1. fingertips for the client
By Laurie ChanCe Smith
Note to massage therapists: each issue of Massage & Bodywork coNtaiNs the columN “fiNgertips for the clieNt,” which is
targeted to clieNts. this columN is available oNliNe at www.massageaNdbodywork.com as a priNtable file. priNt the faciNg
page, attach your busiNess card, aNd seNd it home with clieNts, courtesy of associated bodywork & massage professioNals.
32 massage & bodywork november/december 2008

2. Trigger PoinT TheraPy
If you’ve ever received professional Back soreNess
trigger point therapy, you may be An article in the March-April 2006
baffled at how it works. A therapist issue of The Clinical Journal of Pain
explores painful areas on the body recommends trigger point massage
with fingertips, searching for sore, for pain relief. “Trigger points in
tender trigger points. Once the trigger the deep spinal muscles lie very close
point is found, the therapist applies to the spine,” Davies says. “They’re
pressure with fingers, knuckles, or found in the shallow trough between
an elbow for about seven seconds. the spine and the long vertical mound
At first, clients may feel pain, but of muscle on either side.” At home,
welcome relief quickly follows. use a tennis ball for similar results.
Effective on chronic or occasional With fingertips, locate the trigger
pain in any part of the body, learning points near the spine, and then lie
to practice trigger point therapy on on the floor using the tennis ball to
yourself can supplement professional apply pressure, or place the tennis
sessions and provide interim relief, says ball between your back and a wall.
Clair Davies, author of The Trigger According to Davies, trigger points
Point Therapy Workbook. in one part of the body often refer
pain to other areas. Knee pain can
Neck aNd shoulder teNsioN be caused by the quadriceps muscle,
In Healing Self-Massage, Kristine Weber adds, and three specific trigger Once the
Kaoverii Weber suggests you explore points help relieve the pain. Search
the top of your shoulder with your
fingertips until you find a thick muscle
for a trigger point on the top of the
thigh, right below the groin, and
trigger point
roll, about pencil-size. First, locate the
trigger point. The area is described in a
apply pressure with the thumb. A
second trigger point is on the top of
is found,
myofascial trigger points article in the the thigh halfway between groin and
December 2007 issue of Anesthesiology knee. Apply pressure with the heel the therapist
Clinics, as “a hyperirritable spot, of the hand. The third trigger point
usually within a taut band of
skeletal muscle, which is painful on
lies on the outside of the thigh, also
midway between groin and knee. Use
applies
compression.” Apply strong pressure
with the fingertips for seven seconds.
fingertips to apply pressure.
pressure
Repeat on the opposite shoulder. Laurie Chance smith is a Texas-based
Additionally, lie on the floor and writer and photographer who works for national with fingers,
place a tennis ball under your back, and international markets on a plethora
lined up between the shoulder blade
and the spine. Roll the shoulder blade
of topics. she can be reached at
lauriechancesmith@yahoo.com.
knuckles, or
on the tennis ball until you find the
sorest spot. Continue rolling the tennis
an elbow for
ball, focused on this area, for about
two minutes. Repeat on the opposite about seven
shoulder blade.
seconds.
For more information, visit massagetherapy.com 33