Aston-Patterning
Aston-Patterning is a bodywork system created by Judith Aston in 1977, integrating elements of massage, movement education, exercise, and ergonomics to enhance health and well-being. This approach aims to improve physical attributes such as strength, endurance, alignment, balance, and mobility while also addressing issues like chronic pain and tension. By focusing on the body's unique asymmetries and promoting awareness of movement patterns, Aston-Patterning encourages individuals to discover more efficient ways to perform daily activities.
It is particularly useful for addressing backaches, headaches, and sports-related injuries, and is often considered part of a holistic approach to health. Despite its popularity, scientific evidence supporting Aston-Patterning is limited, with much of its efficacy based on anecdotal reports rather than rigorous clinical trials. Practitioners are trained to ensure safety during sessions, making it important to choose certified professionals for treatment. While generally regarded as safe, Aston-Patterning may not be suitable for individuals with certain medical conditions, making informed consultation critical for prospective clients.
Aston-Patterning
DEFINITION: A bodywork system involving massage, exercise, movement education, and ergonomics to improve health and well-being.
PRINCIPAL PROPOSED USES: Boost strength and endurance; dissipate stress and tension; ease movements; improve alignment, balance, posture, and mobility; relaxation; relieve pain
OTHER PROPOSED USES: Backaches, chronic pain, headaches, neck pain, sports and repetitive stress injuries
Overview
Aston-Patterning was developed in 1977 by Judith Aston, a dancer and movement instructor, to promote mind/body health and well-being. It uses a combination of bodywork and massage, myokinetics and arthrokinetics, movement education, fitness training, and ergonomics to build strength and endurance and improve alignment, posture, and mobility. Aston-Patterning is designed to teach awareness and help people discover easier ways of performing daily activities.
Mechanism of Action
Aston-Patterning is based on Rolfing, a method of soft tissue manipulation and movement education, but it focuses on the body's asymmetry instead of linear symmetry. It treats each body as a uniquely curved structure that moves in three-dimensional spiral patterns. Through numerous bodywork techniques, Aston-Patterning encourages cooperation among body parts and decreases accumulated tension.
Uses and Applications
Aston-Patterning is used to solve body movement, posture, and alignment issues. It is useful in improving balance and coordination and for relieving chronic pain from sports and repetitive stress injury, accidents, illness, and surgery. It may alleviate headaches, muscle tension, and neck and back pain and may aid in stress reduction and in relaxation. Aston-Patterning is often thought of as one component in a comprehensive, holistic approach to one's health and an integral step in bettering one's whole self.
Scientific Evidence
As with other complementary and alternative therapies, limited scientific research documents the benefits of Aston-Patterning. Most of the evidence supporting its effectiveness is anecdotal, and there are a lack of controlled studies or peer-reviewed articles on the benefits and limitations of Aston-Patterning. Further, because Aston-Patterning often involves a highly-individualized approach, standardized studies are difficult to create.
Some research suggests that Aston-Patterning improves posture and balance while easing bodily movements. However, its claims have yet to be proven by Western standards through randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials. Bodywork therapies are difficult to study because of flaws in methodology.
Aston-Patterning has become an appealing treatment option. Because of its relaxation effects, it may be beneficial for some conditions. However, more research is needed to properly assess its clinical effectiveness.
Choosing a Practitioner
Because Aston-Patterning involves various forms of bodywork, skilled practitioners should perform treatments to avoid injury. The Aston Training Center in Incline Village, Nevada, has a list of certified practitioners.
Safety Issues
Aston-Patterning is considered safe with relatively few side effects; feelings of pain and exhaustion indicate an unusually harsh treatment. However, it may be physically demanding and should not be performed on persons with heart or respiratory issues, diabetes, osteoporosis, bleeding or bruising disorders, or varicose veins, or on persons taking anticoagulants, steroids, or medications that disrupt balance.
Bibliography
"Aston Patterning." Whole Health Chicago, wholehealthchicago.com/blog/2009/05/06/aston-patterning. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.
Hannon, John C. "A Review of Aston Patterning®." Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, vol. 9, no. 4, 2005, pp. 260-269, doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2005.08.004. Accessed 3 Sept. 2024.
Pelletier, Kenneth R. The Best Alternative Medicine. Touchstone, 2014.
Servid, Laura. "Dimensions of Alignment: An Aston-Patterning Perspective." Aston Kinetics, www.astonkinetics.com/dimensions-of-alignment. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.
"What We Do." Aston Kinetics, www.astonkinetics.com/what-we-do. Accessed 15 Aug. 2023.