Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68009
THE FORGOTTEN CORE Swedish for the Abdomen After asking permission, stand at the client's right side. Rest your hands lightly on the abdomen to help the client become accustomed to your touch, then apply oil. Step 1. Two-Handed Abdominal Effleurage With your right palm, make clockwise circles covering the entire abdomen. After a few circles, let your left hand join in, one hand following the other. Use gentle pressure and do not touch or put any pressure on the xyphoid process. As you stroke, feel underneath the rib cage to determine the tightness of both the abdominal muscle attachments and the diaphragm. Also feel for tightness in the muscle attachments around the pelvic bowl, inside the iliac crest, and along the upper surface of the pubic bone. This will give you information about tightness not only in the lower abdominal muscles but also in the iliacus muscle. Step 2. Knead the Abdomen Reach across the abdomen, and beginning above the left iliac crest, begin kneading across the abdomen. End above the right iliac crest. Cross to the other side of the table, perform the stroke from right to left, then return to your original position. Step 3. Petrissage Along the Path of the Large Intestine With the flat of the thumbs, begin just inside the right hipbone and stroke straight up to the rib cage, across the top of the abdomen, and down the left side. Stop just above the left hipbone. Move very slowly and thoroughly and use medium pressure. Step 4. Tapotement and Light Pincement Along the Path of the Large Intestine Massage the same area as in Step 3. Step 5. Skin Rolling Roll the skin between the fingers, up one entire side of the lateral abdomen from the lower abdomen to the costal margin. Move to the left side of the table and repeat on the right side of the abdomen. As you roll the skin, feel for any tightness in the client's superficial fascia and evaluate any scars for adhesions that may need specific scar tissue release techniques. Step 6. Petrissage Around the Navel to Stimulate the Small Intestine Using the fingertips, make small circles with gentle pressure and move all around the navel. Step 7. Vibrate Around the Navel to Stimulate the Small Intestine Make a shaking or trembling movement with your fingertips and use gentle pressure. Step 8. Back Lift Stroke Stand facing the client's head. Effleurage from the middle of the abdomen out to the sides, then slide your hands behind the client's waist and end so your fingertips are touching on either side of his or her spine. Now, lifting carefully so you do not strain your back, lean back and pull firmly while your hands glide around front to the client's navel. (This will lift the client's midsection slightly.) Using a brisk shaking motion, vibrate your hands as you glide. Step 9. Repeat Two-Handed Abdominal Effleurage 78 massage & bodywork july/august 2009 Abdominal effleurage The abdominal area is also close to the genitals, and some clients don't want any area close to their genitals to be touched. Thus, abdominal massage may be perceived as risky. Another important cause of neglect of the abdomen is the attitude of the therapist. The therapist may feel uncomfortable touching the abdomen due to personal issues of his or her own around the abdomen or genitals. It is likely that many massage therapists may themselves have been victims of unwanted sexual touch. The therapist may also be afraid that abdominal touch will be interpreted as a sexual advance. Other negative feelings about touching the abdomen may come from the perception of the abdominal organs as distasteful. According to physician- researcher Michael Gershon, "The popular consensus is that the colon is a repulsive piece of anatomy. Its shape is nauseating, its content disgusting, and it smells bad."26 This sentiment may mean that chronic constipation, one of the body issues for which massage is very effective, is ignored by clients or massage therapists.27, 28