HEALTH WARNING: spending more than 3 hours on THIS assignment can seriously damage your enthusiasm. You might not get much done in 3 hours but do have patience with yourself. It will come

Reading List

A friend asks you if shiatsu can help with: LOWER BACK PAIN

What are the symptoms and organic changes of their condition?

What tsubos might help relieve their symptoms?

What do you think might be the underlying elemental imbalance?

What related organ/meridian network governs this anatomical system?

What might be the related or local meridians, and why do you think so?

Would you describe the condition as more kyo or more jitsu?

What might be your treatment approach?

How would you explain to your friend this condition in terms of energy-flow and elemental imbalances?

What suggestions/recommendations might you make if your friend asks how they could share in their own healing – for example, life-style, diet, habits, exercise, meditation, other therapies?

How would your responses differ for other conditions of the same system, and should any be contra-indicated?

muscular dystrophy/atrophy/inflammation, spasm/cramp

What are the three types of muscle and where are they found?

What do they do and how do they work?

Explain the following terms:
Origin, Insertion, Flexion, Extension, Hyper-extension, Abduction, Adduction, Rotation, Elevation, Depression, Flexion, Extension, Supination, Pronation. Fibre types (Slow and Fast Twitch), Anaerobic and Aerobic systems

What are the functional relationships betweeen muscles: agonist/antagonist; synergist and fixators?

What would you advise for the safety and effectiveness of stretching exercises?

Describe the anatomical locations of the following and meridians/extensions touching them:

Masseter, temporalis, occipitofrontalis, sternocleidomastoid, trapezius, rotator cuff (eg infraspinatus), pectoralis major and minor, rhomboids, deltoid, biceps, triceps, wrist/finger extensor/flexor/pronator groups, intercostals, latissimus dorsi, serratus anterior, diaphragm, rectus abdominis, transverse, obliques, erector spinae, thoracolumbar fascia, quadratus lumborum, psoas major/minor, piriformis, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, quadriceps femoris, hamstrings, biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, adductor group, gracilis, sartorius, gastrocnemius, soleus, tibialis anterior, peroneus group

How many muscles work to make a smile? How many work to make a frown? which would you recommend as the better exercise?

Assessment Criteria

The Intermediate Assessment Requirement is for you to be able to explain, in everyday language as if to a friend with no knowledge of anatomy, the four following aspects of this system:

• Components and Structure
• How it works
• Interaction with other Systems
• What happens when it breaks down?

For Advanced Assessment be prepared to explain:

• Organ/meridian networks from Oriental and Western perspectives
,
• to compare differences and similarities between Oriental and Western
• anything from this assignment using anatomical/medical terminology – “ as if on the telephone to a Latin-speaking Doctor!”
• Evaluate conditions for Shiatsu treatment in terms of:
  Total and Local Contraindications and cautions
  Tsubo functions
  Elemental imbalance
  Related or local meridians
  Kyo or jitsu
  Treatment options
  Aftercare information and advice

Module Completion: please have your Tutor validate this Module in your Course Manual when you have completed your meridian LEARNING-TREATMENTS