[libribook.com] Traumatic Scar Tissue Management 1st Edition

Clinical Consideration
The authors suggest a certain amount of caution with using the phrases
relax, just relax, I need you to relax, or any derivative. Telling a client to
relax may only serve to increase any feelings of anxiety or cause the client
to feel like they are doing something wrong. A more productive approach
may be to gently touch or hold where the therapist can see that the client is
tensioning; for example, when working around a client’s neck you may
observe them bring his/her shoulder(s) forward/elevate the shoulder off the
table if they are supine. By gently placing one hand on an elevated
shoulder, more often than not, the client will register the somatic
information and self-adjust.
Deep/Relaxed Breathing
Vital to life and a cornerstone of most MT practices are relaxed breathing
techniques.
Deep or relaxed breathing is known by several different names such as
diaphragmatic breathing, abdominal breathing, belly breathing and paced
respiration (Harvard Health Publications 2015).
When you breathe deeply, the air coming in through your nose fully fills your
lungs and the lower belly rises. Deep breathing may seem abnormal to some,
leading to chest breathing – shallow breathing from the chest which increases
tension and anxiety (Harvard Health Publications 2015).
Shallow breathing restricts the diaphragm’s range of motion. The deepest part of
the lungs do not receive a full share of oxygenated air, which can make the client
feel short of breath and anxious.
Deep abdominal breathing encourages full oxygen exchange which, in turn,
helps to slow the heartbeat and lower or stabilize blood pressure (Harvard Health
Publications 2015).
At this juncture, careful consideration should be given to what is within our