Over the years many patients have thanked us and for our treatment. Below we have listed a selection of their experiences with BasicTouch® and tools such as the AquaSwing® and AbTouch®.

All health insurers in the Netherlands fully cover group training with the AquaSwing and other FlowMotion equipment
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What I think of the AquaSwing

I experience the AquaSwing as a relaxing way of doing training. Actually it's a little bit like playing… with water. I clearly feel that it is a balanced way of keeping and making your body strong and supple. It's a challenge also because there are always things you can improve such as the effort you put in as well as relaxing and getting into the flow.

The motions ensure that you use that little bit more physical power and feel the pull. Your muscles get developed in a gentle way. By doing a certain exercise a bit longer you get into the flow and become one with the rhythm of the water.
In short, I am a fan.

Marga Janssen

Arm, neck, and shoulder complaints (RSI)

For about three years I have suffered from arm, neck, and shoulder complaints RSI. These complaints were such a drawback for me that I had to stop with my studies, and because I was suffering more and more from these complaints, I had to go and look for a new job. Since I have had RSI, I have tried all sorts of therapy, but all without success.

Since February 2007, I have been busy with AquaSwing/FlowMotion and am very enthusiastic about them. Whether AquaSwing/FlowMotion will get rid of my RSI in the end, I don't dare say yet. Probably I have not been doing it long enough. I know there's a big difference however in comparison with other types of therapy. AquaSwing and FlowMotion increase my physical endurance. What I mean is it takes longer before the RSI symptoms appear and generally speaking the discomfort and pain is less intense and the symptoms don’t last as long as they used to.

The biggest benefit however is mental. Because I have the peace of mind that as long as I do AquaSwing/FlowMotion I can take a lot more physically, and so I am a lot more relaxed. This in turn ensures that the symptoms do not occur so quickly. I can recommend AquaSwing/FlowMotion to everybody because in addition to all the above benefits it's also a lot of fun and healthy to do. In the meanwhile I have now got a new job for the last nine months and things are still going well thanks to AquaSwing/FlowMotion.

Alex Groen

Flow Motion Lesson

A couple of months ago I came to Raoul's for the first time for lessons.
The motions are fluent and flowing and you do them to the rhythm of water and music. I am glad I went. At the beginning I was tired, heavy, and stiff, but now after going quite a few times I weigh less, am more lithe and supple.

Raoul, you do a lot for everybody and especially that feeling you give about yourself and the strength and power and that's a lot. Now when I'm on a bike I can look over my shoulder without any problem and turn my head in every direction. Really, if you follow the lessons and watch what you’re doing it's really fantastic. Seeing, doing and vision that gets rewarded. And you see, you do it, and you believe. I am going to keep going to this swinging FlowMotion party and enjoy every lesson and be present every time. A lithe, happy pupil.

Adrienne Garber

Two months now with a manual therapist

A stiff neck that wouldn't go away, sharp tingling pains running through my whole arm and my hand. I had been going for two months to a manual therapist who gave me manual therapy and cracked the bones. But I didn't have the feeling I was getting anywhere, in fact I was getting more and more blocked up right through my whole body.
I had never experienced anything like this, and I am somebody who has always been active and doing some sport or other.
Via an advert in the local paper I came across Raoul Lambert. When I went along to make his acquaintance, I immediately felt treated like a whole person and not just the pains. And in the centre there wasn't the usual medical sort of atmosphere, it was more an atmosphere of MOTION.

I got to know Raoul as this very good trainer. He watches and listens and shows you in safety what you need to be doing. From the first moment I started moving again, and again got into contact with my potential instead of with my limitations and pain. In addition to this, he’s got a very creative approach to all sorts of challenging equipment. Such as the AquaSwing, the AbTouch and all sorts of stretch exercises.
In this way I kept discovering new and more intense ways of dealing with the symptoms I have. I was confronted with my limitations during the exercises without it being a point of discussion. There were no restrictions. You could be expressive with the AquaSwing and introvert with the stretching exercises.

I’m a lot less stiff now and I’m not reminded of the pain all the time.
I experienced the way Raoul works as very consistent. What he says is what he is and that’s what he projects.

Hanneke Maas Geesteranus (Trainer/teacher)

A great help in my recovery

In August 2003 at the age of 62, I had a stroke due to which I became lame on the left side of my body. At the beginning I ended up in a wheelchair. After I was treated for a half year at the Revalidatiecentrum Blixembosch in Eindhoven I have more or less recovered.

