Thrombosis avoidance using structured movement discussion

Thrombosis leg management using Structured Movement
All Rights Reserved-Michael Gillan Wholistic Legs Maintenance Practitioner
http://thrombosis.wholistic-leg-health.com/
1
Overview
Being movement-challenged is a major contributor to Thrombosis.
Major advances have been made in dealing with it, but there is very little the
average person has access to that is easy to understand and apply almost
immediately to help prevent clot formation by increasing blood flow
This is an attempt to offer a simple, hands-on alternative that has been
tested on endurance runners and walkers around the world.
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation (Structured Movement) has been
described in medical physiology (Lymph Fluid Movement) and translated into
a simple practical application that has been used at events around the world
under the most extreme weather and physical conditions.
Used as a “Walk you can have when you are not having a walk” System, it
approaches Thrombosis minimization on multiple levels, by treating the body
as one unit, instead of isolated parts to be dealt with separately.
The simplicity of it allows for autonomous (self-sufficient) Leg Maintenance in
First, Second and Third world countries, where there are relatively few
trained people to deal with the prevention of movement-related thrombosis.
Other than two hands and the knowledge of how to use them effectively, a
strap is the only equipment needed when performing the self-seated version.

2
Thrombosis Avoidance-Move
The Walk You Have When You Are Not
Having A Walk
Structured Movement assists in
preventing static blood flow contributing
to the development of blood clots
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation
(Structured Movement)
Guyton’s Theory of Thrombosis Formation and Lymph Fluid
Movement forms the basis for structured movement
Structured Movement is aimed at maintaining leg circulation in
individuals at risk of Thrombosis through reduced or restricted
movement conditions,
‘Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991
W.B. Saunders Company - ISBN 0-726-3994-0
A Perspective from 1 Person, 2 Viewpoints
 A Thrombosis Survivor (2 times)
 A Leg Maintenance practitioner in Ultra Endurance Running and
Walking, utilizing the relationship of structured movement to
blood-clotting reduction.
Michael Gillan Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation Practitioner
(Extreme Running and Walking) and Movement Advocate

3
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation is founded on the principles and requirements of
Lymphatic Movement, it is highly relevant to Thrombosis, as the Venous and Lymphatic systems
are so closely related - It is impossible to aim for a result in one area, without affecting another.
Depending on the circumstances, using just the hands and the knowledge of how to use them in
an effective way to move static blood back to the body. It can be adapted for use in a number of
ways:
 Done solo while seated, using just a strap
 Done by someone else in a seated position
 Done in a prone (face down) position
 Done in a supine (face up) position
It is arguably the most tested, low tech, most efficient, most available leg maintenance system on
the market today.
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation - the latest non-technological, ‘cutting
edge’ way of moving static blood back to the body
The material in this book is provided for educational and informational purposes only,
and is not intended to be a substitute for a health care provider's consultation. Please
consult a physician or appropriate health care provider about the applicability of any
opinions or recommendations with respect to symptoms or medical conditions.
Photographs ©Jessica Clarke, Posed by Nicholas Clarke
E-mail: mgillan@hotmail.com
COPYRIGHT 1998 Michael Gillan
All rights reserved. This book may not be produced by any means in whole or part without prior permission.
5 Jordan Court / PO box 63 Rawson Victoria 3825 Australia

Leg movement using Structured Movement
4
Notes from the author
This paper sets out the theory, practicality, credibility and testing of Wholistic Light
Manual Muscle Relaxation and Its potential for use in Thrombosis Prevention - as
described by Dr.Guyton in ‘Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991
W.B. Saunders Company - ISBN 0-726-3994-0 (Lymph Movement)
Why Structured Movement?
This follows the pattern that doing something repeatedly makes something easier to do -
this is similar to learning to riding a bicycle, driving a car, knitting or skiing. Once the skill
is mastered and not used it again for a long time, it is easy to pick up where you left off.
Simulating a walk when mobility is compromised, has the advantage of helping to
maintain circulation in the lower legs by utilizing the body to work on itself in a natural way
- without the use of aggressive movement.
In a mobility-challenging situation Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation stimulates
the body movement systems of muscle/lymph/venous return. The static blood is moved
back to the body preventing the foundation for blood clot development being set.
Using Structured Movement as described by Guyton closely resembles natural
movement of the legs, and is basically a walk you have when you are not having a walk!
(The technique has passive and active elements added by me, but is within the
boundaries set by Guyton).
The system is tightly bound into Extreme Running and Walking, in no other field do you
find so many people voluntarily pushing their bodies beyond the boundaries of
performance and fatigue, who need as much assistance as they do, to move again when
they stop.
Extreme Running and Walking events provide a hands-on teaching and learning
experience within an environment not available anywhere else.
What is learned at these can be applied to other areas, such as Thrombosis minimization,
via the application of Structured Movement to increase sluggish blood flow in the legs
and prevent clots forming.
Guyton’s Theory and my practical conversion of this, works to bring the movement
systems back together as one unit without placing the muscle tissues or the body’s own
maintenance systems ‘at risk’ of damage from doing heavy work.
It does this Gently, Simply, Effectively, Safely - by working WITH the body not ON it.
Page 5 Introduction
Page 9 The Theory
Page 13 The System in Action
Page 31 About the Author
Page 38 Notes on Endurance Running and Walking
Page 47 Physiology References (Guyton)
Page 41 Conclusion

5
Introduction
There are many definitions of leg health, but they come down to a state where all the
systems of the body-nervous, muscular, skeletal, circulatory, digestive, lymphatic,
hormonal, are working in an optimal way.
Most people never consider the health of their legs and easily take them for granted,
thinking that they will continue to carry them through life without problems. However,
they can become unhealthy quickly through something simple, which can affect the
health of the rest of the body. (http://www.hazards.org/standing)
Problems starting out as acute can progress to thrombosis, and cause ongoing issues
that can potentially affect your health and state of mind years down the track.
Simply sitting or lying down for a prolonged period may develop into thrombosis, if the
blood is static for a long period, clots can form in vessels in the legs.
If any clots break away, they can travel to the lungs or brain and cause major
problems and even death.
Blood clots in the vein which break away and lodge in the lungs are called Pulmonary
Embolism
I am an older male, the victim of 2 attacks, however there are no restrictions on who
thrombosis affects; I have a very distant 16-year-old fit and healthy niece who died
from Deep Vein Thrombosis and its complications.
There are many other contributing causes of thrombosis but slowing or reducing
blood flow from the legs is an important one. This may be due to work or workplace
ergonomics, flying, sitting for hours watching television, gaming, or even
post-operative immobility and complications, such as I had.
Post-operative complications were my issue, which I will cover as I believe it is
significant to illustrate how a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing, and why
early intervention by appropriate medical personnel to ensure an accurate diagnosis
and intervention can save your life.
This is an attempt to make information accessible from the lay person’s point of view;
it is not a medical paper nor intended to be, my main reference to thrombosis comes
from:
1
Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991 W.B. Saunders Company-ISBN
0-726-3994-0
Prevention is better than cure, for me, there is none except for a new set of lungs and
a total change of blood.
I am now on anti clotting drugs for the rest of my life, to prevent it happening again.

