The developer of this online health assessment process
Paul Manley, D.O. (ESO 1980) M.A.O.
I was born in London in 1953 and have lived there for most of my life apart from a few years in the USA in the late 60’s where my father studied Osteopathy.
Although I am now a specialist Osteomyologist, I originally graduated from the European School of Osteopathy in Maidstone, Kent in 1980 following the completion of a four year full-time course and immediately began practice at my clinic in Central London. Soon after graduating I became a technical and editorial advisor to the ‘Vogue book of Exercise’, published by Conde Naste.
I then lectured on ‘The Anatomy and Physiology of movement’ for dance teachers (a 1 year course). Later on, as a result of five years of research into ‘intracranial physiology’, I had my first article published in the Journal of Alternative Medicine. Some years later I had another article published by three different journals worldwide on the subject of Cranial osteopathy and the Pediatric Craniopathies. Subsequent to that I lectured in New York, Philadelphia and Connecticut on 'An Osteopathic approach to intracranial physiology'.
My first ergonomic assessment job was for a press reading agency, it was very effective and the management made every change that I had suggested. One of my first assignments in the ergonomics of musicians was to teach postural observation, interpretation and awareness to a Professor of piano and his students at the Royal Academy of Music.
During my time in practice I have treated many thousands of individuals. I use a myriad of traditional techniques mixed in with my own, highly specialised techniques which use strictly hands-on work for all limbs and joints.
Throughout my career I have successfully treated hundreds of different types of musculo-skeletal problems. Analysis of habit is often a hugely important factor in the rehabilitation of an individuals case. I find myself now to be very well known in the classical musicians world as a ‘musicians problems’ specialist.
Some years ago, inspired by my own suffering at the PC, I designed, manufactured and sold an ergonomic device called the ‘Tendaguard’ a computer keyboard wrist rest.
By 2005 I had created my dream come true, an online 3D interactive anatomy website: paulmanley.org. This site illustrates the anatomy involved in common problems and heightens the understanding of such problems from a mechanical perspective. If a picture says a thousand words, an animation says a million.
A workshop that I gave on the anatomy of stretch and physical evaluation of soft tissue patterning for Yoga teachers in London a few years ago made me think very deeply about how we relate to our bodies, that different people ‘see’ their bodies in different ways. Often only partially. Some are very aware of the balance of the load they place on their feet as they walk, some others are oblivious to their peculiar gait. Some of us slouch, even when standing, others are balanced, standing relaxed and walking with ease. Thus, we all will have differing levels of awareness of what our bodies are doing at any particular time.
It follows that it is prudent for the employer to be able to assess their employees repetitive strain problems and nip them in the bud before they become disabling. Without this ability employers remain prone to loss of production, staff morale and potential litigation.