| The Bowen Technique is one version of a group | | | | following treatment of the Bowen Technique. |
| of technical interpretations of the work of | | | | Firstly a study by Kinnear and Baker (1999) was |
| Australian self proclaimed osteopath Tom Bowen | | | | performed entitled Frozen Shoulder Research |
| 1916 - 1982 known as Bowen Therapy which is a | | | | Programme and studied the effects of Bowen on |
| holistic system of healing. The Bowen Technique | | | | shoulder flexibility and pain. The study showed |
| was limited to Australia until 1986, four years | | | | significant improvements (p shoulder flexibililty |
| after Bowen's death in 1982, when it was named, | | | | compared with the control group. Changes in |
| and spread to other countries around the world | | | | complaints of pain were not tested statistically. |
| by Mr. Oswald Rentsch a massage therapist of | | | | Lack of ethical, methodological and analytical detail |
| Hamilton, Victoria Australia who observed Mr. | | | | in this study draws caution to the strength of |
| Bowen at work one morning a week for two | | | | inference from the findings. |
| years. | | | | A further study by Whittaker et al (1999) |
| It has since been developed and furthered by | | | | investigated the effect of heart rate variability |
| many others and is now one of the nine therapies | | | | and ANS changes in subjects treated with Bowen. |
| involved in the move towards voluntary self | | | | Two groups were treated those with medically |
| regulation in the UK. | | | | diagnosed fibromyalgia (n=7) and a group without |
| It should be highlighted that the three other | | | | pathology or symptoms (n=11). The results |
| surviving students of Mr. Tom Bowen - Keith | | | | showed a significant change in HRV in the |
| Davis, Kevin Ryan and Romney Smeeton - all | | | | fibromyalgia group but not in the asymptomatic |
| have similar methodologies that vary significantly | | | | group, mainly demonstrating a decrease in heart |
| from the way Oswald Rentsch teaches the | | | | rate. |
| technique. Dr. | | | | All subjects in the former group reported some |
| Kevin Ryan teaches his interpretation of the | | | | relief in symptoms. However three of the the |
| Bowen Technique to Osteopathic students at the | | | | fibromyalgia group were used for more than one |
| Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology. | | | | reading, resulting in 11 sets of data per group, |
| Bowen Technique The Bowen Technique | | | | thereby raising issues of methodological bias. |
| addresses key points to stimulate energy flow, | | | | Furthermore with no control or placebo group, |
| but Bowen Technique involves a gentle, rolling | | | | HRV comparisons are not possible, giving rise to |
| motion, with very light touches. The practitioner | | | | questions of validity. |
| will stimulate sets of points, often with pauses | | | | However although the results from these studies |
| between sets. | | | | can be questioned methodologically, there seems |
| The Bowen Technique is not a form of massage, | | | | to be strong evidence that physiological changes |
| though it does claim to release areas of built-up | | | | occur when Bowen is applied. |
| stress in the muscles,and clients usually | | | | The first properly conducted study, with approval |
| experience profound relaxation after a session. | | | | from ethics and applying strict methodolgy using |
| A view held by some Bowen Therapists is that | | | | Bowen is now complete and due to be published |
| the specific way that Bowen Technique addresses | | | | in September 2006. This will examine the effect |
| the muscles stimulates the stretch and golgi | | | | of The Bowen Technique on Hamstring flexibility in |
| tendon reflexes as well as joint proprioceptors in | | | | asymptomatic individuals and has been conducted |
| a way that heightens the sensory awareness of | | | | by Michelle Marr BSc (Hons) PT MCSP, senior |
| the body in the area worked on. This can lead to | | | | lecturer at Coventry University. |
| strange sensations such as heat release, tingling | | | | A typical session takes place over 30 to 45 |
| and a general increased awareness of the areas | | | | minutes, with breaks during the session to allow |
| being worked. These sensations are sometimes | | | | the treatment to sink in. Sessions are usually part |
| mistakenly associatied with some form of "energy | | | | of a series of three to five sessions, beginning |
| healing". Through increasing sensory awareness | | | | with general stress loading points such as the |
| the move taps into the body’s ability | | | | lower and upper back, before moving on to areas |
| to self regulate which, in turn, can stimulate the | | | | of stress specific to the person being treated. |
| body to heal itself. | | | | However, for the sensitive individual, a session can |
| The Bowen Technique can be used as a | | | | last only 10-15 minutes. |
| stand-alone therapy or in combination with other | | | | The Bowen Technique has also been successfully |
| treatments. | | | | used on animals as well, and practitioners of |
| Since 1998 the technique has become widely used | | | | Bowen Technique for animals can be found all |
| in primary care settings in the UK, with many | | | | over the world. |
| chartered physiotherapists using the technique in | | | | The Bowen Technique helps to rebalance the |
| hospitals, hospices and other funded health | | | | body, increasing performance, relieving muscle and |
| settings. | | | | tendon strain, and increasing quality of life for both |
| Research To date only three experimental studies | | | | performance animals and pets. |
| have been performed that have collected data | | | | |