean
feet, or to stand on ones feet, and lastly but importantly to bind and brace,
something you will be doing with your hands, you will be binding creating the
structures of the feet.
Anatomia is made up of the words ana- meaning “up” but is also used to
show a complete movement from beginning to end, for example inhale-exhale would
be respiration, in Greek ana –pnoe.
-tomia means
to “cut or incise”
So Pedes Anatomia literally
means to cut up or to take apart the feet but also to put the parts
together again. So Pedes Anatomia describes the
art and science of studying the different parts of the feet through the
process of dividing and uniting them.
Upon successful completion the
participants will be described as
Pedes Anatomos – Feet Anatomist an expert in anatomy of the feet.
