I'm puzzled about the physical benefits of chair massage.

[Elisa]

Especially in the office? Why would we put the desk bound office worker in the exactly the same position to massage them. In the existing typing position people develop overuse syndromes and injuries etc....so why do we further aggravate the situation by releasing the muscles ie posterior, that cause the problem in the first place. Please give me some physical benefits.....

 

[David S]

Have you ever given or received chair massage? I release anterior muscles much more than posterior. The chair position makes pectoral stretches incredibly easy to do. Subscapularis is also very accessible in the chair, and tends to be full of TP's for office personel.

 

[Katelyn F]

I too do a lot of chair massage. The person is so well-supported in the chair that it is not anything like the same position that they are in at their desk, other than the fact that they are seated.

You can work their neck, shoulders, the whole back, SI area, arms and hands, legs and even feet. I even got one lady to sit up today when she told me about a pain in her diaphragm (which went away with MFR.)

You can do so much with the chair.

 

[ASIANESE]

I have received, but will not ever give. RofS sounds like you are the exception. Is there any pics out there of a pec stretch on the chair or can you describe it. Is the pec stretch stretch easier for the client or therapist? I realize there are many things on the chair you can do...but i'm concerned that most elongate the posterior muscles inc. rhomboids, infraspinatus, mid-lower traps, erectors when these muscles in fact need to be strengthened..and whilst in the chair the anterior muscles are being shortened, pecs, subscap scm etc.

 

[nat g]

I have received, but will not ever give. RofS sounds like you are the exception. Is there any pics out there of a pec stretch on the chair or can you describe it. Is the pec stretch stretch easier for the client or therapist? I realize there are many things on the chair you can do...but i'm concerned that most elongate the posterior muscles inc. rhomboids, infraspinatus, mid-lower traps, erectors when these muscles in fact need to be strengthened..and whilst in the chair the anterior muscles are being shortened, pecs, subscap scm etc.

There probably are pictures, but I'm not finding the right off. There are several ways to stretch the pecs on the chair, and I use 3 or 4 generally in each chair massage. I will also frequently stretch the scalenes, which cause a lot of that rhomboid pain.

The easiest stretch is to hold the front of the shoulders simultaneously while standing facing the client and chair, then push forwards. I rock the shoulders, then move around the side to the back, working neck and then one shoulder at the upper trap. Then I put my hand under the arm and grab the front of the shoulder again, pulling it slowly and gently back. The weight of the head in the facerest is a great resistance. I work the stretch to where it resists stretching further, then with the other hand, reach into the subscapularis and knead, working out TP's as I go. Then I work my way over to the other shoulder and repeat.

I use a lot of shiatsu in my chair massage. Suboccipitals, levator scapula, and QL's get stretched when needed - which is frequent. I end with a prolonged pec stretch. I stand behind the client, hold both shoulders and lean back and hold.

 

[MissDementia]

Rose of Sharon -

I stand behind the client, hold both shoulders and lean back and hold.

I love to do that last stretch as well. A variation, although it involves standing very close to your client, is to get them to sit up, then stand behind them, put your arms over their shoulders and gently pull back. (I like to be touching them so that their back is fully supported. In fact, I tell them to lean against me as if I was a chair!) I then get them to take a couple of deep breaths.

I have found that asthmatics can often take a deep breath without wheezing, which they find exciting.

It is a "final" technique for some clients.

 

[take it or leave it]

Hey, Chatters!

Spent most of yesterday going through all the threads on Chair Massage
-- wow, what wonderful information! I had planned to post a list of questions and found the answers to every one of them.

I did come up with one more question -- and don't think it was mentioned. Do any of you play music during chair massage? If so, what type? Relaxing music similar to table massage -- or something perkier because they have to go back to work after the massage? I will be in fairly private locations -- small rooms in assisted living facilities, teacher lounges etc.

Any info and suggestions appreciated as always! Have a great week!

Sherry

 

[HairLossSolutions]

I'd play something a little more lively than for a typical massage. It will still be relaxing...heck, I find ZZ Top and Boston to be relaxing.

Jesse Cook (guitar)
Michael Gettel

are both great choices, in my opinion.

 

[Pompal 09.]

I do have music going when I do chair massage, usually. I play something a bit more upbeat than for table massage. I'd love to have some steel drum music, and maybe some jazz. I'd love to put together a cd with songs in sets of three - the first being slow, the second warming up, and the third to send them back out raring to go!

I also tell them when they get off the chair that if they take a long drink of water right after the massage, in ten minutes they will feel like they had a great nap! I've found that the power of suggestion works wonders, there. So many were saying they felt like they needed a nap when they got up, that I decided to tell them that soon they'd feel like they did have it......the drink and 10 minutes just evolved from that, and chair massage got more popular because they started repeating that.

 

[Pompal 09.]

hmmm, is chair massage helping or hindering posture?

 

[Amy S]

Helping, without a doubt. Shoulders drop so they are no longer up under their ears. Work on the long muscles of the back have a very re-juvenating effect.

I also like to incorporate some MFR into the chair massage, so if I find restrictions around the SI joints, or around the shoulder blades, or knots in the neck, I release them and the people say "Hey, I can move my hip/shoulder/neck - how did you DO that?"

The only thing that I would stress is that it is crucial to have the person positioned in the chair properly - and don't buy a cheap chair.

If you want to see it in action, take a look at this link http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1445930205123528924. It is a sales pitch at the end, but it will give you an idea of people's reactions as they come out of the chair.