6
Perspective 1 - A Two-Time Thrombosis Survivor
My authority for writing this paper comes from 4 sources:
1. From developing Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism
connected with post-operative trauma and complications preventing
movement.
2. From developing Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism from unknown
causes, requiring me to take lifelong drugs for clot prevention.
3. From my work in Ultra Long Distance Running and Walking leg maintenance,
using the principles of structured movement.
4. From Dr. Guyton and his description of lymph fluid movement, in
addition to his description of Thrombosis caused by reduced movement.
1. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing
My first experience in thrombosis was post-operative, and was caused by a
tube left in place for too long - making the pain of standing, walking and
moving too painful to attempt.
When the tube was finally removed much later than it should have been, I
had lost fitness and muscle tone, so decided to do some walking to regain
my fitness levels.
As I was walking I felt I had pulled a muscle in my left calf, so following
procedure, did as recommended - (Big Mistake).
I work with Extreme Athletes performing leg maintenance, and having
completed a First Aid course, I knew that the way to treat a fresh injury
is through Rest-Ice-Compression-Elevation for 24-36 hours.
I settled down with a good book, ice, a compression stocking, and elevated the
leg for 24 hours, then massaged the calf to increase the blood flow and help
healing.
A day or so later, I felt an intense pain on the lower right side of my chest
which became more painful as I moved and breathed. As the day wore on,the
the pain became worse , so it was off to the emergency department at the local
hospital for tests, from there, into the ward on oxygen and drugs for a week.
And then on discharge onto a drug regime for a year.
The lesson I learned was, do not rely on your own judgement, if you have
been hospitalized and immobile after surgery, consult the appropriate medical
personnel and actually get diagnosed on whether you have pulled a muscle or
developed a clot in the leg.

7
2. The second bout happened some months later, and by this time I was
walking again and quite fit. I had learned what to look for, but it was still a
shock so back into hospital again for a repeat performance.
I never found out why the second bout occurred
3. A legs maintenance person in Ultra Distance Running and Walking
In 1993, I started a massage therapy course - I wasn’t brilliant so the school
sent me to a six day event…
In 1994, I was sent again, I observed that what was going on in the massage
tent and the results it produced on the track didn’t seem to be working too well
but ideas were forming.
In 1995, I turned up at the same event again, only to find I was the only
person there together with two students who were without any experience.
There was no one else so I was going to have to work a 20 hour day for 6 days
straight. Survival was the motivator to try the change to using gentle work
and the theory I had developed previously encouraged me to stick with it.
This time, the competitors were back on the track so quickly performance
increased and some world records were broken. After the run finished, I was
given a run sheet and was amazed at the results. (Page 34)
Distance increased instead of decreased as would normally have happened
through fatigue, stiffness and soreness.
I spent the years since 1995 trying to change and experiment with testing the
limits of Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation, as I termed it in its practical
form of Guyton’s explanation of Lymph fluid movement. (Page 40)
4. 1
Guyton References
Not having access to an institution or access to research papers (this was before the
advent of the internet) I found myself a job in a hospital maintenance department where I
could gain access to medical books in the hospital library, here I came across 1
Guyton.
I found references to Lymphatic fluid movement and the causes of Thrombosis when it is
movement related, but also a possible mechanism to minimize clot formation which I was
already doing with the long distance runners and walkers I was working on at events.
An early experiment I did was to copy other passengers on a flight from Australia to
France to a six-day race at Antibes and just sat like every other passenger around me.
The result after 23 hours of flying was quite alarming:
1
0-726-3994-0
It resolved itself, but I
never did this again.
From my next flight
on, I used Wholistic
Light Manual Muscle
Relaxation in my seat
It also made me ask how many other people on that
flight also had problems and finished with actual clots

Thrombosis leg movement using Structured Movement
8
Prevention is Better Than Cure!
Dealing with the after-effects of Thrombosis is always harder than trying to prevent it in
the first place.
In immobility-related Thrombosis, it doesn’t matter why you are not moving, what matters
is that you do, to move the static blood by increasing the circulation enough to prevent the
clots forming.
Moving in a way that provides the most benefit for the time and effort expended is not
always convenient or easy when you are confined and unable to move the legs enough.
Lack of knowledge, location you are in, or the financial capability to be able to afford
one’s own therapist are all barriers to reducing thrombosis risk.
Advantages of using Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation (Structured
Movement)
 Reduced costs/no costs
 Gives someone with poor leg health self-maintenance and recovery tools
 No reliance on other people for recovery
 Can be done by self - using a strap, or partner, seated/prone
 Can be done with or without a partner wherever, whenever, and as often as required
 Needs no preparation or equipment to be carried
 No disrobing - done through clothes
 No sticky oil used
 Prevents the muscle stiffening
 Can be done as needed, to keep the muscles warm and relaxed
 Minimal knowledge needed to give ‘The edge’ over poor circulation
 Can be done in 5-7 minutes from stop to start!
 Based on Medical Physiology
 Tested in the most extreme conditions imaginable - not a laboratory
Has 3 versions that can be adapted to one’s personal conditions:
 Seated yourself, with just a strap needed
 Seated with someone who is not in a position to do it by themselves
 Prone for someone who is immobile in a prone position
2 Hands and the Knowledge of how to use them are all you need!

9
The Theory and Practical Development of Structured Movement
The intention of Structured Movement is to help reduce the incidence of Thrombosis
using the body itself to increase the blood flow.
1
Guyton states that to move lymphatic fluid around the body there are 4 requirements:
 Contraction of muscles
 Movement of parts of the body
 Arterial pulsations
 Compression of the tissues by objects outside the body
1
0-726-3994-0 (p. 182)
The Arterial System has the heart and gravity to pump fresh blood to the extremities, the
Venous System has the muscle pump to move used blood up the body against gravity
when it is working properly, they all need to work together to prevent Thrombosis.
Why Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation (Structured Movement), Why not
Massage?
Massage relies on the specialized skills of the person doing the work. As it is working ON
the muscles it needs to have the person being worked ON undressed, oil applied to the
skin to prevent friction burns, and towels to take the oil off the skin.
Bruising
Uncontrolled finger force into delicate tissues can break the fine arterioles and capillaries,
and when the body starts to repair the vessels, it uses clotting to start the process and
limit local damaged to the area.
Structured Movement works WITH the body to reset the movement systems.
Demonstrating Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation on a 90 year old lady in pain in
a Third World country, who has mobility issues - I was able to move her legs and give her
a walk when she wasn’t having a walk, and she loved it!
Moving used blood out of the legs without breaking the underlying structures is simpler, if
the body is recruited to do most of the work itself.
The aim is to move static blood and replace it with fresh blood using the hands alone and
- it’s just a coincidence that the other body movement systems benefit as well.
We are not attempting to fix anything, so special skills are not needed.
The damage done can be seen on
the skin but the real damage is below
this level and may provide a rough
surface in vein, that may provide a
start for clotting to take effect

10
The Theory - The body is all one unit and what happens to one part of it affects the
rest of the body as well.
Until they don’t - when the legs are left in one position too long, it allows the
conditions to be set in place for clots to form in the blood.
Normally when blood is flowing fast, any clots that are formed get carried to the
liver where they are taken care of.
Thrombosis
If the blood is flowing too slowly, the concentrations of the pro-coagulants in the blood rise
to allow clots to form.
Immobility can cause this can when the blood flow is blocked for many hours and the
blood is static for too long.
A clot which develops in a blood vessel is called a thrombus. Once it has formed, it can
break away and move into the blood flow - this is called an Embolus. They move until they
come to a narrow point in the circulatory system.
This is when the real problems start.
However, if movement happens in a structured way before clotting starts commences, it
needn’t get past the stage where the clots can be taken care of by the liver.
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation takes a multi-dimensional approach which
involves bringing all the body systems back together so they can work at keeping the
body free from Thrombosis.

