headrest when supine?

[HLEK87]

If I remember correctly when I have had massages in the past I always used the headrest while I was laying in a supine position. My school however teaches us to use the headrest while we are prone, but when we turn over to scoot down the table and take the headrest off, or fold it under. The instructor says its supposed to be easier to work the neck that way?

What are your thoughts on this? I have a narrow table at home with arm rests, and my husband is rather big. When I try to get him to scoot down then the armrests are not in the right position and they can not be changed so he has no place to really put his arms.

I also believe that this is a little to time consuming for the client. I feel that they are there to relax, not to put forth the extra effort into scooting down the table, not to mention the explaining in order to get them to do it (some don't understand the simplest instructions).

Just curious as to how you guys do it.

 

[Biyonca]

It is MUCH easier to work the neck while supine if the client's head is on the table rather than in the face cradle. However, I don't think it is WRONG, and with practice, you can surely get good at it your way.

Feel free to practice both ways! Work with your husband the way you have been, and at school "their" way. You will be proficient in both methods, then, and can tailor the session for the specific client even in this area.

As far as scooting down being too time consuming for the client, it's not. As you practice, you get much better at explaining what you want - and you only have to explain that once. It takes a few seconds, no big deal. My seniors (not just seniors, but many in their 90's and one over 101) can turn over and scoot down without it being a major disruption. As you practice, you will get smoother in transitioning, and so will all your clients.

 

[unumeMuck]

Positioning explanations can go more smoothly by using physical cues - in this case, pressing the shoulder toward the table while you tell them where to go.

Too much wear and tear on the face cradle if they lie in it face up.

One arm solution is to have the client put their arms where they want, and then tuck the drape snugly to keep their arms there. This works if they lay their arms along their sides, or place their hands on their chest/abs.

 

[myopic]

Scooting down is a breeze compared to putting clients in sidelying position (first one side, then the other, etc), or having them flip four times over the course of a two hour session.

Most clients don't seem to mind. I know that my own experience is, if the MT is doing a good job, I am halfway in a trance anyway... having to move for transitions isn't even in my memory banks by the end of the massage.

 

[johnny20ny]

I can understand having trouble getting clients to turn over. I had the same problem for awhile and I still don't know what was wrong. I used the same language as other therapists, word for word. It worked for them. But my clients would never quite understand me. They'd roll over and actually scoot UP so their head was on the face cradle, even when I had phrased it two or three different ways (to the same client). I hadn't tried physical cues like touching. Anyway, here is the wording I finally use now that seems to work almost every time. (I hold the sheet up in a low tent so they have room to turn and I can't see them.)

"I'm going to have you turn over now. So *first* scoot down so that YOU ARE ALL THE WAY ON THE TABLE. Then go ahead and roll over."

It's usually when they're rolling over that they manage to put their head back in the headrest. I have also thought of actually removing the headrest before they roll over, but I thought that would make the transition less smooth. I try and speak slowly and intentionally clearly because as EgoMagickian said, they are in a trance.

I also agree that having them rest on it while face up is too much wear and tear on the headrest. I have never received a massage that way and never heard of it done that way. If they are laying fully on the table, there is lots of neck work where you can actually rest your arms on the table. I can't see that being possible if working on the face cradle. I also imagine, depending on the face cradle, that the plastic/wood pieces that help it stick into the table would be in my way. FWIW.

Let us know if you become comfortable with working that way! I'd be interested. Everyone has their own unique techniques.

 

[Matt]

shivashiva, i love that you switched it. i am going to try that. i do like most (i think) and ask the client to turn, then scoot toward their feet, until their head is on the table.

i received MFR from one of my instructors, when she had me turn, she gave me directions to go into child's pose, hang out shifting hips side to side then turn over. i use this sometimes on a client of mine with herniated disk, to help prevent stiffness.

i have never tried the physical cue, probably because of the way i pin and lift the sheet with both hands.

as to working c-spine while supine, it is nicer (for me) to have the client with their head on the table. on a side note, i opted for a table that is only 63" long as opposed to 73". (because it saved me a pound of weight) well if my client is much over 5'5", to keep their feet from hanging off the table, the company sent a extender pad that is placed on the face cradle (no cresent pad). i have had to adapt when working on tall clients, and somehow find it cumber-some to have the face cradle under my hands. also i have to hold the client's head while putting their neck into lateral flexion (tall people = heavy heads). this can be a strain on my wrists, and it is more difficult to hold the stretch while pressing out the muscles. also the stretch is usually held for a shorter time.

 

[geomark]

I usually start clients out face up.
When it's time to turn them over, I put the face cradle on, tell them to roll toward me as they turn ALL the way over, and scoot up a little bit so their head fits in the face cradle.

In the past when I've said turn over.. they sometimes would turn halfway, laying on their side. So I stress the "all the way" over.

 

[jerry]

If you've ever had your headrest slip when a clent was prone, you certainly wouldn't want that to happen if they were lying on it in a supine position.

 

[Crimson]

I had one client request to lie on the face rest suppine and it was very hard to work the neck. Doesn't seem very comfy but that's just me.