1 Starting Position with hands over
the top of the client’s shoulders
Therapist’s stance
Standing behind the client in a relaxed posture.
Technique
I Commence by holding your hands
lightly on your client’s shoulders.
I Ask your client to take three deep
breaths, with the emphasis on breathing in and out slowly and deeply.
2 Holding Position over the top of the
head
Therapist’s stance
Standing behind the client in a relaxed posture.
Technique
I Hold your hands lightly on either side
of the head for about a minute, waiting for a feeling of relaxation and calm.
I You are now ready to commence the
massage.
Fig 6.11 Starting position
Fig 6.12 Holding position
KEY NOTE
This helps both the client and therapist relax and prepare themselves for treatment.
KEY NOTE
The holding position helps to create a feeling of stillness and calm before commencing the massage.
3 Effleurage/Smoothing across the
shoulders and upper back
Therapist’s stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position. The walk standing posture is used to lunge forward and increase the pressure and effectiveness of the techniques.
Technique
I Use one hand to support one side of
the upper back.
I Use the palmar surface of the other
hand to stroke up either side of the spine, across the top of the shoulder and around the lateral border of the scapula to return to the starting position.
I The stroke upwards should be deeper
than the stroke downwards.
I Repeat three times one side and then
repeat the other side, gradually increasing in pressure with each stroke.
4 Petrissage/Thumb Sweeping across
the shoulders
Therapist’s stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position. Therapist uses walk standing posture to lunge forward and increase the pressure and effectiveness of the techniques.
Technique
I With fingers resting on the top of the
client’s shoulders, reach down the upper back with your thumbs and place them as far as they can go either side of the spine, across the lower border of the trapezius muscle.
I Now draw the thumbs up and across
the trapezius muscle fanning out towards the little finger.
I Repeat three times, gradually
increasing in pressure.
Fig 6.13 Effleurage/smoothing
Fig 6.14 Petrissage/thumb sweeping
KEY NOTE
Effleurage/smoothing is the first communication across the shoulders and enables the therapists to establish contact and feel for any areas of tension.
I Now draw the thumbs up towards the
middle finger and repeat three times.
I Then draw the thumbs up towards the
index finger and repeat three times.
5 Frictions with the Heel of the Hand rubbing around the scapulae Therapist’s stance
Standing to the side so that you are facing your client’s shoulder from the side.
Technique
I Support one side of the back with one
hand.
I Use the heel of your other hand to rub
lightly and briskly (in a side to side motion) across the top of the scapula, in-between the scapula and below the scapula in the characteristic ‘C’ shape.
I Repeat three times each side.
6 Frictions with the Finger rubbing
around the scapulae
Therapist’s stance
Standing to the side so that you are facing the clients shoulder from the side.
Technique
I Support one side of the back with one
hand.
I Join the fingers of the other hand and
place fingertips so that they face away from the spine.
I Rub vigorously backwards and
forwards across the top of the scapula, in-between and below the scapulae in the characteristic ‘C’ shape.
I Repeat three times each side.
Fig 6.15 Frictions with the heel of the
hand Fig 6.16 Frictions with the fingers
KEY NOTE
Petrissage/thumb sweeping is a deeper technique that helps to unlock tension and free fibrous adhesions from the trapezius muscle.
KEY NOTE
Frictions help create a considerable amount of heat in the tissues which helps to break down fibrous adhesions and restrictions around the scapulae.
7 Effleurage/Smoothing (as Step 3) 8 Pressures with the knuckles either
side of the spine
Therapist’s Stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position.
Technique
I Place the middle knuckles of the
forefinger and middle finger on either side of the spine at the top of the shoulders.
I Ask the client to take a deep breath in
and as they breathe out apply pressure inwards and then slowly release back towards you.
I Continue working down either side of
the spine, approximately an inch at a time until you reach the mid spine.
I Light sweep back up to the top of the
shoulders. Repeat twice.
9 Thumb Pushes over the shoulders Therapist’s Stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position.
Technique
I Place the palms of the hands around
the cap of the shoulder (deltoid muscle) with thumbs resting above shoulder blades.
I Starting from the outer edge of the
shoulder, use the pads of the thumbs to push in one long sweep from the trapezius muscle (back of the shoulders) over to the pectoralis major muscle (front of the chest).
KEY NOTE
This technique is similar to the previous technique in helping to free restrictions
and tension from around the scapulae. KEY NOTE
Pressures stimulate the nerve endings either side of the spine, releasing blockages in the nerves and easing tension.