In the Revalidatiecentrum I worked a lot with the AquaSwing. That helped my recovery. After I was discharged from the Revalidatiecentrum on the recommendation of my physiotherapist I got an AquaSwing from your clinic. I work with it practically every day.
The benefits I get are
It keeps all your joints flexible
It’s good for your sense of balance and your coordination
It’s very good for your condition
It’s good for keeping up your physical strength and keeping your muscles flexible.
It's also fun to do. That's why these activities are now part of my daily life and I feel very good doing it.

H v.d. Berg

It fits neatly into the side pocket of my travel bag

Nothing helped till I discovered AquaSwing! Many years ago I pulled my left shoulder and had to have a shoulder operation. It was due to getting too frenetic while doing aerobics. After the operation it took a few weeks before I could use my shoulder again and months before I was back to normal.

Unfortunately since then my shoulder and neck area are a weak spot. It doesn't take much to get painful tight muscles by, for example, working in the garden, at the computer, stress etc. For years I looked for remedies to solve the problem. I believe I have tried just about every therapy that exists but nothing has helped.

By chance I had heard about AquaSwing and decided to take a trial lesson. First I got a trial lesson and an intake interview with Raoul Lambert who also gives lessons in the Mirror Centre. On the wall of his physiotherapy practice I saw an award for the innovation prize that Raoul had received for thinking up the AquaSwing. I was quite impressed by his holistic vision.

When I was getting used to the exercises I had to do with the AquaSwing I found it a great relief that I could move fantastically free to the swinging music- so different from the boring training you do in a gym. Although during the first lesson I had to get used to the exercises I had to do with the AquaSwing. It was a nice friendly group of people on a Saturday morning. It took me two or three lessons before I understood how you had to make the flowing movements. When I got the hang of it, I quickly made progress. It’s really just a question of letting yourself get carried away by the water in the bag.

But the most important of course is the effect on my shoulder and neck area.

The pain and discomfort were quickly reduced when I started training twice a week. The stretch exercises, and giving your muscles a mass of age with the massage equipment after the lessons also contributed. The muscles in the problem area are much more flexible now and it clearly feels that everything is flowing through better. So I'm really very enthusiastic.
Another advantage of the AquaSwing is that you can do it in your own home or in the garden. You can use the AquaSwing anywhere. It fits neatly into the side pocket of my travel bag. Even when I was on holiday in the mountains I would put all my things into it, only you can't see that in the photo.

Ute Luttringhaus

I would recommend it to everybody

My experience with FlowMotion fitness. At the end of April 2007, my doctor recommended me for group training with FlowMotion fitness in the Mirror Centre in Amsterdam.
I have serious back complaints and have been getting treatment from a physiotherapist for years. I also have problems with irritable bowel syndrome.

My complaints are chronic and I am limited in what I can and what I can't do, so for me it's important to be able to keep moving. But that's not always easy if you're in so much pain.

In May, I started with the group training of FlowMotion fitness headed by physiotherapist Raoul Lambert. During the lessons we used all the techniques the trainer has at his disposal.

First of all he teaches us how to move with the AquaSwing which is a sort of skipping rope that you fill with water; you can swing it up and down moving in keeping with the instructions of the trainer who thought up these exercises. It's not difficult to learn and I enjoy doing it.

The motions you make with the AquaSwing are meant for people like me with chronic joint complaints. It makes it easier for me to work in a group with people who have all got complaints and have difficulty with moving. I then see that I'm not the only one who is slow and moves with difficulty. The nice happy music makes the exercises easy and more fun. After a few weeks I already noticed the result. My shoulders have become looser and I have less pain in my lower back. I also feel stronger and fitter after the training. The pain in my stomach is less.

The trainer, Raoul Lambert, knows how to give you lessons for an hour and a half in a nice relaxed way. The first half is intensive movement and then mostly with movements that are good for your shoulders, back and legs. It's also an intensive form of condition training.

After that we relax with the aid of various appliances, some of them specially designed to train with your balance and we do exercises from Yoga and Tai Chi or Pilates.
The trainer gives you personal advice if necessary. We learn to relax and breathe in a proper way. I am very enthusiastic about FlowMotion fitness under Raoul's guidance. It would be great if we could do this type of physiotherapy all the time. We all benefit, if we can continue doing it.

It's a pity to stop because of the insurance coming to an end. It is very stimulating to work in a group. On your own at home you often don't get much done. I would recommend it to anybody who has chronic joint or muscle symptoms.

Amrita Vermeulen

The approach was quite an eye-opener

Throbbing RSI symptoms caused me to go and see the family doctor again. She referred me to Raoul Lambert.His approach was quite something new. No technical terms but clear and effective teaching. Both in terms of how complaints are physically connected with the way you move, as well as how they are caused. And very practical exercises for doing at home. Not a question of focusing entirely on the symptoms but more on handling the source of the complaint.
He also introduced me to the AquaSwing.

