This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified physician or other health provider regarding any medical condition.
Outline
Contraindications | Overview | Acupoints | Aftercare | Myofascial Release: Feet
Techniques
CONTRAINDICATIONS
Don’t work your lymph system if you’re feeling ill. Moving lymph can easily spread illness, can worsen illness, and can cause sepsis.
Don’t work your lymph system if you have shortness of breath or congestive heart failure or kidney dysfunction.
Don’t work over broken skin or wounds. Use a gentle touch in order to prevent skin irritation.
NEVER work over cellulitis. Go immediately to your PCP or ER for evaluation.
NEVER work over areas which are warm or swollen, especially in the legs. If you are experiencing pain with dorsiflexion, proceed immediately to the ER.
Use caution when taking blood thinners, including aspirin. Non-aspirin NSAIDs can increase blood clot formation.
NEVER work over post-operative sites within 3-4 weeks of surgery or over areas of cancer.
OVERVIEW
Goals
__— Improve grip strength, joint mobility, and proprioception
__— Alleviate hand, foot, neck and low back aches
__— Improve mechanoreception
__— Improve cellular hydration
Hands and feet contain densest areas of nerve endings due to number of joints
Techniques — Pressing, Gliding, Shearing, Rinsing, Friction
Based on Eastern and Western modalities
__— Pressing and Friction blend reflexology, positional release, and lymphatic drainage techniques
__— Gliding, Shearing and Rinsing are patterned after basic compression techniques
ACUPOINTS
Pressing infuses neurofascial research with meridians of classical Chinese medicine
Energy meridians
__— Energy network in which life energy flows — chi or qi
__— Energy meridians not adopted by Western medicine as there is no physical system
Myofascial meridians
__— Myofascial meridians can be measured and defined
__— Coincide with energy meridians
__— Fascia carries signals — electrical, cellular and chemical
__— 12 myofascial lines of tension, which distribute strain and transmit force
__— 4 head-to-toe myofascial lines and 4 arm lines linked to reflexes of hands and feet
__— Hands and feet linked to body structures through fascial connections
PRESSING | Gliding | Shearing | Rinsing | Friction
Place ball under POINTS 1-5 of receiving hand
1. Place working hand over top to create gentle compression
2. Keep shoulders relaxed, elbows soft, and receiving wrist in line with forearm
3. Compress working hand over middle of receiving hand
4. Inhale to prepare
5. Exhale as each point is compressed
6. Only one consistent, compressive force is required
Pressing | GLIDING | Shearing | Rinsing | Friction
Place ball under POINT 3 of receiving hand
1. Place working hand over top to create gentle compression
2. Keep shoulders relaxed, elbows soft, and receiving wrist in line with forearm
3. Compress working hand over middle of receiving hand
4. Keep tip of middle finger on table during glide
5. Glide from POINT 3 to POINT 5
6. Focus breathing while gliding
7. Continue gliding back and forth across base of palm with equal pressure for 15-30 seconds
Pressing | Gliding | SHEARING | Rinsing | Friction
Direct Shear
Place ball under POINT 3 of receiving hand
1. Place working hand over top to create gentle compression
2. Keep shoulders relaxed, elbows soft, and receiving wrist in line with forearm
3. Compress working hand over middle of receiving hand
4. Keep tip of middle finger on table during shear
5. Create small circles at POINT 3, as if kneading dough
6. Focus breathing while shearing
7. “Pin the skin” of deeper layers for 15-30 seconds
Pressing | Gliding | SHEARING | Rinsing | Friction
Indirect Shear
Place ball under POINT 3 of receiving hand
1. Place working hand over top to create gentle compression
2. Keep shoulders relaxed, elbows soft, and receiving wrist in line with forearm
3. Compress working hand over middle of receiving hand
4. Keep tip of middle finger on table during shear
5. Create small circles at POINT 3, as if kneading dough
6. Focus breathing while shearing
7. Bend and extend or create small circles with thumb for 3-4 breaths
Pressing | Gliding | Shearing | RINSING | Friction
Finger Rinse
Place receiving hand on table
1. Place working hand on top to create gentle compression
2. Roll ball over top of and in between each finger
3. Work in one direction, from base of fingers to tip of fingers
4. Allow pass to continue so that ball rolls under receiving hand, from tips of fingers to under wrist
5. Focus breathing while rinsing
Pressing | Gliding | Shearing | RINSING | Friction
Forearm Rinse
Using receiving hand and arm
1. Roll ball under finger tips to wrist to create gentle compression
2. Continue rolling ball under forearm, rolling up to elbow
3. Work in one direction, from tips of fingers to elbow
4. Repeat 8-10 times, maintaining consistent pressure
5. Focus breathing while rinsing
Pressing | Gliding | Shearing | RINSING | Friction
Forearm Shear (Palm Side)
While rinsing underside of receiving arm
1. Stop halfway between wrist and elbow
2. Rest hand on table
3. “Pin the skin” with ball while moving forearm left and right
4. Roll 5-8 times
5. Move ball up and slowly work along arm toward elbow
6. Work in one direction, from fingertips toward elbow
7. Pick 2-3 spots and zigzag ball up arm
8. Focus breathing while rinsing
Pressing | Gliding | Shearing | RINSING | Friction
Forearm Shear (Dorsal Side)
Place receiving arm on table
1. Above wrist, find space between ulna and radius
2. “Pin the skin” with ball using working hand to create gentle compression
3. Move receiving arm under ball and drag or twist fascia between bones
4. Focus breathing while rinsing
Pressing | Gliding | Shearing | Rinsing | FRICTION
Using receiving hand
1. Rub hand over ball in scribble-like motion to create gentle compression
2. Use light, quick, random movements
3. Ball can also be placed in between hands and worked at same time
AFTERCARE
To ensure full benefits, the following items are recommended for 24 hours following treatment:
— Drink plenty of water, as this will help hydrate the body, help the liver and kidneys flush out toxins, and improve energy levels.
— Try to rest for a couple of hours following the session and avoid strenuous exercise for the rest of the day as this will help the therapy work to its full potential.
— Avoid tea, coffee, and alcohol, as these are stimulants and will reduce the effectiveness of therapy.
— Eat a light and healthy diet to allow your body to put its energy into healing.
Thank you for attending!
I hope this class was helpful to you.
Reflexology and massage should never be used as a substitute for medical care.
They are complementary therapies to be used together with a conventional medical treatment plan.