Massage pressure

[malteser94]

I am quite new to massage and would appreciate any advice on how to get really deep pressure (especially on the back). I find it particularly difficult on male clients, but do not want to put too much stress on my thumbs as I know of several therapists who have long term problems because of this. When I did my course there wasn't much emphasis on this aspect of technique. I am tall but am of slight build, but I keep reading on here that that shouldn't make any difference. I am hoping to change jobs soon and maybe working in a spa environment which means I would really like to improve my technique. As a beauty therapist I do not do massage treatments every day.

Any help from all you experts would be great!

 

[cabel l]

Hi. I do a lot of deep work and also on men and big people.

You learn as you go along really. Get some treatments yourself from some really good therapists, give them a treatment and ask for feedback. The major reason for non-returning clients is in-effective massage and we make all our new therapists give us a treatment before we employ them as we have lost clients for this reason. After you have done lots of people you get a feel for it really.

You need to watch your own posture and although I am guilty of using my thumbs myself you have to find other ways. Using the forearm with the pressure of your other arm is useful and elbows are effective too, but you need to know what you are doing and not hurt the client. You probably need to do some advanced courses to be honest. A hydraulic couch is useful too as you can adjust to suit what you are doing.

You need to go in slow and build up. The pain or discomfor should subside as you work, if not then you don't do it. Always know your own limitations and don't be afraid to refer clients onto somebody with more experience, such as an osteopath. Your clients will thank you for it and trust you.

There are loads of good books which you can read. Get some on remedial massage and sports massage and practice from them. They will set you back £30-40 each but are worth it. A good buy is The Muscle Book by Blakey, which is cheap, very slim but very worth having.

If you need more help then am happy to advise you as I can.

 

[Saintsfan]

If your couch is too high you won't be able to get pressure, I use a low couch (the height should be about level with first knuckles as you relax your arm down) and then you can use your bodyweight to get more pressure. I'm also guilty of using thumbs too much sometimes, but I also use one thumb on top of the other to reduce the strain on the joints, or push the heel of my other hand down onto my thumb; also as Candie said use elbows or forearm but not too deep, use knuckles in a loose fist and heels of your hands

 

[Gottschalk]

One important point is to ensure that the superficial muscle layer is really warmed up first, as this layer starts to relax you will be able to go deeper and the lumps and bumps in the muscles start to become more apparent.

Sonia

 

[nosa]

Thanks for that advice. I think the point about couch height is very interesting and something I will experiment with. Also swapping treatments with other therapists is a great idea (and I get to have a massage!)

 

[S P]

I would concurr on lowering the height of the couch slightly to get more pressure , using elbows and knuckles . and one hand over the other.

 

[fishie]

I know that this is going off the topic but go back and read all the postS above, with out therapy in mind, and it sounds like torture techniques!!




LOL

 

[Pandora Tomorrow]

Ve have vays of sorting you out

 

[CroManaeao]

Suggest you get you kit off now and try it!

I have just had a fantastic day at Burton Manor College in Burton Cheshire with a guy who was head physio at Wimbledon for 15 years. He is ex-army (joined at 15) was a PT instructor, Physiotherapist and a gymnastics judge. Honeybee came too and we had such a great day and learned so much.

What that man doesn't know about posture and the human body was unbelievable. He passed on so much information, such as why teachers get jaw problems, because of the way they talk (through the back of their necks) all day. This explains a lot as I do a lot of teachers with the most unbelievable neck tension and headaches.

He covered neck, uppper back and low back and also the jaw. He looked ten years younger than his 64 years, had a wicked sparkle in his eye and the best butt I have seen in men thirty years younger than him.

He was a bit disorganised and there were no course notes, but it was worth it as it was all hands on. I had the chance to practice loads of new techniques, most of which I have had myself in osteopathy but not had the confidence to use before, but I shall be using them this week.

It was fantastic value at £42 including lunch for a day. Well worth it.

