Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/72343
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY Client Homework— Elbow Extension The position of the forearm (pronated, supinated, or neutral) determines which muscle is the prime mover when carrying bags or doing arm curls at the gym. When lifting with a supinated forearm (palm up), the biceps brachii works the hardest and is stabilized by the wrist and hand fl exors. Lifting and carrying with a pronated forearm (palm down) requires the brachialis to work the hardest and is stabilized by the wrist and hand extensors. If the forearm is neutral (thumb up), the brachioradialis is doing most of the work. This neutral position is typically the strongest and best when carrying heavy loads. PALPATING BRACHIORADIALIS Positioning: client supine with arm resting at side and forearm neutral. 1. Locate the lateral edge of the distal humerus with your fi ngertips. 2. Palpate the muscle belly just distal to the lateral epicondyle. 3. Resist as your client performs elbow fl exion to differentiate between the common extensor tendon and the brachioradialis. 4. Pincer grasp the muscle belly and follow distally toward the insertion on the radial styloid process. therapist, certifi ed athletic trainer, and certifi ed strength and conditioning specialist. Her private practice focuses on injury treatment, biomechanical analysis, craniosacral therapy, and massage for clients with neurological issues. She is the author of Functional Anatomy: Kinesiology and Palpation for Manual Therapists (Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2009). Contact her at functionalbook@hotmail.com. Christy Cael is a licensed massage Stretch 1. grasp an object you can lift with some eff ort and hold it at your side with a slightly bent elbow. 2. gently straighten your elbow as you relax the arm muscles. 3. maintain upright posture and a straight line between your shoulder, elbow, and wrist. 4. Breathe deeply as you focus on stretching the elbow and forearm. 5. keep your wrist straight and avoid hyperextending your elbow. 6. Repeat on the other side. editor's note: The Client homework element in Functional anatomy is intended as a take-home resource for clients experiencing issues with the profi led muscle. The stretches identifi ed in Functional anatomy should not be performed within massage sessions or progressed by massage therapists, in order to comply with state laws and maintain scope of practice. 90 massage & bodywork november/december 2011