Hey guys , theres a strong hint in Mr Sfinn's post that he has been reading RE, I remember seeing that exact same statement there a year ago.
alophysio, your summary of postulated physiology of the cause /effect relationship with CM is good. Like most theories , it is the language that sets the message in the mind of the reader , either the proposed cascade fits with a certain valued or cherished scenario or it doesn't . Sometimes this "fit " thing may contribute to unnecessary criticism or a fight to preserve the sense of verisimilitude that goes with familiarity.
What is certain , at least as far as my daily observations of joint behaviour and pain goes , is that CM has a lot to offer.
When I drifted into MSK treatments, after some short but meaningful explorations of geriatrics, neuro, cardiothoracic and rehab options in my own career, I realised immediately that I had good hands. Sounds conceited I know.
I milked a house cow on the farm by hand from the age of eight. You gain a lot of strength and sensitivity milking. Cows don't like being brutalised , neither do they give milk with weak attempts at the skillfull art of freehand milking. Long afterwards, I realised at the age of 26, when I was a professional fisherman, that I spent at least as much time "fixing" people as I did fishing and made the decision to become a physio.
Hands are fantastic tools. With a pair of them I can consider the movement dynamics of a range of body parts, perform therapeutic interventions on those with severe pain , that by the actions of my hands alone, benefit those whose lives had been dominated by pain and the fear of more of the same.
I love my work. Love seeing the looks of satisfaction on the faces of those who have had their "mysterious " shoulder pain , diagnosed as "Wikipedia reference-linkrotator cuff syndrome " immediately and effectively eliminated with just twenty minutes of hands on attention to their neck. Who would deny the thrill ,of being the only one in the team of interested observers of this and a variety of other referred pain problems,who is the one who can , with only a pair of hands , make this problem dissapear and not come back.
Ahh but I wax lyrical , when I should be answering questions about hammers.
Yep, I'm a hammer, let me at them there nails.