CTM / Bindegewebsmassage
Bindegewebsmassage, or Connective Tissue Massage (CTM), is a precise and elegant way to work with the body's dermatomes and autonomic reflexes to induce corresponding autonomic changes in specific organs. The technique was developed in Germany by Elizabeth Dicke, and is widely practiced there, although it is less known in the United States. Bindegewebsmassage can be quite powerful, although it can appear subtle at first.
Starting with the sacrum, specific cutaneous zones are stroked with a dragging pressure in a precise and orchestrated way that can "trick" the body into responding as if specific organs or organ systems are being massaged. In response, the target organ vasodilates and its smooth muscles tissue relaxes. Bindegewebsmassage is quite effective for treating menstrual cramps, eliminating or reducing symptoms over 90% of the time. It can also be helpful with reducing the symptoms of migraines, asthma, and intestinal cramping. In addition, CTM can subtly affect the fascial layers (especially adhesions in the subcutaneous layer), increasing range of motion and flexibility, and reducing pain or tingling from tightened tissue. Bindegewebsmassage typically has a calming effect, and can be used for general parasympathetic relaxation as well.
A handful of clinical trials have shown CTM-style manipulation has beneficial effects in pain reduction, reduced depression, improved quality-of-life, and moderate short-term increases of beta-endorphins (pain-relieving neurotransmitters). These trials add to anecdotal observations from clinicians that CTM often causes "virtually immediate relief in visceral or myofascial pain as well as general relaxation" (Prendergast & Rommer, 2013).
In this class, you will learn the "basic build-up", which primarily focuses on the sacral and pelvic areas and their corresponding target organs, and the "first followup", which focuses on the lower back and rib cage.
Click here for an article Brian wrote about Bindegewebsmassage for MNZ in New Zealand.
"It's fantastic to have new tools to treat migraines and menstrual pain, and give ease to an often 'stuck' area". - Rachael Brown
"I attended this course three years ago and have been practicing the treatment ever since with very good results. I have mainly used it with ME (chronic fatigue) patients, with the outcome that their nervous system becomes less dramatic and they don’t experience such severe fatigue crashes after mild stimulation. For the same reason, I have also seen good results with people experiencing long-covid symptoms.
I have also used the treatment with several clients who suffer from migraines, and they have experienced less headaches and that migraines seem less likely to occur after treatment. I have also treated digestive issues, both chronic constipation and chronic diarrhea, with good results. One client who struggles with sleep problems comes regularly for a few treatments and sleeps much better afterwards.I have recently started treating a client who is on sick leave due to burnout, and I am convinced she will benefit greatly from it. In total, I have worked with 45 clients with this therapy.
I plan to attend the course again purely out of passion for the treatment! And I sincerely hope many people sign up because I personally really need to be able to receive this kind of treatment myself!! I 1000% recommend this course and this treatment!” - Gunna Hunfjord Magnusdottir
“This is one of the best classes I have taken in my 27 years of massage practice.” - Kelly Bounting
Instructor: Brian Utting
CE hours: 8 (NCBTMB-approved for CE credit)
Tuition: $180 plus sales tax. Take both Saturday’s Neuroendocrine class and Sunday’s CTM-Bindegewebsmassage class for only $305.
Date and Time: Sunday, September 20th, 10am-7pm.
Registration: This class is sponsored by the Therapeutic Training Center. Click here to register for Sunday’s Bindegewebsmassage class, and here for both Saturday and Sunday’s classes.