Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/149404
3 Seated Success Proper postural alignment is also crucial when working from a seated position. Image 3 shows the therapist applying deep pressure while using a misaligned shoulder, arm, and hand position. Again, notice where the therapist's areas of weakness are. We can see that his neck, shoulders, arms, and hands are not working from positions of strength, but rather from a weak asymmetrical posture. Furthermore, because of his awkward position, his entire upper body must overcompensate for his lack of alignment. Have you found yourself working from a similar position? 4 This kind of misaligned sitting posture is commonly seen when applying deep pressure on a table that is set too high. In this case, the distance between the therapist and client is too short. Not having enough distance between yourself and your client compromises your alignment, forcing you to work from a position of weakness. The muscles of the shoulder and upper back are recruited to generate the pressure needed. If you find yourself in a sitting position where you must raise your shoulder and/or elbow asymmetrically to apply deep pressure, chances are you need to adjust your table height. If you do not have an electric lift table and know before a session that you will be applying deep pressure, set your table appropriately. This means a height from which you can position yourself to apply force with proper alignment. In Image 4, the therapist is now working from a position of strength. His shoulders, arms, and hands are working symmetrically, allowing his upper body to stay in a neutral and comfortable position. Barb Frye has been a massage educator and therapist since 1990. She coordinated IBM's body mechanics program and authored Body Mechanics for Manual Therapists: A Functional Approach to Self-Care (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2010), now in its third edition. She has a massage and Feldenkrais practice at the Pluspunkt Center for Therapy and Advanced Studies near Zurich, Switzerland. Contact her at barbfrye@hotmail.com. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 47