Sex Secrets - Learn Massage | Page 3

the head.
13. Never massage in a untidy or cluttered room.
14. Use good posture while giving the massage.
15. Always remember to get feedback from the patient.
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Misc. Things to Remember
Care of the Hands
The hands are the most valuable tool a massage therapist has.
They should be taken care and kept in a presentable manner. The
fingernails should be kept short, filled and clean. The hands
should be washed before and after each massage so that you don't
transfer the diseases from one patient to another. The hands
should be warm when you give the massage. Be careful not to do
any activities that might give you a blister before you give a
massage.
Would you want someone to massage you with dirty hands?
Would you want to receive a massage from someone that is
scratching you with their long nails?
Posture
Remember to maintain good posture while giving a massage.
When your giving 3 or 4 massages a day having good posture
makes a difference in the way you'll feel at the end of the day.
Stand erect and have your feet spread a part shoulder length.
Instead of stooping to give strokes that require you to be closer to
the patient (like tapotement & petrissage) spread your legs apart
more. Give a massage on a table that is the proper height for you
(A good test is to stand erect, arms at your sides, and if the table
is about where your palms begin then it is fine.) By following the
rules of posture you will keep yourself from needing a massage at
the end of the day.
Positioning of the Patient
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The patient should be in a position that will allow him to be
relaxed while he is receiving the massage. Make sure the patient
is comfortable and not lying bent to one side. Put a pillow under
the patient's ankles to ensure that his feet are comfortable. The
muscle that you are massaging should be completely relaxed.
Ask the patient before beginning the massage if he is comfortable
and if there is anything that he needs. People are very timid when
it comes to massage therapists and they rarely complain. They
might be in a very uncomfortable position yet not say anything
because they think that you might have put them in that position
for a reason. Always remember to keep good communication
with the patient.
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Definitions of Direction Terms
Superior
InferiorSuperior means toward the
head, and inferior means
toward the feet. Example the
mouth is inferior to the nose,
but the mouth is superior to
the chin.
Anterior
Posterior Anterior means from front or
in front of; and posterior
means back or in back of.
Example the knees are on the
anterior surface of the body
but the back is on the
posterior.
Medial
Lateral Medial means toward the
middle of the body, and
lateral means toward the side
or outer part of the body.
Example the nose lies medial
to the eyes.
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Proximal
DistalProximal means closer to the
trunk or point of origin of a
body part, and distal means
farther from the trunk or body
part. Example the hand lies at
the distal end of the elbow,
but is on the proximal end of
the fingers.
Superficial
Deep Superficial means closer to
the surface and deep means
more in depth. Example if
your patient is feeling pain
when you give him the
massage, give him a more
superficial massage.
Supine
Prone Supine means lying on your
back and prone means to lie
face down.
Transverse plane The plane that cuts across
your stomach. It would but
you from one hip to the other
Sagittal plane The plane that cuts right down
the middle of your body. It
would cut you from your nose
to your belly button.
Frontal plane A plane that cuts you down
your side. It would cut you
from your ear though your hip
to your feet.
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Anatomical Position"The body is in an erect or
standing posture with the
arms at the sides and the
palms forward. The head and
feet also point forward."
Structure & Function of the
Body. Thibodeau - Ninth
edition. P. 9. This position is
the position that you use to
judge all the other terms by.
Example, no matter what
position the arms are in the
radial artery lies on the
anterior side.
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