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February 25, 2008

Use Your Anatomy!

As I study gross anatomy again, I'm reminded of a case years ago when a client came to me complaining of sciatic pain because they moved a box. Rather than picking up the box, which would be anyone's first guess about how they hurt themselves, they had moved the box with their foot. I had been working their gluteus maximus, medius, minimus, and piriformis trying to work out the problem. They had been to see me for five sessions and each time they showed some improvement, but their pain did not clear up completely.

It was during their sixth session that we got into a detailed conversation about exactly how the client hurt their hip. Before we started working, I had them demonstrate exactly how they moved the box with their foot. The box had been beside them and slightly behind them. Instead of approaching the box head on, they reached their foot back and pushed it away from their body at an angle.

A light bulb went on in my head. The action involved lateral extension and abduction of the hip. While the gluteal muscles contribute most of their action to extension, only a couple contribute to hip abduction. The primary muscle that performs abduction of the hip is one that I had failed to address--tensor fascia lata. If I had not had my client demonstrate the exact action that created their injury, I would not have thought about that muscle and its action.

I worked with their tensor fascia lata, finding many trigger points in that muscle. We released the spasms and stretched the muscle. The client reported no more pain. I coached them about proper lifting and stretches they could do at home if their hip began to act up again. I didn't see them again but several people came to me on that client's recommendation.

Moral of the story: Use your anatomy knowledge to solve problems and injuries related to movement. You may get someone out of pain and grow your business through results-oriented massage.

tags: massage massagetherapy wellness massage therapy bodywork health

Posted by linda at February 25, 2008 12:29 PM