It takes a bit getting used to for the less athletic types like myself. It's also a pleasant way of making you do the necessary movements. Another big advantage is also that without the water in it, the AquaSwing is just like a little package you can pop into your bag or your pocket and take with you. No lugging the weights about or that sort of thing, making it possible to keep exercising even when you're away from home.

In combination with the required pulling and stretching exercises, my visits to Raoul have given me a daily programme of exercises that I faithfully try to keep to. And I manage that quite well. The reasons are very simple: it’s to my advantage. The original complaints meanwhile have practically disappeared.

Marijn van Zon (screen worker)

His treatment centres on the person

In February 2004, I went to see Raoul Lambert. Raoul has a physiotherapist and acupuncture practice called BasicTouch. When I went to see Raoul Lambert in February 2004 at his practice I had over three years problems with RSI; I was in phase 3 chronic and after visiting so many therapists I was a bit sceptical about telling my story to yet another RSI specialist.

I considered my situation was pretty desperate. Apart from pain in my arms, shoulder blades, neck, and wrists, I sometimes had problems with paralysis symptoms and even headaches brought on by moving. Raoul listened patiently and then treated me with acupuncture going directly to the sore points. As a result I knew that I was dealing with someone who knew what he was doing and understood the RSI problem.

After the acupuncture treatment I felt a lot better. Raoul told me that he gave the treatment to give you the feeling that you could get rid of the pain. I also told Raoul that I had problems with a sort of hyperventilation, too high breathing that I couldn't get rid of. Raoul then gave me the BAT, a wooden cross with which you can regulate your breathing. It's an eastern method to regulate tension in your body. In the last few months it's helped me a lot.

In addition, we started exercising fairly quickly with the AquaSwing: a water bag which because of the harmonious movement of the water is good for the upper extremities. In the months that followed, the AquaSwing was the constant in the motion program. I also learned a lot of pull and stretch exercises to loosen my seized up muscles, sinews etc. After three months and many ups and downs, I started to feel better and better.

I also accepted Raoul’s advice and read several books. I'd like to name a few which were very useful from the. First there was the “Handbook of Trigger Point Therapy” by Clair Davies. Raoul explained to me that many of my muscles were locked because of trigger points in several places in the body. In my big chest muscle in particular, there were lots of trigger points; the first time they were touched it was very painful.

That was very strange, because before the treatment I had absolutely no pain from this. From that moment on, I tackled many trigger points and slowly my physical condition got better. Another book that I would like to tell you about is the Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle. A spiritual journey describing many recognisable faults made by people like us, and giving you lots of tips on how to take a healthier approach to life.

Now four months later I have a feeling I'm in the last days of my RSI suffering. My body feels a lot better. I can work again fairly well with the computer and writing is also easier. All in all I feel a lot better. The last three weeks I have done hardly any exercise because I noticed that my body doesn't need it so much. My RSI is not fully cured but I’ve again got faith in the future.

I am very grateful to Raoul for his dedication and the considerable patience he shows to patients with chronic RSI complaints. In my opinion Raoul is one of the few people in the Netherlands capable of relieving people with phase 3 chronic RSI of the pain, and giving them the confidence that these strange symptoms can be overcome.

Raoul puts the person central to his treatment and teaches you that your health is in your own hands. He gives you the right resources to get this process underway.

Ferdinant van Aalten

How Basic Touch and Aqua Swing got my life back on track

When, at the beginning of this year I became aware of the fact that I was troubled with RSI, on the one hand there was the funny pain, but even stronger was the feeling that I could lose my career and my hobbies.

I had heard of RSI, but didn't know what to do about it. Every time I went to look for help it wasn't much use. When I finally went to a physiotherapist I was in extreme pain all the time and could hardly work with computers any more

At BasicTouch I was introduced to the AquaSwing and so I started to work again on the muscles of my shoulders. It was the first time that I had a feeling that I finally had something to tackle this terrible ailment with.

After using it daily for two weeks, my pain was almost gone and I was enjoying learning new motions and discovering a different approach to my body. Today I'm still busy working with computers every day and I have my own digital arts company, all thanks to AquaSwing.

Jakob Hronek (digital art designer)

Broken wrist: Easier movement makes the daily chores easier

As a serious chronic RSI patient I broke my left wrist in the summer of 2002 while out for a walk. It was a complicated fracture which had to be set in the hospital. After nine weeks in plaster my wrist was still very painful, swollen and a blue and yellow and purple colour. It was impossible to apply physical force and my movements were seriously reduced

RSI made this even more annoying because the left was relatively my good arm and had taken over a lot of the work done by my right arm. I was referred for physiotherapy to Raoul Lambert and it was important to me that my RSI would be seriously looked at. Although the hospital said the fracture was pure bad luck, Raoul thought that poor circulation in my arms and upper body were the cause.

