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Stretching?
Hello, forgive me if this has already been touched on, I searched & couldn't find a similar topic. I have recently been revamping my massage routines & have wanted to add stretching and had some questions. I have always done neck stretches, a lot of traction, and arm stretches if there are particular problems in that area. Thanks for any input!
Do you add stretching to your massage sessions? Why why not?
Do you stretch everyone or only particular clients?
What areas of the body do you normally stretch?
What is the benefit of you stretching the client vs. them stretching themselves?
I read that you are suppossed to warm up the tissue before stretching (makes sense), say you have a client that has tight hamstrings but likes to start supine, how do you go about warming up the tissue in this position?
Anything else you would like to add?
Do you add stretching to your massage sessions? Why why not?
Do you stretch everyone or only particular clients?
What areas of the body do you normally stretch?
What is the benefit of you stretching the client vs. them stretching themselves?
I read that you are suppossed to warm up the tissue before stretching (makes sense), say you have a client that has tight hamstrings but likes to start supine, how do you go about warming up the tissue in this position?
Anything else you would like to add?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Jason Erickson on
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I use stretching with many clients, but not all. It depends upon their goals and needs. Some clients actively dislike stretching during a massage, others have connective tissue disorders, joint laxity issues, or other medical conditions that contraindicate stretching.
If someone needs stretching for postural or exercise/sport-related concerns, then I primarily use active stretching, usually Active Isolated Stretching, but possibly also PNF stretching, Muscle Energy Technique, Facilitated (CRAC) stretching, etc. This is because active stretching engages the CNS to "reprogram" patterns of innervation/facilitation. This usually results in rapid functional and postural changes, particularly increased pain-free ROM.
Passive stretching can feel nice and blends nicely with a flowing massage, but that's about the limit of its utility. Recent research indicates that passive stretching is largely useless for sports performance enhancement, and has no correlation with reducing incidence of injury. Further, passive stretching prior to physical exertion can temporarily reduce muscular force production, making it virtually impossible to perform at peak levels and possibly increasing chances of injury.
Many of my clients are amateur athletes, while others are Olympians or international competitors. Some come to me for stretching-only sessions, in which case we focus on AIS. When giving homework to my clients, I always teach active stretching (usually AIS) techniques, and educate them on why I teach them to stretch one way vs another.
As an employer of many MTs, I have rarely seen an applicant that had more than a cursory knowledge of stretching, let alone a good working understanding of how, when and why to stretch one way vs another. I strongly recommend obtaining quality continuing education on active stretching and therapeutic applications thereof. It's a massive competitive advantage for me, but there's more than enough demand to go around. :)
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Oh, I stretch pretty much everything, depending on the client. Today I did an AIS session focused on the shoulders, arms, hands, neck, and low back. The other day I worked with a marathoner, stretching her hips, glutes, legs, etc.
The benefit of me stretching the client is that I can ensure they are correctly positioned, provide guidance, and help them get the maximum benefit from the time we have. I can also teach them how to stretch themself, which is the gift that keeps on giving. If they get in the habit of correctly stretching, they can keep it up over the long run, reducing their need for therapy and enjoying improved quality of life and athletic performance. As a therapist, my goal is for them to not need a therapist. When clients takes over responsibility for their own health, outcomes nearly always improve. :)
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Permalink Reply by Lauren on
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Wow, thanks for the great info!! I've been toying with the idea of becoming a yoga teacher, it really helps you become mindful of your alignment/posture. We did a lot of PNF stretches in school, but I didn't use it much then. I guess it was too soon because you don't generally work on many people with serious issues when you leave school. I am interested in learning more about active stretching, thanks for the encouragement!
My goal is also to get the client to a place where they can go as long as possible between massages w/out experiencing pain/symptoms. I give homework & education but many times clients don't follow my advice. Athletes are more mindful about what their body needs & are willing to do what they can to keep at peak performance, unfortunately the general population doesn't share the same value.
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I also taught yoga for a time. It was a large class, which made it very difficult to adequately educate each participant in the time available. I had to learn shortcuts for teaching individual corrections without manually adjusting their positions. This experience has been very helpful in my work as a therapist.