11
What do Ultra-Marathon Athletes have to do with poor leg circulation?
Their legs get problems too!
Ultra Athletes run or walk over marathon distances (26.2 miles or 42.2 kilometers); their
events can be from 6 hours, but usually go 24-hours upwards; this can even include
crossing continents or running around the world.
They have similar leg problems, because they do it on a daily basis.
Tight calf muscles can compromise blood circulation and lymph fluid movement, because
the muscles are simply not moving. When they get home and the body starts repairing,
they both will not be moving much for the next week or so.
Some common areas between the mobility-compromised person and
ultra-marathon athletes are:
 Lack of movement coordination after being inactive for a period
 Muscle tightness and contraction
 Circulation problems in lower legs
 Swelling ankles
 Mental and physical exhaustion
Most of these are also contributing factors for people who are immobile and at risk of
developing Thrombosis.
Using any available space to maximum effect may minimize many of these factors by
turning:
 A small working space into a Micro- Gym
 Your home into a Mini-Recovery Center.

12
The Crossover from Theory to Sport legs maintenance
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation was developed in 1995 at a six-day
running/walking endurance event
At these, the aim to stay on a track is to do as many miles (or kilometers) as possible in
that time.
The conditions are dirty, filthy, sometimes unhygienic, the weather can be extreme heat
or extreme cold, the main enemy is not the competition, but the fatigue, lack of sleep,
muscle soreness, stiffness, blisters, the track itself, and much more to simply keep one
step in front of another.
The effect on the body, particularly the legs is also extreme.
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation may help reduce Thrombosis because it works
on the whole body movement systems to relax the muscles and force used blood from
the legs, so that fresh blood can enter the muscle tissues aiding recovery.
It has been used on two around-the-world runners, as well as walkers across continents
and many other events including cross-country America and Australia, to test it in the
most arduous conditions possible. (See page 32 and www.running-repairs.international
for more information on these).
The crossover from Sport to other areas (Including hospital environments)
In 1995/96 I managed to get 3 days’ work experience at a small hospital with the Physical
Therapy Group (unpaid) and stayed for a year. It was while there that I went off to assist
on a 6-Day event, and developed Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation.
When I returned to the hospital I began doing supervised work on the wards with post
operative, stroke, accident, geriatric, paraplegic and other groups of non-ambulant
patients.
It was realized that the work being carried out was light, gentle, non-threatening to the
patients after they had been in theatre or were long term bed confined and didn’t
compromise sterility conditions, so I was asked to stay longer and work with the people
who were confined to bed, before their real rehabilitation started.
At this time, there was not as much known about hospital-related thrombosis as
there is now, so there weren’t the drugs, pressure stockings, or pressure pumps
working the calf muscles as there are in hospitals now. (In First World countries
at least).

13
How does it all go wrong?
There are many systems connected with moving the body and they are all interconnected.
If one of the systems fails or is placed at ‘risk’ of failing, it can compromise the rest of the
body. In the case of Thrombosis, the circulation has been compromised.
The Arterial, Venous and Lymph systems are interconnected in the circulation systems,
but while the Arterial System has the heart and gravity to deliver fresh blood to the lower
leg tissues, by the time it needs to be returned back to the body, all the pressure has been
lost and there is none left to get rid of the used blood in itself.
There are 3 types of veins:
 Deep leg veins return blood directly to the heart.
 Superficial veins are just beneath the skin.
 Perforator veins are connector veins between the superficial and deep veins.
Used blood is returned back up the legs by the Muscle Pump with the motor power
supplied mainly by the calf muscles moving and squeezing the veins, which have
one way valves in them to stop blood flowing back down to the feet.
Veins have valves which permit the flow of blood only in the direction of the heart. When
the veins are massaged by the contractions of the leg muscles, the veins are constricted,
and the blood is pushed up the legs towards the heart.

14
In a good circulatory system, the blood flows freely with clotting and anti clotting agents in
equal balance, and if any clots do form they are mixed in with a large volume of blood,
filtered out through the liver and taken care of naturally.
When the blood slows, the concentration of the clotting agent increases, and any
roughened surface of the vessel via an accident or infection can initiate clotting.
In all areas of immobility, clotting can happen when the blood flow is blocked for a long
time; this can happen can when pillows are placed under the knees, or sitting in a chair in
front of a computer or airline seat, and the blood is prevented from freely circulating.
When the pump is not working, the circulation is static.
As the muscles work, pressure is applied to the lymph vessels, forcing fluid through
one-way valves from one section to the next.
Lymphatic vessels are self-moving
Movement of the surrounding muscle tissues strokes or ‘milks’ them.
‘Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991 W.B. Saunders Company-ISBN
0-726-3994-0 (P.397) and P.209
Muscle tissues surrounding
the lymph vessel

15
The balance between clotting and anti-clotting agents is upset, and as the circulation is slowed down, it
rises in favor of the clotting agents in the blood and increases the chances of clots forming.
Movement is needed to return blood and lymph back to the body
The Calf muscles are the main motors in the legs for a pumping system to take
used blood and fluid back up the legs
No movement, no pumping, nothing moves!

16
Passive Circulation without Muscle Movement
Passive way If elevation is used there are three basic positions to help drainage.
Position number 1 - When the legs are out straight it gives a more direct route for fluid to drain,
but puts the muscles into a tense stretched position adding pressure to the blood and lymphatic
vessels thus reducing volume of fluid flow.
It also leaves the knee and ankle in a locked position, making them stiff to move on standing, so if
used a long board should be used under the legs for support.
Position number 2 - Gives more comfort, however the calf muscles are squashed between the
weight of the legs and the surface of the height-giving object, closing the vessels in the calf
muscles completely; this will not allow fluid to flow naturally towards the feet, or allow anything
to leave them.
The most acceptable position
Position number 3 - Is the best to use, it allows the muscles to relax and vessels to open for
draining fluid, however due to the shape of the calf it still leaves ‘dead’ areas in the leg.
In all these positions, pins and needles may also develop, as nerves in the legs may be compressed
and feel as though they have gone to sleep.
The time factor
There is a time factor in Elevation; it is ruled by how much time can be spared for the amount of
inactivity needed while it is happening, and how much time is needed to drain the legs.
Whatever time is needed, this can be reduced by using the calf muscle pump for what it is meant to
be used for; and by making the muscles work, the lymphatic system is also being stimulated while
the brain is being made aware that the feet still exist.

17
Complicated, hard-to-do maintenance systems do not need to be involved in
making the blood circulate, all this needs is the knowledge of how to use the
hands to perform structured movement.
 It can assist with circulation
 Assist with flexibility
 Assist with Lymphatic circulation
 May assist with control of pain
 May assist to calm the nervous system
When not to use muscle recovery work:
 Over a recent injury
 Over skin problems and open wounds
 When the person has had or has been diagnosed with cancer
 Over varicose veins
 When the person has had colds or flu
 Acute pain
 Pregnancy (In the first 3 months)
 With undiagnosed conditions
 If the person is on medication
 Cardiac or heart problems
 Unknown causes of swelling
IN ALL OF THESE CASES SEEK MEDICAL ADVICE BEFORE DOING ANY RECOVERY WORK
If the legs need rescuing through too much sitting or other causes of
immobility see a medical medical practitioner!

