Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/68165
YOU CAN SEE THESE TECHNIQUES IN MASSAGE & BODYWORK'S DIGITAL EDITION, WHICH FEATURES A VIDEO CLIP FROM ADVANCED-TRAININGS.COM'S ADVANCED MYOFASCIAL TECHNIQUES FOR THE ARM, WRIST, AND SHOULDER GIRDLE SEMINAR AND DVD SET. THE LINK IS AVAILABLE AT BOTH MASSAGEANDBODYWORK.COM AND ABMP.COM. your anterior, working hand can feel the subscapularis on the anterior side of the scapula. The skin, lymph structures, and nerves of the axillary region are particularly delicate, so don't poke, chisel, or force your fingers in; wait for your client's breath and relaxation to open the space between the scapula and the rib cage to allow you to reach the anterior side of the scapula. Once you've arrived at the scapula, Lying on the anterior side of the scapula, the subscapularis (in green) is sandwiched between the shoulder blade and the rib cage, forming much of the posterior wall of the axillary space. Image courtesy of Primal Pictures. Used with permission. you can ask your client to do slight movements of arm abduction or rotation. The muscle activation will allow you to feel the subscapularis and be even more specific with your work. However, don't ask for so much movement that the scapula clamps back down on the rib cage. Encourage your client to let the subscapular space be as easy and open as possible, even when performing the active movements of the arm. Work as much of the front side of the scapula as you can comfortably reach, as the subscapularis is a large muscle, covering the entire scapula Is the ordering of these two techniques important? Probably the most common shoulder pattern is a tendency toward forward-rounding of the shoulders. Key elements of this pattern are scapular protraction on the rib cage, together with internal glenohumeral rotation. Because of this, most people will feel greater shoulder balance and more ease if you end the work with an anterior release by working the subscapularis after working the posterior rotator cuff. You can switch the order of these techniques, of course, if you see the opposite pattern of dominant shoulder retraction and external humeral rotation. In the Subscapularis Technique, cradle your client's arm and shoulder complex from front and back. Use your posterior hand to "feed" the scapula over the fingers of your anterior hand, which is then in position to delicately work the subscapularis with your fingertips, while your client plays with gentle arm abduction and rotation. AN EXAMPLE The before-and-after photos of the client in Images 6 and 7 show significant range-of-motion increase after two sessions utilizing the myofascial techniques described in Parts I and II of this article. The client underwent connect with your colleagues on massageprofessionals.com 111