 

[ErrortNet]

Hi Candie sounds a great way to spend a sunday and £42.Does he ever come south? steve

 

[iveexusfiapimkezt]

Hi Steve, he is very difficult to pin down. He is learning to play the guitar now which takes priority! We asked him to do another but he said it wasn't really viable. He lives about a three hour drive from here - can't remember where, but not your way.

He can't have made much from it at all to be honest, but from what he said, money isn't his motivating force.

 

[ImaceWala]

Hi Candie

Would it be possible for you to pass on the guy's contact details? I am going to start teaching from this week so I would be interested in what he has to say.

Also I have lost both my Swedish massage and Aromatherapy routines and I am going to start teaching both of these courses. I can't seem to find them anywhere although I have all the rest of the notes. Is there anyone that would be prepared to lend me theirs. I don't want to start writing routines from scratch but would like to adapt any routines that others have.

Thanks a million

 

[flower19602003]

That sounds really interesting, Candie. As a matter of fact, your posts make me want to visit Cheshire. It seems lovely, or maybe it's you guys out there

BTW, I almost never use my thumbs in massage. My nails' white bits start at the very top of my fingers, especially the thumbs, and cutting them short enough is painful for me; so I use other ways.

 

[Rei]

Sorry I don't have his details, and as I say, he only does the odd course so you wouldn't be able to get him and he doesn't live anywhere near London.

Sorry that you have lost your routines etc, but I am sure it won't take you long to put them together again quickly in time for your teaching to start. I shouldn't imagine that as a teacher you would want to take on somebody's else's routines? Would have thought that this was something that would be quite personal to the teacher concerned and that you would want to do it your own way.[&:]

 

[cucqbewg]

Rethinking & writing your notes & routines again is an excellent way of re-assessing what it is we do & why we do it.

If you've got the time of course. Leon Chaitow has done some excellent books on soft tissue work - so maybe check Amazon or eBay - may give you a kick start.

Andrew.

 

[Kelly B]

Hi Angel

A little idea that I have found Extremely useful for working deeper in to muscles is using a Heated Lavender Wheat Cushion, and Warming the areas you are going to work on. I have found that Clients seem to be a lot more relaxed, I normally use two one on the shoulders while you are discussing with the client the proposed treatment, and one placed around the Lumber area of the back. This method I have found to be Very Effective, and that as the muscles warm up I am able to use more pressure, without the client becoming too uncomfortable. Obviously this cannot be used on Clients who have a known Wheat Allergy. I normally wrap the cushion in a towel as they can be quite hot to touch straight from the microwave.

I trained in Sports & Body Massage with the author of Soft Tissue Release (Mary Sanderson) the book she has published has excellent photographs, descriptions & guidance on how to use STR effectively is extremely useful for therapists wishing to work deeper and maybe on specific muscles without being crippling to the therapists, hands/thumbs. Hope some of this info is useful for you. One small thing though dont forget to receive adequate massage treatments too, they wil help you to help clients even more effectly.

Spykeyfingle

 

[ybddyeoz]

Hi spykeyfingle and welcome to the forums.

I was talking to a lady today who said they do this for her at the local beauty salon and she said how much she loved it. Mmmmm I thought, a good idea to pinch!

By the way, did you know you can get the bags with cherry stones in? No problem with allergies there.

 

[Kassie]

I often use, hot towels, pillow things etc as well the clients just love it and say for instance after working for a long time on one shoulder and then move over to the other, i replace the bag,pillow,towel etc to keep the area warm so that is does not contract again!!! nifty and effective.

T
x

 

[Syndron]

You would have to have a microwave in your treatment room then?

Lesley

 

[cuezgujhifvirqezw]

I have recently done a course in Hot Stones, and now that I have all the equipment, I also use some of the big placement stones, on a " normal" massage to warm areas before I get to them!!

Also lovely on the colder days just to give that "warm" feeling to the client!!

(Of course I also hope it might encourage them to try a full Thermal Stones Massage!!)

K