Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/149404
mary ann foster's book Therapeutic Kinesiology: Musculoskeletal Systems, Palpation, and Body Mechanics has been awarded the association of medical illustrators 2013 award of excellence. PEARSON enhance resources to away! COMPANION g are just a click your learnin It's important to move joints slowly and steadily. Moving them too fast is like driving too fast, and we all know how speeding drivers miss road signs, get pulled over, and have more accidents. Slow and attentive movement decreases the risk of injuring a client, and allows time to visualize the specific joint you're working with, sensing its shape and size. Moving a joint slowly with focused attention also gives your client time to pay attention to subtle changes in position and motion. This can help your client relax into the movement with an active focus that resets muscle tone and relaxes muscular tension around the joint. om ealthprofessionskit.c Go to: www.myh discipline Select the appropriate and click to enter Find your book 5-6 ISBN-13: 978-0-13-50778 0-13-507785-0 ISBN-10: 9 0 0 0 0 9 77856 780135 0 ed.com www.pearsonhigher Joint Approximation Joint approximation is a manual compression technique in which a joint is slowly compressed, then decompressed. Approximation loads and unloads the synovial lining and cartilage in the joint. This can improve fluid circulation and lymph drainage, which may explain why people suffering from arthritic joints tend to get pain relief with gentle approximation. Joint approximation along a series of linked joints simulates the weight-bearing load on axial joints when a person is standing. Every pushing action you use during massage approximates a series of linked joints along a line of force. BrIdge To PrAcTIce: movIng JoInTS TowArd neuTrAL Before working with your client, look at how his or her body rests when supine on the table, visualizing the skeleton at rest. How close are the joints to a neutral alignment? If you upended your client in this exact position, would he or she end up in an optimal posture? This type of visual assessment can give you information on which direction to take a massage stroke. As you massage your clients, ask yourself, "Which direction does a massage stroke need to go to help ease the bones toward their optimal alignment?" exploring Technique Joint Approximation use joint approximation in this exercise to explore the ovoid articulating surfaces in the fingers and stimulate fluid circulation in the synovium and articular cartilage. Caution: If practicing this technique on someone with arthritic joints, it is important to be very gentle. Avoid squeezing the joint itself or pulling on the joint, which could exacerbate inflammation and pain. 1. Begin with the joints in the fingers or toes. gently, but firmly, hold the bones on either side of the joint. slowly compress the distal bone into the proximal bone. once compressed, move the distal bone slightly to rock its articular surface against the proximal articular surface. the movement will be minimal. 2. next, slowly release the compression. you will feel the joint spring back out into your distal hold. give it very light traction to encourage more space in the joint. Mary Ann Foster is the author of Therapeutic Kinesiology: Musculoskeletal Systems, Palpation, and Body Mechanics (Pearson Publishing, 2013). She can be contacted at mafoster@somatic-patterning.com. next issue: Assessing joint actions along lines of muscular pull. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 109