MASSAGE THERAPY LONDON ALTERNATIVE HEALTH COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE THERAPEUTIC TREATMENT UK HOLISTIC THERAPISTS HURT KNEE BUTTOCK MUSCLES UNPROTECTED NERVES TOWARD HEART DEMAGE VEINS STROKES HAWAIIAN BODYWORK TECHNIQUE

Massage London is proud to present our tip on how to massage the back of the leg. It will be helpful to use a little bit of vegetable oil as a lubricant between your hands and their skin.

Before we begin, it is important to know where to massage the back of your friend's leg, and where not to, so that you don't hurt them. Watch out that you don't put much pressure on the red-area directly behind the knee. Also, be careful not to dig specifically on the red-dot-area on the buttock muscles. Both of these areas contain unprotected nerves and are "endangerment areas" and too much pressure here can lead to injury.

You'll need to ask your friend if the technique is comfortable for them and take direction directly from their feedback. Be aware that all moderate to deep pressure on the leg should be toward the heart in direction. Never should deep pressure be applied on the leg in a direction away from the heart (you'll damage the valves in the veins).

Begin smoothing oil from the ankle to the buttock area. You can also include the back in the stroke by making a series of hand-over-hand strokes or single strokes that travel all the way from the ankle to the shoulder area. This style is a Hawaiian Bodywork technique.

Holding the foot with one hand, scoop the sole of the foot with the knuckles of your other hand. Use your thumbs and work the sole of the foot. Include the heel, arch and ball of the foot by direct pressure, small circle strokes and short gliding strokes. Bringing the foot directly up in the air, use one hand to support the ankle and the other to press down on the ball of the foot. Give it a good stretch.

With alternating hands, begin lifting and scooping the muscle away from the leg. Scooping should be toward the heart only. Work the inside, top and outside of the entire leg length.

With alternating thumbs, make short "J" strokes up the centre of the lower leg starting at the "Achilles" tendon and working toward the back of the knee (careful of the soft spot behind the knee). "J" strokes glide an inch or so and then hook toward the inside (inside hand) or outside (outside hand). In this case we are lengthening and broadening the muscle fibres of the calf area.

Carefully, use your elbow to smooth up the back of the upper leg. Stay away from the soft spot behind the knee. Keep your forearm fairly level with the leg (don't lift the hand up because it makes the elbow too pointed and uncontrollable). Remember, the deeper you apply pressure, the slower your stroke should be. Finish with smoothing strokes and then "feather strokes". Feather strokes are light finger tips, gliding down the leg, hand-over-hand, from hip to foot.

I wish you well as you learn to massage. Using your hands to help others can bring incredible satisfaction. Good luck and practice often.

Massage London is proud to present our tip on how to massage the front of the leg. It will be helpful to use a little bit of vegetable oil as a lubricant between your hands and their skin.

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Begin smoothing oil from the ankle to the upper thigh. Be careful to avoid the groin area. Work the entire leg to the hip area. Don't put much, if any, pressure on the inside of the lower leg (this is bone).

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You can continue the gliding stroke up the leg and under the back. Reach as far under the low back as is comfortable and with a broad hand, smooth back down along the leg to the foot again.

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With firm broad hand, smooth along the outer lower leg and along the inner, top, and outer thigh areas. Place the pressure on the heal of your hand. Remember, the deeper you go, the slower you go.

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Using the curved heal of your hand, gently conform it to fit the top of your friend's foot. Smooth the top of the foot with deep gliding strokes toward the ankle while supporting the foot with the other hand. As if you were breaking a pop sickle in two, grip the foot and squeeze it "apart". Gently rub each toe with small circular motions while gently pulling on it.

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Using "J" strokes, work along the outside of the lower leg. "J" strokes glide an inch or so and then hook outward, toward the hand that is stroking (alternating thumbs). In this case we are lengthening and broadening the muscle fibres of the Tibialis Anterior. Then take your thumbs and make circular motions around the knee. Make your thumbs mirror each other rather than have one at the top of the knee while one is at the bottom.

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Using the flat of your hand, smooth firmly from the knee to the hip with deep, gliding pressure. Work the inside, tip and outside of the thigh. Remember, deeper strokes = slower strokes. Finish with light smoothing strokes over the whole leg, and then "feather" strokes. Feather strokes use the fingers to brush lightly along the leg from the hip down to the foot, hand-over-hand.

I wish you well as you learn to massage. Using your hands to help others can bring incredible satisfaction. Good luck and practice often.

Remember prevention is better than cure. Once you show signs of improvement we will continue to work with you to keep harmony and balance already achieved. A regular treatment, depending on your timetable, will stop future stress accumulating.

We encourage you to have regular treatments to prevent illness and maintain a state of well being email

info@massagelondon.info

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