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See Again
© Shutterstock
0 / 32 Fotos
Françoise Mézières
- The Mézières method was developed by Françoise Mézières in 1947.
© Public Domain
1 / 32 Fotos
Correcting inefficiencies
- The method works by correcting patients’ conscious or unconscious postural inefficiencies and movements.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Posturology
- It is linked then with the school of posturology, which works to stabilize the body while static or in movement.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
Awareness
- It works by teaching people to be aware of their bodies in relation to their environment.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Awareness as a step towards correction
- For example, patients may become aware of their incorrect posture while sitting in a chair, i.e. they are slouching. Patients may then endeavor to correct it.
© Getty Images
5 / 32 Fotos
How it works
- In essence, the Mézières method benefits its patients by proactively addressing the cause of issues before they cause injuries or pain. However, it can also help patients in being a reactionary treatment to pain.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Origins
- The treatment was designed to treat injured soldiers returning home to France after World War II, and in response to the polio epidemic that followed it.
© Getty Images
7 / 32 Fotos
Links with physiotherapy
- In essence, it was an original form of physiotherapy to treat seriously injured and paralyzed people.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Mézières' education
- Françoise Mézières studied at the French School of Orthopedics and Massage in Paris under the esteemed Boris Dolto, a physiotherapy pioneer in France.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
"Princeps observation”
- Years later, Mézières began “princeps observation,” which she concluded had scientific value and formed the beginnings of the Mézières method.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
Corrective gymnastics
- She learned the “corrective gymnastics” of the time, which was primarily based on muscle strengthening.
© Getty Images
11 / 32 Fotos
'Revolution in Orthopedic Gymnastics’
- In 1949, she published ‘Revolution in Orthopedic Gymnastics,’ which received mixed reviews from the French medical community.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
Continued to research
- Despite this, she continued her research, and many years later, in 1984, she published works that set out six rules about the phenomenon, which she concluded was a better system than the existing standard framework that she practiced.
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Its basis
- The method is based on physic-mathematical concepts to aid the musculoskeletal system.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Individual issues
- Its body symmetry restoration rehabilitates patients on an individual basis, as everyone has their postural habits.
© Shutterstock
15 / 32 Fotos
The Mézières method and Parkinson’s disease
- For instance, a large study conducted across several universities and hospitals in Italy concluded in their investigations that the Mézières method was effective in treating Parkinson’s disease patients in improving their balance.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
Spine stabilization
- The study also concluded that it effectively strengthened the spine muscles and kept the spine stable.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Practitioners
- As mentioned, the method works by improving people’s musculoskeletal system. It is practiced by physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, and doctors.
© Shutterstock
18 / 32 Fotos
Asymmetric muscle shortening
- Mézières method works on the principle that issues with the muscular skeleton system are caused by asymmetric shortening (tightening) of muscles. For example, your back may arch because of elongation of the stomach (abdomen) and a shortening (tightening) of the hip and back muscles.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
Natural balance
- This arch in the back creates stress on the hips, so the method could strengthen the stomach muscles and stretch the hip and back muscles, allowing a patient’s back to naturally stop arching.
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Non-static and static
- The method utilizes static and dynamic postural examination, the biomechanical evaluation of the spine, and muscular/postural alterations in greater detail.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
An educational and preventive treatment
- Not only does it work with stretching, but the method also works by teaching breathing techniques as well as awareness. It is an educational and preventive vocation, allowing posture reharmonizing.
© Shutterstock
22 / 32 Fotos
Treatment
- Specifically, it can treat scoliosis, sciatica, slipped discs, lower back pain, wryneck, myalgia, osteoarthritis, flat and club foot, and much more.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Other techniques
- It also utilizes massage and manual techniques.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Principles
- As Mézières practitioners use physical techniques, massage, examinations, and other methods of figuring out what might be the stem of a patient’s symptoms or probable future injuries, they operate according to six main principles.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
A single unit
- One principle is that the Mézières method addresses the body as a whole.
