Part 1 | Chek Totem Pole Series w/ Matthew Wallden
Apr 21, 2024
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Holistic Health Practitioner Matthew Wallden joins the podcast to discuss the Chek Totem Pole, focusing on the impacts of nutrition on mid-face development, central sensitization and pain management, core stability for back pain prevention, and assessing the body using the totem pole model.
The Chek Totem Pole model emphasizes interconnected physiological elements like breathing and posture influencing health and injuries.
Addressing root causes over symptoms is key in healthcare; considering how neurophysiology impacts injuries offers a holistic perspective.
Research showing firing order differences in muscle responses to stimuli highlights body's protective hierarchy and complex neurological influences.
Deep dives
Czech Totem Pole Concept Overview
The concept of the Czech totem pole is introduced, highlighting its focus on powerful physiological elements influencing behavior and biomechanics. Similar to traditional totem poles, this model emphasizes a hierarchical arrangement where top elements hold the most influence. It delves into how powerful elements like breathing and posture can impact health and contribute to injuries.
Symptoms vs. Root Cause Analysis
The podcast discusses the common practice of focusing on symptoms rather than root causes in conventional approaches to addressing pain or injuries. It highlights the tendency to address the area of discomfort in clients, like knee pain, without considering potential causative elements. By using the totem pole model, practitioners can analyze how interconnected physiological elements may drive injuries, offering a more holistic view of health issues.
Neurophysiological Impact on Injuries
The episode explains how neurophysiology plays a critical role in understanding and addressing injuries. It explores examples where issues like head tilts or jaw dysfunction can lead to compensatory responses affecting body mechanics. The discussion extends to how mild traumatic brain injuries, vision impairments, and sensory stimuli can influence pain perception, balance, and injury risks, emphasizing the importance of addressing neurophysiological factors in healthcare.
Summary End
The podcast provides a comprehensive overview of the Czech totem pole model and its application to understanding the underlying causes of injuries and health issues. By shifting focus from symptoms to interconnected physiological elements, practitioners can adopt a more holistic approach to healthcare. The episode emphasizes the significance of considering neurophysiological factors in assessing injuries and highlights how the totem pole model aids in addressing root causes rather than just symptoms.
Study on Transversus Abdominis and Trapezius Muscle Firing Order
Research highlighted the firing order difference between the transversus abdominis and trapezius muscles when responding to noxious stimuli. Contrary to the traditional belief, trapezius fired ahead of transversus abdominis, indicating a protective mechanism towards special sensory areas. This shift in firing sequence can potentially impact individuals experiencing back pain, showcasing a hierarchy in the body's response to perceived dangers.
Neurological Hierarchy and Weight Shift Impact on Muscle Activation
Weight shifts affecting muscle firing patterns were noted, suggesting a neurological coordination issue. These mixed findings, where an individual shifts weight to one side but moves in the opposite direction during tests, imply underlying complexity. The interplay of factors such as visceral function, emotional influences, and viscerosomatic reflexes can contribute to diverse neurological inputs, requiring in-depth assessments to understand the comprehensive drivers behind musculoskeletal imbalances.
This week the boys are joined by Matthew Wallden for a special introductory episode to a four part series diving into the Chek Totem Pole created by Paul Chek around the year of 1994. Paul created the totem pole after 10 years of clinical practice as a Holistic Health Practitioner, Strength & Conditioning Specialist, and Neuromuscular Therapist specialising in chronic injury and medical failure cases.
What emerged for Paul during this time was awareness of the absolute essentials of what it takes to sustain life in a body of any type, be it a single celled organism, jellyfish, dog, cat, horse, chimpanzee, dolphin, whale, or human being. The CHEK Totem Pole is an artistic rendition of the fruits of his studies and clinical (empirical) practice and the results he's obtained to give him the confidence that he was indeed, on the right path.
Join Matthew Wallden & the boys as they dive into the Chek Totem Pole & Enjoy the episode!
To find out more info about the CHEK Institute https://chekinstitute.com
To find out more about Matthew’s work IG | matthewallden https://mattwallden.com/
