Massage & Bodywork

JULY | AUGUST 2017

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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 . 81 impossible because both of these muscles are extensors, left lateral flexors, and left rotators of the cervical spine. But we take advantage of the difference at the other attachment of these two muscles. The levator scapulae attaches to the scapula so that if the scapula is stabilized and/ or depressed, this position will tend to preferentially stretch the levator scapulae (Image 14A). But, if we let the scapula elevate as the client's cervicocranial region (head/neck) is moved, then the levator scapulae will be slackened and knocked out of the stretch, and the splenius capitis will likely become the shortest rope and best targeted to be stretched (Image 14B). Stretching can be an extremely important treatment tool to add to our clinical orthopedic manual therapy practice. But learning how to stretch effectively requires an appreciation of the shortest rope analogy and an understanding of multiplane Joseph Muscolino is offering his Digital Clinical Orthopedic Manual Therapy streaming subscription service at a deep discount to ABMP members. This service contains all his video content, plus new content uploaded each week. For more information, visit his website at www.learnmuscles.com/abmp. Further transition and refine the multiplane stretch seen in Figure 13B by working with the position of the scapula. A: The scapula is stabilized down into depression. B: The scapula is allowed to elevate. 13A 13B 14A 14B Further transition the stretch seen in Image 12 by adding in a transverse plane component motion. In 13A, left rotation has been added. In 13B, right rotation has been added. stretching. The shortest rope teaches us that a simple cardinal-plane stretch position will not necessarily be effective. But by then employing multiplane stretching technique, we will be empowered to critically think and creatively apply our stretching technique so that the target musculature is specifically and effectively lengthened and stretched, thereby helping us to achieve our treatment goals for our clients. Note 1. The author would like to credit Michael Houstle, a manual therapy educator in Baltimore, Maryland, for the original idea of the shortest rope. Joseph E. Muscolino, DC, has been a manual and movement therapy educator for more than 30 years. He is the author of multiple textbooks, including The Muscular System Manual: The Skeletal Muscles of the Human Body (Elsevier, 2017); The Muscle and Bone Palpation Manual with Trigger Points, Referral Patterns, and Stretching (Elsevier, 2016); and Kinesiology: The Skeletal System and Muscle Function (Elsevier, 2017). He is also the author of 12 DVDs on manual and movement therapy and teaches continuing education workshops around the world, including a certification in Clinical Orthopedic Manual Therapy (COMT), and has created Digital COMT, a video streaming subscription service. Visit www.learnmuscles.com for more information or reach him directly at joseph.e.muscolino@gmail.com.

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