Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/530196
MUTED GLUTES The three gluteal muscles—gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus—are part of the structure that literally holds the legs to the pelvis. These muscles are critical to most movements we make throughout the day, yet sexual undercurrents, ill-prepared therapists, and litigiousness sometimes keeps them from being addressed in a massage therapy session. And that, experts say, is a mistake. "The gluteal muscles are extremely important and are critical players in posture, gait, and special movements," says massage educator and therapist Clint Chandler. "This muscle group stabilizes the pelvis and spine, and creates powerful movements at the hip joint." He says the inability to work these gluteal muscles, especially as we face an aging baby boomer clientele, limits one's effectiveness to practice. Some spas refuse to allow work on a client's glutes, while others will do so once a release is signed by the client. "These restrictions of no-touch zones are not just for modesty or sexual gray areas, but more and more are also being applied to important clinical areas because of a lack of training in techniques and safety on such areas as the anterior neck, adductors, tissue next to the spine, the abdomen, and others," says Art Riggs, author, bodywork educator, and advanced Rolfer. "The combination of inflexible restrictions and lack of training is not only depriving the public of good work, but is now defining what the public and therapists consider appropriate techniques and is exacerbating this problem. I feel that neglecting to work on such an important area as the gluteals is a great disservice to our clients." SCHOOLS REACTING OUT OF FEAR? In addition to somatic omissions happening in spas, more and more massage graduates are reporting that their school's gluteal massage curriculum lacked in content and practice. Some new graduates admit they come out of school with sparse knowledge of how to address this critical muscle group and little to no communication skills on how to talk to clients about it. The combination makes for awkward interactions with clients and a further distancing from best practices. The fear has grown to the point that some schools don't allow gluteal work in their school clinics, while others cite student privacy as a reason for not covering gluteal work in their classrooms, all of which exacerbates trepidation about client boundaries. "I have no idea why a school or a clinic would avoid teaching students how to work this important muscle group," Chandler says. "I can't imagine the rationale for such nonsense. They are doing a disservice to the profession, to students, and to potential clients." While she hopes it's a very limited experience, ABMP's Director of Education Anne Williams says she has heard rumors of schools that don't teach gluteal massage and she finds it concerning. "The Entry-Level Analysis Project (ELAP) determined that What's Your Favorite Gluteal Technique? Erik Dalton, M&B columnist, educator: I use a "Spindle-Stim" routine to turn on weak, inhibited gluteus muscles. Optimally, the hip should extend at least 30 degrees past the pelvis with the client prone. The hamstrings typically begin the motion, and the gluteus maximus primarily comes into play at the end range of a prone hip extension. The inability to extend 30 degrees, or compensatory lumbar spine "dipping," indicates poor motor control or weak glutes. • With the client prone, ask her to li her le leg as high as comfortably possible, keeping the knee extended. Get a sense of how high the extended leg elevates off the table. • Place the client's le foot against the right knee, forming a Figure-4 position. • With elbows extended, use both so fists and begin slowly bouncing on the le hip. • Drop your body weight so all the energy is coming from your legs and ask the client to slowly li and relax her le knee to help activate the glutes. • Work the gluteal fibers in all directions and gradually begin to pick up speed until you see the entire body rocking and rolling. This is not tapotement—the moderate force must come from your legs through your extended elbows and so fists. The goal is to kick in a mild stretch reflex via the muscle spindle's dynamic gamma motoneuron system. • Aer two minutes of rapid spindle- stim, stop and retest the client's degree of hip extension. • Repeat on the opposite side. Take notes on the degree of improvement so the client can be retested at the beginning of the next session to see which hip still needs more work.