18
Using ‘Wholistic’ Light Manual Muscle Relaxation
Some working notes:
Deep heavy work increases the risks caused by ‘over-enthusiastic’ use of the fingers on the
muscles.
By working lightly and conservatively, the risk of muscle damage can be reduced - all efforts can
then be concentrated on recovery rather than on fixing any injury.
Relax is for the muscles - ‘Let Go’ is for the person
Relax is what the muscles do so that the venous system can work properly.
To many people, the term “Relax” is a poor choice of words to use because they cannot relate to it;
when asked, they may concentrate on what it means, causing them to tense the muscles which will
constrict the vessels the and reduce the circulation.
The term ‘Let go’ is an easily understood term and should be used in its place.
Never rush the sequence.
 Use the palm of the hands and the flat of the fingers to stop the tips digging into the
muscle.
 Inform the brain what is intended, by passive demonstration before doing active work.
 Never do anything into pain.
 Never force anything.
 Keep everything light.
 Do not think ‘If I do it harder it will be better’ - It won’t, the lighter Manual Muscle
Relaxation is performed, the less chance of causing muscle apprehension.
 Do not go any faster than the brain will allow the the muscles to go.
 Do not use the fingers in the muscles, only press until the muscle starts to “give."
 Keep the back straight. Watch your back! Look after it.
 Kneel alongside the person being worked on.
 Support the hands when pressing.
 Start in the areas close to the body, and work away from it.
 Watch the way you stand and move, try not to bend over the person, but bend the knees.
The body temperature during any recovery work drops; put a blanket over the person being
worked upon to seal in heat and keep them warm.
To get at the part of the leg being worked on, pick up the corner and replace it when finished.
At the first sign of cramping, switch to the other leg, and when that one is finished, cramping on
the other leg should be reduced along with the possibility of causing injury.
The lighter Light Manual Muscle Relaxation is done, the more effective it is.
 Stretching - Perform all stretches gently.
 If there are any problems, STOP and do not continue.
 In Light Manual Muscle Relaxation, the person receiving is in control…
 NOT the person giving it.
Check whether the recipient of Light Manual Muscle Relaxation has any problems
which may cause complications, and if any doubts, refer to medical personnel.

19
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation - Self Seated
Legs - Thighs: Wobbling and Compressing
Compression
Put one flat hand each side the thigh, and press them together simultaneously; this gives a
squeezing effect to the muscles.
Press the muscles together at the same time.
Compress from the groin down towards the knee.
Change the hand positions so that one hand is on top of the thigh and one underneath.
Wobbling
Place one hand each side of the thigh, and gently start to move them in opposite directions
setting up a wobbling movement in the muscles.

20
Legs - Calf: Wobbling and Compressing
Wobbling
Place one hand each side of the calf muscles; wobble the calf from side to side.
REPEAT 2 OR 3 TIMES or as many times as comfortable with.
Alternate this with compressing, until relaxation is felt in the muscles.
Repeat as many times as comfortable with.
Compression
Place the hands flat against the calf; press them towards the front of the leg with a slight upward
movement.
Cover all the muscles.

21
Legs - Stretching with a Strap
For stretching and pumping the calf muscles, use a luggage strap rope or belt folded in half; hold
an end in each hand and loop it under the ball of the foot to give extra leverage.
Gastrocnemius Stretch (Back of calf)
Soleus Stretch (Middle of calf)
Bend the leg with the heel on the floor with the foot flat
Pull the foot up as far as it will go until the calf muscle tightens.
Hold for a count of 5.
Push the foot down against the strap while holding it; wait for a count of 5.
Pull up the foot again and hold it for a count of 5.
Push down on the strap, hold for a count of 5, pull up again, and hold for a count of 15.
Pumping
To make the calf muscle expand and contract, pull the strap up and down rapidly.

22
Stretching the Lower Body - Stair Climbing
Use the strap under the ball of the foot and pull on both ends if the legs are tight and they are
difficult to pull up, or alternatively; interlace the fingers around the knee under the kneecap area
and take it towards the chest in 3 stages stopping at each level before moving it up further.
Only go as far as comfort allows, then stop.
Move the knee towards the chest, then stop and hold it for a count of 5,
Push down and hold for a count of 5.
Taking the knee towards the opposite shoulder will increase the stretch and also stretch the
buttock muscles.
Hold the knee in the towards the chest position for a count of 15
Lower the leg and do the other one.
REPEAT 3 TIMES.

23
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation - Prone
Upper body relaxation
Only do this only if no back problems are present.
Rocking:
Gently rock the lower back by pushing and releasing the buttock on the side being worked on.
Pushing and releasing, move up the body changing to compressing around the shoulders.
Compress around the shoulders and down the arm.
Press across the top to the other shoulder, and do the other arm.
Work on the hands squeezing and pressing each finger, then compress back up to the shoulder.
Compress down the body again until the hips are reached, and do some rocking.
Compressing the buttocks
Press on and around the buttock to release some of the tension built up in this area.

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Legs – Thighs: front and back of legs
Positioning-If someone is lying on their stomach
Put a knee under the ankle and lock it into the thigh, alternatively, put a pillow or rolled up towel
under the arches of the ankles; this will:
 Stabilize the leg.
 Shorten the calf muscles taking some tension off them.
 Take pressure and stress off the lower back.
 Stop the tops of the feet from rubbing on a hard surface making it uncomfortable.
Wobbling
Place one hand either side of the thigh and move them in opposite directions making the muscle
wobble.
Do not press hard, but firmly and lightly.
Change to compressing the thigh.
Start at the top of the thigh and keeping the hands flat, work towards the back of the knee.
(Do 2 or 3 times)
Put one hand on hand on top of the other and compress back from the buttock area, back to the
knee.
Finish with some more wobbling on the thigh.
Alternate with some more compressions from the buttock down to the back of the
knee.

25
Legs: The calf muscles
- It is important to use the flat of the hands not the fingertips.
Compressing
Compress from the back of the knee down towards the back of the ankle.
(If the calf is wide, do this in 2 or 3 rows, as all the calf has to be covered)
Do not press hard on the Achilles tendon.
Mobilizing or wobbling the muscles
Place a hand with the thumb and index finger separated on the calf muscles; if the muscle is a large
one, use two hands.
Wobble the muscles from side to side, taking care not to press the fingertips into the
muscles.

26
Wobbling
Leave the knee resting, and slowly take the foot to the upright position; hold with one hand at the
middle of the foot near the arch.
Lightly move the leg from side to side to cause a rippling effect down the muscle.
Repeat as many times as comfortable with. If any pain occurs, stop.
Stretching - Do a light ‘passive’ calf stretch
Hold the heel in the fingers and palm; lay the forearm along the bottom of the foot; place the other
hand on top of the forearm near the ball of the foot
Press firmly and steadily on the foot until the receiver feels a light stretch in the muscle
Do Not Stretch into Pain.
When the limit is reached, hold for a count of 5 and slowly take the foot and leg
vertical; if the receiver is feeling comfortable, now is the time to make the
stretching ‘Active’.

27
The ‘Active’ Calf Stretch
Bring the leg back vertical - leave the hands in the same position.
The giver presses the foot down firmly and held as a block to be pushed against.
The receiver pushes the foot against the block and holds for a count of 5, then relaxes the foot.
The giver presses again for 5, then relaxes the foot - the giver presses and foot is held in stretch
for a count of 5.
Ease off, then prepare for pumping.
Pumping
Rest the leg against the knee and move the foot up and down.
Do 15 to 20 pumps.

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Alternative stretch
This is a back of the calf stretch - place the hand on the bottom half of the foot and apply light
pressure to take it into a stretch for relaxation. Hold for a count of 10.
Turn the receiver over onto their back.
The Back Lying Sequence
‘Passive’ wobbling and compressing
The ‘Passive’ back lying calf stretch and stair climbing
Move the foot and knee towards the chest in 3 or 4 movements stopping each few centimeters.
(Wait for a few seconds so the brain can register the new distance before moving the leg up to the
next stage)
For the passive stretch, do not push down.

