Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2024

76 • Massage Therapy Journal

relax hypercontracted spastic muscles to promote muscular balance. Spindle-Stim for the Gluteal Muscles

Using spindle-stim techniques on the gluteal muscles can prevent a cascade of issues because these muscles play a crucial role in maintaining pelvic stability. Weak gluteal muscles can lead to pelvic tilts or rotations and gait alterations that strain the lower back, hips and knees. Assess the strength and firing pattern of the gluteal muscles by resting a hand on the sacrum to brace the client’s pelvis. Ask the client to extend their leg as high as possible without lifting their hip. Note your findings. (See Image 2)

Image 1

extrafusal fibers. This improves the muscle’s resting tone and reconnects communications between the inhibited muscle and the nervous system. Intrafusal fibers work hard to maintain a constant length-tension relationship with the extrafusal fibers. (See Image 1) Many therapists focus exclusively on getting tight muscles to relax. By coming at the problem from the other direction and encouraging weak muscles to tighten and contract properly, we increase joint stability and reciprocally

Image 2

Statement of Ownership, Management and Circulation

Average No. copies each issue during preceding 12 months.

No. copies in single issue published nearest to filing date

(Required by 39 U.S.C. 3685) Date of filing: 10/1/2020 Title of publication: Massage Therapy Journal

Place the client’s leg in a figure 4 position, which tightens parts of the gluteal fibers. Then, apply soft fists in a fast-paced oscillating maneuver over the gluteal muscles working across (not with) the muscle fibers for two minutes. You can also extend the client’s leg so that it hangs off the therapy table on the side you are “activating,” or ask the client to engage in slow pelvic tilts or slow inhalations and exhalations. At the same time, you apply spindle stim against the muscle’s “grain.” These movements engage different gluteal fibers, enhancing the technique and producing a broader effect. (See Image 3)

Total No. of copies Paid and/or requested circulation Paid/requested outside county mail subscriptions Sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, counter sales and other non- USPS paid distribution Other classes mailed through the USPS Total paid and/or requested circulation Free distribution by mail Outside-county Other classes mailed through the USPS Free distribution outside the mail Total free distribution In-county Paid in-county subscriptions

97,428 91,197

Publication No: 0895-0814 Frequency of issue: Quarterly No. of issues published annually: 4 Annual subscription price: $25 Complete mailing address of known office of publication: American Massage Therapy Association, 500 Davis St., Suite 900, Evanston, IL 60201-4695. Owner: American Massage Therapy Association, 500 Davis St., Suite 900, Evanston, IL 60201-4695. Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business of the publisher: same as above. Names and addresses of publisher and editor: publisher, American Massage Therapy Association; managing editor, Michelle Vallet, 500 Davis St., Suite 900, Evanston, IL 60201-4695. Owner: American Massage Therapy Association, 500 Davis St., Suite 900, Evanston, IL 60201-4695. Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders owning or holding 1 percent or more of total amount of bonds, mortgages, or other securities: None. The purpose, function, and nonprofit status of this organization and the exempt status for federal income tax purposes have not changed during the preceding 12 months.

96,206 89,840

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0

0

0

0

0

96,206 89,840

Image 3

59

59

0 0

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59

59

Total distribution

96,147

89,781

Copies not distributed

889

558

Total

97,036

90,339

Percent paid and/or requested circulation

99

99

I certify that the statements made by me above are correct and complete: Michelle Vallet, Editor

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