Reflexology Directed Studies Q's Flashcards
Describe the events of the dinner party where Dr. William Fitzgerald was a guest and why it is significant to reflexology.
Dr. William Fitzgerald was known in the world of medicine at the time as he practiced as a physician at the Boston City Hospital and laryngologist at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut. While being the head of the Nose and Throat Department in 1902 he came across zone therapy. While at the dinner party, in 1934 when he became known as “the discoverer of zone therapy”, he reactivated a well-known singer’s upper vocal registers after concluding the reason for her flat tones were due to a callus in her great toe. This is significant to reflexology as the book on zone therapy he wrote prior to this party situation never really made a great impact in the medical world, that is until Dr. Joe Shelby Riley took a slight interest. The most significant part of that is Eunice Ingham worked in his office as a therapist and further explored this modality building it up to be reflexology as we know it today.
Before Eunice Ingham found it more helpful to use the thumb and fingers, with what other early methods did she experiment?
It states in the book Dr. Fitzgerald recommended using rubber bands, combs, and other tools to probe the feet, but Eunice did not follow this advice. She did try taping cotton wads over tender areas and having the person walk in them but found this was overstimulating and wasn’t a positive reaction.
Define homeostasis and discuss how the term applies to reflexology.
Homeostasis can be translated from the Greek language as “a state of equilibrium” or “balance”. This is all parts of the body working in conjunction and harmony with each other to remain in a state of balance or as close to it as possible. In reflexology, the stimulation of nerves associated with various areas of the body help to bring those particular parts of the body/organs back into balance. Reflexology helps bring the whole body back into balance.
How is a short circuit caused in the body?
A short circuit is usually caused by stress/tension putting strain/pressure on nerve structures in the body.
What happens if an area is worked too much?
It’s possible to experience cleansing symptoms such as a cold/sinus drainage or diarrhea. Reflexology doesn’t hurt or cause harm, it always brings back balance.
What can an abnormality in any part of the zone affect?
Abnormalities in any part of the zone can affect anything within that zone. Zone of the body to zones of the foot and vice versa.
What do the Body Relation Guidelines or Major Landmarks represent?
The body relation guidelines represent areas of the body where important nerves, organs, glands, etc are located. The diaphragm, waistline, pelvic, and the longitudinal tendon guidelines help find where everything in the body is located on the foot. Helpful since we are not all the same body types.
Why are certain areas known as referral areas?
These are areas we are able to refer to as an alternate area. For example, knee to elbow, foot to hand, etc. This can be helpful if needing to work on the left foot but unable to do so due to injury or lack of a physical left foot - We can work on the left hand in the anatomically corresponding spots instead.
What are helper areas?
Helper areas are additional spots we can work to help further relieve congestion/tension and reinforce the work done elsewhere for a specific area of imbalance. They are directly or indirectly affecting the problem area.
In your own words, discuss the Basic Thumb Technique, Leverage, and Criss-Cross Motion.
Basic Thumb Technique: Using the thumb to apply focused pressure to the foot by bending at the first joint below the nail bed at about a 45 degree angle, pushing the flesh of the thumb upwards towards the nail.
Leverage: By using the opposite fingers of the working fingers or fingers on the hand of the working thumb, we can gain more leverage for reducing the stress and wear on our hands/fingers/thumb while working. This helps us achieve a deeper pressure with less energy, inherently giving us more endurance for the practice.
Cross-Cross Motion: By using one hand and then the other, working medial to lateral, and lateral to medial -sometimes horizontal, sometimes diagonal- we are covering more area, making sure the area has been thoroughly stimulated.
List at least five important functions of the bones or skeletal system.
In the bone marrow, red, white, and platelet cells are produced everyday
Contain millions of osteoblasts which produce collagen (the matrix for new bone)
Holds 99% of the body’s calcium and releases it as needed to support vital functions of the body.
Allows the muscles to be moved via tendon and ligament attachments.
Holds 88% of the body’s phosphorus supply, as well as cobalt and copper.
List seven functions of the brain.
It regulates and controls bodily activities for internal and external changes.
It makes you aware of time and space as the center of consciousness.
It receives impulses of sense from our nose, ears, eyes, mouth, etc, and converts them into the corresponding sensations of each.
It controls our involuntary acts such as breathing, digestion, heart rate, etc.
It is the seat of our emotions.
It is the center of our “higher minded” thinking.. thought, reason, memory, etc
It reaches the entirety of the body for all commands/regulations by sitting at the top of the spine, nerves running down the spinal cord and out, sending and receiving signals.
What is the unique shock absorber used by the spinal cord?
Cerebrospinal fluid protects the spine as well as the intervertebral discs and curves of the spine.
Why is the spine designed to be curved?
The spinal curved design absorbs the daily shock of walking, running, jogging, lifting, etc.
What is a common saying among osteopathic physicians?
“Structure Governs Function”, due to the importance of uninterrupted nerve supply to the several nerves coming out of the spinal cord and blood flow to the organs they connect to for proper functioning.
What are the two kinds of muscle functions?
Involuntary, being peristalsis of the digestive tract, bile secretion, pupil dilation/contraction, opening bronchioles in lungs, etc.
Voluntary, being postural positions, moving extremities, swallowing, conscious breathing, etc
List eight reasons why fatigue can result in the body?
Excessive activity/overuse of muscles.
Not enough activity, stagnation, sedentary lifestyles.
Malnutrition, improper diets lacking minerals, vitamins, and protein varieties.
Poor circulation, muscles lacking oxygen/nutrients, and also waste not properly being eliminated through blood.
Weak respiration, offsetting the oxygen/carbon dioxide balance of the body.
Present infections, as the body is utilizing energies elsewhere to fight of the infection.
Endocrine disturbances, unbalanced hormones.
Poor posture, straining the muscles including even eye strain.
What is one of the most difficult reflexes to work on the feet pertaining to the skeletal system?
The sacral/coccyx reflex at the heel of the foot. It is likely this is where many peoples injuries have manifested, can be quite sensitive, and is also a tougher part of the foot which may be more difficult to work into with thumbs/fingers.
The spine is the center of the body’s what?
The spine is the center of the body’s equilibrium holding us upright with muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerves.
What is important to keep in mind when working the sacrum-coccyx reflex, because the skin is often tough and calloused?
It’s important to remember to use leverage here, to help get into the reflex due to the tough/callused skin.
Which of the vertebrae support more body weight than any other vertebrae?
The 4th and 5th lumbar vertebrae support more weight of the body than any other vertebrae.
What is the best position for the foot when working the spinal reflex?
It is best to “tip the foot out” or in other words, not flexed but push the metatarsal pad towards the client to avoid the longitudinal tendon.
When working with the basic thumb walk technique, it is important to do what, otherwise the strength in the thumb diminishes?
It’s important to move the leverage fingers with the thumb to prevent the strength being decreased.
What is the helper area for bursitis?
The adrenal glands.
What is the best area to work for whiplash?
It is best to work between the great toe and second on the dorsal side for working whiplash.
