Here is my general template for how I structure my blurbs.

As you get good at it,

you'll eventually be able to say these things while you're treating.
"In a _____ dysfunction, [explain dysfunction]. We will use [treatment type] to treat
this. [Treatment type] is a [direct/indirect, active/passive, lymphatic, etc.] technique,
which means _____. The biomechanics of this particular treatment will involve
_____. The treatment model involves _____, which ultimately serves to ______."
For these particular treatments, here are some examples of what I would say. Ive
highlighted the buzz words that they like to hear. Feel free to shorten/edit as you
see fit.
Muscle Energy: "In a T5-T7 N SLRR dysfunction, the T5-T7 vertebrae are sidebent
left and rotated right on top of the vertebrae beneath them in a neutral position.
This is considered a Type 1 thoracic dysfunction, and it is often caused by
hypertonic muscles in the back. We will use muscle energy to treat this. Muscle
energy is a direct technique, which means we're going to be taking your
dysfunction directly into its restrictive barrier. It's also an active technique, which
means that you as the patient will be actively participating in the treatment by
contracting your muscles. The biomechanics of this particular muscle energy
treatment involves me first bringing the dysfunctional segment to its right
sidebending and left rotation barrier. Then I will ask you to
contract your back muscles on the side contralateral to the side that I'm
treating, at which point I will resist that force for 3-5 seconds. When you relax,
I'll take you further into your barrier and repeat that process 3-5 times. Then I
will perform a final stretch and return you back to neutral. The treatment
model behind muscle energy involves the stimulation of the Golgi tendon organ
within the muscles we're activating. By contracting muscles against resistance, the
Golgi tendon organ senses the force generated by the muscle and causes a reflex
relaxation in that muscle. This relaxation allows us to take that muscle and the
vertebrae they're affecting through their restrictive barrier. Ultimately, this
serves to increase the range of motion of those vertebral segments and
therefore relieve the dysfunction."
Myofascial Release: "In this dysfunction, the components of the
fascial sheath surrounding the muscles in the thoracic region are disordered in such
a way that they are restricting the normal mobility of the fascia. This can not only
cause muscular dysfunction, but it can also compromise neurovascular and
lymph flow in these tissues. We will use myofascial release to treat this. Myofascial
release is a passive technique, which means Im going to do all the work for the
treatment while you relax. It can be performed as a direct or indirect technique,
which means the fascia can be taken into their ease or into their restriction based
on physician preference. In this case, we will perform this technique in a
[direct/indirect] fashion. The biomechanics of this particular treatment
involves applying a light but firm pressure on the thoracic musculature and testing
for any restriction in a superior-inferior, left-to-right, and sidebending excursion. I
will then take the tissue components into their [ease/restriction] and hold that
position for 30-60 seconds or until a release is appreciated. In this situation I will
hold it for 30 seconds. The treatment model for myofascial release involves
creating heat in the fascial tissues. This heat causes a plastic change in the

connective tissue, allowing it to reorganize in such a way that will improve range
of motion and neurovascular/lymph flow."
Soft Tissue: "In this dysfunction, the soft tissue in the thoracic
region is hindered in such a way that there is restriction in the normal mobility of
the tissues. This can not only cause muscular dysfunction, but it can also
compromise neurovascular and lymph flow in these tissues. We will use soft
tissue release to treat this. Soft tissue release is a passive technique, which means
Im going to do all the work for the treatment while you relax. It is also a direct
technique, which means we're going to be taking your dysfunction directly into its
restrictive barrier. The biomechanics of this particular soft
tissue treatment involves applying a deep but gentle pressure on the thoracic
musculature [parallel/perpendicular/etc] to the spine. I can then hold that position
for 30-60 seconds or until a release is appreciated. In this situation I will hold it for
30 seconds. The treatment model for this treatment involves creating heat in
the soft tissue. This heat causes a plastic change in the connective tissue,
allowing it to reorganize in such a way that will improve range of motion
and neurovascular/lymph flow."
HVLA: (ex: supine thoracic HVLA) "In a T6 E SLRL dysfunction, the T6 vertebra is
sidebent left and rotated left on top of T7 in an extended position. This is considered
a Type 2 thoracic dysfunction, and it can potentially be caused by periarticular
adhesions and synovial folds that develop in the joints and restrict movement. We
will use HVLA to treat this. High-velocity low-amplitude, or HVLA, is a direct
technique, which means we're going to be taking your dysfunction directly into its
restrictive barrier. It's also a passive technique, which means Im going to do all the
work for the treatment while you relax. The biomechanics of this particular HVLA
treatment involves me first bringing the dysfunctional segment to its barrier. To do
this, Im going to make contact with the left transverse process of T6 [T7 if it was a
flexion dysfunction] using my thenar eminens. Then Ill bring you into flexion to the
level of the dysfunction and add sidebending to the restricted side. Ill ask you to
take a deep breath and bring you to the edge of your barrier, and as you reach the
end of exhalation, I will deliver a thrust posteriorly, which in this case is down into
the table towards my thenar eminens. The treatment model of HVLA involves
breaking the periarticular adhesions and synovial folds that often build up
in the joint space using a quick, short thrust. Ultimately, breaking those adhesions
serves to increase the range of motion of the vertebral segment and
therefore relieves the dysfunction."
Counterstrain: [best recited during the hold phase of the technique] In this
dysfunction, there is a tenderpoint located in the right paraspinal musculature of
the cervical spine. Tenderpoints are often a manifestation of spasm in the muscles.
We treat tenderpoints with counterstrain. Counterstrain is a passive technique,
which means Im doing all the work for the treatment while you relax. It is also an
indirect technique, which means were taking the dysfunction into its position of
ease. The biomechanics of this particular treatment involve us bringing this cervical
segment into extension, left sidebending, and left rotation, which in this case is
away from the side of dysfunction. This serves to shorten the muscles in
question. Once weve found the best position that alleviates the tenderness, we
then hold the muscles in this position for 90 seconds to allow the treatment to

take effect. The treatment model of counterstrain involves an understanding of the

physiology of tenderpoints. When a muscle is stretched beyond its comfortable
range, stretch receptors found in the muscle spindle trigger a reflex that
causes the agonist muscle to contract. This then causes the antagonist muscle, in
this case the paraspinal muscles, to stretch, which creates a reflex arc that
ultimately leads to continuous spasm in the antagonist muscle. This manifests
as a tenderpoint. By shortening the muscle and holding it in this position passively,
we decrease the stretch on that muscle and thus interrupt the reflex arc originating
in the muscle stretch receptors. Ultimately, this serves to relax the spastic
muscle and relieve the tenderpoint.