Issue link: https://www.massageandbodyworkdigital.com/i/77400
upper arm on the table, still holding the hand with the elbow bent. Gently place the upper part of your forearm on the client's chest just above the drape and just medial of the sternum. Your hand should be just below the elbow or upper arm. Your whole lower arm will be in contact with your client (Image 1, page 63). Begin your stroke by following the fibers of the pectoralis major muscle, moving along the medial border of the sternum up toward the clavicle. Move laterally along the posterior clavicular border, passing just under the shoulder joint and onto the attachment of the pectoralis on the intertubercular groove of the humerus. The stroke can be continued all the way down to the elbow, although the latter half of the stroke is performed with light pressure (Image 2). If needed, the beginning part of the stroke over the pectoralis muscle can be performed with deep pressure. Simply hover your upper body over the stroke, dropping your body weight onto the chest. I find it doesn't take much body weight to deliver the pressure needed to work deeply in this area. When you reach the end of the stroke, lift your arm up off the body and start from the beginning. Repeat this stroke a couple of times, varying the location of your forearm stroke to ensure that the whole area has received adequate work. PASSIVE MOVEMENT Passive movement is a great way to intensify this stroke. By moving a joint that articulates with an area of tension, the tissue loosens from the inside out. This can be necessary for areas of built-up tension, but it's also an easy way to work deeper on your client without putting additional stress on your own body. Try the stroke again, but this time, instead of holding the client's arm stationary, move the hand forward toward the table (Image 3). This will open the shoulder joint and When using your forearms, it is advised to use the upper third of your forearm, because you'll have more leverage than when using the middle or lower forearm. earn CE hours at your convenience: abmp's online education center, www.abmp.com 65