Back Massage Technique, Tip 8

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Back Massage Technique 6:
"Effleurage" using Forearms

Apply firm downwards pressure (see diagram), and move the arm closest to the head up to just below the shoulder blades. 6 strokes. For the first stroke, be aware of the possibility of lower back pain

Back Massage Technique, Tip 7:
Trigger point release using sustained pressure of the of the reinforced thumb.

Let the patient's pain be your guide. Place your thumb over any tender spots or knots that your patient may have told you about or that you may have felt, and press firmly and with increasing pressure thus: Gradually increase the pressure until the pain is 6 or 7 on a scale of one to ten. Hold that pressure until the pain lowers to about 4/10 (takes about 5 seconds). Immediately (don't stop the pressure), increase again until the pain is 6 to 7 on the scale of 10, and again hold until the pain subsides to 4/10. Repeat step two. This is painful, but you can't do much harm to the patient - quite the reverse: muscle and back pain (upper or lower)may miraculously disappear. Your thumb is more likely to suffer, so make sure that you back it up with the fingers of the other hand, and after each trigger point release, give your thumb a bit of massage too.

Patient Advice:

For the five days after the massage, encourage the patient not to sit, stand still or run, for longer than half an hour at a time; but rather to take a short walking break, and to sip water frequently.

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