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Massage.
Routine15 minsupineShoulderArmForearm & handDraft

Upper limb — 15 min

A supine routine for both arms, from the shoulder to the fingers.

Steps

  1. 011 min

    Drape the first arm

    Client supine with a bolster under the knees. Undrape one arm and tuck the sheet under the body along the side of the chest, then rest the arm on the table, palm down.

    Body mechanics

  2. 022 min · Arm

    Whole-arm effleurage

    Glide from the wrist up the forearm and upper arm to the shoulder, then return lightly. Check the pressure.

    Effleurage · Biceps brachii · Triceps brachii · Deltoid

  3. 032 min · Arm

    Upper arm petrissage

    Knead the upper arm from the elbow up to the shoulder, front then back, and around the deltoid.

    Petrissage · Biceps brachii · Triceps brachii · Deltoid

  4. 042 min · Forearm & hand

    Forearm petrissage

    Knead the forearm from the wrist up to the elbow, palm side then back of the forearm. Forearms are often tender, so ask about pressure.

    Petrissage · Wrist flexors · Wrist extensors · Brachioradialis

  5. 051 min · Forearm & hand

    Around the elbow

    Small finger-pad circles over the muscles just below the elbow on both sides of the forearm. Keep off the bony points.

    Circular friction · Wrist extensors · Wrist flexors

  6. 062 min · Forearm & hand

    Hand

    Turn the palm up, spread it with both thumbs, then knead the base of the thumb and little finger. Glide gently along each finger.

    Petrissage · Thenar muscles · Hypothenar muscles

  7. 071 min · Forearm & hand

    Wrist and fingers

    Slowly circle the wrist and move each finger within an easy range. Let the client stay relaxed.

    Passive range of motion

  8. 081 min · Shoulder

    Shoulder movement

    Support the elbow and wrist and take the shoulder slowly through a comfortable range. Stop before any resistance or discomfort.

    Passive range of motion · Deltoid

  9. 092 min · Arm

    Closing effleurage

    Slow whole-arm strokes from wrist to shoulder, each lighter than the last.

    Effleurage · Biceps brachii · Triceps brachii

  10. 101 min

    Feather off and cover

    Light fingertip strokes down the arm to the fingertips, then cover the arm and repeat the sequence on the other side within the times shown.

    Feathering

Set-up

Client supine with a bolster under the knees, as in Draping and room set-up. Work one arm at a time: the step times cover both arms. Keep the chest covered and tuck the drape under the body along the side of the chest. Check pressure with Pressure scale and check-ins.

Order

  1. Effleurage of the whole arm, wrist to shoulder.
  2. Petrissage of the Biceps brachii, Triceps brachii and Deltoid.
  3. Petrissage of the Wrist flexors and Wrist extensors.
  4. Circular friction below the elbow.
  5. The hand: Thenar muscles and Hypothenar muscles.
  6. Passive range of motion of the wrist, fingers and shoulder.
  7. Closing effleurage and Feathering.

Stroke towards the heart and keep firm pressure off the inner elbow and the bony points of the elbow.

Closing

Cover the arm, repeat on the other side, and finish with a still hold on both hands.

Sources

  1. Massage: Swedish massage (Wikipedia) (Names the basic Swedish strokes (effleurage, petrissage, tapotement, friction, vibration and shaking) that each step is built from.)
  2. General Cert IV (HLT42021) relaxation massage practice (Region order, timings, draping and transitions follow common Cert IV teaching; check them against your RTO's course notes.)