The Hindu Business Line : Twist 'n' turn

He walked in as a hunchback and walked out erect — something he had never thought would be possible. This is what `twist therapy' can do for you, claims Prof Park Jae Woo, a South Korean scientist who has developed this treatment following years of research on the system. At first glance, twist therapy sessions look like a new dance form or martial arts like Tai Chi in session. But the therapy has gentle and graceful movements, and many of them are performed sitting on odd-looking chairs.

In this therapy, says Prof Park, you use your body's own abilities to treat various ailments, aches and pains. The therapy is aimed at preventing and treating diseases by twisting related parts of the body and activating its spiral system. It is based on the premise that a spiral energy network system unifies the functions of all energy systems of the body. And this spiral force gets activated in a person with disorders mainly connected with the musculo-skeletal system.

This therapy, a drugless healing system, is especially useful and effective for people who are hard pressed for time. Patients who can benefit from the therapy include those with psychosomatic problems, musculo-skeletal disorders or disease including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, lumbar and cervical spondylitis, strains and sprains of various types, migraine and other headaches.

Twist diagnosis

Two basic approaches are used for making a twist diagnosis. "We apply one method when we know the disease and its location. The second approach deals with cases where the disorder is of unknown origin and location. To diagnose some known disease, we should first determine the segment of the spinal column connected with the disease, internal organs involved in the pathological process and skin regions where the affected site is projected, based on the nerves of the central nervous system," explains Prof Park

The patient is made to sit in a systematic and methodical posture; he/she is then made to bend in a sequence of directions to identify the problem. Fixed and moveable twist therapy chairs with various attachments are used for this purpose and the treatment as well. The duration of every session is only three minutes and the number of sessions a person requires depends on his constitution, the severity of the problem and his response to the therapy.

According to Prof Park, abnormal responses signal disease or disorder and include pain, stiffness, strain, sudden short pain, unpleasant and unnatural sensations and so on. "In order to find those abnormal responses, all twist motions in each twist posture should be applied to the affected region, and the most pronounced response should be identified."

In cases where it is difficult to pinpoint the cause and the affected area, neck and trunk spine twists are used. "Since the neck connects the brain and all internal organs of the trunk, the effect of the neck twist can reach to both the brain and abdominal organs, influencing a whole range of possible diseases.

Also, any disease is supposed to be reflected in the cervical or trunk spine regions, including the thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal sections. So if no abnormal response is found during a neck twist diagnosis, it is necessary to perform the whole variety of twist motions with the trunk spine in its different twist postures," he adds.

Twist motions, when applied appropriately, are extremely beneficial in effecting a cure, almost instantly in several cases without any adverse side-effects. Only one twist motion is prescribed for therapeutic purposes; or there could be two-three motions for treating certain conditions.

"The effect of the twist treatment depends a lot on the way twist motions are performed. The basic aim is to not create any unpleasant sensations during the course of therapy. The twist motions should be performed at an angle to the point just before a painful reaction begins. This borderline should be observed during a twist motion without any overstrain on the painful region. Twist therapy may be undertaken to get back to good health, maintain this state of healthy equilibrium and prevent conditions from occurring in the first place," says Prof Park.

Precautions

It is important to begin twist motions with the terminal parts of the body — hands, feet.

Beginners should attempt mild twist motions with which they are comfortable. Gradually, but gently, they should increase the angle of the twist motions, according to individual abilities.

The angle of twist motion should be increased only after the twist motions have been practised well enough.

Weak and sick people, including patients suffering from bone and joint diseases, should get themselves checked by a physician before embarking on any twist motion.