Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/70065
body awareness BY BARB FRYE SELF-SUPPORTED PULLING Maintaining self-support is In the last issue (September/ October, page 102), you learned to push in a self- supportive manner. Now let's look at how you can pull, using the same supportive body mechanic principles. as important for pulling as it is for pushing. Self-supported pulling means using the stability of your lower body and initiating the movement backward from your pelvis. This allows your hands to remain sensitive to the response of the client's body, instead of gripping to ensure your stability. In everyday situations, the tendency when pulling an object is to lean back and suspend all of the body's weight through the hands, arms, and shoulders. An example of this kind of pulling is the game tug-of-war, where two teams of people pull opposite ends of a rope. The team that pulls the other team across the middle line wins. If the players use a non-supported style of pulling and the opposing team lets go of the rope, they fall immediately to the ground. This non-supported style of pulling is also seen in manual therapy: for example, when the therapist pulls a client's leg by leaning her upper body's weight back, relying on the client's limb for balance. If the therapist were to release her hands quickly, or if the leg were to slip from her hands, she would fall backward. This could injure not only the therapist, but the client as well. A better alternative when pulling is to create a stretch by moving your pelvis backward while remaining firmly planted over both feet. Generate the force required from your center of weight, allowing your hands to remain sensitive to your client's response. As with pushing, if at any point during pulling you begin to use your body's weight in such a way that you lose your sense of self-support, you'll compromise your body mechanics. A way to check this is to release your hands from your client and notice if you begin to fall backward. Self-supported pulling allows you to pull effectively, while remaining in full control of your balance and quality of touch. The following partner practice will help you explore these principles. PARTNER PRACTICE SElF-SuPPOrTEd PullIng Action. Ask your partner to hold one end of a rolled-up sheet, while you hold the other. On the count of three, start playing tug-of-war, pulling by leaning back with your body weight (Image 1). Feel. Notice how your body weight is suspended from the sheet. Ask. What would happen if you were to suddenly let go? Feel. Notice how your body responds to this style of pulling. Ask. Do you sense muscular effort or strain in your shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands? Your upper back and neck? Your legs and feet? Feel. Notice how this kind of pulling affects your breathing. Ask. Is your breathing restricted in any way? Rest. 102 massage & bodywork november/december 2010