Part of the therapy was the exercises with the AquaSwing. To my great surprise I was able to do the exercises even though the fracture was still in the process of healing. Not only that, for the first time in the course of years of revalidation, I had found a way of exercising with my hands without making the complaints worse.

Thanks to the personal one-to-one treatment I got, I was able to dispense with exercises which were too strenuous, such as those above my head. With the exercises you don't have to keep certain muscles tense for long. It’s Important to me because RSI expresses itself in cramps when the arm, shoulder and neck muscles are under strain, or if I keep my back bent.

When exercising with the AquaSwing you tense for a few seconds and then relax. Then you tense in the opposite direction. The AquaSwing didn’t get rid of my RSI: I've had it too long (five years) and too seriously for that but I can move my spinal column more easily and my deep breathing has improved so that I feel better.

Because I can move better I'm able to go through the daily motions more easily each day. My broken wrist is a lot better although there are a lot of symptoms that haven't gone away, and will probably be lasting according to the diagnosis they’ve given.

The exercises with the AquaSwing I do now 2 or 3 times a week at home for about 15 minutes at a time. I can recommend it to anybody particularly with music on at the same time.
Dorien van Wessel

RSI symptoms, but fun doing Aqua Swing in a group

Through the Internet I came across AquaSwing. I was immediately interested because for some time I'd been looking for a nice sport to do to make particularly my arms stronger. For over three years now I have RSI symptoms and I was hoping this would finally solve the problem.

Up until now I haven't been able to find an activity that I really fancied, but I have a lot of confidence in AquaSwing because it's fun to do so it motivates me. In addition to that you can’t exert yourself too much as you do for example in the gym. Not only that, it's not as boring as, for example, the standard Mensendieck exercises.

It's a sport where you quickly master the basic movements and that makes you feel really at home with it. Not only that it's also fun to do AquaSwing in a group because that has a motivating effect.
I can't say yet whether or not it will help me get rid of my symptoms. I haven't been doing it long enough but I'm quite confident. In any case I am moving about quite nicely and my hands feel good after an hour with AquaSwing and so do I.

Anita Bouwman (RSI symptoms)

Undertaking treatment with Raoul Lambert

I have suffered from RSI since August 1999 and have been undertaking treatment with Raoul Lambert since June 2000. The treatment which I have been undertaking with Raoul has been making use of the principles, theory and practice of a wide variety of healing paradigms ranging from yoga to acupuncture to classical physiotherapy.

The central theme of the RSI treatment has been gradually increase the physical strength in my body while reducing the complaints I experienced. An active part of my treatment has been the instruction in exercises that I perform daily in order to build strength in targeted groups of muscles.

Part of my home exercise program has involved the use of the Aqua Swing. This device makes use of the natural movement of water during exercise, teaching one not only how to exercise in a fluid dynamic fashion, but also mimics the movements in Chinese Chi-Gong.

As one’s strength increases, the amount of water is gradually increased leading to an ongoing improvement in physical strength.

At the time I first visited Raoul my symptoms were more severe than at the current time. When I experience discomfort from my RSI complaints, the discomfort is often significantly reduced in a short amount of time through the use of the Aqua Swing and the practice of the associated exercises. My physical strength continues to improve and I continue to work with the Aqua Swing.

Regards,

Nicholas Harris

Complaints and prickling in my shoulders

In the spring of 2000, I got in contact with Raoul Lambert on the advice of my family doctor because I experienced discomfort and prickling in my shoulders and in various places in my arms. I work at home as a freelance publisher and so spend a lot of time behind the computer screen. I didn't want to run the risk of getting a serious case of RSI because I had already heard a lot of nasty stories about it.
Lambert worked together with me on a complete program so I could handle my work on the computer alright. The most important thing I learned from him is you don't have to stop working or be afraid of the computer if you keep an eye on things and manage your working hours, breaks and work position.

After the first treatment session, we had a number of talks about my work position, screen monitor height and so on, and taking breaks. The little tips I got helped a lot: drink a lot for example, so you go to the toilet more often. Then you have to stand up. Put the cupboard with things that you need a bit more out of reach, use a computer program that warns you if you are working too long at a stretch etc. After that we got down to the concrete exercises I could do.

In the morning and evening I still do pull and stretch exercises for the shoulders, back and arms, and also exercises for my stomach muscles. That works very well. My friend is also happy to join in (and the cat too sometimes).
Lambert advised me to take up sport. I now do aerobics and swimming and also go for a walk in the afternoons. I also learned from him how to handle AquaSwing. Certainly in the first few months I used it a lot, and the good thing about it is that you become more flexible and physically strong at the same time and don't force yourself. The practical disadvantage is that you need quite a lot of room because of the swinging movements and you have to do it on your own at home. It takes quite a bit of discipline to do it regularly. Even though, I still pick up the AquaSwing from time to time and give it a good swing. You can make really nice movements with it.

