Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/1512873
Suboccipital Release No. 2 Move the client into a sidelying position to better access and release the suboccipital muscles. Grasp around the client's head so your thumbs meet at the base of the client's skull on the suboccipital muscles. Massage along the occipital ridge, making several passes with your thumbs. When you palpate areas of particular tension, compress the tight tissue with your thumbs and ask the client to f lex their head forward. Follow this movement with your thumbs to stretch and release the tissue. Pillowcase Decompression This technique creates space between the vertebrae, relieving pressure on the intervertebral discs and promoting proper cervical alignment. Fold a pillowcase into a narrow strip and ask the client to lift their head so you can place it under their mid-neck to maintain their cervical lordosis. Hold the pillowcase strip with both hands close to the client's head, just above their ears, so your thumbs rest between their brows. Drop your body weight back to apply gentle traction to the cervical spine. Avoid intense pressure or jerking the pillowcase. Lean back slightly until you feel the client's first restrictive barrier. Ask the client to shrug their shoulders toward their ears while you continue holding to a count of five. Relax and have the client relax. Reengage the pillowcase and lean back, applying light traction to the client's second restrictive barrier, and repeat the shoulder shrugging process. Repeat the sequence a third time to complete the technique. PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER We've plunged into the world of the suboccipitals and explored the delicate interplay between the structures of the upper cervical spine. We've examined the far-reaching consequences of suboccipital imbalance and hypertonicity related to proprioception, head-righting ref lexes, occipital neuralgia, stomach sleeper's headache, and dural tension. MAT offers a holistic, comprehensive solution, incorporating thoughtfully sequenced techniques designed to release tension in the suboccipitals while considering the broader context of upper cross syndrome and forward-head posture. These eight fundamental techniques come from a longer MAT cervical routine. These methods promote proper atlas and axis alignment, reduce tension, and improve cervical function. Digital devices will continue to dominate our lives and inform the stories the suboccipitals tell our hands. By staying informed and integrating effective techniques into our neck treatment, we can empower clients to find relief and make choices to improve their postural habits. Erik Dalton, PhD, is the executive director of the Freedom from Pain Institute. Educated in massage, osteopathy, and Rolfi ng, he has maintained a practice in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for more than three decades. For more information, visit erikdalton.com. A B M P m e m b e r s ea r n F R E E C E h o u r s by rea d i n g t h i s i s s u e ! 45 Suboccipital Release No. 2 Pillowcase Decompression WATCH VIDEO "UNILATERAL NECK STRETCH "