29
‘Active’ Stair Climbing - The receiver takes part
The receiver pushes down on the operator’s hand (gently but firmly). Hold this for a count of 5.
The leg is moved to the next stage.
This is repeated until the knee is as close to the chest as possible, then the receiver stops
pushing.
Once at the chest the giver leans against the foot and leg, holding it at stretch limit for a count of
10 while the brain accepts the imprint of the new muscle length.
Pumping - This is done passively - without any help from the person being worked on.
Take the foot in the hand near the ball of the foot and start to move it up and down.
For the back lying person keep the hands as for the stretch and move the arm so the ankle is the
pivot and move the foot up and down
Finish by doing some wobbling.
Do the other side.

30
The Illiotibial bands can be stretched gently if needed.
The key to breaking ‘muscle deadlock’ in the lower body is to have the tight bands at the side of
the legs stretched and loosened off; this will let the other muscles become relaxed and pliable.
The Illiotibial tract or band stretch
Lift the leg not being stretched over to the outside, to get it out of the way.
Pull the ankle around until the band is pulled tight, and hold for a count of 10
The receiver pulls gently against the giver for a count of 5, and then releases the tension
The giver pulls again making the band go tighter each time.
This is repeated until as far as possible is reached with the leg.
Hold for a count of 15 then the leg is taken back.
If the person is lying on the floor, a knee against the outside of the leg being stretched will save
back stress on the giver.
Check for tightness in the band, and do the other side.
mmmmm

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Assisted Seated Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation
Some precautions and notes when working with the seated person:
Always think of your own back and comfort first!!
Make sure there is no strain on the lower back.
Be careful!!!
 Something soft but firm is needed to sit or kneel down on in front of the receiver;
this will save the back from being placed under stress.
 Keep the hands flat to cover more area.
 Keep it gentle.
 Attempt to stay at just below skin pressure.
 All movements are started from the top and worked down towards the ankle.
 Do not do anything by force.
 Do not do anything into pain.
On stretching, take the muscle as far as it will go without causing pain, and wait for a few
seconds while the brain accepts the new distance.
When it does, ‘GIVE’ will be felt as the muscle relaxes, and then the next movement can
be made.
At all times consult with the person being worked on for their comfort.
Are they happy with the stretching?
Are they Happy to go on to the next stage?
Are they warm enough?
Everything is aimed at persuading the bod,y not beating it into submission.
Using:
 Simplicity - non-invasive
 Consistency - conditions the muscles by repetition-working with the muscles not on them
 Predictability - consistent information fed into the brain results in automatic responses.

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Legs - Thighs
Wobbling
Place the hands either side of the thigh with the fingers pointing downwards.
Move them up and down in opposite directions so that the thigh wobbles.
Compression
Put one hand inside the thigh and the other outside.
Compress down from the groin area to the knee.
Change to one hand underneath and one hand on top of the thigh.
Compress down to the knee.

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Legs - Calf
Wobbling
Put a hand on each side of the calf muscle, and push it gently from one side to the other
Compression
Starting just below the knee and keeping the hand flat, press the calf towards the front of the shin,
work down towards the ankle.
Repeat 3 times covering all the muscle.

34
Stretching the calf and leg
Place the fingers of the hand under the toe area and slide it under the foot, until the foot is lying
along the wrist with the fingers curled around the heel in a cupping fashion.
Place one hand around the calf near the top, for leg stability.
Bring the arm up and hold, adding slight pressure to put the calf muscle into stretch.
Hold for a count of 10 and let the foot come down again.
Do 3 times, and hold for a count of 15 the final time.
Pumping
Move the hand and arm up and down to make the calf muscle expand and contract in a pumping
movement.

35
Stretching the lower body: Stair Climbing
Take the knee towards the chest in 3 stages, stopping at each level before moving up further
towards the chest at each stage.
Take the knee up towards the chest, then stop and hold for a count of 5.
Push against the hands and hold for a count of 5.
Take the leg up to the next stage, and do this until the chest is reached.
Hold the knee in the towards the chest position for a count of 15.
Lower the leg.
If more stretch is needed, take the knee towards the opposite shoulder.

36
Raised leg stretch - Stretches the calf and back of the leg.
Keep the hands in the same position as before, and bring the lower leg straight out in front.
Move the leg up, while at the same time putting pressure onto the foot.
Count to 10, let the pressure off for a count of 5, and move the leg further up.
For the final time, hold for a count of 15.
Keep the hands in the same position as before and bring the lower leg straight out in front.
Put light pressure on to the foot.
Count to 10, let the pressure off for a count of 5 and push again.
For the final time hold for a count of 15.

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Accepted Massage Practices are too difficult for most people.
They do not want nor need to be professional massage therapists, and are not motivated to do a
certificate course, when it is usually only able to be performed on other people.
There may also be flexibility and coordination issues when attempting to do perform modern
scientific massage, making it a challenge to do 'Tapotement', 'Petrissage', 'Kneading', 'Rowing
stroke', or any of the 101 different movements that require practice and more practice to master.
Other disadvantages of conventional massage are:
 They require knowledge of how to perform them.
 They need the person to be disrobed.
 They need oil to prevent friction.
 They cannot be done where limited time, space, or effort are an issue.
Conventional methods of recovery also need the following basic equipment:
 Massage table weighing about 20 kilograms
 Towels
 Blankets
 Sheets
 Massage oil and other assorted equipment
Working enthusiastically may be dangerous:
 It may damage delicate capillaries and veins near the skin surface, causing bruising.
 The damage inflicted on vessels reduces blood flow, as the body goes into repair mode.
 It may push infection out of the lymph nodes into the blood stream.
 Cramping,
Working ‘enthusiastically’ should be avoided when the muscles are sore and stiff, as it can break
the fine veins and capillaries and damage them; this can show up as bruising; but like an iceberg,
only the tip can be seen on the skin with the rest of it deep below the surface.
Under the skin is a whole array of veins, arteries, tissues and everything else which makes up the
muscles; probing deeply into the soft tissue with the fingers in an attempt to find sore spots to
work out at this stage, will result in interfering with the body’s natural healing processes.
Another reason to stay away from this is that probing with the fingers, it is possible to feel what is
commonly referred to as ‘knots’ in the muscle tissues; working on them in the belief that this is a
cause, rather than an effect of problems, should be avoided as it may be something else that should
not be dealt with at this point.
To avoid some of the complications and problems associated with approaching fatigued legs in a
way that will not cause injury, a flexible non-threatening method is needed to deal with them.

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Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation fills this niche.
Michael Gillan, Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation Practitioner
Michael is an Australian who was trained in conventional massage in 1993, and
was using that when he became involved in Extreme Endurance Running and
Walking.
At two 6 Day events in 1993 and 1994, I was using conventional massage to help the
athletes when the runners and walkers came off the track exhausted, and could barely
move one step in front of the other.
They had to take their pants off and lie down on the massage table to have their legs
worked on using massage oil and flowing deeper strokes on their legs.
The work we were doing took a long time, and at night it was bitterly cold in the massage
area, as we were just working in a tent and the runners/walkers would sometimes go into
hypothermia because of the cold.
It just didn’t seem to be working, as when they went back out on the track an hour or so
later, it could take hours before they were able to start running or walking again.
In 1995 I was the only trained therapist to turn up at the 6-Day Event, and there were 40
runners and walkers to look after for the period it went for. I realized to be doing
conventional massage on my own, with the physical demands conventional work
requires, it would have killed me as the athletes run all day and all night.
As the result of a remark by one of the runners, I took a different approach to the
conventional methods one we were used to doing; I changed it to light, simple, repetitive
work that could be done through the athletes clothing.
I took a calculated gamble that I was doing the right thing, as we were in uncharted
territory where massage and ultra athletics were concerned; as far as the results showed,
it paid off, and Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation was born.
I have spent many years testing and retesting at many ultra-marathons since, including
the first Round The World Run 1 www.worldrun.org - and such was the impact on Jesper
Olsen, it was also used on Round The World Run training camp in Denmark.

