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Cross fiber friction over the spine
I have a cline who has a huge scar right over her spine after very old surgery (may be over 20 years old). My question is it safe enough to do cross-fiber friction on this scar right over the spine? And would it help her to releave back tesion and pain?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on
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My recommendation would be to use a Myofascial Release (MFR) technique: run your finger gently down the scar and feel for spots that stand out to you and/or your client. Then, on that spot, again with your fingertip, gently move the tissue to 12, 3, 6 and 9 on a "clock face" and see which direction stands out to you and/or the client as the tightest or touchiest. Then just gently traction the tissue in that direction and wait for a release. This should be safe enough to do over the spine and will be more effective, IMO, than CFF. And certainly more comfortable! I've had good success with this with everything from cesarean section scars to breast reconstruction scars to shrapnel scars from a grenade. Sometimes you can get significant changes in just a few minutes; other times it takes a few minutes each session for several sessions.
Given how much scar tissue can pull on the surrounding areas (and even affect systems seemingly unrelated), I would say it's a good bet that you can relieve some tension and pain - including in some unexpected places.
Good luck!
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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Whatever you do, if it doesn't feel good to your client..Don't do it. That's my opinion.
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Permalink Reply by Anita ZHur on
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Thank you so much both of you! I really appreciate your opinion. My client had it done some other place and asked me if I could do it for her. I just did not consider it safe enough.
Would like to know other opinion. Has anybody ever done it CFF over the spine before? And was it effective?
Special thank you to Therese! Very helpful information.
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You're welcome Anita!
I've never done CFF over the spine; I generally try and avoid direct contact with the spinous processes, unless I'm working on mobilizing them, in which case I rock them back and forth (MFR technique; some people are more sensitive than others so it takes some care to do this). But still, that's different than rubbing over them, which can really cause discomfort for people.
What I have done is CFF across the ESG's, which is hard enough on my hands I've decided not to do it any more.
Another thing you can try is a long stroke with your elbow (carefully!) down the laminar groove; don't use a lot of pressure to start with!
Gordon makes things so simple - it's a good reminder to all of us that this work doesn't need to be complicated! It's the simple things that really work.
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Thank you again! Here is another thing. The scar runs directly over the spinous processes. So if I work on laminar groove it does nothing to the scar from both sides of the spine.
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If she were my client I'd definitely do the MFR technique in my first post! Also, you can have her give you feedback on where she feels things in other parts of her body while you are working on the scar. That will give you clues as to how far and where the tug from the scar tissue extends.
The other comment was related to working on people in general; I didn't clarify that!
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Thank you so much!
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Try skin rolling or cupping to apply negative pressure - no problem even directly over the spinous processes.
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