# Is clinical somatics a pseudoscience or are there benefits?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-clinical-somatics-a-pseudoscience-or-are-there-benefits/967582>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [July 7, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-clinical-somatics-a-pseudoscience-or-are-there-benefits/967582 "2022-07-07T22:01:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2022, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-clinical-somatics-a-pseudoscience-or-are-there-benefits/967582/1 "2022-07-07T22:01:08Z")

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A friend has offered to teach some classes during our weekly yoga. Are there some benefits or is it woo?

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**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\
**Post date:** [July 7, 2022, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-clinical-somatics-a-pseudoscience-or-are-there-benefits/967582/2 "2022-07-07T23:13:06Z")

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It appears to be pseudoscience, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t benefits. My WAG would be that it doesn’t have benefits beyond those of positive thinking and doing yoga with an instructor knowledgeable in modifications for specific musculoskeletal issues though.

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**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2022, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-clinical-somatics-a-pseudoscience-or-are-there-benefits/967582/3 "2022-07-08T20:41:03Z")

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Mobility and movement training have benefits that have been readily demonstrated through kinesiology research including increased longevity and quality of life, reduction in and prevention of skeletal and joint injuries (“prehabbing”), reduction in inflammation and stress response, et cetera. Of course, the “wellness movement” had to jump on and package it into “clinical somatics” which largely strips out the beneficial aspects and substitutes in ‘spiritual’ elements, training certifications, and products of exceptional cost and questionable value with no real evidential basis in efficacy.

In short, it’s a bunch of woo tacked onto some useful kinesiological conditioning and bodyweight training.

Stranger