by Carol Montgomery | Aug 21, 2023 | Somatics
Regarding movement and exercise, various approaches and techniques are available, each with its unique benefits. Two terms often used in the health and wellness industry are “exercise” and “somatic movement.” While they both involve physical...
by Carol Montgomery | Jul 6, 2023 | Feldenkrais® Method
The ‘bench press’ movement is such a fundamental action that has its roots in many everyday activities of daily living: Pushing a heavy door Mowing the lawn Pushing yourself up from the floor Lowering yourself down to the floor slowly Rehabilitation...
by Carol Montgomery | May 2, 2023 | Psoas Muscle
Have you ever felt unexplainably anxious or depressed for no reason? Or have you ever had physical pain that worsens when you are angry, upset, or scared? It could be a sign that you need to release muscle tension. In this article, we’ll explore the psoas...
by Carol Montgomery | Mar 30, 2023 | Physical Therapy
According to estimates, ankle sprains are common in the United States, affecting approximately 2,000,000 people annually. Most of these injuries (85%) are caused by rolling or inversion of the ankle, which typically results in stretching or tearing of the ligaments on...
by Carol Montgomery | Jan 31, 2023 | Physical Therapy, Psoas Muscle
In Part 1, we examined how muscles tighten and why a Psoas muscle, located deep beneath your abdominal fat and organs, might be tight. The Psoas (pronounced so-az) muscles are a part of our deep core muscle groups that markedly influence our spinal alignment, leg...
by Carol Montgomery | Jan 12, 2023 | Physical Therapy, Psoas Muscle
Located in our lower belly, beneath our fat, and under our large and small intestines, lies two muscles that look like suspension bridge cables piercing through our diaphragm (breathing muscle), connecting our lower spine to our femur (thigh bone). The psoas...
by Carol Montgomery | Nov 16, 2022 | Feldenkrais® Method
How does the Feldenkrais Method work for neck pain? If you suffer from neck pain, you might feel your head is a heavy weight sitting on top of your body or that you can’t quite sit or stand upright without the torso or trunk leaning forward. However, the neck...
by Carol Montgomery | Nov 13, 2022 | Feldenkrais® Method
What is Feldenkrais® method for back pain? In the U.S. alone, up to 16 million adults experience chronic back pain — it’s one of the most expensive conditions in healthcare costs alone. Factor in the time you may need to take off of work and the priceless expense of...
by Carol Montgomery | Sep 13, 2022 | Feldenkrais® Method
There are many ways to help alleviate your foot pain, but what if you want to do it without medication — without conventional pain relief? Using the Feldenkrais Method to relieve foot pain offers the perfect solution for those who want to heal their pain naturally....
by Carol Montgomery | Aug 10, 2022 | Holistic Wellness, Somatics
We all know that physical injuries can cause painful symptoms. However, did you ever think that emotional traumas could be the reason why people feel so much pain? An inability to ‘regulate’ our emotions and feelings can lead to problems that affect us...
by Carol Montgomery | Jul 18, 2022 | Somatics
What Is Fascia? Fascia—it’s everywhere in the body. It is divided into two layers, superficial, near the skin level, and deep, covering nerves, arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels, bone, internal organs, and muscle. Superficial fascia lies beneath the skin and...
by Carol Montgomery | Jul 13, 2022 | Somatics
Surgery for a rotator cuff tear is a significant operation — it involves sewing the torn tendon and reattaching it onto the bone in the upper arm. Most people suffer from pain and stiffness after the surgery, and recovery is slow. Why? The most common reason is...
by Carol Montgomery | May 4, 2022 | Mind Body Spirit, Physical Therapy, Somatics
While short-term pain is an effective indicator of injury or illness, your brain continuously adjusts your body when pain is present for long periods. Hence, chronic pain (characterized as pain that lasts for three months or longer) can be challenging for your...
by Carol Montgomery | Mar 28, 2022 | Somatics
Do you suffer from foot pain that spans your heel to the front of your foot? Midfoot arthritis may be the culprit behind your pain. If you are an active person, midfoot pain and swelling can be particularly debilitating. As the foundation of your body, your feet need...
by Carol Montgomery | Feb 24, 2022 | Osteoarthritis
Many individuals view ankle unsteadiness as simply another aspect of aging or a symptom of arthritis. While instability and arthritis are related and often coexist, they are not one and the same. If you question why your ankle gives out with pain, this post examines...