The most important thing I found about Lambert's approach was how he combined things. Two years after I started, I still find it very worthwhile and watch out very carefully for signals from my body if I'm working at it too hard and too intensely.

Dorine van Hoos (freelance publisher)

The people we train with are very nice and the atmosphere’s very relaxed

I find the exercises I'm doing with the AquaSwing great. It's really nice to do and a lot of fun especially outside in the park. I noticed that it cost me no effort at all to do it every week in a disciplined way.
After a couple of months of pain and being very tired, my arms again feel very relaxed. My neck and shoulder muscles as well as my hips are a lot more flexible. The motions are easy to learn. It certainly doesn't feel physically demanding when you're doing it. The water you swing back and forwards in the bag really does all the work.

The AquaSwing is easy to take with you wherever you go. And it looks nice if you're exercising outside. It's also good to do in combination with music.

The most important thing for me is disciplining yourself. With all the other fitness training I did, I stopped it every time after a couple of months. Mostly inside, the exercises are a drag and there's a tense atmosphere. Now I don't have any problem with that. The group of people we train with are nice and the atmosphere is very relaxed. The fact you can do it outside in the park is also very important to me. In short, all the ingredients are there for you to keep at it and enjoy it. This is the first time I've done any kind of sport and enjoyed it and really want to do the exercises.

For me it’s the nicest possible way of getting my body to relax.


Edel Meulenbeek (Trainer Human Resources with RSI)

Major back muscles that seize up suddenly get loosened

I am a New Media student and because of my studies had to sit a lot at the computer. In the final year of my study that led to a lot of pains in my hands and lower arms. I was diagnosed with RSI. After I did the Mesendieck therapy, the complaints disappeared for a while. At the time I wasn't working too much with the computer either.

When however I started to work longer hours at the computer, the symptoms returned. After a long course of acupuncture treatment which unfortunately did not do much good, I met Raoul Lambert at the acupuncture centre where I was being treated. He then treated me for nine sessions of physiotherapy.

Since then I've been able to keep the symptoms under control. I attribute this mostly to the use of AquaSwing which Raoul introduced me to.

Whenever I know I'm going to have to sit behind their computer for a bit, I start the day doing some AquaSwing exercises.

I then feel right away the major back muscles, that normally tighten up quickly, get relaxed. I also find it fun to exercise with the AquaSwing. That's why I'm encouraged to actually do the exercises. That wasn't the case at all with the exercises for the Mesendieck therapy, so often I didn't give it much thought. If I notice I'm again getting problems when I'm working at the computer I do a few exercises and usually after that I can work normally.

Heleen Groenendijk

Raoul Lambert who introduced me to the RSI Patientenvereniging

I have been with two other physiotherapists before Raoul Lambert and with the RCA afterwards. I was initially diagnosed with RSI the 8th September 1999. I was recommended to Raoul Lambert by a work colleague of mine and have afterwards recommended Lambert to friends and colleagues.

My condition beforehand:

My RSI was so bas that my minimum life cycle like washing, cooking, dressing and all the other parts of the daily life, which is difficult to skip, was very close to the limit of my durability. I therefore had an all too slow recovery and this was my reason for changing physiotherapist.

The result:
When joining Raoul Lambert, my durability was slowly but surely improved over time. As other good therapists had told me before, I was taught a kind of self-help. The difference here was that the exercise were more effective and entertaining. Contrary to the other therapists I have joined, Raoul Lambert never exercise anything that worsened my situation, neither short nor long term. I can only interpret this as being Raoul’s great understanding of RSI.

I believe that the Aqua Swing has been particular beneficial and I am using it virtually every day. Many variations are possible, but frequent guiding is needed (at least for me) in order to learn new swings and to maintain a high standard in already learned swings. It was by the way Raoul Lambert who introduced me to the RSI Patientenvereniging and to other sources of help. I have found Raoul Lambert an immensely value in my difficult situation. He has been very supportive both on a physical level and also on a mental level. One can alway talk to Raoul about the more stressful parts of ones situation.

Please feel free to call me if more details are needed. Tel: +31(0)252680071

Carl Friis Hansen (Computer specialist with RSI)

Treatment with Raoul Lambert

Recovering from serious RSI complaints, as in my case, can take a long time and require a lot of effort and assistance. In my experience recovery from serious RSI is possible, although recovery can take weeks to months and resistance to repetitive, sensitive, motoric work will always be under average and you're more likely than not to fall back again in two the old routine.

