Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68005
MYOFASCIAL TECHNIQUES client has a very fl at upper thoracic curve, you may want to reverse the sequence and end with work on the back to encourage more spinal fl exion. OVER-THE-EDGE TECHNIQUE Ask your client to lie face down on your table, arms at the sides, with his or her head and neck just over the top edge of the table. The edge of the table should fall an inch or two below the top of the sternum. Your client may need to adjust upward or downward a bit so that the edge is comfortable. Don't leave your client like this too long, but you'll usually have at least two or three minutes to work before his or her head starts to feel too full. Once your client is comfortable, ask him or her to turn the head from side to side as you again watch or feel the outer tissue layers in order to recheck your fi ndings. Look again at the up and down movements too, using care to avoid any neck compression with extension. Often, this prone position will make the superfi cial restrictions even more obvious. The tool we'll use to release these restrictions is the fl at of our forearm; specifi cally, the fi rst few inches of the ulna just distal to the elbow (Image 4). Use this tool to gently anchor the inferior margins of the places you saw or felt superfi cial restrictions. We don't use oil or cream, as we'll be using friction more than pressure to contact the layer we want to release. Also, we won't be sliding much—our client will provide the movement needed for release. Once you have the outer layers gently anchored with your forearm, ask your client to slowly turn his or her head away from the side you're working. Feel for a direction of your pressure that gently lengthens the superfi cial layers being pulled by the head movement. Imagine that you're helping your client lengthen and free herself inside the wet suit-like outer layers of superfi cial fascia. Alternatively, you can ask your client to lift and lower the head (extend and fl ex the spine) as you lengthen the layers of the back inferiorly. You'll fi nd that most release will happen on the eccentric phase of the motion, that is, while your client is lowering his or her head. Remember, your client will get uncomfortable if you leave them in this position for more than a few minutes. Although relatively safe, head-down positions are usually contraindicated for clients with uncontrolled high blood pressure, a history or risk of stokes, or vertigo, or acute sinus issues. ANTERIOR NECK/SHOULDER DIFFERENTIATION TECHNIQUE After releasing the posterior restrictions of the back and shoulders' superfi cial layers, you'll want to broaden and continue this release by addressing any surface restrictions in the upper chest and anterior shoulders. To release these anterior restrictions, we'll use either our palms or fi ngertips to anchor the superfi cial fascia of the shoulders, chest, and anterior neck (Image 5). Then we'll use our client's movement to release the restrictions we saw or felt earlier. The palm is especially useful where you saw fascial layer creep with head movement. When using your palm, don't be tempted yet to rub, slide, or massage the deeper layers of pectoralis, etc. Instead, use the broad surface of the palm to catch and gently anchor the outer layers of the chest while your client moves his or her head. 124 massage & bodywork january/february 2009