How to Palpate Muscles and Tendons in Massage Therapy

June 16, 2020

Most practitioners believe that palpation is one of the most important assessment methods in massage therapy. Experienced therapists can detect knotted fibrous tissues and joint stiffness with just a feel of the body area and testing the muscles, ligaments and tendons. This method is consistently applied throughout the treatment to check its effectiveness in resolving the patient's health problem. For students of massage therapy courses, the following describes the key indicators and underlying principles in palpating specific tissues. Key Indicators of Dysfunctional Tissue Layers Palpation generally involves checking for changes in normal tissue and temperature, and the presence of oedema. Also known as dropsy, this abnormal swelling or puffiness of the skin comes from the fluid buildup in particular areas of the body. Pitting oedema occurs when the imprint or indentation remains after swollen skin is pressed. It commonly results from wearing tight socks or constricted clothing. Meanwhile, non-pitting oedema or fluid retention in the hands, feet and ankles mostly develops during pregnancy, because of hyperthyroidism, or after lymph-node surgery. At the same time, a massage therapist checks for a difference in normal skin temperature over certain body areas. The masseur or masseuse lightly touches the skin with the back of his or her hand and compares the temperature to other areas of the body. When the skin feels a bit feverish compared to the rest of the body, it means there's acute inflammation of the limb or organ. In contrast, a lower temperature indicates a problem with the blood flow to that area. In addition, assessment of changes in normal tissue depends on the target area of palpation. The therapist slides one hand over the patient's skin, takes note of the texture, and checks for dryness or moistness. Muscle tissue normally feels firmer than subcutaneous tissue. A hard pea-shaped area that triggers a painful response or a ropey fibrous tissue could be a problem. Tightly bundled muscle fibers normally form around the shoulders and back areas. Also, the tendons may seem like firm cords trapped between the muscles while ligaments seem less elastic or almost immovable, and the joints look swollen or feel thicker than usual. Apart from the knots of muscle tissue, swollen lymph nodes may feel soft and rubbery though they're small. These are the more common indicators of tissue problems that therapists encounter. A deep tissue massage or a sports and remedial massage treatment will loosen the kinks out of those tight muscles. Underlying Principles in Assessing Muscles and Joints Safety comes first in any therapeutic treatment. Massage therapists always apply the See-Move-Touch range of tests on the patient before recommending a particular massage and initiating any physical contact. First, particular observations on the person's stance and gait are made. Second, the client performs certain movements under active, passive, and resistive range of motion tests. Most importantly, therapists should test the patient slowly and carefully to avoid misdiagnosis. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7457713

How to Palpate Muscles and Tendons in Massage Therapy

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