Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/108504
FuNCTioNAL ANAToMy Palpating the Pectineus Positioning: client supine. 1. Standing at the client's side facing the thigh, locate the superior ramus of the pubis near the inguinal crease. 2. Palpate laterally and distally toward the sartorius. (Caution: the pectineus is located within the femoral triangle near numerous endangerments.) 3. Palpate deeply between the lateral and medial borders of the femoral triangle following the descending fibers of the pectineus. 4. Resist as the client gently flexes and adducts the hip to assure proper location. Client Homework— Half-Kneeling Hip Flexor Stretch 1. Kneel on the floor with one knee down (left) and the other foot flat on the floor (right). 2. Maintain a 90-degree angle at each knee. 3. tuck your tailbone as you maintain a straight spine. 4. gently press your hips forward to stretch the front of the left hip. 5. switch legs and repeat on the right. Editor's note: The Client Homework element in Functional Anatomy is intended as a take-home resource for clients experiencing issues with the profiled muscle. The stretches identified in Functional Anatomy should not be performed within massage sessions or progressed by massage therapists, in order to comply with state laws and maintain scope of practice. Christy Cael is a licensed massage therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist. Her private practice focuses on injury treatment, biomechanical analysis, craniosacral therapy, and massage for clients with neurological issues. She is the author of Functional Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Palpation for Manual Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009). Contact her at functionalbook@hotmail.com. 50 massage & bodywork march/april 2013