As to music, I used to play music, but now I find that people are so unused to being quiet, it is a novelty for them. I like the quiet too!

 

[XIXIX]

Thanks for the additional info on chair massage, Marion! You are certainly one of the resident pros on that subject!

Could you tell me where you got your MFR training? And what MFR techniques you use doing chair massage?

I really would like to access the videos on chair massage that you provided the links for -- but they won't "play" for me when I go to the website. Am I doing something wrong? Anyone else having problems accessing them?

One additional question: I am petite (5'1") -- and sometimes have a hard time providing as much pressure on the back, shoulders etc. of taller clients because it is such a reach. Any handy dandy suggestions you have to solve that problem?? I have no problem working on the table on larger clients (I even have a sign in my clinic room stating "Beware of Petite Massage Therapists -- Elbows, Fists and Forearms in Use!") But it can be more awkward when doing the chair work.

Suggestions from anyone welcome!

Sherry

 

[get go]

Office wrote: I'm puzzled about the physical benefits of chair massage.

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in your philosophy." -Shakespeare.

I think that quote applies here. Great posts already by Rose of Sharon & MarionFM. One thing I want to add is this: Never underestimate the power of relaxation. I find that when MT's become too attached to the medical model, they can sometimes discredit or underestimate the powerful benefits of relaxation. Here are two examples of positive results simply from the relaxation response of a short chair massage:

I had one chair massage client who had a very stressful job, which caused her to have regular headaches. She had limited time, so an office appointment was out of the question. I had a contract with her employer to provide chair massage once per week, and she was one of my regular clients. That short chair massage kept her headache-free.

Another example was an experiment I did on my husband at home. He has borderline high blood pressure, and his doctor asked him to take his own blood pressure daily for a month -- at different times of day, and after different types of activity. We decided to see what effect chair massage would have on his blood pressure. Whenever he tested high, I'd give him a short 10 or 15 minute chair massage. Every time, following chair massage, his blood pressure would drop to within normal range.

Lastly, if you don't believe us, simply visit the Touch Research Institute website. They're done research studies that prove the benefits of chair massage: http://www6.miami.edu/touch-research/research.htm

 

[no1home2day]

Sherry:

I don't know what to suggest about the video. It is just the Google video site, and it worked fine when I click on it. (I tried it again just now, and it still works fine for me.)

I have taken John Barnes seminars and will be taking another one shortly. It is amazing work. I have a really hard time NOT working MFR into whatever I am doing now! : Sometimes people say to me: I had MFR and it hurt. Then I tell them, that's not like the MFR I practice. Holding the pressure for a minimum of 2-5 minutes is crucial.

As to your size, I was doing chair massage at a special event recently and the practitioner that was the tiniest - also about 5'1" - exerted the greatest pressure. Do you have a Stronglite chair? If so, in addition to having little height, you probably have little feet. This other practitioner would stand on the back bar of the chair to get at big people's shoulders. I think it looks funny, but it gets her the leverage that she needs!

(Sorry Alison, if you are reading this!!)

I like Chair massage and I like reflexology, but I love Myofascial Release. And it is especially good when you can combine more than one modality in a session.

 

[knz]

Interesting, Marion . . . the whole reason I changed careers to become a massage therapist was because I had amazing work done on me by a PT who has been training with John Barnes in MFR for 25 years! I still try to see him once a month -- it is incredible work. I also plan to start the seminars and incorporate MFR into all my work eventually.

And, yes, I have a stronglite chair! So I may just try that trick of Allison's (thank you, Allison!). My only other idea was hopping up on some kind of a wooden stool to get more leverage -- but that looks pretty silly too! But, hey . . . if either of the methods work, it can be my "trademark" or something. :

Meanwhile, since both my hubby and stepson are TALL people -- I plan to try all this out on them first at home. I'm looking forward to it and so are they. So good to have guinea pigs ( ) available!

Thanks for all the wonderful advice.

Sherry

 

[kaiy2k]

Sherry and Marion! Fun to see MFR mentioned so much here!

I actually hate doing chair massage, but reading this makes me give it another thought. I am trained pre massage chair days...


It isn't that I don't find chair work beneficial, and I do MFR also when I do, but it is uncomfortable for me.

This thread is great for making me rethink body mechanics and such...


Ami

 

[generaljackass]

Hi AGWLMT, re-think the body mechanics hard...because just because someone teaches you a modality doesn't mean it is helpful for the body...

 

[Bailey G]

Office,

What do you mean? I meant my own body mechanics are suspect in doing chair massage. Please elaborate!

I will never prefer this type of massage to table work, even in an office setting, but for onsite, outreach kind of work it is good.

Ami

 

[man demon]

Ami wrote: Office, What do you mean? I meant my own body mechanics are suspect in doing chair massage. Please elaborate! I will never prefer this type of massage to table work, even in an office setting, but for onsite, outreach kind of work it is good.

Ami, if you read Office's earlier posts in this thread you'll see that he believes chair massage to be useless. In spite of others posting their experiences and differing opinions on this thread, he obviously still holds that belief.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Silly me! thanks...

Office, a pec stretch in a massage chair, is simple. Place hand gently on the client's back, grasp arm at elbow or perhaps curl hand around their anterior Deltoid, Therapist retract arm to stretch anterior portion of client. I agree with the earlier comment....the best way.

I do posterior arm pulls on the table also.... no better way!

Ami