Therapeutic Medical Massage

Occipital Release Resistive Stretch: Perform this maneuver from a seated position behind or at the end of the table. Your patient is supine. Have your patient move towards you so that the head is past the edge of the table enough to place your hands knuckles down with your fingers together and bent at the first joint making contact at the sub-occipital. Instruct your patient to relax and let the weight of the head sink down onto the fingers. If the patient relaxes enough, the head will gently drop backwards slowly. After the head drops, place your hand around the chin and the other one around the back of the head and pull with both hands gently. Cross your forearms with your palms on each shoulder and the head supported on the forearms. Bend your arms by raising them and your palms remaining on the shoulders. This movement will raise the head to the point of the chin touching the chest. Stop when resistance is experienced and hold it for a few seconds. Have your patient press back and hold this pressure while you attempt to match the same pressure. Hold for a few seconds. Release all forces and pressure. Stretch the head forward again till resistance is met and repeat again. Cradle the head with both hands and rotate in small circles and bend side to side to demonstrate the improvement of the range of motion. Have your patient slide back onto the table so you can place the head down and be supported. Place each hand on the shoulders and alternately push each shoulder towards the feet while stair-stepping up the trapezoids till you reach the neck. Psoas Release Resistive Stretch: After treating the psoas as described earlier in this book it will need to be stretched. This treatment last much longer after stretching it. Have your patient lay supine on the table. The positioning of the patient should be such that the coccyx is on the edge of the table. Bend the foot of the side not being treated and place it on your belly. Let the other leg hand down over the table. Gently push down on the knee of the side being treated until resistance is noted. Hold it for a few seconds, and ask the patient to push back against your hand while you match the pressure. Hold for a few seconds, release and gently press the leg down while it is relaxed, hold for a few seconds.