Recovery from RSI requires a number of actions, treatments, and adjustments. Very important is diagnosis, information, and stress reduction. An explanation of the nature and causes of the symptoms, what effect not moving enough has, static charge, stress and the natural course of the symptoms, is the first step. Next you have to be properly informed on how to change your work position and your working environment. However that's only just the beginning.

Under the guidance of a good physiotherapist who knows what he's doing and has a reasonably positive attitude such as Raoul Lambert, a full and intensive reactivation program can be started. Chronic pain syndrome such as RSI can be seen in the fact that tissue damage and pains are not directly linked. That means that pain can occur when you're doing things that didn't cause you any pain before. An RSI patient can feel pain while driving, washing the dishes, cleaning the house, in all sorts of activities in fact where you have to use your hands. Quite often pain can also be felt when your arm is still and even in the arm that wasn't previously affected. What can you do about that?

Experiments with animals show that apes with simulated RSI, showed deviations in the irritability of the nerves and also in the brain's representation of arms and legs. When the apes were set free again into the jungle, swinging on the vines, they recovered again from these changes.

Re-establishing a healthy flowing pattern of movement is thus very important but in actual fact people with RSI generally neglect their arms quite a lot. They become afraid of moving and using their hands, and that was also my experience. Nevertheless patients should be advised to make motoric movements that are both light and well defined. Using the AquaSwing is an ideal way of doing this. The AquaSwing is a water- filled bag which you have to swing with a rhythmic, flowing movement.

There is a whole range of movements. All of them enable you to make a lot of rotations of the upper back and arm movements using a fairly light load. It's also nice, clever, and cheap way of training the arms shoulders and back and getting them flexible again with quick results. Combined with an extensive stretching program, this leads to very good results. I in any case have been greatly helped by this approach.

Anonyimous: for reasons concerning privacy (doctor)

Undertaking treatment with Raoul Lambert

A colleague of mine who is also suffering from RSI injuries has recommended Raoul to me.

Since then I am one of the patients of Mr Raoul Lambert and I am under treatment for the 3rd phase of RSI. I am grateful to have Mr. Raoul’s treatment. He is the only physiotherapist I have come across with who has the understanding and the expertise of RSI treatment. He takes time to listen to his patient and is ready to help and has the talent and expertise in diagnosing the problem and providing the appropriate treatment to his patient.

When I started treatment with Raoul, my right hand was near to paralysis state and I could hardly move it ton any direction at all. Thanks to Raoul’s integrated treatment, gradually and slowly my condition has improved. Even though there is still a long way to go for my recovery, Raoul’s medical treatment has been a great asset in giving me hope in my life en fighting my RSI chronic injury. I am still under his treatment, which I am grateful and happy or. I strongly recommend Raoul to any RSI patient that seriously seeks expertise and an integrated high standard of treatment for his or her RSI injuries.

In addition to his treatment Mr. Raoul uses different equipment and exercises to fight the RSI. One of the equipments I am using is Raoul’s Basic Ab Touch, which is use to press different pain points in the abdominal area. I use it on a daily basis and this has improved my breathing condition, which is vital to facilitate oxygen circulation in the blood. I also use the Aqua Swing which has been helpful to facilitate the movement of the hand and arm.

P. Tekola, (Computer specialist)

BAT

After a number of years of constipation and slowly working bowels I tried BAT. Using BAT every day in combination with acupuncture got my bowels working again.
At the moment I only used BAT twice a week for 20 minutes at a time before going to sleep and my bowels continue to actively function.
For me BAT is a great solution that has helped me solve the problems I had with my bowels.

Madeleine Jonkers

Walking and cycling occasionally don’t help much

Because of chronic headache, neck and back complaints , I got in touch with BasicTouch. Their varied approach to physiotherapy led me onto AquaSwing. I was prepared to work at improving myself to get rid of the symptoms.
When I saw what was causing the problem and got the means of solving it, I became more enthusiastic. As a musician you sit too long and too often in an unnatural position. Your movements are repetitive and this creates tension in the muscles. Add to that the psychic, emotional and physical stress you experience before and during performances and you can see you’re under quite a strain. Walking and cycling a bit now and then don't help much as far as I'm concerned. You can use the AquaSwing both inside as well as outside. The sound of the water and the motions tell me whether I'm doing it right or not.

That's how I learn with the AquaSwing, to move fully and in a proper way and relax. The circulation in my tensed up muscles has improved and I now feel more energetic.
If I play the bandoneon after a session, I notice that the secret of getting a good tone is in making use of your centre of gravity. When you're relaxed and centred when you are playing, you quickly notice the results (see www. mercedita.nl). I'm convinced that using your centre of gravity is a universal law in many disciplines. And with AquaSwing I am reminded of that again and again.

