How to Do Positional Releases
Positional release, also known as strain counterstrain, is a technique used to relieve tender points in muscles. This technique is good when used for hypertonic muscles and muscular spasms.Every muscle attaches to the bone at two points—the point of origin and the point of insertion. The point of origin is like the anchor point for the muscle. It stays fixed. The point of insertion is the place were the muscle causes movement. For example, if you look at the bicep, you’ll see that the point of origin is above the elbow and the point of insertion is below the elbow. You know this because when you contract the bicep the forearm moves thus bending the elbow. Once you have a knowledge of basic anatomy, mainly origin and insertion points of muscle groups, positional release is relatively easy to do.
1
Determine where you will do the positional release. You can do this by choosing an area and searching for tender points in that area by doing cross-fiber friction or stripping. You should rely on feedback from the person you’re massaging as well as what you feel when you’re searching.
2
Once you find a tender point, determine where the origin and insertion point of that muscle is. Once you know that you can begin to passively shorten the muscle by moving the point of insertion. Let’s use the hamstrings as an example. Once you’ve found a tender point in the hamstring, keep pressing on that point with your fingers. The hamstrings bend the knee so the point of origin is above the knee and the point of insertion is below the knee.
3
Use your free hand to lift the lower leg and passively bend the knee. It’s important that the person you’re massaging stays completely relaxed and doesn’t help you bend the knee at all.
4
Have your partner give you feedback about their pain level--0 being no pain and 10 being excruciating. As you bend the knee the pain should get less and less. Try to find the point when the pain is a 0 or at least a 1 or 2. If the pain starts getting worse, back off to a point where it’s better. This is called the position of ease.
5
Once you find the position of ease hold that position for about 2 minutes. After 2 minutes slowly put their leg down. There should still be no pain in the spot even with the leg down.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4443016_do-positional-releases.html
Positional release, also known as strain counterstrain, is a technique used to relieve tender points in muscles. This technique is good when used for hypertonic muscles and muscular spasms.Every muscle attaches to the bone at two points—the point of origin and the point of insertion. The point of origin is like the anchor point for the muscle. It stays fixed. The point of insertion is the place were the muscle causes movement. For example, if you look at the bicep, you’ll see that the point of origin is above the elbow and the point of insertion is below the elbow. You know this because when you contract the bicep the forearm moves thus bending the elbow. Once you have a knowledge of basic anatomy, mainly origin and insertion points of muscle groups, positional release is relatively easy to do.
1
Determine where you will do the positional release. You can do this by choosing an area and searching for tender points in that area by doing cross-fiber friction or stripping. You should rely on feedback from the person you’re massaging as well as what you feel when you’re searching.
2
Once you find a tender point, determine where the origin and insertion point of that muscle is. Once you know that you can begin to passively shorten the muscle by moving the point of insertion. Let’s use the hamstrings as an example. Once you’ve found a tender point in the hamstring, keep pressing on that point with your fingers. The hamstrings bend the knee so the point of origin is above the knee and the point of insertion is below the knee.
3
Use your free hand to lift the lower leg and passively bend the knee. It’s important that the person you’re massaging stays completely relaxed and doesn’t help you bend the knee at all.
4
Have your partner give you feedback about their pain level--0 being no pain and 10 being excruciating. As you bend the knee the pain should get less and less. Try to find the point when the pain is a 0 or at least a 1 or 2. If the pain starts getting worse, back off to a point where it’s better. This is called the position of ease.
5
Once you find the position of ease hold that position for about 2 minutes. After 2 minutes slowly put their leg down. There should still be no pain in the spot even with the leg down.
http://www.ehow.com/how_4443016_do-positional-releases.html
