Massage Back of the legs

1. Sports/Deep Tissue Technique Class Massage Back of the legs

2. Massage Back of the Legs • Starting at the ankle, effleurage whole leg to apply oil, warm and soften

3. Massage Back of the Legs • At the top of a full leg effleurage, transition to circular effleurage of gluteals, stroking up lateral to the sacrum, then out around the top, alternately following above and below the iliac crest.

4. Massage Back of the Legs • Switch to working the low back/gluteal area with opposing hands (arms crossed in front of you) – as lower hand strokes up the side of the lumbar erectors to the 12th rib, the other strokes down across gluteus maximus and medius, creating traction in the low back

5. Massage Back of the Legs • Petrissage low back and gluteals Approach lumbar area from the side, kneading between 12th rib and iliac crest, then continue kneading gluteus maximus, including distal portion

6. Massage Back of the Legs • General and specific compressions to gluteals • General is twisting compression with hip ROM (BMT)

7. Massage Back of the Legs • Specific – place pad of thumb of uphill hand over tissue, compressing it with heel of other hand. Begin just lateral of lower sacrum, working up alongside, then out under the lip of the iliac crest, covering gluteus maximus and medius origins

8. Massage Back of the Legs • Facing down the table, apply slow deep effleurage with inside forearm or fist, stroking down across gluteus maximus, lateral to the sacrum • Repeat deep effleurage in several passes, taking a different angle, following parallel to gluteus maximus fibers, from O to I

9. Massage Back of the Legs • Effleurage gluteals to close

10. Massage Back of the Legs • Effleurage posterior thigh

11. Massage Back of the Legs • Apply compressive effleurage to hamstrings, I to O • Pressure is focused on the hamstring group, as brisk effleurages are repeated to warm and flush the group

12. Massage Back of the Legs • Full thigh, superior to inferior. • Wring thigh, superior to inferior. • Knead thigh in 3 passes, starting at top of lateral thigh.

13. Massage Back of the Legs • Compress hamstrings (BMT) including fiber spreading Bottom hand flex/extend knee, while upper compresses with palm, heel, or loose fist. Work from O to I, both medially and laterally. Apply pressure when muscle is slack, sustain while lengthening, then release pressure while shortening muscle again

14. Massage Back of the Legs • Deep transverse friction Supported fingers apply cross fiber friction to medial, then lateral hamstrings, from O to I. Feel for adhesions, trigger points, or tense areas. If you find them, come back to melt, using proximal ulna.

15. Massage Back of the Legs • Deep effleurage hamstrings • Beginning just inferior of ischial tuberosity, use forearm to effleurage hamstrings deeply from O to I, easing pressure a bit over tendons of insertion

16. Massage Back of the Legs • Move receiver into “figure 4” position • Facing up the table, inside arm holds ankle in crook of elbow, with hand near medial knee.

17. Massage Back of the Legs • Move receiver into “figure 4” position • As inside arm simultaneously laterally rotates and flexes the hip, outside hand uses outside edge of drape to help pull thigh into position, keeping the drape secure, • Check with receiver about comfort with amount of flexion (60-90 degrees needed)

18. Massage Back of the Legs • Apply compressive effleurage to vastus lateralis and the I T Band, distal to proximal

19. Massage Back of the Legs • Apply fulling to vastus lateralis and the I T Band, distal to proximal

20. Massage Back of the Legs • Effleurage slowly and deeply down the I T Band to the knee, using both fists together. Check in early about pressure!

21. Massage Back of the Legs • Return the leg to original position • Effleurage thigh to close • Apply gentle circular thumb effleurage behind the knee

22. Massage Back of the Legs • Compressive effleurage calf briskly from ankle to knee (3 times). • Full calf from the knee down. • Wring calf from the knee down. • Knead calf (include Achilles tendon and calcaneus in kneading).

23. Massage Back of the Legs • Apply thumb circles up the calf in 3 passes

24. Massage Back of the Legs • Strip the calf, I to O, in multiple passes

25. Massage Back of the Legs • Strip soleus edges, anterior to gastroc heads • In several passes, strip medial and lateral aspects simultaneously, using fingertips

26. Massage Back of the Legs • Strip soleus edges, anterior to gastroc heads • In several passes, strip medial and lateral aspects simultaneously, using fingertips

27. Massage Back of the Legs Apply melting to any adhesions, trigger points, or tense areas found

28. Massage Back of the Legs • With knee flexed to 45 degrees, use fingertips of upper hand to cross fiber the soleus belly, working between the bellies of the gastroc

29. Massage Back of the Legs • Apply compressive effleurage to the calf to flush

30. Massage Back of the Legs • Apply deep effleurage to the calf, O to I, using forearm

31. Massage Back of the Legs • Squeeze the foot and apply other massage to the foot as time allows

32. Massage Back of the Legs • Finish the leg with full effleurage and nerve strokes