A person reports sporadic episodes of unexplained goosebumps all down one side of the body. No other symptoms are present: no pain, tingling, numbness, or anything.

Is it dysautonomia? Is it a weird kind of seizure?

What are goosebumps good for, anyway?

It turns out they might be more important than we thought.

Sponsors: 

Books of Discovery: www.booksofdiscovery.com  

Anatomy Trains: www.anatomytrains.com 

Host Bio:        

Ruth Werner is a former massage therapist, a writer, and an NCBTMB-approved continuing education provider. She wrote A Massage Therapist’s Guide to Pathology, now in its seventh edition, which is used in massage schools worldwide. Werner is also a long-time Massage & Bodywork columnist, most notably of the Pathology Perspectives column. Werner is also ABMP’s partner on Pocket Pathology, a web-based app and quick reference program that puts key information for nearly 200 common pathologies at your fingertips. Werner’s books are available at www.booksofdiscovery.com. And more information about her is available at www.ruthwerner.com.   

Recent Articles by Ruth:       

“Unpacking the Long Haul,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, January/February 2022, page 35, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1439667-january-february-2022/36.

“Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy and Massage Therapy,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, September/October 2021, page 33, http://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1402696-september-october-2021/34. 

“Pharmacology Basics for Massage Therapists,” Massage & Bodywork magazine, July/August 2021, page 32, www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1384577-july-august-2021/34.   

Resources: 

Pocket Pathology: https://www.abmp.com/abmp-pocket-pathology-app

Ask a Scientist: Why doesn’t your face get goosebumps? (no date). Available at: https://www.pressconnects.com/story/news/local/aroundtown/2016/02/06/ask-scientist-face-get-goosebumps/79935204/ (Accessed: 25 May 2022).

Goosebumps on Skin: When You’re Not Cold and More (2017) Healthline. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/health/goosebumps-on-skin (Accessed: 25 May 2022).

Kurita, T. et al. (2013) ‘Pilomotor seizures in temporal lobe epilepsy: A case report with sequential changes in magnetic resonance imaging’, Epilepsy & Behavior Case Reports, 1, pp. 142–145. doi:10.1016/j.ebcr.2013.08.003.

MD, R.H.S. (2020) Wondering about goosebumps? Of course you are, Harvard Health. Available at: https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/wondering-about-goosebumps-of-course-you-are-2020080320688 (Accessed: 25 May 2022).

Temporal Lobe Epilepsy (TLE): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment (no date) Cleveland Clinic. Available at: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/17778-temporal-lobe-seizures (Accessed: 25 May 2022).

The hair-raising reason for goosebumps: The same cell types that cause goosebumps are responsible for controlling hair growth (no date) ScienceDaily. Available at: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/07/200720112325.htm (Accessed: 25 May 2022).

What goosebumps are for (2020) National Institutes of Health (NIH). Available at: https://www.nih.gov/news-events/nih-research-matters/what-goosebumps-are (Accessed: 25 May 2022).

About our Sponsor:

Anatomy Trains is a global leader in online anatomy education and also provides in-classroom certification programs for structural integration in the US, Canada, Australia, Europe, Japan, and China, as well as fresh-tissue cadaver dissection labs and weekend courses. The work of Anatomy Trains originated with founder Tom Myers, who mapped the human body into 13 myofascial meridians in his original book, currently in its fourth edition and translated into 12 languages. The principles of Anatomy Trains are used by osteopaths, physical therapists, bodyworkers, massage therapists, personal trainers, yoga, Pilates, Gyrotonics, and other body-minded manual therapists and movement professionals. Anatomy Trains inspires these practitioners to work with holistic anatomy in treating system-wide patterns to provide improved client outcomes in terms of structure and function.    

Website: anatomytrains.com    

Email: info@anatomytrains.com          

Facebook: facebook.com/AnatomyTrains 

 Instagram: www.instagram.com/anatomytrainsofficial

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2g6TOEFrX4b-CigknssKHA

Robert Koenigsberger on Emerging Markets

Masters in Business

What Mentors Did You Have Growing Up?

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts