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A B M P m e m b e r s e a r n F R E E C E a t w w w. a b m p . c o m / c e b y r e a d i n g M a s s a g e & B o d y w o r k m a g a z i n e 81 and then do a special massage technique that I discovered later is very effective for people with neurological problems: shake the muscle with the tips of my fingers and push it inward at the same time. This teaches the brain that there are other options for muscle movement. Of course, I was more vigorous with the leg that was less afflicted. Vered was so innovative and motivated that she spent about five hours a day exercising. Two of those hours were dedicated to work in the water, bending and straightening her legs. We worked together for about two and a half years, and in that time, I was able to help Vered lift her foot from the ground; she didn't have to drag it anymore. The space between her lower rib and her hip bone also expanded, so her waist became longer and her digestion improved. Her headaches also disappeared. Our daily walks, our attitudes and belief in improvement, and the work we did together made a life-changing difference for Vered and shaped my own professional work for years to come. universal principles for the paralyzed Just as with all massage and bodywork clients, those with paralysis need customized care. In older clients, and those with rapidly progressing diseases, you can expect to get some improvement in function with massage, but the main focus should be to give a sense of empowerment back to the client. The "loss of control" associated with these diseases and conditions means even bringing back a small amount of control is great for the client and their families. The goal with these clients is more to improve the quality of life, not just to increase function. In the case of younger clients, who have a good deal of vital energy, you can be more aggressive and aim for long-term goals. Improving quality of life remains the primary aim, but we can expect more quantifiable improvement in function. Regardless of variations between each unique case, many of the principles used when working with clients with paralysis remain identical in theory: Find Imbalances in the Body Within the client's body, discover where the strong muscles are doing the work for weak ones. Where there is muscle weakness, there is concurrent muscle tension in the balancing areas. Clients with limited mobility naturally overcompensate with muscles they can still easily control. Taking care of the tension in these areas is highly important. The overworked tendons and muscles need to be loosened and cared for to allow a greater, healthier range of motion. Neglecting the strong muscles allows lifelong habits of extreme tension to destroy a paralyzed client's greatest physical assets—the muscles and corresponding nerves that still work with relative ease. Remember to Use Passive Movement There is a concept in physical education that doing movement passively is not strengthening muscles, and that concept is false. Passive movement with weak muscles strengthens them enough that the client can do the movement themselves. From there, we can continue to use passive movement for circulation, strengthening, and for other parts of the body that still can't be worked independently. Passive movement is a good way to increase circulation in parts of the body that may otherwise be ignored. Increase Circulation Through Massage, Movement, and Position Everyone, mainstream medicine included, realizes that good circulation is integral to every function of the body. In fact, in the Self-Healing Method I teach, I emphasize the importance of circulation all the way to the capillary level, as we aim to bring movement to every little corner of the client's body. If the client cannot move by themselves, then the therapist must move them through massage and passive movement to bring blood flow to areas that may stagnate. This takes away the sense of fatigue and decreases inflammation caused by muscle wasting.