Massage Therapy Journal Winter 2025

48 • Massage Therapy Journal

AMTA Continuing Education

gentle jostling motion, rocking the tissue from side to side, to help facilitate release. Myofascial release in the glutes should start with broad strokes using your palms or forearms to loosen up the muscle tissue and prepare it for deeper work. Gradually focus on more specific spots of tightness or adhesions as they reveal themselves. Use your thumbs or fingers to apply more direct pressure to these areas, always ensuring the client is comfortable.

move from the mid-thigh down toward the IT band, gradually apply more specific strokes to target tight areas. Once you reach the IT band and hamstring attachments at the pelvis, apply more focused pressure using your thumbs, forearms or elbows. Remember, the goal is to alleviate restrictions that might be contributing to pelvic misalignment affecting overall posture. Incorporate gentle lengthening into your work on the hamstrings. To do so, gently flex the knee and hip to create slack in the posterior thigh. Then, using your forearm or palm, apply gentle traction and lengthening or stripping strokes, working to release tension along the entire hamstring group from attachment to attachment. Be mindful to check in with your client to ensure they are comfortable and able to fully relax. By addressing the hamstrings, you can help restore better pelvic alignment. Long-term relief will require your client incorporate both stretching and strengthening exercises for the hamstrings into their own self-care, which you can guide them on during the aftercare portion of the treatment. Calves and Soleus Release Soleus and gastrocnemius release. Begin by applying gentle strokes to warm up the calves, focusing on the soleus muscle, which often holds tension from prolonged sitting and poor posture. This muscle, along with the gastrocnemius, is a critical area to release as it also affects lower body circulation and alignment. Using your thumbs or knuckles, gradually apply sustained pressure along the inner border of the calf muscles, specifically targeting the soleus and gently separating it from the gastrocnemius muscle. This technique improves mobility and circulation, helping reduce tightness that may contribute to poor posture and discomfort. Work on softening and stretching the Achilles tendon by using pressure to bend it into “C” or “S” shapes to gently release stored tension and create pliability. Calf and ankle mobilization. Once you have worked on the calves, shift your focus to the feet and ankles. Use your thumbs to apply pressure

Massage therapists can use their thumbs to apply sustained pressured to focused areas.

When applying myofascial release, you may alternate between light strokes to increase blood circulation and deeper pressure to work through tight or hardened muscle fibers. This combination of techniques helps break up adhesions, increases range of motion and improves pelvic stability. Pelvic stability. Apply gentle pressure to the posterior pelvis, focusing on the sacrum. Use your thumbs or knuckles to guide the pelvis into better alignment, reducing tension in the lower back and improving overall postural stability. This technique ensures the pelvis is stable, which is essential for addressing any misalignments that affect the spine and neck. Relaxing the Hamstrings Broad to targeted strokes. Start with broad, general strokes along the hamstrings to release surface tension. These strokes should be calming and slow, helping the muscle tissues to relax before you proceed to more specific work. As you

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