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Writer’s Qualifications and Experience
Certificate in Tactile Therapies - Relaxation Massage
1995 Colac 6-Day race (Light Manual Muscle Relaxation developed, used from
here on)
 Also was at 1993, 1994 Colac 6-Day events
 1996 Nanango 1000 Mile 16-Day (1600 kilometre) Footrace
 Coburg 24-Hour race (official masseur) in the following years:
1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,
2009, 2011,2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
 Australian Centurion Race walkers’ 100-mile event (official masseur) in the
following years:
1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008,
2009, 2011, 201 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2016, 2017, 2018
 1999 Sri Chinmoy 24-hour race with Cliff Young (official masseur)
 2000 Cliffies Dream 16-day event as masseur (7 days)
 2000 Sri Chinmoy Adelaide 24-hour Event (official masseur)
 2003 National 24-Hour Championships Self Transcendence Footrace (official
masseur)
 2004 Round the World Run 1 (3 weeks official masseur / support crew)
 2005 Cliff Young 6-day event (3 days with Indian National Record Holder)
 2007 Antibes (France) 6 jour event (official masseur)
 2007 Mors World Run 2 training camp (14 days)
 2007 Mors 100 Mile event
 2007 World Distance 24-Hour Championships Montreal with the Danish National
Distance Running Team
 2011 Run Across America for health and Natural Medicine San Francisco to
Bridgeport Conn.
 2013 joined Tony Mangan’s Run Around The World from Melbourne (Victoria to
Darwin Australia)
 2014 With Tony Mangan around Southern Ireland and finish of his 50,000
kilometer around the world run at the Dublin Marathon
 2014 Adelaide 6-Day and 48-hour Ultra marathon
 2015 Fort Lauderdale Icarus 6-Day Event
 2015 Raw Runners Around Australia (Nullabor Plain to Melbourne)
 2017 joined Tony Mangan on the Australian leg of his around the world walk from
Perth to Sydney
 Numerous 6-hour events and marathons around the world
 Various Anti cancer Council 24-hour relay for life events plus Duathlons and
Triathlons
 1994-1995 Vaucluse Hospital (The Melbourne Golf Injury Clinic) Physiotherapy
group
 Working with Psych, rehabilitation, injury, geriatric, stroke, ms, paraplegic patients

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These are notes on Ultra distance running and walking and the effect of using Wholistic
Light Manual Muscle Relaxation on the legs:
These are just some notes and references of some events Wholistic Light Manual Muscle
Relaxation has been used on.
As noted previously the system has been tested under all conditions, and people are surprised
when I turn up to a cross-continent event with just something for them to lie down on and my
knowledge of how to use my hands to keep their legs moving.
It is ironic that with all the knowledge I have, I finished with Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary
Embolism twice, and complications through being movement-challenged.
I have been fortunate enough to spend much of my time out on the road with many extreme
runners and walker,s and had adventures that I never dreamed I would have, even up to the time
of writing this paper.
Structured Movement helps the body to increase the flow of oxygen depleted blood and fluid out
of the legs, to allow fresh oxygen-carrying blood to enter them, this helps the legs to regain
momentum again and move faster.
This was demonstrated at the 1995 Colac (Australia) 6 day running/walking event
This is the event where I changed the approach from working ON the legs to working
WITH the body, based on the theory of lymph movement.
The table shows the results from the 1995 Colac 6 Day (Australia) event when I developed
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation (Structured Movement).
Reading from left to right is each day until the finish of the event.
On day one, the competitors go as fast as they can to do the furthest distance, because every day
following, the distance will drop off because of tiredness, fatigue, leg soreness, stiffness, other
reasons, and leg muscle tightness which prevents the muscle pump motors from working
properly.
Tightness can be seen on this runner’s leg where the muscles
are exaggerated.
Most people who are mobility-challenged do not have muscles
like this, of course, but it illustrates how important calf muscle
movement or the lack of it can affect blood flow rates.
This prevents used blood leaving the legs through the venous
system, so it becomes static in the lower legs and this prevents
fresh blood taking oxygen to the muscle tissues.
When there isn't enough oxygen in the bloodstream, glucose
and glycogen can’t be fully broken down to carbon dioxide and
water. Instead, lactic acid is produced, the by-products of this
can build up in the muscles and degrade muscle function.

41
FIGURES TAKEN FROM THE (1995 COLAC 6 DAY FOOTRACE)
NAME Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6
237.2 113.6 130 106 126 108 Kilometers
539 284 325 265 315 270 Laps
215.2 98.8 98 139.6 138.4 122.4 Kilometers
538 247 245 349 346 306 Laps
M Taylor 174.4 128.8 143.6 123.6 120.8 89.2 Kilometers
436 322 359 309 302 223 Laps
180.4 133.2 124 117.6 110 93.2 Kilometers
451 333 310 294 275 233 Laps
P Gray 150 134 105.2 94.8 111.6 106 Kilometers
375 335 263 237 279 265 Laps
138.4 108.4 106.8 116.4 106 107.2 Kilometers
346 271 267 274 265 268 Laps
I Davis 168 119.2 90 116.4 72 98.8 Kilometers
420 298 225 291 180 247 Laps
G Watts 131.2 96.4 99.2 104.4 92.8 133.6 Kilometers
328 241 248 261 232 334 Laps
C Young 142 91.2 90 97.6 88 92 Kilometers
355 228 225 244 220 230 Laps
D Kettle 138.2 86.8 90.8 95.2 94.4 84.8 Kilometers
332 217 227 238 236 212 Laps
R Hill 128 80.8 99.2 70 95.6 96.4 Kilometers
320 202 248 175 239 241 Laps
K Fisher 164 91.6 50 115.2 49.6 81.2 Kilometers
410 229 125 288 124 203 Laps
G Pollard 120 74.8 73.6 68.4 69.6 61.2 Kilometers
300 187 184 171 174 153 Laps
The above group came in for massage and stretching
The group below did not or had their own massage people
141.6 112.8 104.8 101.6 98 96.4 Kilometers
354 282 262 254 254 245 Laps
145.6 110.8 114.8 113.6 108.4 106 Kilometers
364 277 287 284 271 265 Laps
152.8 110.8 126.4 113.6 114.8 95.2 Kilometers
382 277 316 284 287 238 Laps
140.8 82 84 34 0 0 Kilometers
352 205 210 85 Pulled out (Blisters)
127.2 98.4 74.8 0 0 0 Kilometers
318 246 187 Pulled out 0 Laps
N Mercer 166 16.4 0 0 0 0 Kilometers
415 16.4 Pulled out 0 0 Laps
Underlining in the top group shows where the results of Gentle Manual Muscle Relaxation
was starting to take effect. The inconsistencies in the results on a daily basis was
caused by reverting back to conventional massage to see what happened
Note the higher injury and drop out rate in the bottom group.
A Krouglikov
T Rusek
B Beauchamp
D Parris
T Rafferty
G McConnell
G Audley
S Scanlon
J Timms
This is the event where I developed Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation, I actually had no
choice, because I was the only person who turned up at the event who had any idea about what
was going on. The problem was I going to be doing all the work, which meant if I had used
conventional work I would have been dead myself after 2 days.
Anyone who has done massage knows that it takes a lot out of you, and to do it consistently for
many hours over a 6-day period is an endurance event in itself.
A change of approach was needed to enable me to keep it up for so long, so using the knowledge
I had gained when doing a lymphatic drainage course, I tried that. Look at the results sheet, from
left to right each 24 hours. What usually happens is that the first 24 hours, everyone does their
best to do as many kilometers as they can, as each day following they do less.
A pattern shown by B. Beauchamp*. Notice by the middle of the week how in most of them, in
spite of sickness, stiffness, lack of sleep, blisters and other problems, the distances increase as
using Structured Movement takes effect.