© Shutterstock
26 / 32 Fotos
The significance of the spine
- Another principle concerns curvatures in the spine, which are believed to be the route to many body issues.
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
The respiratory system affects the spine
- Another principle is that diaphragm is not only a breathing muscle, as it is used to shape the body’s back and dynamics.
© Shutterstock
28 / 32 Fotos
"Anti-pain"
- There is a principle related to a term called “anti-pain.” When someone sprains their ankle, the idea is that the uninjured foot (which will take a lot of pressure as the patient relies on it more) should be of primary concern.
© Shutterstock
29 / 32 Fotos
Chain reaction
- Finally, another principle is that the tightening of one muscle will shorten the entire muscle group.
© Getty Images
30 / 32 Fotos
The Mézières method
- In summary, the Mézières method has tremendous merit in influencing multiple schools of modern medicine, and its principles are still adopted in these practices (such as in physiotherapy). It is also proven, by current standards, to treat many issues with the body and preemptively prevent them. Sources: (National Center for Biotechnology Information) (Instituto de Fisioterapia Global Mézières) (Marco Physio) See also: Here's how to listen to your body and improve your health
© Getty Images
31 / 32 Fotos
© Shutterstock
0 / 32 Fotos
Françoise Mézières
- The Mézières method was developed by Françoise Mézières in 1947.
© Public Domain
1 / 32 Fotos
Correcting inefficiencies
- The method works by correcting patients’ conscious or unconscious postural inefficiencies and movements.
© Getty Images
2 / 32 Fotos
Posturology
- It is linked then with the school of posturology, which works to stabilize the body while static or in movement.
© Getty Images
3 / 32 Fotos
Awareness
- It works by teaching people to be aware of their bodies in relation to their environment.
© Getty Images
4 / 32 Fotos
Awareness as a step towards correction
- For example, patients may become aware of their incorrect posture while sitting in a chair, i.e. they are slouching. Patients may then endeavor to correct it.
© Getty Images
5 / 32 Fotos
How it works
- In essence, the Mézières method benefits its patients by proactively addressing the cause of issues before they cause injuries or pain. However, it can also help patients in being a reactionary treatment to pain.
© Shutterstock
6 / 32 Fotos
Origins
- The treatment was designed to treat injured soldiers returning home to France after World War II, and in response to the polio epidemic that followed it.
© Getty Images
7 / 32 Fotos
Links with physiotherapy
- In essence, it was an original form of physiotherapy to treat seriously injured and paralyzed people.
© Getty Images
8 / 32 Fotos
Mézières' education
- Françoise Mézières studied at the French School of Orthopedics and Massage in Paris under the esteemed Boris Dolto, a physiotherapy pioneer in France.
© Getty Images
9 / 32 Fotos
"Princeps observation”
- Years later, Mézières began “princeps observation,” which she concluded had scientific value and formed the beginnings of the Mézières method.
© Shutterstock
10 / 32 Fotos
Corrective gymnastics
- She learned the “corrective gymnastics” of the time, which was primarily based on muscle strengthening.
© Getty Images
11 / 32 Fotos
'Revolution in Orthopedic Gymnastics’
- In 1949, she published ‘Revolution in Orthopedic Gymnastics,’ which received mixed reviews from the French medical community.
© Getty Images
12 / 32 Fotos
Continued to research
- Despite this, she continued her research, and many years later, in 1984, she published works that set out six rules about the phenomenon, which she concluded was a better system than the existing standard framework that she practiced.
© Shutterstock
13 / 32 Fotos
Its basis
- The method is based on physic-mathematical concepts to aid the musculoskeletal system.
© Shutterstock
14 / 32 Fotos
Individual issues
- Its body symmetry restoration rehabilitates patients on an individual basis, as everyone has their postural habits.