Jolanda van der Doelen (Bandoneon player)

The exercises I did with the Aquaswing definitely helped

In the past I had a lot of problems with RSI. It was so bad in fact that for six months I couldn't work and ended up on sickness benefit. I am a designer and work a lot behind the computer.
I also play electric guitar in a band, and it got to the point that I couldn't do that any more either. It was if my arm and my hand were asleep. I could only tap on the chords like you do with an acoustic western guitar. But funnily enough, after an hour of vamping on the chords my arm felt a bit better even if it was only for a short time.

That was the time I discovered AquaSwing. Fluent, smooth movements, throwing your limbs out so your whole body warms up. It's a bit like vamping the chords but then a lot more relaxed, more effective and on a more extended scale. The AquaSwing exercises get your circulation going so the toxins in your muscles, which cause the RSI, are worked out of your system. And the exercises have other salutary effects. Like making you relax and putting you in a meditative mood and improving your left and right hand coordination.

When I started playing tennis again, because of the exercises I could even use my left hand a bit, and that's something I had never been able to do before.
I got to grips with the RSI of course in different ways (my posture, using a pen instead of the mouse, using a stool instead of a chair) but the exercises I did with AquaSwing certainly helped me to recover fully from the RSI. I am now working normally again full-time as a designer, behind the computer. And I can play the guitar as much as I like.

Aart Jan Bergswhoeff (guitarist and designer)

Relaxing way of working on your arm and back muscles

Because of my RSI symptoms I came into contact with Raoul at BasicTouch. He introduced me, among other things, to the AquaSwing. This is a relaxing way of working on your arm and back muscles and one in which you have to have a certain amount of concentration.
By swinging your arms, you move the water in the AquaSwing. This has to be done in a flowing, streamlined way otherwise the water splashes about all over the place. So you need to have the necessary concentration. By making fluent motions with your arms you achieve the best effects with the water in the swing. At the same time you use your arm muscles as well as your back and neck muscles. The fluid motion ensures you don't put too much strain on the muscles, which happens when you are working with weights.

Working with the AquaSwing has helped me a lot, because if you have problems you don't have to go to the gym to train with weights. In this way you make your muscles flexible and supple and when you have to strain you do that in a fun way, which gives you a nice feeling. After a complete workout you feel relaxed and tired in a nice sort of way.

The only drawback with the AquaSwing is that you need a lot of room to be able to do it, for example, at home. It is also one of the reasons that after my therapy with Raoul I have hardly worked again with the AquaSwing. It would be a good idea to give lessons in a sports school but using it also for older people or women who are pregnant would be a welcome change to the sort of training these normally do.

Wendy Gerben (RSI patient)

You learn to breathe better and in a natural way

For 25 years now I have had problems with my intestines. In the past few years these symptoms have become so pronounced that I can’t train intensively any more. From being a sporting young man who trained five times a week I now do no training at all. Swimming cycling and running: I couldn't live without them before. However when I came into contact with the AquaSwing I discovered I could still train without doing my body a lot of injury. As a chronic patient, the AquaSwing is a great solution for me. I now maintain my physical condition in a way that suits me best. I am the one who determines how often and how intensively I train with the AquaSwing. If you put slightly less water in the AquaSwing you can make relaxing movements and train only the parts you move. With a bit more water in the AquaSwing you can do an intensive workout on your muscles. It is comparable with intensive fitness training.

Because of the fluent Tai Chi type movements, I am immediately in a position to train my posture and my muscles. It's lots of fun training alone or in a group with the AquaSwing. You get tremendously stimulated to learn new movements but at the same time you're not in any sort of competition with the rest of the group to see who's doing it best. The AquaSwing puts no strain all on your joints. Exercising with the AquaSwing improves your posture. And you learn to breathe better in a natural way. This in turn has positive effects on my chronic complaints. I'm a lot more relaxed and there are all sorts of beneficial side-effects. Not only am I busy doing something which is pleasant and fun to do but my health is also developing in the right direction. So I can recommend the AquaSwing to anybody.

Johan Kloosterhuis (being treated for chronic internal complaints)

It’s aimed at relaxation so you feel great physically

When I was again put on non-active for the second time within a couple of years because of serious RSI complaints, I lost my new job. I decided it was now time I really did something about RSI and made sure I got it beat. I saw the website of BasicTouch and decided to go and see them. I was particularly attracted by the detailed information they gave on the website which told me they'd really looked seriously into RSI.