42
The only change made was the change of approach to working ON the muscle to
making the body work ON itself.
*Bill Beauchamp is important in this section for reasons of his own. Bill at the time was just a
runner, his only ambition just to finish a run. I was asked to go to a 1000 Mile event with him in
Nanango Queensland.
For the 16 days and nights, he came off the track every 6 hours or so for some leg maintenance.
He managed to get through the race and was ultimately rated Number 17 in the World, in the
record books.
Postscript - Bill went back to another 1000 Mile run to try and improve his position. I didn’t go, he
got into trouble, and someone massaging him found a lump in his groin and classed it as a ‘knot’.
To fix it they worked deep to reduce it and he went back out to run.
Unfortunately for Bill, the person doing the massaging hadn’t realized that the ‘knot’ they had felt
was in fact a lymph node that was fighting infection, and pushed the infection out into the blood
stream. Bill was raced off to hospital a very sick man with Septicaemia. He nearly died.
When someone over-exerts themselves, the immune system is under threat and this reduces the
ability to fight off infections, the nodes swell when they are doing their job and can feel like ‘knots’
which most people try to massage out.
At least, I nearly killed myself because of my small knowledge that was dangerous.
From both my own and Bill Beauchamp’s experience, anything that is the slightest bit suspicious
should be referred to a medical professional to be checked before using hard massage into the
muscle tissues.
When I developed Structured Movement in 1995 for use with Ultra Endurance people I refuse to
work on their legs and keep them moving via increasing the circulation by helping the lymph and
venous return which allows fresh blood to reach the muscle tissues.
I now just concentrate on maintaining their legs using Structured Movement.
Lymph nodes (or lymph glands) are part of the body’s
immune system. They filter harmful substances eg.
bacteria and cancer cells from your body, and help
fight infections.

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The World Run Projects
In February 2004 Jesper Olsen of Denmark set out to run around the globe with two other runners.
Jesper ran through many countries including Russia, Siberia, Europe, Japan, Australia, United
States, Canada and Britain finishing in London after having run over 26000 kilometers.
I covered part of the Australian run as crewmember from Sale in Eastern Victoria to Codrington in
Western Victoria; it also included the Cliff Young 6-day ultra marathon where he ran 762
kilometers, winning the event by 50 kilometers.
As Jesper had to run everyday to keep to his projected timetable there were few days off to allow
recovery from soreness and stiffness, if he had allowed the time it would mean loss of productive
road distance and having to mentally readjust to the long distance still to go.
The road to recovery
A word from Jesper Olsen World Runner about Light Manual Muscle Relaxation:
“If I hadn't had the qualified help from the excellent masseur Michael Gillan, taking several
thousands of km out of my legs, I could spare myself the effort!”
My crew for the current stages, Michael Gillan, has proven to have other talents than the quite
taxing job of taking care of all the requirements of a really tired ultra runner!
He has since years back been working on a new approach to stretching and muscle-rebuilding for
ultra runners. I have the last two days tried his careful stretch and massage, and a bit to my surprise
the muscles are beginning to feel like before the start back in Greenwich, London!!
Usually I don’t take massage as the legs of an ultra runner will often be quite sore during the long
time events (and especially in an multi-year event like this...), and getting a massage can at times
cause more injury and cramping up than good. For example my last massage was some 12 000km
ago when I ran the 12-hour competition in Finland. And so far that has been the only one.
But Gillan came with best recommendations from my main contact in Australia, Phil Essam, who
besides being vice president in the Australian Ultra Runners Association, has heaps of good
knowledge to share. And this new kind of mild massage for ultra runners is definitely one of the
good tips! There should be a fair chance that I actually get fresh enough to do some decent
running at the 6 Day Race that I have coming up in Colac from the 21.November. I quite look
forward to that, even though I can’t expect to make a top class result :-)”
He won! 756.2 kilometers (Jesper holds the record for the longest run in history over
26000 kilometers and the first person to run around the world).
Taken from www.worldrun.org
It can take weeks if not months to recover after a six-day run (depending on the athlete’s recovery
program and physiology) to be fit enough to compete again, but we could not afford this time
frame to get him running normally again.
After running 12000 kilometers on the road Jesper’s legs had to adjust to running on an oval grass
track for six days and nights; after which they had to readjust back to road legs again.
As Jesper discovered pre-six day event, Light Manual Muscle Relaxation took many miles out of
his legs and we were convinced that the same result could be achieved post-six day event.
The challenge was to put Jesper together quickly enough in the available time we had before my
time with him ran out; I had to go back to Melbourne and my version of a normal life, leaving
Jesper to continue on his round the world run. Jesper finished

44
If someone is considering massage, they should be aware of what is happening; using the example
from Sandra Brown to stress how important the correct approach to muscles is.
“The second tear (at least I have matching legs with old tears on both sides) was caused, to my
great annoyance at the time, by an overenthusiastic physio who was supposed to be helping me to
warm up gently before a 24 hour race and got carried away. I am now more wary of having physio
at any time, and make sure that I stay in control, by saying at the outset what I want and don’t want
to be done to me.
Having never had a persistent injury (my varied training pattern means that any niggles have the
chance to heal quickly, rather than get hammered and go critical,) I have never had regular physio
or a steady relationship of trust with any physiotherapist who knew me and my needs.
The closest I have come to this was receiving massage from Michael Gillan during the Nanango
(Queensland) 1000-mile race in 1996. I had no hesitation in having a massage from Michael again
at the end of the Melbourne 100 miles walk in 1999. Michael’s approach is very gentle at all times,
and always works with the athlete and puts the athlete in control, thus minimizing the risk of harm
and maximizing the benefit.’
The World Run with Tony Mangan of Ireland www.theworldjog.com
In 2010 Tony left Ireland to run around the world
He finished at the Dublin Marathon in 2014. Jesper Olsen and I joined Tony on the road
for the latter stages of the around Ireland run.
Tony finished running 50,000 kilometers.
I joined Tony on the Australian leg of his world run from Melbourne to Darwin, where Tony
left for East Timor and the rest of his world run.

