The Forgotten Techniques of William Garner Sutherland DO

Aeroparc Gilze-Rijen Koffie/thee, lunch & syllabus English

During William Garner Sutherland’s first 30 years in practice he employed a variety of direct techniques. Some were developed based upon his personal observations of patients experiencing lingering symptoms of the 1918 Influenza pandemic. He theorized that their symptoms were caused by a tissue tension problem which he dubbed “anterior tensity”. He reasoned that increased tension impeded fluid flow. His mechanically-based approach— the subject of this workshop— was aimed at restoring optimal fluid flow—venous and lympathic.

This workshop brings William Garner Sutherland and his pre-cranial ideas to life. Following the presentation of a colourful biographical sketch of WGS an explanation of the physiological consequences caused by influenza and pneumonia is offered. Then, Sutherland’s observation of “anterior tensity” is explained. To remedy this abnormal tension and its far reaching effects, 30 of Sutherland’s rarely taught techniques are demonstrated and practiced. Amongst the regions of his primary focus are the thorax (spine, ribs, and diaphragm), pelvis (boney and visceral), neck (boney and visceral), lumbar (mainly muscular), and shoulder girdle (scapula and clavicle). Of great interest and importance will be how Sutherland was able to trace anterior tensity into the cranium.

Once the bodily anterior tensity is lessened, Sutherland turned his attention to the cranium. In this area, his brilliance as an osteopath is evident. In his view, (non-trauma initiated) cranial inertia resulted from the cranium’s excessive expansion. In turn the expansion caused tension of the membranes, ultimately leading to fluid stasis. The reason for this will be explained in the workshop.

His techniques are simple in application yet powerful in results. Ideas on how to employ WGS’s approach in current day practice will be the shared.

About Jane Eliza Stark, MS, DOMP (Can)

Jane Eliza Stark, MS, RKin, CAT (C), D.O.M.P., Canada

Jane is the author of a recently published biography of William Garner Sutherland; Journeyman, William Garner Sutherland: The Formative Years (1873-1900). She is recognised internationally as an osteopathic historiographer, author, and workshop leader on Sutherland’s early approach & techniques, a fluidic approach to treating connective tissue, and much more.

Jane is an osteopathic manual practitioner, trained and practicing in Canada. Jane holds an undergraduate degree from the University of Guelph in Biology (1980) and a Master’s degree from Walden University in Clinical Research Administration (2014). She also holds diplomas from Sheridan College in Sports Injury Management (1990)., the College D’études Superior in Somatotheraphy (2001), and the Canadian College of Osteopathy, in Osteopathy (2003). Atman College in Sophia France bestowed the honorary degree of Honoris Causa to Jane in 2008.

Jane has been practicing as a certified Athletic Therapist since 1991, and as an Osteopathic Manual Practitioner since 2003. She is also a registered kinesiologist. She currently serves on the faculty of three osteopathic colleges, the Japanese Traditional Osteopathic College in Kobe Japan, the Canadian College of Osteopathy with campuses in Toronto and Winnipeg and the Collège d’Études Ostéopathiques with campuses in Vancouver and Halifax. She has served on the Board of Directors for the World Osteopathy Health Organisation and she is the current Director of Student Research at the Canadian College of Osteopathy, a position she has held since 2004. She has a private practice in southern Ontario.

Jane Stark is an osteopathic manual practitioner with 22 years of osteopathic experience and 34 years as a certified athletic therapist. Jane is equally skilled at treating complicated chronic conditions and acute sports- or activity-related injuries. Jane’s approach is unique: she not only treats the obvious presenting conditions, but she has an intuitive sense of what the body needs, helping her find and treat factors that are behind those of the presenting issue. As a result, many of her clients report that she can help people who have tried everything else and simply are not getting the results they want and need.

Jane graduated from the Canadian College of Osteopathy in Toronto. She is a faculty member at the Sutherland-Chan School of Osteopathy. Outside of teaching, Jane is known as an authoritative osteopathic historian, with several publications on the subject, the most recognized being Still’s Fascia and Journeyman: William Garner Sutherland: The Informative years (1973-1900). In addition to being an authority on history, she lectures internationally on the subject of connective tissue as it relates to osteopathic treatment; Sutherland’s techniques that he developed based following the Pandemic of 1918; Lumbar discogenic issues from the patient’s perspective; Upper and Lower extremity courses that combine the rigor of orthopaedics with the finesse of osteopathy.

Jane was formerly on the board of directors of the World Osteopathic Health Organization (2009-2011), and has attained a master’s degree in clinical research administration. Jane teachers on a freelance basis in 12 different countries, including Japan, the United States, and throughout Europe. In the next twelve months, she will be featured at conferences or courses in The Netherlands, Spain, Germany (Leipzig, Munster, Mulheim, Sarrbrucken, Neuss), and Poland.

In her capacity as an athletic therapist, Jane spent a decade at the University of Toronto’s David L. MacIntosh Sport Medicine Clinic. In addition, she has worked at a number of major athletic games, including the Commonwealth Games of 1998, the ParaOlympics in 1996, and the Canada Games in 1991. She was also the head athletic therapist for Canada’s National Men’s Rugby Team from 1991 to 1995.