Clinical Techniques Flashcards
Intention of clinical approach massage
rehabilitative work - rehab soft tissues
return unhealthy tissue to healthier state
what techniques are used in clinical work
TRIGGER POINT THERAPY
CROSS FIBER FRICTION
HEALTHY TISSUE
not tender to light/moderate pressure
uniform tissue consistency/quality: palpates as loose, flexible, elastic, moveable, supple
muscle contracts when told to by impulse but is able to return to its original resting state - not tonus
UNHEALTHY TISSUE
tender with light/moderate pressure
non-uniform tissue consistency: palpates as tight, ropey, thready, congested, boggy
contracts when told to by impulse, but is not able to return to its original resting length - tonus
working with unhealthy tissue requires
precise placement - aka knowing anatomy and being able to address specific structures that are involved in cl symptomology
unhealthy tissue remains in shortened position. therefore the area has:
decreased blood flow
decreased lymph flow
decreased ROM
unhealthy tissue feels to us as
congested - fluid
boggy- heavy fluid
spongy
tight
ropey
stringy
thready
cl with unhealthy experiences
tenderness
discomfort
ache
stiffness
headache
pain
sx
as we work the tissue and it becomes healthier the tissue will experience
increased blood flow
increased lymph flow
increased ROM
as tissue become healthier cl will experience
decreased sx
what soft tissues to we address
muscles
tendons
ligaments
fascia
periosteum
what creates unhealthy tissue
injury/trauma
overuse/overload
compensation/adaptation
nutrition
lack of exercise
emotional components/stress
disease
medications
what can massage therapist address within their scope that contributes to unhealthy tissue
injury/trauma
overuse/overload
compensation/adaptation
definition of pain
unpleasant sensory and emotional experiences associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or described in terms of such damage
aspects of pain (4)
the body’s warning system that something is wrong
triggers problem solving strategies to avoid getting worse
beneficial for the preservation of the remaining tissue integrity
subjective to experience
types of pain
acute
sub-acute
chronic
acute pain
short duration
sharp, severe, intense
could be occasional and not continuous
expected and helpful
soft tissue involvement - resolves as tissue becomes healthier
sub-acute pain
still expected and helpful
diminishes with healing
from sharp to dull
30 days to 3-6 months
chronic pain
persistent, consistent
dull
mild to severe
may progressively get worse
more than 3-6 months
longer than normal healing time
depth definition
the pressure perceived by the client
what does “deep tissue” imply?
deep - lots of pressure
it will be painful
anatomically precise work is not about
depth, or about causing pain
how to achieve depth
increase pressure by using more strength
work on SPECIFIC structure - example: bicep longed instead of whole upper arm
address with smaller tool
anatomically precise work
be location specific - know your anatomy
stay within optimal tolerance (tender but not painful)
create healthier tissue
as tissue becomes more healthy it will become
less tender
more able to tolerate specificity
tolerate increased pressure which allows you to work more deeply
palpation skills
assessing what you feel beneath the cl’s skin
what does the anatomical structure feel like?
what does the surrounding tissue feel like?
symptomology
what the cl presents to you with - their complaints, sx, dx
syndrome
a collection of symptoms
