Osteopathic Approach to the Anterior part of the Neck, Thorax and Pericardium

Fermin Lopez, DO will teach this 3-day course about the osteopathic approach targetting the Anterior part of the Neck, Thorax and Pericardium.

OBJECTIVES

 The course is intended for osteopathic professionals and osteopathy students who wish to learn or review the anatomy and treatment of the anterior neck and pericardium as a whole. We will review the anatomy from an anthropological concept, understanding how the process of bipedalism and the hominization of the skull leads us to change our orofacial apparatus from a more prehensile function to a more phonatory one, and the changes that this will cause in the area that we are going to treat.

We will review the swallowing function and the relationships with the cervical spine and the rest of the body's diaphragms, and we will see manual techniques to treat the sublingual area, clavicular and thoracic diaphragm, supra and infrahyoid muscles, anterior part of the neck, lungs and thorax and pericardium.

Finally, we will review symbolic concepts of the heart, the strategy and approach of certain patients with emotional problems and the anatomical links of the centers of the main functions (nutrition, relationship and reproduction) based on concepts of applied osteopathy. 

TOTAL CEUs EARNED at the end of the course: 2 CEUs (21h) with a certificate issued at the end of the course.

SKILLS THAT WILL BE ACQUIRED 

Manual osteopathic techniques for treating sublingual area, clavicular and thoracic diaphragm, supra and infrahyoid muscles, anterior part of the neck and pericardium. Integration and ability to relate the anterior area of ​​the neck and chest with the concept of the body as a whole and its relationship with the diaphragm damping system. 

COURSE PROGRAM – (3 days – 24 hours (8 hours per day)) 

Day 1

Morning

• Lecture: Anatomical review of the different fascial layers
• Lecture and practice: Diagnosis of exclusion: Hyper/Hypothyroidism
• Lecture: Transmission of downward forces and lines of force: the diaphragms
• Practice: Techniques for the thoracic and clavicular diaphragm

Afternoon

• Practice: treatment of the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscles with intra-oral techniques
• Lecture: Respiratory and swallowing functions, relationship with the cervical spine
• Practice: anterior neck treatment, cricoid cartilages, thyroid and hyoid bone

Day 2

Morning

• Lecture: hominization of the skull and bipedalism. Adaptation of the anterior area of ​​the neck in homo sapiens to phonation
• Practice: Techniques for the thoracic and clavicular diaphragm
• Lecture: respiratory function, revision of the anatomy of the lungs and pleurae, pulmonary cissures

Afternoon

• Practice: treatment of pleura, pleural sac bottoms and pleural dome, pulmonary cissures
• Lecture: clinical case
• Lecture: generalities of the thorax, vascular and anatomical relations

Day 3

Morning:

• Lecture: anatomical review of the pericardium and mediastinum
• Practice: treatment of the anterior costal cartilages and the sternum
• Lecture: Functional revision of the venous systems and functioning of the heart as a suction pump. Effects on the inferior vena cava

Afternoon:

• Practice: treatment of pericardial attachments
• Lecture: Symbology of the heart: anatomical aspects, osteopathic relationships.
• Lecture: Review of psychological aspects and of interrelation with the patient

SPECIFIC EQUIPMENT

Latex gloves for intraoral and axillar techniques

LEARNING METHODS

Lectures, discussion, case review and demonstrations

SELECTED READINGS

• Fessenmeyer, M.O. “L’os, un élément de diagnostique” Ed Sully

• Stone, C. “Visceral and Obsteric Osteopathy” Ed Churchill Livingstone

• Roncada, G “ Hamo-study i: investigation of the effect of breathing on the position of the heart”  International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine 11(4):166-166