Deborah Dier uses the Bowen technique of rolling muscles and connective tissue to treat neck, back, shoulder, hip and knee problems
At the moment, I work one day a week as a Bowen therapist. I have my first client at 10am and see six people throughout the day at hourly intervals.
The Bowen technique is a non-invasive, hands-on therapy in which the practitioner gently rolls the muscle and connective tissue on various parts of the body.
It is particularly well known as a treatment for back pain but I've had people come to me with neck problems, frozen shoulder, hip or knee pain.
The holistic approach allows me to treat the whole body so I don't diagnose and I don't get into medical solutions with the clients.
When someone comes to see me first, I ask him/her to fill in a standard form with personal information, details of their complaint, any X-rays or tests they have had and what a doctor has said about their complaint and what other therapies they may have tried.
When someone is coming for treatment by the Bowen technique, we prefer that they are not undergoing other physical treatments at the same time.
So once the form is filled in and we've discussed the problem, I ask the client to lie face down on a plinth with their feet slightly over the edge so as to keep their spine straight.
I then go through a series of rolling movements over the body, assessing the person's state of health through their muscles.
The treatment is carried out over light clothing.
Throughout the treatment, I leave the room a number of times for short periods. When I return I go through another series of movements.
The idea behind the breaks is that it gives the body a chance to take in the movements and begin the healing process.
We, as therapists, have no control over how the body will respond which accounts for the variation in time it takes different people to heal.
The Bowen technique is also deemed to be of value for asthma, migraine and stress-related problems brought on by the pressures of life.
Children respond very well to the treatment and there is a research project in England on the Bowen technique and childhood asthma (www.relieve-childhood-asthma.com).
At the moment, I treat people only one day a week but I get a great buzz out of this work. It's great to see how some people's lives can change following treatment.
Usually, I recommend between four and six sessions and improvements will be noticed through these, sometimes with only one session necessary.
See also www.bowenireland.com