BOLSTERING & RECIPIENT BODY POSITIONING
With any bodywork and massage modality, but especially with foot-based and deep tissue massage techniques, recipients’ comfort and alignment on your massage table must be an important consideration. For Sarga Bodywork, a massage table with medium-firm foam density is ideal both for practitioners’ standing stability while working, and to minimize rebound from the recipients’ body as you apply your techniques. In addition, make sure that you have the right kind of bolsters available to align your recipients appropriately.
1. ANKLE BOLSTERS & LEG ALIGNMENT
For recipients with large feet, limited ankle range, or ankle considerations, make sure that a large enough bolster is available to comfortably position his/her lower legs. Bolstering at the ankles correctly also keeps recipients’ legs from externally rotating at the hip.
2. ELBOW ALIGNMENT
Make sure that recipients’ arms remain pronated and not hyper-extended when working in both supine and prone positions. Always maintain a healthy bend at recipients’ elbows when applying massage technique to the arms.
3. CERVICAL ALIGNMENT
Make sure that your recipients’ cervical alignment when lying prone is as close to his/her natural standing alignment as possible. Avoid overextension of the cervical spine and any techniques that would contribute to overextension. This is often an aspect of headrest design, and we highly recommend using headrests that can adjust both vertically and angularly.
4. LUMBAR ALIGNMENT
For recipients with lower back considerations, herniated discs or hyperlordosis, first make sure that lying prone or supine is suitable (in extreme cases recipients can be in quite a lot of pain from prolonged standing, sitting, or even lying prone/supine). If treatment in these cases is appropriate, bolster proactively! Use a pillow under the abdomen, convexly supporting the lumbar spine, at level with the umbilicus and ASIS in prone position. In supine position, add additional bolstering behind the knees to ease low back tension, or request that the recipient bend their knees with feet flat on the table; knees collapses medially and feet are set wider apart beyond shoulder width. Non-acute phase should follow the same protocol as not to exacerbate symptoms or an acute onset. In addition, never employ massage techniques that apply direct downward pressure to the lumbar spine, especially for recipients with these lumbar considerations.
5. BREAST PILLOW
For recipients with larger breasts or breast implants, have a breast pillow available. These are available online or can be made cheaply by cutting out two circles in a foam pillow with a serrated knife. Recipients with larger breasts will also need the headrest vertically raised for proper cervical alignment.
1. ANKLE BOLSTERS & LEG ALIGNMENT
For recipients with large feet, limited ankle range, or ankle considerations, make sure that a large enough bolster is available to comfortably position his/her lower legs. Bolstering at the ankles correctly also keeps recipients’ legs from externally rotating at the hip.
2. ELBOW ALIGNMENT
Make sure that recipients’ arms remain pronated and not hyper-extended when working in both supine and prone positions. Always maintain a healthy bend at recipients’ elbows when applying massage technique to the arms.
3. CERVICAL ALIGNMENT
Make sure that your recipients’ cervical alignment when lying prone is as close to his/her natural standing alignment as possible. Avoid overextension of the cervical spine and any techniques that would contribute to overextension. This is often an aspect of headrest design, and we highly recommend using headrests that can adjust both vertically and angularly.
4. LUMBAR ALIGNMENT
For recipients with lower back considerations, herniated discs or hyperlordosis, first make sure that lying prone or supine is suitable (in extreme cases recipients can be in quite a lot of pain from prolonged standing, sitting, or even lying prone/supine). If treatment in these cases is appropriate, bolster proactively! Use a pillow under the abdomen, convexly supporting the lumbar spine, at level with the umbilicus and ASIS in prone position. In supine position, add additional bolstering behind the knees to ease low back tension, or request that the recipient bend their knees with feet flat on the table; knees collapses medially and feet are set wider apart beyond shoulder width. Non-acute phase should follow the same protocol as not to exacerbate symptoms or an acute onset. In addition, never employ massage techniques that apply direct downward pressure to the lumbar spine, especially for recipients with these lumbar considerations.
5. BREAST PILLOW
For recipients with larger breasts or breast implants, have a breast pillow available. These are available online or can be made cheaply by cutting out two circles in a foam pillow with a serrated knife. Recipients with larger breasts will also need the headrest vertically raised for proper cervical alignment.
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