Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/720675
C h e c k o u t A B M P 's l a t e s t n e w s a n d b l o g p o s t s . Av a i l a b l e a t w w w. a b m p . c o m . 109 When applying this technique, keep in mind it is easier the higher (more proximally) your hands are on the medial femur. Since this is a potentially sensitive and private area, as your first step, be sure to explain your process and get explicit permission from the client. Practice first with a colleague or friend; when done correctly, your partner will likely report that your hands' placement feels much less invasive than you might imagine. Keep in mind, too, that this technique requires you to be mindful of your ergonomics. You'll want a table height that allows you to simply lean backward, rather than exert yourself or lift with your arms, back, or shoulders. This position will keep you comfortable and will allow you to use this technique with clients of all sizes. With practice, the Iliofemoral Ligament Technique will give you an effective and efficient way to work with the hydration, client proprioception, and structural adaptability of the deepest structures of the all-important hip and sacroiliac joints. Notes 1. D. R. Bassett et al., "Pedometer-Measured Physical Activity and Health Behaviors in US Adults," Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise 42, no. 10 (October 2010): 1,819–25. 2. G. Mellin, "Correlations of Hip Mobility with Degree of Back Pain and Lumbar Spinal Mobility in Chronic Low-Back Pain Patients," Spine 13 no. 6: 668–70. 3. I. P. Rolf, Rolfing: Reestablishing the Natural Alignment and Structural Integration of the Human Body for Vitality and Well-Being (Rochester, VT: Healing Arts Press, 1989), 143. 4. C. Starkey and S. D. Brown, Examination of Orthopedic & Athletic Injuries (Philadelphia: F.A. Davis, 2015), 945. 5. W. Platzer, Thieme Atlas of Anatomy (Stuttgart, Germany: Thieme, 2006), 380. 6. I. P. Herman, Physics of the Human Body (Berlin: Springer Science & Business Media, 2008). Til Luchau is a Certified Advanced Rolfer, the author of Advanced Myofascial Techniques (Handspring Publishing, 2016) and a member of the Advanced-Trainings.com faculty, which offers distance learning and in-person seminars throughout the United States and abroad. Contact him via info@advanced-trainings.com and Advanced-Trainings.com's Facebook page. Key Points: Iliofemoral Ligament Technique Indications • Hip, groin, or lower back pain (since any of these may arise from hip joint irritation). • Hip stiffness or movement limitations. • Recovery from hip surgery, strain, or labrum tear. • Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). • Jaw pain, tension, and temporomandibular joint dysfunction. Purpose • Increase options for movement, proprioception, and intra-articular hydration of the femoroacetabular joint. Instructions • With the client prone and the hip comfortably flexed (the "Push Broom" position), interlace the fingers on the medial side of the proximal thigh, using the client's knee against your leg as a fulcrum, in order to: 1. Gently distract (lift) the femur away from the acetabulum. Feel for or imagine a gentle stretch of the iliofemoral ligaments and a slight opening of the joint space. 2. Gently distract (lift) the same-side hip bone laterally away from the sacrum. Feel for, or imagine, a slight opening of the sacroiliac joint. • Vary your angle, feeling into and distracting different aspects of the femoroacetabular and sacroiliac joints; wait for several breaths in each position. Considerations • Explain your purpose and get permission before working in this potentially sensitive area. • Use only very gentle distraction after hip replacement or surgery. • Stay comfortable: lean back with straight arms to avoid strain. For More Learning • "Pelvis, Hip & Sacrum" in the Advanced Myofascial Techniques series of workshops and video courses. • Advanced Myofascial Techniques, Volume 1, chapter 9 "Hamstrings" and Chapter 10 "Hip Mobility" (Handspring Publishing, 2015). MYOFASCIAL TECHNIQUES Watch Til Luchau's technique videos and read his past articles in Massage & Bodywork's digital edition, available at www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com, www.abmp.com, and on Advanced-Trainings.com's Facebook page. "Iliofemoral Ligament Technique"