Freedom to Move offers an exercise blueprint for rehabilitating back and neck pain and the spinal dysfunction associated with many 'injuries'. This practical, evidence-informed resource is suitable for movement therapists of all disciplines, including physiotherapy, Pilates, yoga, Feldenkrais, and somatics.
In essence, Freedom to Move describes what goes wrong in the spine and what to do about it.
The 'deconstruction of movement patterns' helps the practitioner better understand both the healthy and the pathological movement patterns associated with all spinal pain disorders. It integrates the applicable contemporary neuroscience around spinal movement and pain and the related role of the fascial system with the author's clinical knowledge and her exploration of various movement approaches and their contribution - or otherwise - to spinal well-being. It explains the author's model of spinal dysfunction - the remediation of which forms the basis of the author's model of care for a healthier spine, The Key Approach®.
The book's main focus is on a therapeutic exercise/embodied movement approach, which addresses the common movement faults and dysfunctions seen in all people with spinal pain. In particular, the Fundamental Patterns of Control are reintroduced as important, innate 'key' movements which naturally provide the necessary foundations for healthy spinal control - but which have commonly been 'lost' in the movement repertoire of those with chronic spinal pain. These are re-established and reincorporated into various poses, movements and stretches by way of specifically directed mindful embodied movement explorations. The client is helped to regain more optimal function and move out of chronic pain with more efficiency and freedom.
This tailored approach to prescribing exercise for the spine is applicable within all industry models - for the rehabilitation of back and neck pain and stiffness, injury prevention, health promotion and fitness - and optimising spinal health in exercise programmes in general.