I have had physiotherapy before but this was aimed more at relieving the symptoms temporarily so the underlying problem unfortunately really never went away. The first time I went to see Basic Touch in October 2004 I had a long chat with Raoul Lambert about my symptoms, my job, and my posture. He explained to me how RSI comes about and how important it is to have the right balance between body and mind which is what his program concentrates on.
It's aimed at relaxation, so you feel great physically (for this you need to learn to relax and breathe from your abdomen) and then to get back in form with the right exercises and movements so you build up your endurance.

Right away I got homework: some stretching exercises for my arms and shoulders that I had to do twice a day at least. Straight away I noticed my arm and shoulder getting looser and moving more easily. I was soon introduced to the AquaSwing which I also worked with twice a day. A nice way of moving that doesn't put too much strain on you (you put in as much water as you like) while you are busy moving up and down without being aware of it. And even though I am not exactly a swinging type of person, I noticed I could do the exercises more easily each time and movements became more fluid and I started to enjoy it more and more.

The constant pain disappeared and only returned if I was busy with my daily chores. Later I noticed that the pain went away for longer each time. I could iron or vacuum-clean longer at a stretch without feeling any pain. Gradually I also tried to get behind the computer again, which was difficult at first, but I was able to build it up, so I was able to keep at it longer at a stretch without feeling any pain.

Immediately I felt a pain I would stop and go and do some AquaSwing. The mistake I made previously of resting my arm if it was hurting, I learned to correct. In fact when you are in pain and you move the way you're supposed to, the pain gets less. I think it's great that Raoul takes the time every time you go, to talk to you beforehand about how you're coming along, the exercises etc instead of just coming in and starting to train right away.

And when you tell him something, he adapts his therapy right away to what you've told him. A couple of times I overdid things (overexerted myself and didn't pay enough attention to the exercises) and was in a lot of pain, so he decided to give me an acupuncture session. From previous experience I had my doubts, but it really worked fantastic. The pain disappeared right away and the only thing I had to do was make sure I didn't overdo it again.

Meanwhile I also use a backstretcher to loosen up the upper part of my back. Using this (and exercising) is meant to improve your posture and open up your chest more so the circulation to your arm is optimal. I still have a few trigger points in my back and chest, and these are being taken care of too. Apparently everything is linked up.

My arm and wrist complaints are now all right, and I know how far I can go before I get a pain, and if I get a pain I know what I have to do to reduce it. I've got things reasonably under control and am busy building up my resistance by stretching my limits a bit at a time. We're now focusing on my mind general attitude to things. This, after all, is at the root of the whole thing, and if basis isn't quite right there's always the chance of the symptoms returning.
It's quite a long road to take but I know how to walk it now and have learned to be patient (otherwise it bounces back on you), and to listen to my body. With all the tools I've now got, I'm ready to go for it. Raoul, thanks a lot!

Anonyimous: for reasons concerning privacy

Treating my left knee

Dear Raul,

Hereby I would like to thank you for the treatment you gave me for my left knee. I was very impressed by the way you handled this. During the strenuous training sessions lasting twice a half-hour my joints (ankle and hip) and muscles round around my knee (upper and lower leg), were trained, and made more flexible to create greater balance for my injured knee. Another thing is the exercises you gave me are quite clear and certainly not boring.

Before I went to Raoul I had problems with my left knee for two years because of a Ski accident. Photos were taken and arthritis was diagnosed and I had various physiotherapists look at it but without getting the problem fixed. What I noticed about the way they treated it was the way they all fixed on the knee and ignored my ankle and hip joints. Raoul's effective treatment and the variation there is in the exercises are the reasons why I am writing this positive reference.

Yours faithfully

Martijn Horstmanshoff

Undertaking treatment with Raoul Lambert

Several years ago I got Ischias, which is a complaint affecting the lower back which spreads down to the legs. It made quite an impression on me. I went and consulted several specialists to see what I was supposed to do to prevent this prevent this injury or hernia. In the end they gave me Ceasar Therapy and two things became quite clear. I was supposed to change my posture as well as build up my physical strength in a more balanced way.

I cycle a lot and have very powerful legs by I've got no power at all in my arms. After the therapy I didn't do enough about these things. But I always had it at the back of my mind that I had to do something about it. In the autumn of 2005, I read a piece in the NRC Handelsblad about the AquaSwing. So I asked my wife for a swing for my birthday.

At first I couldn't do much with it: it was too difficult to learn the exercises on my own. Although I live in Rotterdam, I contacted Raoul Lambert in Amsterdam, the inventor of the swing. The doctor recommended me for therapy and I started training at Raoul's. The AquaSwing has helped me a lot.

Enjoying doing the aqua swinging, ensures I keep doing it at home whenever it suits me. The strength in my arms has improved a lot and so has my posture.

Paul Steinman