Le Carrier® is a psycho-body approach which aims to release physical and mental tensions. A Trager session is like a massage gentle and technique also includes a form of education in movement. The sessions therefore consist of two parts: the work done on the table and the learning of simple movements, called Mentastics®. The practitioner teaches them to the patient so that he can find, if necessary, the well-being felt during the sessions.

It was at the age of 18 that Dr Milton Trager (1908-1997) accidentally discovered the principles of his approach while giving a massage to his exhausted boxing trainer. Amazed at the effect produced on the instructor, Trager then began to experiment with his way of touching people experiencing muscle pain and tension. He has spent over 50 years developing his approach.

During a stay in California, Trager meets Betty Fuller who immediately recognizes the benefits that her method can bring. She persuades him to found the Trager Institute. Established in California in 1979, the Trager Institute is the organization that establishes and controls the training program internationally. National associations have also been created in more than 20 countries.

Practitioners gently perform rhythmic, wave-like movements all over the body without exerting force or pressure. The quality of toucher and “manual listening” to the practitioner is fundamental in Carrier. The technique is not simply aimed at mobilizing muscles to joints, but to use the movement to produce pleasant and positive feelings perceived deeply by the central nervous system. Over time, these neurosensory perceptions would bring about changes within the body itself.

Mentastics are simple and easy movements that are practiced while standing. According to practitioners, they make it possible to maintain and even increase the sensations of lightness, freedom and flexibility experienced during table sessions. This sort of meditation in motion would make it possible to find from the inside the sensations perceived by the tissues during the rhythmic movements induced by the hands of the practitioner¹.

In general, anyone who wants to keep in shape or regain a certain vitality after a difficult period can benefit from the positive effects of Carrier. It relieves body tension, posture problems and reduced mobility.

 Decrease the rigidity resulting from Parkinson’s disease. A study² evaluated the effect of Trager on reducing arm stiffness in subjects with Parkinson’s disease. This disease is a degenerative disorder of the nervous system characterized by tremors of the body and limbs and muscle stiffness. All 30 study subjects received Carrier 20 minutes long, followed by two evaluations. The results show a significant reduction in stiffness of around 36% immediately after treatment, and 32% 11 minutes later. The Trager could inhibit the stretch reflex, thus reducing the muscle stiffness observed in these subjects, according to a hypothesis put forward by the researchers. However, further randomized clinical studies will be necessary before it can be concluded that Trager is effective in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

 Relieve chronic headaches. In 2004, a randomized pilot study assessed the Carrier in the relief of chronic headaches³. All 33 subjects suffered from at least one headache per week, for at least six months. They were divided into three groups: a control group receiving medication, a group receiving medication with psychological support, and a group receiving medication along with Trager treatments. After six weeks, the subjects in the Trager group had fewer headaches and took less medication than the others. The authors conclude, however, that a larger study will be needed before recommending Trager as a treatment for chronic headaches.

 Reduce chronic shoulder pain. A randomized study compared acupuncture and Carrier in the relief of chronic shoulder pain in 18 wheelchair users following spinal cord injury⁴. A first group received ten acupuncture sessions and a second, ten Trager sessions, all over a period of five weeks. The researchers observed a significant decrease in pain in both groups during treatment and even five weeks after the end of treatment. The Trager has therefore proven to be as effective as acupuncture.

• Le Carrier is so soft that it poses no risk even to a frail person. However, the practitioner may interrupt treatment or require medical advice in certain circumstances: particular pain; heavy use of pain relievers, muscle relaxants, drugs or alcohol; contagious skin diseases (scabies, boils, etc.); redness; oozing from a sore; heat; edema; contagious infectious diseases (scarlet fever, measles, mumps, etc.); organ function disorders; joint problems (arthritis, recent injuries); osteoporosis; recent trauma (injuries, surgery, etc.); pregnancy (between the 8^e and 16^e week); history of miscarriage; cardiovascular disorders (aneurysm, active phlebitis); cancer and psychological problems.

There are practitioners of Carrier in more than 20 countries around the world. A typical Trager session lasts about an hour. During the first phase of the treatment, the client, dressed in light clothing, is lying on a massage table while the practitioner gently performs a series of movements to promote relaxation flexibility and the Peace interior. The goal is to teach the body to let go and to transmit this state of non-tension to the central nervous system.

Although practitioners study anatomy, their job is not to reposition the body, but rather to allow the person to feel that every movement can be performed without pain and in the fun. For people with mobility difficulties, the Trager can also be practiced in a sitting position or lying on your side. Two-day introductory Mentastics and tabletop group workshops are offered to the general public, with no prerequisite.

Training in Carrier features group workshops, personal training sessions and supervised practices lasting just over 400 hours. It is given in several countries around the world and can be completed in one to three years. Practitioners, tutors and instructors must regularly follow improvement or updating workshops, according to the standards established by the Trager Institute.

Kriegel Maurice. The Path of Sensation, Éditions du Souffle d’or, France, 1999.

The author, philosopher and practitioner in Carrier, describes, from the inside, the sensations experienced as much by the person who is touched as by the one who touches. Useful to know what the Trager is and to be able to compare it to other body approaches.

Liskin Jack. Moving Medicine : The Life and Work of Milton Trager, M.D., Station Hill Press, USA, 1996.

An excellent biography of D^r Trager recommended by the Trager Institute. The chapter on the Trager is offered free of charge on the Trager UK site. It provides a good understanding of the practice and its objectives.

Porter Milton. To my body I say yes, Éditions du Souffle d’or, France, 1994.

A good basic book, written by the creator of the approach.

Quebec Association of Trager

The association is recognized as a “national” organization by the Trager Institute. Description of the method and list of practitioners in Quebec. Training information.

www.tragerquebec.com

Trager-France Association

A very clear presentation of the Trager, its foundations and its possibilities. Lots of quotes from its creator Milton Trager. Description of training and list of practitioners in France.

www.ifrance.com

Trager International (Institut Trager)

The official site. General information and biography of the founder of the approach. Description of training programs and course schedule around the world. List of national associations.

www.trager.com

Slower UK

This UK site gives free access to one of the chapters of Jack Liskin’s book, Moving Medicine: The Life and Work of Milton Trager . Liskin is a Trager practitioner, biofeedback therapist and physician.

www.trager.co.uk