Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1496639
Soft Fist Body Mechanics: The region of the posterior fingers between the metacarpophalangeal joints and proximal interphalangeal joints of all four fingers will be contacting the client's skin. Fingers will be held together while the overall hand will be relaxed. While you can use a tight or closed fist, it causes tension and strain on the muscles of your forearm. It is best to use a soft fist so these areas are less likely to get stressed and injured. Keep your arm straight (but avoid locking the elbow joint) and your scapula retracted and drawn inferiorly so you can set yourself up to initiate pressure from your feet, legs, and core rather than from your arm or shoulder muscles. Primary Benefit: A soft fist is a great alternative to using the palm of the hand because the wrist joint is more likely to be kept in a neutral, aligned position. Application: A soft fist is best for applying gliding strokes over broad surfaces and dense musculature. It's a medium- size tool that can be used to access more surface area than the elbow but less surface area than the forearm. It is commonly used on clients' forearms, the erector spinae group, and on individual hamstring or quadriceps muscles. Avoid using soft fists in bony areas, such as around the ankle joints, where there is primarily rope-like connective tissue instead of dense muscle tissue. L i s te n to T h e A B M P Po d c a s t a t a b m p.co m /p o d c a s t s o r w h e reve r yo u a cce s s yo u r favo r i te p o d c a s t s 89 TAKEAWAY: Using a variety of tools can create complexity in your work and can help prevent injury. Knuckles Body Mechanics: Applying massage with one or more knuckles involves making contact via f lexed proximal interphalangeal joints. In contrast to soft fists, holding the finger(s) closed will keep the rest of the hand and wrist stable and protected during technique application. Use the same straight-arm approach as described in the section on soft-fist body mechanics. Primary Benefit: Knuckles are a great alternative to thumbs. You can get the same specific and deep pressure, but with far less strain on the joints of the hand and wrist. Application: Use a knuckle for sustained, direct-pressure techniques, such as those used to release trigger points. Additionally, you can use a knuckle to provide short, deep friction strokes to adhered tendons and ligaments. You can also use all four knuckles together to provide shearing strokes along the length of longer muscles that have adhered to the tissue below them. For example, you can use knuckles together along the anterior portion of the upper trapezius, the lateral portion of the lower trapezius, between the triceps and biceps, and the lateral and medial portions of the gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. Knuckles are small tools that can be used for both small and medium-size areas, depending on the purpose of the stroke. It is essential to be careful of pressure, though. A knuckle is a very hard, pointed tool that can be painful when applied too deeply. It is a much harder surface than a thumb, so use caution and communicate openly with your client. Knuckles