[Fundamentals] Chpt 8 Lecture

Body Mechanics - Use of the body in a efficient and bio-mechanically correct way. (Careful, efficient  Dilerberate. Involves Leverage, Good Posture, Good Body Mechanics, Using the strongest and largest muscles.

Compressive Force - For us, it is forward, and down. For others it's Lifting and Upward. The difference between us and other professions is the direction of the force.

[Test]Best stance - Asymmetrical, front leg is relaxed, back leg is carrying the weight with knee-lock(Screw-Home) in the last 15 degrees of extension.
Men & Women Center of Gravity - Men is Above waistline, with their nose not passed their toes, Women is below the waistline, with their nose not passed their heels.

Balance Point - Pressure/Compressing forces are equal but in the opposite direction. (i.e. weight on back foot, and opposite hand on the persons body. The force on the hand will be equal to the force on the persons body.

Contact point - Where you initially contact your client however unlike the Balance point the forces don't need to be equal.

Petrissage - Lifting, Leaning back, and letting go.

Pressure - Force down in a 90 degree angle.
Counter-Pressure -Allows you to use more pressure without using more force.


4 Basic concepts for body mechanics:

• Weight Transfer - Shifting your center of gravity.
• Perpendicularity - Syncing straight into the tissue, perpendicular to the body. Straight in at 90 degree.
• Stacking the Joints - Everything is in line. Lining up the joints to apply pressure not bending or wearing your joints.
• Keeping the Back Straight - Core stability, keeping the core strong.

Improper Body Mechanics(Dysfunction and why they may be caused):

• Neck and Shoulders - Why would a MT have neck and shoulder problems? Not using body weight, muscling through the massage.
• Wrist and Hand - Using thumbs to much, not staying behind the stroke. (Make sure to always keep relaxed wrists and hands during the massage, tense hands can lead to shoulder problems.)
• Knees - Twisting/Hyper-extension.
• Ankles & Feet - Not in the Asymmetric stance staying locked, and not moving positions frequently.

Pressure: 

• Pressure in a large area is more intense, and pressure in a smaller area is less intense. (i.e. Palm on the surface of the leg is good, if you were to use your fingers it might be to much.

[Test]Drag:

Resistance to Glide. (use lotion to reduce drag.)

Duration and Speed.

• Specific application

• Short duration = 10 seconds
• Moderate duration = 30 seconds
• Long duration = 60 seconds

• Massage session

• Short duration = 5–15 minutes
• Moderate duration = 15–30 minutes
• Long duration = 45–60 minutes

• Speed

• Slow: beginning to end of application 10 seconds
• Moderate: beginning to end of application 5 seconds
• Fast: beginning to end of application 2 seconds

Skin:

• 7 layers: L1 - Skin Surface, L2 - Skin, L3 - Superficial Fascia, L4 - First Muscle Layer, F5 - Second Muscle Layer, L6 - Third Muscle Layer, L7 - Bone.

Equipment:

• Table height usually 1/2 of your height.