Leon Chaitow, D.O., N.D.

Leon Chaitow is a state registered osteopath and naturopath in the UK; author of approximately 65 books; editor of peer reviewed Journal of Bodywork & Movement Therapies (JBMT), and is a senior lecturer and module leader on post- and undergraduate courses at the University of Westminster, London. He lectures internationally (USA, Australia and Europe) on both bodywork and general health topics from an integrated naturopathic & osteopathic perspective (with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome and breathing pattern disorders being of particular current interest).

He practices privately in the UK as part of the Integrative Healthcare team and in Corfu, Greece, as well as in an NHS setting at Marylebone Health Centre, London, where in 1993, he became the first naturopath/osteopath to be appointed as consultant to a Government-funded conventional medical practice.

He is currently developing textbooks and videos for publishers Churchill Livingstone (Elsevier Science) of Edinburgh and New York. His many professional texts include : The Acupuncture Treatment of Pain, Amino Acids in Therapy, Palpatory Literacy, Fibromyalgia Syndrome - a Practitioner's Guide to Treatment, Soft Tissue Manipulation, Modern Neuromuscular Techniques, Muscle Energy Techniques, Palpation Skills, Positional Release Techniques, Clinical Applications of Neuromuscular Therapy - Volumes 1 and 2 (with Judith DeLany), Multidisciplinary Approaches to Breathing Pattern Disorders (with Chris Gilbert and Dinah Bradley), Integrating Complementary Therapies into Primary care (with Peters, Morrison and Harris).

Research has shown that breathing pattern disorders ' BPD ' (of which hyperventilation is the
extreme) results in respiratory alkalosis, smooth muscle contraction, altered fascial tension,
and a wide array of neurological and circulatory symptoms. In one study over 1000 patients
were treated using breathing retraining, manual therapy and relaxation. Symptoms were usually abolished in one to six months, In collaboration with some younger patients requiring only a few weeks. The presentation will describe the processes involved in the evolution of BPD, how to recognize it clinically using simple assesments, including the widely used and validated Nijmegen questionnaire: and how to start recovery through reeducation and manual therapy.

Opportunity to learn the basics of the methods used, including manual mobilization of the thoracic soft tissues and joints, as well as appropriate breathing exercices.