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

Wise Use of Your Body
It is not essential to be muscularly strong to do this work. Proper body
mechanics factor into technique effectiveness and will minimize potential strain
and over-use injury.
Appropriate positioning of the therapist’s and the client’s body, use of gravity,
control of the therapist’s body and body weight can all be used to apply pressure
rather than being reliant on hand and upper body strength.
In addition to potential injury, if your own body is distressed chances are so is
your mind and you will have greater difficulty being ‘in the present’ to what you
are palpating/feeling and delivering in the form of treatment. As noted in
Chapter 9, if during treatment you cannot seem to find a position that feels
comfortable to your body, pause and change your position – or you may need to
ask the client to change position. Be ever mindful of your positioning and at no
time compromise your own comfort or wellbeing.
Myofascial techniques require the use of your hands and body in ways that differ
from some of the other techniques (e.g. lymphatic, nerve sedating and fluid
movement). Much like a graded exercise program, it will reduce the incidence of
injury; the same applies for new or different techniques. If new to you, it is
prudent to gradually introduce the myofascial techniques into your treatments.
Train yourself to use your left and right hands/arms as equally as possible. Use
various points of contact (i.e. various aspects of your body to make contact with
your clients) throughout the treatment. Change your point of contact often (e.g.
fingers, knuckles, base of palm, thenar, hypothenar eminence, forearm, elbow
etc.).