Larger clients: How to adjust the massage

[softtop_2007]

Hey gang! I have to do my final exam on my instructor who is a larger guy. I was wondering if people had tips for working with larger clients (how they handle limbs that slide off the table, how they make the full body feel addressed, etc). Any and all feedback would be greatly appreciated! My exam is in 2 days!!!!

Love and light,
Patrick

 

[La de da]

Hi Patrick,

My 1st piece of advice is to make sure that you never do anything overt that would call attention to the fact that your client is "big", you don't want to make them feel self-conscience or uncomfortable. Do not draw attention to the fact that they're large. Trust me....they already know what size they are.

That said, some tips would be (and all these would depend on HOW big the client is) you might want to lower your table so that the clients back is at the same height that you are used to working at. You might want to alter your draping. For instance, I normally drape with a very large towel but I have some clients that are too big for the towel so for them I use a sheet. If the client is too large for their arms to comfortably lay next to them on the table, then they usually rest their hands on their abdomin. So, after working the arms you could just return them to where they had been.

As to addressing the full-body you would do what you would do in any other massage. Tissue is tissue...a body is a body. Do for your larger clients what you do for your smaller clients. They don't want to be treated any differently.....they get that enough from other places. What they need from you is total acceptance...no judgements. Respect them and their bodies as you would anyone elses.

Good luck with your exam. Just relax and it will be just fine.

Angie

 

[CNICOLE]

arms falling off the table with supine, if arms fall off the table, you can say, "you may be more comfortable if you tuck part of your hand under each hip."

arms falling off the table when prone: same as above, or... have them hang arms from the elbow off the table.

For larger clients I put my face cradle up a lot higher than I do for thinner people. It is not uncommon to have it 3 or 4 inches higher than the level of the table. Sometimes with big men it doesnt have to be that high, but with women with large chests, its a given.

 

[Shazman]

If the arms do not fit on the table, how do you handle them when you are working on them. I usually do alot of work on arms with the arms resting on the table. It seems like it would be hard to hold a larger arm and do glides and compression, etc.

One idea I have is to ask the client to slide over closer to the other side so that their one arm will rest on the table and the other arm can rest on their abdomen still.

Any other thoughts?

 

[Camer]

For larger clients I put my face cradle up a lot higher than I do for thinner people. It is not uncommon to have it 3 or 4 inches higher than the level of the table. Sometimes with big men it doesnt have to be that high, but with women with large chests, its a given.

t023

This is another great idea! I also do this and it really helps to make clients more comfortable.

If the arms do not fit on the table, how do you handle them when you are working on them. I usually do alot of work on arms with the arms resting on the table.

Unless you are working on an extremely narrow massage table or unless the client is extremely large, this really shouldn't be a problem. There is a difference between the arm having enough room to comfortably rest and not fall off and the arm not having enough room to lay on the table while you work on it. The pressure of your strokes will help to keep the arm on the table while you work on it. I have clients that are 300lbs and I am able to work their arms on the table.

I would resist asking the client to move over during their massage unless there is absolutely no other way. Clients usually hate having to turn over in the middle of the massage and that would add 2 more times that they have to move. It would interrupt their massage and interfer with their relaxation and enjoyment of the massage.

Angie

 

[-xoxo-]

Thanks for the great responses!!

I had another thought. Do you think larger clients tend to require more pressure as a given? Or have you found the pressure needs tend to vary just like everyone else?


Thanks for the responses, this is really helping!!!

 

[Texas Chic]

Thanks for the great responses!!

I had another thought. Do you think larger clients tend to require more pressure as a given? Or have you found the pressure needs tend to vary just like everyone else?


Thanks for the responses, this is really helping!!!

Actually, larger clients do not need more pressure, as a general rule. Frequently they need less pressure, but how their tissue responds to your touch is very individual, so just listen to the tissue as you work, as with anyone else. If you feel resistence, lighten up a bit, and be sure they are comfortable letting you know if they would like more or less pressure at any given time.

 

[A soldiers wife]

Pressure needs vary, just like with people of other sizes.

For arms that may not fit on the table, rather than having them tuck their hands under their own hips (which as a bigger person I can tell you is more work for the client), I use the drape. Except when working the back, you can actually just tuck the drap right around the whole arm/hand and anchor it firmly under the hip. It's a little "coccoony," but if the client likes it it really holds arms gently and securely.

As far as supporting the arm while working on it, you can sit on a stool and put a pillow in your lap. This essentially makes your lap an extension of the table, and the client will feel well-supported.

I am another huge fan of double-articulated facecradles, which can come up high above the table surface while still keeping the neck in a good therapeutic position. If the cradle is up quite high when the client is face-down, I like to put "shoulder pads" under each anterior clavicle area -- basically just a thick, compactly-folded flannel pillowcase that keeps the shoulder from rounding sharply forward/downward.

I would probably not ask a client to move around on the table for working on the arms -- I feel like it's my job to pamper them, and my responsibility to make the equipment work for their comfort. Maybe the school has a pair of side extensions you can borrow to attach to your table for this session? I have a pair permanently installed on mine and all clients, large to small, love the feeling of security of the wider surface.

One thing you have in your favor here -- this is a massage instructor so he is already accustomed to making his own adjustments for comfort -- although he will appreciate the effort you make. Enjoy doing the massage without necessarily mentioning that you are making special accommodations -- it's great practice for the kind of adjustments you'll be making for clients all the time when you're in practice!

 

[The Scout]

With regard to any larger sized individual on your table.....

The pressure should vary according to their needs and their presenting complaints especially if you are doing therapeutic work. Now, having said that, I will add the following: it also depends on the "squish factor" of the adipose tissue of some larger clients how deeply you actually work physically. {The term "squish factor" comes from one of my larger gals}
In some individuals with much "squishier" tissue the touch and pressure need to be lighter because the adipose tissues seem to be more delicate and more susceptible to damage. For clients with this type of tissue, I work lightly and with greatly concentrated intention more than technique and it seems to work well for them. For clients of larger size with more firm tissues, more pressure seems to work well.

Do your best with the education you have and you should do just fine.

 

[Papermate]

i would not ask the client to move over on the table so you can work the arm with it on the table. i would think that was weird if someone asked me that.

have you ever tried to work the arm while it was hanging off the side of the table? (while lying prone) it feels really awesome. first of all it's different 'cause not many people do it. you can work it better and you don't have people trying to hold their arm for you so it's much more relaxed. give it a try! it takes some getting used to but you'll get it and your clients will love it.