Need Help Debunking TT.

[Orangutan]

Hi,

I was horified to lean that at an Onclology Nurses Association Dinner last night my wife and the rest of the audience was subjected to what was the equivelent of a Theraputic Touch seminar. I think the woman giving the presentation called it something sububtly different but thats basically what it was, my wife said she'd give me the materials handed out.

Luckily my wife and most of the people at her table realised what a sham this was, but she could see others in the audience nodding there head in understanding as the woman waffled on about "body enegy" and "chakras" (?spelling). She also did the push down on the arm demo. and a demo where the audience member is looking at crossed or parallel lines.

Now I have the quakwatch.org link

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/tt.html

But I am specifically looking for a description of the "push down on the arm - do the routine -push down on the arm again" trick. I searched for ideomotor but didn't find this trick specifically mentioned.

Any links would be greatly appriceated. The more accesable the better as I propose to write to the hospital that this woman works for to see if they know what she's doing or if they even condone TT.

Thanks in advance.

O.

 

[Garrette]

If it's what I'm thinking of, it's not ideomotor.

It's one or a combination of the following:

1. Subtly changing the center of balance of the subject between demos.

2. Subtly changing something to affect the subject's feeling of balance between demos. (I'm not aware of the lines thing, but it may be related.) Try it yourself to see: your balance is best when you can keep both eyes open and look at something direclty in front of you at about eye level that is neither too close nor too far away. Try standing on one leg with both eyes open, then try it with both eyes closed. See which is harder to do.

3. Subtly changing where the TT practicioner applies pressure on the arms so as to change leverage.

4. Subtly changing the amount of pressure applied.


I'll try to look for links but I'm not sure exactly what to google on.

 

[juryjone]

But I am specifically looking for a description of the "push down on the arm - do the routine -push down on the arm again" trick. I searched for ideomotor but didn't find this trick specifically mentioned.

That sounds like "applied kinesiology". Here's the Quackwatch link:

Applied Kinesiology

I know a woman who believes in this crap, to the extent she tests her young daughter the same way by having her daughter hold the suspected allergic agent. She then places one hand on her daughter's head and extends the other arm for the "kinesiologist" to press down on.

 

[crimresearch]

Unbendable Arm:
http://ofinterest.net/Ua/arm2.html


'O'-ring test. (From Applied kinesiology):

http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/qray.html#o-ring

 

[Orangutan]

Thank you all.

 

[Orangutan]

I thought you might be interested in what the ONS has to say

link : http://www.ons.org/publications/journals/ONF/Volume29/Issue3/290335.asp

Quote:

Findings: Results showed significant declines in anxiety scores, depression, general fatigue, reduced motivation fatigue, and emotional fatigue for individuals in the massage therapy group only. In the Healing Touch group, anxiety and depression scores decreased, and fatigue and subjective burden increased, but these changes did not achieve statistical significance.

Conclusions: Caregivers can benefit from massage therapy in the clinic setting.

Which is good news.

O.