The Pervasive Power of ‘P’ and how to harness it

We do truly carry a heavy responsibility

… and what we

don’t know can hurt

our patients and us

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Referred by John Barnes, PT’s son, who found that it was not possible even to just stabilize

the pt. with MFR

We enter this world as vulnerable, and

extremely dependent beautiful beings

…yet, it is actually because

of this dependence and

vulnerability that we have so great

potential to ‘become’ far

greater than our humble birth would predict

The infantile swallow is characterized by:

1) a positioning of the tongue between the gum pads holding the jaws apart as the swallow is completed,

2) a stabilization of the mandible by contraction of the facial muscles and the interposed tongue, and

3) a swallow which is initiated, and to a great degree guided by, the sensory interchange between the lips and the tongue.

This infantile swallow is normally given up sometime during the first year of life.”

During the latter half of the first year of life, several maturational events occur that alter markedly the orofacial musculature's functioning. The arrival of the incisors cues the more precise opening and closing movements of the mandible, compels a more retracted tongue posture, and initiates the learning of mastication.

As soon as bilateral posterior occlusion is established (usually with the eruption of the first primary molars), true chewing motions are seen to start, and the learning of the mature swallow begins. Gradually, the fifth cranial nerve muscles assume the role of muscular stabilization during the swallow, and the muscles of facial expression abandon the crude infantile function of suckling and the infantile swallow and then begin to learn the more delicate and complicated functions of speech and facial expressions. (p. 379)

Enlow states: A Characteristic features of the mature swallow are; (1) the teeth are together (although they may be apart -with a liquid bolus); (2) the mandible is stabilized by contractions of the fifth cranial nerve muscles; (3) the tongue tip is held against the palate above and behind the incisors; and (4) minimal contractions of the lips are seen during the swallow. (Handbook of Facial Growth p.379).

“When I put in this top appliance thing, immediately my eyes feel less tense, and just clearer; I just feel like

focused; my eyes feel brighter and crisper, and my brain

feels clearer”

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Referred by John Barnes, PT’s son, who found that it was not possible even to just stabilize

the pt. with MFR

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Low ‘P’

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Choose Wisely

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This patient reports feeling better overall with upper and lower

ALF-Stealth designs, but notices in particular how much better she is

able to accomplish things, as well as a new found sense of confidence.

She says that the boost in confidence and clarity comes each time the lower Stealth is activated, but

that it goes away before the next visit and then she doesn’t sleep as well

because she obsesses more.

She also reports that each month , the boost wears off a little sooner, so she is hoping that I can activate the lower even more, so it will last longer.

•Why is this happening? •Why is activating more (or more frequently) actually counterproductive?

•What can be done to help here?

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In the clearing stands the boxer, and a fighter by his trade; and he carries the reminder of every blow that knocked him down ...

Long after patients have reached the intellectual conclusion that they are safe in their current lives, the body’s post-traumatic responses re-create an internal experience of threat (Van der Hart et al 2006). 

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Rx : Vitamins D3 and K2 mk7

http://www.alfeducationalinstitute.com/apps/webstore/products/show/4437452

The OmNi Intruder alters neuro-reflex patterns through

specifically controlling

proprioception through the PDLs

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Perception vs.

Proprioception

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What happens to ‘P’ when we have

surgeries?

How can we best help our patients?

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