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You will be using your body in a way different from when you apply Swedish massage techniques, so you might find it useful to read through these guidelines relating to the use of forearms, fists and elbows. When using your fists to apply strokes in deep tissue massage it is best to avoid applying pressure while these joints are unsupported. As with other joints, it is safer to keep your wrist joint in a neutral position when using fisting to apply deep tissue massage strokes.
Elbows are commonly used as part of a deep tissue massage routine. Identify the spot you wish to treat and touch it with your elbow, keeping your elbow flexed (a). Using elbows certainly facilitates the application of deep pressure, but such pressure doesn’t have to be deep.
Good posture requires a person to maintain the alignment of certain body parts; poor posture is often acknowledged as a cause of musculoskeletal pain, joint restriction or general discomfort. Clearly, for most people, the term posture describes an overall body position, the way we hold ourselves or position our bodies, intentionally or unintentionally. It is striking to observe how the majority of people adopt the same postures in response to the same emotions.
Observing the relationship between the medial borders of the scapulae and the spine, decide whether the scapulae are adducted (retracted) or abducted (protracted). With upward rotation the medial border and inferior angle are abducted from the spine, lengthening the rhomboid major and shortening the rhomboid minor and levator scapulae. With downward rotation, the medial border and inferior angle are adducted towards the spine, shortening the rhomboid major and lengthening the rhomboid minor...
One disadvantage of some stretching books is they assume the people for whom the stretches are recommended are fit and healthy and flexible enough to get into what are sometimes quite challenging positions. A standing hamstring stretch is therefore not the best stretch to recommend to this group of clients, and alternatives are needed. How might we as therapists help seniors and clients rehabilitating musculoskeletal conditions reap the benefits of stretching?
All stretching should be pain free during the stretch, in the hours following, and 24 hours after the stretching was performed. Avoid the use of stretches that rely on strength to maintain a stretching position. At lower levels of competition, an athlete may be performing inadequate stretches or an inappropriate stretching programme.
Popularly known simply as MET, muscle energy technique is a form of stretching commonly used by sports massage therapists, sports therapists, osteopaths and some physiotherapists, chiropractors and fitness professionals. There is some debate about the degree of force a client should use when contracting a muscle before it is stretched, although low levels of contraction are advocated, certainly no more than 25 percent of the client’s maximum force capacity. 2. Ask the client to contract his...
These range from the simple sitting stretches shown in figures 5.7, 5.10 and 5.26 to standing stretches such as figure 5.11, which increases tension on the posterior thigh by also tensioning the calf muscles. Clients with knee problems should avoid this stretch, which places pressure on the knee opposite the thigh being stretched. Clients who do not wish to do their stretches on the floor could simply try placing one leg on a stool and leaning forward to stretch the hamstrings of that limb.
The lumbar region may become stiff for reasons similar to those causing stiffness in other regions of the spine, namely immobility or after injury. In addition to the stretches shown in the section for sub-acute low back strain (figures 7.26 through 7.30), clients may benefit from this supine rotatory stretch (figure 7.40) and this seated rotatory stretch (figure 7.41), using the upper limb to increase the stretch in each example. Not all clients with a stiff low back will feel comfortable ...
To discuss and identify ways to maximize the impact of the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PAG) across the Aging Network. Organizations and groups should attempt to relay messages about physical activity to older adults by using existing health networks to share information and advice about physical activity. All Aging Network organizations with a mission to promote active aging should be encouraged to become active participants in the National Physical Activity Plan.