© Shutterstock
15 / 32 Fotos
The Mézières method and Parkinson’s disease
- For instance, a large study conducted across several universities and hospitals in Italy concluded in their investigations that the Mézières method was effective in treating Parkinson’s disease patients in improving their balance.
© Shutterstock
16 / 32 Fotos
Spine stabilization
- The study also concluded that it effectively strengthened the spine muscles and kept the spine stable.
© Shutterstock
17 / 32 Fotos
Practitioners
- As mentioned, the method works by improving people’s musculoskeletal system. It is practiced by physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors, and doctors.
© Shutterstock
18 / 32 Fotos
Asymmetric muscle shortening
- Mézières method works on the principle that issues with the muscular skeleton system are caused by asymmetric shortening (tightening) of muscles. For example, your back may arch because of elongation of the stomach (abdomen) and a shortening (tightening) of the hip and back muscles.
© Shutterstock
19 / 32 Fotos
Natural balance
- This arch in the back creates stress on the hips, so the method could strengthen the stomach muscles and stretch the hip and back muscles, allowing a patient’s back to naturally stop arching.
© Shutterstock
20 / 32 Fotos
Non-static and static
- The method utilizes static and dynamic postural examination, the biomechanical evaluation of the spine, and muscular/postural alterations in greater detail.
© Shutterstock
21 / 32 Fotos
An educational and preventive treatment
- Not only does it work with stretching, but the method also works by teaching breathing techniques as well as awareness. It is an educational and preventive vocation, allowing posture reharmonizing.
© Shutterstock
22 / 32 Fotos
Treatment
- Specifically, it can treat scoliosis, sciatica, slipped discs, lower back pain, wryneck, myalgia, osteoarthritis, flat and club foot, and much more.
© Shutterstock
23 / 32 Fotos
Other techniques
- It also utilizes massage and manual techniques.
© Shutterstock
24 / 32 Fotos
Principles
- As Mézières practitioners use physical techniques, massage, examinations, and other methods of figuring out what might be the stem of a patient’s symptoms or probable future injuries, they operate according to six main principles.
© Shutterstock
25 / 32 Fotos
A single unit
- One principle is that the Mézières method addresses the body as a whole.
© Shutterstock
26 / 32 Fotos
The significance of the spine
- Another principle concerns curvatures in the spine, which are believed to be the route to many body issues.
© Getty Images
27 / 32 Fotos
The respiratory system affects the spine
- Another principle is that diaphragm is not only a breathing muscle, as it is used to shape the body’s back and dynamics.
© Shutterstock
28 / 32 Fotos
"Anti-pain"
- There is a principle related to a term called “anti-pain.” When someone sprains their ankle, the idea is that the uninjured foot (which will take a lot of pressure as the patient relies on it more) should be of primary concern.
© Shutterstock
29 / 32 Fotos
Chain reaction
- Finally, another principle is that the tightening of one muscle will shorten the entire muscle group.
© Getty Images
30 / 32 Fotos
The Mézières method
- In summary, the Mézières method has tremendous merit in influencing multiple schools of modern medicine, and its principles are still adopted in these practices (such as in physiotherapy). It is also proven, by current standards, to treat many issues with the body and preemptively prevent them. Sources: (National Center for Biotechnology Information) (Instituto de Fisioterapia Global Mézières) (Marco Physio) See also: Here's how to listen to your body and improve your health
© Getty Images
31 / 32 Fotos
The Mézières method: how and why it works
It's Bone and Joint Action Week
© Shutterstock
Although the holistic system has heavily influenced modern treatments like physiotherapy and is still practiced today, the Mézières method is somewhat unknown to the general public. Scientifically proven to work to treat many ailments, the Mézières method is educational in its nature.
It could be another valuable tool for your well-being, somewhat lost in our modern culture grounded in demand for immediate (and often short-term) results. But what exactly is it? And how does it work?
Click through the gallery to find out!
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