The Effect of Renal Dysfunction on Range of Motion
Author: Christine Bulman LMT
Abstract: This article describes Integrative Manual Therapy applied viscerally to what initially presented itself as a biomechanical problem. A female patient in her forties complained of tightness in her right hamstring. Diagnostics revealed her right renal complex was a primary site of restriction. After treating the area, the patient experienced significant increase in range of motion.
Key Words: Renal Dysfunction, Hamstring
Introduction
Integrative Manual Therapy holds that the sequence of treatment is most effective if it reflects the body’s hierarchy of protection. The presenting sign and/or symptom may be secondary to an underlying primary cause. The following study underscores the effectiveness of this approach.
Patient History
The patient is an active woman in her forties who runs regularly. She reports tension and stiffness in her cervical and lumbar spine, experiences occasional headaches, and has suffered from chronic allergies. While stretching before and after her run, she notices a marked decrease in the flexibility of her right leg.
Treatment
Before treatment, the patient’s right leg reached its first movement barrier at 25°, her left at 30°. Straight leg raises in supine showed marked decrease in flexibility and strength between her two sides. Using a diagnostic tool called a 5-point Longitudinal Pressure Scan1, I determined the primary source of restriction was at the region of the right renal complex. This involved the right kidney, attending vasculature, and the right ureter. To further specify, I assessed motilities in the renal area. This revealed compromised flow via the right renal vein close to its exit of the right kidney, which contributed, to tension at the hilum and down the right ureter. I also palpated with specific criteria a Disruption of Membrane at the region of the right renal vein as it exited the kidney.
My first treatment technique was to address this Disruption of Membrane2 to restore fascial cohesion. I next applied Resistance Therapy to the venous motility1 at the area to restore proper flow. I reassessed the area, and utilized the appropriate Synchronizers3 to address the vascular dysfunction.
Compression Syndromes have been identified by Weiselfish-Giammatteo as "sustained neuro-reflexogenic protective modes"4 that are supraspinal involving the brain stem. Compression Syndrome techniques, developed by Weiselfish-Giammatteo, address this more extensive protective response. They enable assessment of the primary problem that elicited the protective reflex. I applied these techniques to the upper and lower right ureter, the right renal artery and vein. I then restored alignment and integrity to the right ureter by treating shearing in its tissues at its interface with the right kidney and where it perforates the periosteum.
According to Weiselfish-Giammatteo, the body establishes a "plug"5, an energetic phenomenon, in certain areas of the body to contain toxicity. I assessed and treated a pseudo-sphincter of the right kidney.
Frozen Organ technique1 was designed by Weiselfish-Giammatteo to address protective self-impaction phenomena in dysfunctional tissue. I applied this to the right ureter.
Advanced Strain and Counterstrain6 is a treatment approach developed by Weiselfish-Giammatteo based on Jones positional release therapy. It was applied to the ureter to reduce hypertonicity of the smooth muscle of the right ureter. I applied Resistance Therapy to the native motilities1 of the ureters and kidneys to enhance their function. I applied Resistance Therapy to a motility that indicates deceased immune response in the area. This reflects the toxicity that the body sought to contain through contracture and diminished movement of all proximal tissues.
Conclusion
At the end of our 1 ½ hour session, my client’s straight leg raise measured 40 degrees on the right leg and 35 degrees on the left leg.
Treating the right renal complex with Integrative Manual Therapy not only yielded significant improvement in range of motion, but also laid necessary groundwork for effective treatment of skeletal biomechanics to follow. That is to say, without addressing the restriction of the right kidney, correct biomechanics of the lumbar spine, pelvis, hip joints, and optimal tone of the hamstrings would not have been achieved and sustained, as these structures would have been recruited to compensate for visceral and vascular dysfunction.
Bibliography