Massage & Bodywork

November/December 2013

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FEELING FOR MOBILITY Mobility is defined as "the ability to be moved." In our style of working, our methods often focus on "moving bones." This is not a chiropractic or osseous adjustment; instead, we use bones as levers or handles to assess, mobilize, and release the surrounding myofascia. When working for greater mobility, the practitioner's pressure is usually firm, as we are feeling for direct release of any shortened, tightened, or constricted connective-tissue structures that limit the bones' mobility. 8 9 In the Carpal Scrubbing Technique, we feel for boney mobility, assessing each bone's anterior/ posterior passive movement against its neighbors, and mobilizing those joints that move less. The bones are effectively handles for working the soft tissues surrounding them, such as carpal ligaments. Image 8 courtesy Advanced-Trainings. com. Image 9 courtesy Primal Pictures. All used by permission. 116 massage & bodywork This passive movement of the bones is useful when preparing for deep connective-tissue work, since it allows the practitioner to both In contrast to the active touch used to feel for boney mobility, the Breath assess and release gross Motility Technique uses a quieter, lighter, more receptive touch to feel movement restrictions for, and follow, movements already taking place. In this technique, the at the articular practitioner senses rib, sternal, and scapular movements accompanying level. However, we the breath. When an area of less movement is found, the practitioner aren't looking to uses his or her touch to increase client awareness of that area. Image indiscriminately courtesy Advanced-Trainings.com. Used by permission. increase the amount of gross movement at a joint; instead, than mobility work, typically using far we feel passive, boney mobility less pressure. The motions we feel for and compare one joint against can include the movement of breath; another, or one direction against its the small, adaptive movements always complement, and work specifically occurring at the joints; or slower, even to free the more restricted aspect. smaller rhythmic oscillatory motions This brings balance to the release. of bones, such as craniosacral motions. Techniques that work with boney "Listening" with your hands for mobility also stimulate proprioceptive boney motion that's happening on its sensation at the very deepest levels, own is useful in these circumstances: since the bones themselves have • For assessing a bone or body rich sensory innervation. Sensations part's degree or direction produced by the work wake up and of restricted motion; enliven the body sense, evoking • For inviting motion into an greater body awareness that clients area that has been structurally notice well after their session. released by mobility work, but Examples of techniques that hasn't yet been discovered by feel for mobility include: the body's movement sense; • When direct mobilization work • The Carpal Scrubbing Technique doesn't yield the desired results; or, (Images 8 and 9) from "Working With • For inducing a state of profound Wrist and Carpal Bones" (Massage & relaxation and calm, which is especially Bodywork, May/June 2009, page 122). useful at the close of a session when • The Sacroiliac Anterior/Posterior integration and completion, rather Release Technique from "Working than further release, are the goals. With the Sacroiliac Joints" (Massage & Bodywork, November/ Motility work is also useful when December 2012, page 114). the stronger mobility work might be aggravating or contraindicated (such as after acute injuries or surgery), FEELING FOR MOTILITY when there is unresolved traumatic Motility means "to be capable of activation of the autonomic nervous motion on one's own." So, when we system (such as with "hot" whiplash, as feel for motility in boney structures, defined in "Working with Whiplash, we're feeling for motion that is Part 1: Hot Whiplash," Massage & already happening. This necessitates Bodywork, March/April 2010, page a quieter, even more receptive touch 108), when touch is painful (such as in fibromyalgia, or some kinds of chronic november/december 2013 10

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