Massage & Bodywork

JULY | AUGUST 2015

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50 m a s s a g e & b o d y w o r k j u l y / a u g u s t 2 0 1 5 Palpating Subclavius Position: client supine with arm at side. 1. Find the inferior edge of the clavicle halfway between the medial and lateral ends. 2. Slide thumb inferiorly and deep to the clavicle. 3. Resist as client performs scapular depression to ensure proper location. FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY the body, such as when driving or working on a computer. Forward- rolled shoulder posture and sleeping in a side-lying position with the arm overhead also contribute to shortening of the subclavius muscle. Restrictions in the subclavius may present as limitations in shoulder mobility, rounded shoulder posture, and/or localized pain in the anterior shoulder girdle. Referred pain from trigger points in this muscle spreads across the front of the shoulder and down the front of the arm. It may also arise in the radial forearm and hand, skipping the elbow and wrist. This pattern is more lateral and distal when compared to trigger points associated with the pectoralis major. Tension and restriction in the subclavius may also mimic or even contribute to thoracic outlet syndrome and should be addressed in clients with this issue. Christy Cael is a licensed massage therapist, certified strength and conditioning specialist, and instructor at the Bodymechanics School of Myotherapy & Massage in Olympia, Washington. Her private practice focuses on injury treatment, biomechanical analysis, craniosacral therapy, and massage for clients with neurological issues. She is the author of Functional Anatomy: Musculoskeletal Anatomy, Kinesiology, and Palpation for Manual Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009). Contact her at functionalbook@hotmail.com. Editor's note: The Client Homework element in Functional Anatomy is intended as a take-home resource for clients experiencing issues with the profiled muscle. The stretches identified in Functional Anatomy should not be performed within massage sessions or progressed by massage therapists, in order to comply with state laws and maintain scope of practice. Client Homework— Overhead Chest Stretch 1. Stand or sit up straight. 2. Place your palms together in front of your chest with fingers facing upward. 3. Raise your arms upward as you press your shoulders downward, keeping palms pressed together without letting your forearms drift apart. 4. Breathe deeply as you reach your arms farther overhead.

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