Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/135515
2 A B (A) In a seated position, the back should be straight with the feet flat on the ground. (B) Avoid rounding the back and hunching over the table or crossing your legs or ankles. Sitting Sitting while applying techniques removes pressure from the feet and conserves your energy. In a seated position, the knees are spread wide and the feet are firmly on the floor. The back is straight, the chest open and expanded, the shoulders open and relaxed, and the head straight (Image 2A). Avoid dropping your head forward to look down at the client (Image 2B). Instead, look down occasionally only with your eyes to check your hand position and the client's reaction to a stroke. Some strokes are easier to perform when you are closer to or farther from the massage table. A rolling stool allows you to easily adjust your position in relation to the stroke. In some situations, sitting may result in bad body mechanics, especially when using the wrong types of strokes. A therapist who is not standing may have to use muscular strength in the arms instead of body weight. It is also easy to abduct or adduct the wrists when applying some strokes from a seated position (Image 2B). Pay attention to these tendencies, and stand if the stroke feels awkward in a seated position. Lifting, Stretching, and Range-of-Motion Techniques Techniques that include lifting, stretching, jostling, and moving parts of the body require special attention to body mechanics. To lift a client's leg or arm, sink lower into a lunge position and grip it firmly, holding it close to your body to avoid using muscular strength in your arms and back (Image 3A). Use your legs to lift A B 3 (A) To lift a limb properly, sink lower into a lunge position and grip it firmly. (B) Avoid hunching over the limb, bending too far at the hips, or hyperextending the wrists. the limb and bring your body up out of the deep lunge, keeping your back straight. To traction a limb, lean back with your back leg bearing the weight of your body, keeping your knee flexed. Your front leg straightens and balances your body but bears little weight. Avoid hunching your shoulders and looking down at the limb (Image 3B). When pushing a limb into a stretch, stay behind the limb and lunge forward. In this situation, weight shifts from your back leg to the front leg during the movement. Avoid twisting at the waist or standing on tiptoe—always keep your feet flat on the floor and your hips and feet pointing in the direction that the limb is moving. When you pull a body area toward you, bend both knees with your weight first on your front leg. Shift the weight to your back leg as your arms pull the body area. While jostling an area, allow your own body to sway with the rhythm of the jostling. This helps to keep your body soft and fluid, and also keeps the stroke rhythmic. Anne Williams is the director of education for Associated Bodywork & Massage Professionals and author of Massage Mastery: from Student to Professional (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2012), from which this article was adapted, and Spa Bodywork: A Guide to Massage Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006). She can be reached at anne@abmp.com. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 43