by Carol Montgomery | Feb 10, 2022 | Physical Therapy
Your feet and ankles are the foundation of your body, allowing you to engage in fulfilling hobbies, stay active, and enjoy life. However, when the integrity of these complex structures degrades, your ability to walk, maintain your balance, and participate in...
by Carol Montgomery | Dec 20, 2021 | Holistic Wellness
The toll of overwork and burnout is an essential conversation for your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Your state of mind is intricately linked to how your body experiences pain and strain and how your thoughts impact your emotions, potentially...
by Carol Montgomery | Nov 15, 2021 | Physical Therapy
Your feet take on the brunt of moving you around from day to day, taking on the wear and tear that comes with standing, walking, running, and exercising. But when they start to cause you pain, they can often limit you in your daily activities. One of the most common...
by Carol Montgomery | Oct 18, 2021 | Physical Therapy
Fibromyalgia and sciatica pain often occur together. While one condition doesn’t necessarily cause the other, they require different treatment plans and options that may at first seem to conflict with one another. Those with Fibromyalgia may find it beneficial to...
by Carol Montgomery | Sep 23, 2021 | Physical Therapy
Do you suffer from chronic pain due to a condition such as fibromyalgia? In such situations, the inflammation affects the connective tissue that protects your entire body. This tissue is known as the fascia. Fascial Counterstrain can heal the inflammation you are...
by Carol Montgomery | Aug 30, 2021 | Bones For Life
Bones for Life is a movement-based program that addresses the health of the skeletal system. These four concepts are essential to the program, and anyone can benefit from them. Picture this. You are going about your day, completing task after task. Perhaps you are...
by Carol Montgomery | Jul 28, 2021 | Integral Human Gait
Integral Human Gait theory employs multiple fields of study to understand gait and its impact on our daily lives, including our physical, emotional, and spiritual development. This article explains what it is and how it can help you find complete balance. Your...
by Carol Montgomery | Jun 29, 2021 | Holistic Wellness
Do you have foot and ankle pain when walking? I recently spoke at the 2021 Feldenkrais Awareness Summit about how treatment should not only relieve pain but also lead to foot health. If you have foot and ankle pain when walking, whether from an injury, trauma, or age,...
by Carol Montgomery | May 24, 2021 | Physical Therapy
Many can benefit from the Total Motion Release technique. In this article, I discuss how this therapy works to increase balance and strength and who might want to try it. Read on to learn more. Imbalances often create weak and strong sides of the body. For instance,...
by Carol Montgomery | Apr 15, 2021 | General
April is Stress Awareness Month. In this article, I offer some advice to help you learn how to identify stress in your life. Stress is a natural part of life, but processing, dealing with, and healing from stress in a healthy way takes a little bit of practice. If you...
by Carol Montgomery | Mar 22, 2021 | Somatics
Approximately 50 million people in the U.S. experience chronic pain, which sometimes presents as muscle pain. Carol Montgomery discusses what chronic muscle pain is and how Somatics can help those who are affected. As a physical therapist and Somatics educator,...
by Carol Montgomery | Feb 18, 2021 | General, Somatics
Your movement patterns could be holding you back. This article offers four reasons that indicate you might want to re-evaluate your habits. No matter your age or physical abilities, retraining your movement patterns can lead to several benefits for your physical and...
by Carol Montgomery | Jan 15, 2021 | General
If you have started to notice that you are feeling stiff and sore, or that it takes more effort to get out of that recliner, off that toilet seat, or up those stairs—more so than usual, even—you are not alone. Thanks to the pandemic, we are not moving as much as we...
by Carol Montgomery | Dec 16, 2020 | Holistic Wellness
As if 2020 wasn’t stressful enough, we now have the holidays approaching fast. From holiday gifts and food shopping (more staring into a computer screen) to deciding whether or not we will be able to gather as family and friends (because of the pandemic), the...
by Carol Montgomery | Nov 20, 2020 | General, Physical Therapy
You have both involuntary and voluntary nervous systems. You do not control your autonomous nervous system, which works of its accord. This system includes all the inner working parts of your body that help regulate your digestion, heart rate, and breathing rate,...
