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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 ! 29 of five and relax. Repeat this procedure five times on both sides of the body. Quads Stretch (Image 2) With the client on their left side, ask them to grasp their left knee with both hands and pull their leg into f lexion. Use your right hand to grasp above the client's knee and use your left hand to brace the client's hip. Flex the client's knee and place your body against the client's tibia. Bring the client's knee into f lexion and their hip into extension to the first restrictive barrier. Ask the client to gently push their leg against your body to a count of five and relax. Bring the knee and hip to the next f lexion and extension barrier and repeat this process 3–5 times on both sides of the body. Avoid this technique on clients with hip or knee replacements. 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. the target muscles. Most importantly, movement enhancers give clients a sense of control and introduce novel stimuli that hold the brain's attention. The feeling of control and curiosity helps downregulate nervous system hyperactivity, thereby releasing regions of dysfunction from protective muscle guarding. EXAMPLE TECHNIQUES The following two GE techniques for the lower body serve as an introduction to this methodology. Watch the video accompanying this article for an example of movement enhancers, such as asking the client to bridge while holding their knees. It's crucial to understand the client's health picture and when particular methods might aggravate a client's condition. If you don't perform procedures correctly, there's a potential for overstretching and straining the client's muscles. These techniques should not feel painful, so discontinue any maneuvers that cause increased pain and discomfort. Hip External Rotators Stretch (Image 1) In this GE stretch, place the client's right foot across their left knee and ensure their toes point toward the end of the therapy table. Control the knee with your right hand while your left hand braces the client at the right anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS). Ask the client to gently push their knee into your hand to a count of five and relax. Push the client's knee toward the table, stretching external rotators until you find their restrictive barrier. Ask the client to push their knee against your resistance to a count Graded exposure stretches can be used to improve fl exibility and help clients engage with painful movements. 1 2 WATCH VIDEO "THREE TECHNIQUES FOR MOBILIZING THE HIPS"