Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1488451
Motor Out and Sensory In There is an old adage in the world of massage that no massage stroke should ever end the way it was originally intended when it began. This means we need to be constantly assessing the response of the client's tissues as we work so that we can modify the depth and direction of our stroke. This requires not just motor output to create the stroke, but also reception of sensory input as we work; motor out and sensory in. The ability to integrate and balance these two aspects of a massage stroke is greatly dependent on the contact we choose to employ. KEY POINTS • The palm is a contact that is strong and stable, yet soft and comfortable. • When we angle the palm by supinating or pronating the forearm, we can diminish the size of the palm contact, making it much more specific without being pokey the way thumb and finger pads can be. • The palm's strength and stability are matched by its comfort because of the surrounding myofascial tissue.