Ep. 33: "Beyond Myofascial Release: A Holistic Approach to Manual Therapy with Walt Fritz, PT"

Airway Answers with Nicole Goldfarb: Expanding Your Breath of Knowledge

In this episode, Nicole interviews the physical therapist Walt Fritz. This interview explores the topic of 𝐏𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐢𝐫𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬: “𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝐀 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲”. 💆💆‍♂️💆‍♀️
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✅ 𝐖𝐚𝐥𝐭 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐳, a 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐲 and a renowned instructor, challenges conventional wisdom in this captivating interview! 🧠
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✅ He discusses the limitations of focusing solely on 𝐦𝐲𝐨𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞, arguing for a more 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 that considers the entire person. 🤔
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✅ Fritz emphasizes the vital role of 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧-𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠, advocating for a balance between 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞-𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐩𝐮𝐭. 🤝
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✅ He highlights the significance of considering the patient's 𝐩𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐨𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐱𝐭 in treatment, underscoring the importance of asking the simple yet powerful question: "𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞?" 🥺
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✅ Fritz also touches upon the fascinating intersection of manual therapy and 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐞, exploring its impact on 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐚, 𝐯𝐨𝐢𝐜𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐠. 👅
✅ Learn about Fritz's unique approach to manual therapy in his courses, which cater to a diverse audience, including 𝐒𝐋𝐏𝐬, 𝐏𝐓𝐬, 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞! 📚
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ABOUT THE GUEST:
Walt Fritz is a PT who teaches a unique interpretation of manual therapy to SLPs, voice professionals, and other related communities. His gentle, non-manipulative, and interactive touch-based approach advances views of causation and impact from historical tissue-specific models into a multifactorial narrative, leaning heavily on biopsychosocial influences. His principles apply to a broad spectrum of intervention models using a model of evaluation and intervention that encourages equality between patient and clinician, utilizing shared decision-making rather than the biomedical clinician-as-expert approach. Unlike traditional laryngeal and soft tissue manipulation, Walt offers the clinician and patient a more subtle approach that gives the receiver more time to assess its influence and relevance. This approach is often better tolerated than aggressive forms of treatment and aligns well with newer research findings, allowing the patient to frame the intervention from their preferences and values. His work is equally appropriate for dysphagia, dysphonia, voice performance limitations, oral motor dysfunction, tongue-related concerns, breathing difficulties, and related disorders. With a proper understanding of how touch acts as another form of communication, a broader range of professionals can harness the potential effectiveness of manual therapy. Walt presents his live, in-person workshops internationally through his Foundations in Manual Therapy Seminars, www.WaltFritz.com. His book "Manual Therapy in Voice and Swallowing: A Person-Centered Approach," is available through Amazon. Walt is a contributing author for The Oxford Handbook of Voice Pedagogy, which will be published by Oxford University Press in 2024 and The Vocal Athlete (Plural Publications). His paper, “The mechanism of action for laryngeal manual therapies: The need for an update,” will be published in an upcoming issue of Current Opinion in Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery.
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ABOUT THE HOST:
Nicole Goldfarb, M.A. CCC, SLP- COM® is a Speech-Language Pathologist, Certified Orofacial Myologist, International speaker, & author. She lectures on OMT and sleep-disordered breathing. She is the owner of San Diego Center For Speech Therapy & Myofunctional Therapy.