45
Our camping area on the road Tony having a break during night running
'I have known Michael Gillan for many years and have always got quick relief for my aches and
pains, from the stretching he performs'.
CLIFF YOUNG - 75-80 24 Hour World Record Holder (150.07 kilometers)

46
Michael’s methods of massage and blister care helped me to stay mobile throughout the race and
to recover quickly afterwards. His techniques are safe and gentle.
Unlike some treatments, which put the runners and walkers at risk of muscle tears or infection,
Michael’s techniques are gentle, safe, reassuring, and highly effective. They enhance comfort and
flexibility, build confidence, and promote success.
This booklet will help others to learn and practice Michael’s methods. It is recommended reading
for everyone who walks and runs and who wants to go further, go faster, or just to enjoy life
more!!'
SANDRA BROWN - 1996 Ladies 1000 Mile World Record Holder
1999 Ladies 100 mile Race walking World Record Holder
Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation
The theory of Lymphatic Fluid Movement used in a practical way to assist lower leg
circulation through working the calf muscle pump to push used fluid against gravity up
the legs back to the body for re-nourishment and recycling back to the muscle tissues as
fresh blood to promote a better leg health

47
References
The venous pump
Physiology: a regulatory systems approach. Fleur L. Strand. Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc.
ISBN 0-020979860-4 (p.209)
The venous pump
0-726-3994-0 (p. 75)
“THROMBOEMBOLIC CONDITIONS IN THE HUMAN BODY
Thromboli and Emboli (P.397)
0-726-3994-0 (p. 75)
0-726-3994-0 (P.397)
“Causes of thromboembolic conditions
0-726-3994-0 (P.397)
Muscle fibers
0-726-3994-0 (P.75)
The Blood Circulatory System
0-726-3994-0 (P.150)
Tissue ischemia
0-726-3994-0 (p.521)
“The valves in the veins are arranged so that the direction of blood flow can only go towards the heart.
0-726-3994-0
The Lymphatic System
Light Manual Muscle Relaxation fulfills 3 of the 4 requirements set by Guyton for moving lymph
fluid.
“Pumping caused by external Compression of the Lymphatics
In addition to the pumping caused by intrinsic contraction of the of the lymph vessel walls, any external
factor that compresses the lymph vessel can also cause pumping.
In order of their importance, such factors are
Contraction of muscles
Movement of parts of the body
Arterial pulsations
Compression of the tissues by objects outside the body”.
Guyton-Textbook of Medical Physiology eighth edition-1991 W.B. Saunders Company-ISBN 0-726-3994-0
(p. 182)
0-726-3994-0 (P.180)
0-726-3994-0 (p. 183)

48
All the events since 1995 I have covered at my own expense for this experience and only
peen paid twice, so I think it has all been a fair exchange as the system has helped break
many world and personal records by keeping people moving long after they would have
been physically finished if left to their own devices.
I wish to acknowledge the following people for their knowing or unknowing support and
contributions to this book.
Cliff McAliece of my early Colac days, Gary Parsons, Yiannis Kouros, Sandra Brown, Cliff
Young, Drew Kettle, Bill Beauchamp, Kevin Mansell, Tomas Rusek, Jesper Olsen, and everyone
who has knowingly or unknowingly contributed to my knowledge of muscle fatigue and recovery
over the years.*
Books I have used in my research
Travell S.G. Simons D.G. Myofascial Pain & Dysfunction: The Trigger Point Manual Williams
& Williams 1983
Travell J. Rinzler S.H. The Myofascial Genesis of Pain Post Grad Med. 1952
Modern Treatment for Lymphoedema Casley-smith Judith & Casley-Smith J.R. 5th
edition
Touching Montague Ashley Harper & Row
0-726-3994-0
Essentials of Anatomy and Physiology-Seeley Stephens and Tate-Mosby Year Book ISBN
0-8016-0227-0
‘Textbook of medical Physiology” (Physiology- fourth edition-Robert M. Berne, Mathew N.
Levy, Bruce M. Koeppen, Bruce A. Stanton-Mosby ISBN 0-8151-0952-0)

49
Conclusion
The base concept of Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation is by Dr. Guyton and
probably unintentional but the practical application of it is mine.
There are other contributing factors that I introduced to make the system work at bringing
the body back together as one unit, to help prevent setting the conditions that allow clots
to develop when the blood is static for long periods.
I am making my work public now through www.worldthrombosisday.org after reading of
so many deaths from its various forms and the suffering it causes. I don’t want any more
people than necessary to go through what I have been through.
I was lucky to have been in Australia where I was near a hospital to deal with the fallout
from thrombosis, there are many people from other countries where they don’t have the
same drugs, facilities or the staff who can help them through thrombosis.
The best hope they have is to prevent it happening in the first place but it is very hard to
find something that is simple and cheap to do that is out there.
There may be someone who will develop something that will be better and more effective
than using something that is not ‘empirically based’ but ‘evidence based’ for its
credibility.
The evidence based testing has not been done because of the difficulties in getting
funding and any support from an institution for someone who having to work by
themselves for such a long term project.
In the absence of formal qualifications I have deliberately gone for the credibility of hands
on testing over many hours of working with endurance runners and walkers, as these
people deliberately push their bodies to the brink of failure just to see how far they can go.
Structured Movement includes the whole body, not just the legs involves using the hands
without equipment (except a strap in the self seated version) makes it easy for use in
situations that are less than ideal.
 Cultural
 Lack of privacy
 Lack of education
 Lack of hygiene
 Weather conditions
 Lack of trained instructors
 Complicated hand movements
are some barriers that make conventional massage work difficult to use to being able to
do more to help people avoid developing Thrombosis.
These can be offset by the advantages in using Wholistic Light Manual Muscle
Relaxation (Structured Movement) which is a concept more concerned with re-educating

50
the movement systems to work together rather than the technicalities of technique.
Cultural - There is no intimate touching, in both sexes there is sometimes the fear of
being touched by other than a close partner
Privacy - All work is done over the clothing and all the clothes stay on so nothing is
exposed so is ideal in crowded conditions
Lack of hygiene - At many events such as across America and in the vast deserts of
Australia water is an issue and there is not much of it except what is carried for drinking
and cooking. It can be a long time between washing and cleaning so any open skin is
open to infection if it would have oil pushing bacteria into it.
The same can be said of hospital patients who have had operations and have lowered
immunity but need bed rest which places them at risk of deep vein thrombosis.
Weather conditions - are an issue for many people with movement challenges and this
is addressed by the work being done through clothes to avoid sudden loss of body heat,
or if too hot, clothing can be removed leaving strategic clothing in place.
Lack of education - It is easier to pass on a concept of movement to someone who is
also lacking in the ability to understand the technicalities and of why and how it is done.
Language can be a barrier but this can be overcome with Wholistic Light Manual Muscle
Relaxation using signs to give the concept of the what is being done.
Lack of trained instructors - All it takes in out of the way village or town is one person to
grasp the concept of using Structured Movement and you have an instructor who doesn’t
need to do years of study but they can pass on the knowledge given to them.
We in first world countries are lucky that if caught early enough and given timely and first
class care as I was, I was lucky I was close to a hospital both times, if I was at my home
in the country, 3 hours away from a major hospital I would not have been so lucky and
have have died like my 17 year old niece did from Thrombosis.
Unhygienic conditions at an event and an elderly
immobile lady in a nursing home at risk of DVT
through not moving.
Walking for her was not an option because of the
danger of falls, but using Wholistic Light Manual
Muscle Relaxation she was able to ‘take a walk
you take when you are not taking a walk’ without
risk.

51
All I have to take with me to events are my hands, blister fixing gear and the
knowledge on how to do Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation
Why the name Wholistic Light Manual Muscle Relaxation (Structured Movement)?
Wholistic - works with the whole body and treats it as one unit that works together
Light - very light to avoid breaking into the bodies own healing processes and damaging the fine vessels
under the skin.
Manual - just using the hands which avoids the need for using oil, undressing or complicated coordinated
hand/mind/brain movements. There only being 4 simple hand movements to learn.
Muscle - works WITH the muscles NOT ON them
Relaxation - When the person and their muscles are relaxed and without apprehension of being hurt or
injured there is more chance of working together with you to allow the body to be guided (Not forced) into

52
what is required so it can work together again.
© 2001 MICHAEL GILLAN CERTIFICATE OF TACTILE THERAPIES
5 Jordan Court PO Box 63
Rawson
Victoria 3825
Australia e-mail: "mailto:mgillan@hotmail.com"
All rights reserved.

53

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