Lauren said:Wow, thanks for the great info!! I've been toying with the idea of becoming a yoga teacher, it really helps you become mindful of your alignment/posture. We did a lot of PNF stretches in school, but I didn't use it much then. I guess it was too soon because you don't generally work on many people with serious issues when you leave school. I am interested in learning more about active stretching, thanks for the encouragement!
My goal is also to get the client to a place where they can go as long as possible between massages w/out experiencing pain/symptoms. I give homework & education but many times clients don't follow my advice. Athletes are more mindful about what their body needs & are willing to do what they can to keep at peak performance, unfortunately the general population doesn't share the same value.
The ability to communicate concepts to clients in a manner that intrigues and inspires clients to make real behavioral changes can be developed through practice, practice, practice. It took me a while to figure out that my client education process actually starts prior to the start of our initial verbal intake and client assessment and continues after they have left. Some clients will be more receptive than others, and you can give them more right away... others take longer... they may need some time to ponder concepts before they will be willing/able to act upon them.
Education is the art of applying the science of communicating new information in a meaningful way. It is very helpful to get critical feedback from peers and nonpeers alike, without being defensive. Learn from other MTs what works for them, then try those ideas for yourself. My process is constantly evolving and improving as I refine my approach through experience.
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I am willing to hear any advice you have on communicating more effectively! I agree this has been a problem w/ me & I am trying to work on it. I was thinking about going through the stretching exercises w/ clients when time allows to make sure they are doing it properly & to show people how good it feels to get into a good stretch & breath. We do have a bigger office & clients are in & out constantly & I'm not sure how clients would respond to this. I guess if I snag them & bring them back into the room to stretch they would feel more comfortable. Also, here in the tri-state area we are very rush rush, many times when a massage is done clients practically run out to get on to their next task. Sorry, just babbling at this point! Thanks for all the great advice, I really appreciate it!
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Lauren,
I don't have all the answers, but here are some questions to consider:
How often do you stretch yourself?
What area(s) do you normally stretch?
How often and how thoroughly do you stretch other areas?
What types of stretching technique (MET, AIS, PNF, CRAC, etc.) are you thoroughly familiar with?
How well do you understand positioning for solo stretches vs. for assisted stretches?
What (if any) assistive devices/strategies do you use for solo vs assisted stretches?
How do you feel before, during, and after stretching?
What are some of the relative benefits of stretching for different client needs (performance, recovery, rehab, etc.)?
Why would you recommend different types of stretching for different client needs?
I could go on, but you get the idea... You can communicate more effectively about stretching when you understand your message well enough to answer any/all of those questions off the top of your head. Start with what you know and practice on yourself so you can communicate to them about what it's like and how to do it. Have a basic grasp of static vs active stretching concepts and the relative merits of each. The more easily you can discuss these with clients, the more inclined they will be to follow your lead.
Also, don't treat stretching as an "add-on"... I made that mistake for too long. Stretching is a form of bodywork, and each type of stretching technique engages the body and its various systems in different ways. People like Aaron Mattes profoundly change lives daily using ONLY stretching, as do many less-well-known practitioners. I often suggest stretching to be included in the session during the intake, and educate clients that learning to practice effect methods for themselves may minimize/eliminate their issue(s) much more quickly. If you communicate a strong message with confidence, you may start seeing more success. After the session, stop the client long enough to inquire how they feel and educate them about what you may do for them in the future. You can suggest stretching again, and (if time allows) show them 1-2 stretches that will enable them to get the greatest benefit from the session they just had with you.
Those are a few thoughts to get you started. If you get the chance, take some CE Hours in stretching techniques, then practice, practice, practice!
Lauren said:I am willing to hear any advice you have on communicating more effectively! I agree this has been a problem w/ me & I am trying to work on it. I was thinking about going through the stretching exercises w/ clients when time allows to make sure they are doing it properly & to show people how good it feels to get into a good stretch & breath. We do have a bigger office & clients are in & out constantly & I'm not sure how clients would respond to this. I guess if I snag them & bring them back into the room to stretch they would feel more comfortable. Also, here in the tri-state area we are very rush rush, many times when a massage is done clients practically run out to get on to their next task. Sorry, just babbling at this point! Thanks for all the great advice, I really appreciate it!
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