Fig 6.17 Pressures with the knuckles Fig 6.18 Thumb pushes over the shoulders
I Slowly release and then move further
in towards the neck and repeat.
I Repeat the movement until the whole
of the top of the shoulders has been covered.
10 Finger Pulls across the top of the
shoulders
Therapist’s Stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position
Technique
I Place both hands over the top of the
shoulders, with the thumbs anchored across the back and the fingers in front of the shoulders.
I Draw the muscles in-between your
fingers and thumbs and lift upwards and back towards you.
I Repeat several times until the whole
of the top of the shoulder has been thoroughly covered.
11 Squeezing and Releasing across
the top of the shoulders
Therapist’s Stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position.
Technique
I Place palms of both hands on the top
of the shoulders with the heel of the hand lying on the trapezius muscle and fingers resting on the front of the shoulder.
I Lift and squeeze the muscles in an
upwards motion, heel of the hands and fingers clasping them tightly in the palm of the hands.
I Squeeze using medium pressure and
hold for a few seconds before releasing.
I Move further in towards the neck and
repeat until the area across the top of the shoulders has been covered.
KEY NOTE
The thumb pushing technique loosens tension in the muscles across the top of the shoulders by squeezing the toxins from the muscle and mobilising the tissues.
KEY NOTE
The finger pulls technique helps to squeeze the toxins from the muscle fibres and encourages fresh oxygen and nutrients into the muscles. It also helps to soften and loosen the muscles , thereby easing tension.
12 Heel Pushes across the tops of the
shoulders
Therapist’s Stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position.
Technique
I Place palms of both hands on the top
of the shoulders with the heel of the hand lying on the trapezius muscle and fingers resting on the front of the shoulder.
I Lift up and squeeze the muscles in an
upwards motion and then roll the hands forwards across to the front of the shoulders, slowly releasing the muscle from your hands as you go.
I Repeat several times until the whole
of the top of the shoulders has been covered.
KEY NOTE
The squeeze and release technique helps to squeeze and release toxins from the muscles, as well as softening and loosening tight muscle fibres.
KEY NOTE
The heel pushes technique helps to mobilise and loosen the muscles across the top of the shoulders, encouraging the client to release tension.
Fig 6.21 Heel pushes
Fig 6.20 Squeezing and releasing across the top of the shoulders
13 Smoothing with the forearms Therapist’s Stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position.
Technique
I Place the inside of the forearms across
the top of your client’s shoulders and gently apply pressure downwards.
I Glide the forearms across the top of
the shoulders, rotating them as you proceed to the outer edge of the shoulder and down the upper arms to just above the elbow.
I Release and then brush the forearms
back up the arms and on to the top of the shoulders
I Repeat three times.
14 Chopping across the shoulders and
upper back
Therapist’s Stance
Behind the client, kneeling down or standing up with the knees bent, depending on preference and client height.
Technique
I Place the palms of both hands across
the upper back, with fingers together and fingertips pointing upwards.
I Perform light brisk chopping
movements by quickly moving the index fingers of both hands together, picking up and squeezing the tissue between the index fingers of both hands before releasing them.
I Work across the whole of the upper
back and shoulders.
Fig 6.22 Smoothing with the forearms Fig 6.23 Chopping
KEY NOTE
The smoothing with the forearms technique stretches and releases the muscles across the top of the shoulders and helps to encourage the drainage of toxins from the tissues. It also encourages the shoulders to release tension.
KEY NOTE
The chopping technique helps to loosen the muscles across the upper back and shoulders and stimulates the blood circulation and nerve endings, giving a refreshing feeling.
15 Champi/Double Hacking across
the shoulders and upper back.
Therapist’s Stance
Standing behind the client in a walk standing position.
Technique
I Hold your hands in a praying position,
leaving the heels of the hands and the fingertips loosely in contact.
I Relax the hands and wrists.
I Using the tips of both fingers joined
like a cage, lightly strike the surface and then spring off again.
I Start on one side of the spine of the
upper back, around the shoulders and then back down again.
I Repeat the other side.
NB: Take care to ensure that hacking is
NOT performed directly over the spine. 16 Squeezing and Releasing across thetops of the shoulders (as Step 11) 17 Effleurage/Smoothing (as Step 3) 18 Holding Position over the tops of
the shoulders (as Step 1)
KEY NOTE
Champi or double hacking stimulates the nerve endings and blood circulation, giving a refreshing and revitalising feeling.