Home study course in osteopathy, massage and manual therapeutics.

Date:
[between 1900 and 1909?]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Home study course in osteopathy, massage and manual therapeutics. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    Make the pulls gradually, then withdraw the force suddenly. Repeat several times. (6) Then give Spinal Extension, as follows: The pa- tient on his back, grasp his shoulders, your fingers under his armpits. An assistant holds the patient's ankles. The pa- tient relaxes and you give a careful stretching or extension of the spine, gentle but firm, for about one minute. This frees the circulation of the spinal cord and relieves pressure upon the spinal nerves. (7) Then give Expansion of the Chest, as follows: Seat your patient on a stool or chair (if a chair, let him face its back) and stand behind him. Place your foot on the seat of the chair, the tip of your toe being up against, or under, the body of the patient. Place your knee between the patient's shoulders, holding his wrists in each hand. Raise his arms (sideways) up and over his head, slowly but strongly, and press hard with your knee against his spine. Then maintain- ing the pressure of your knee, lower the arms with a back- ward motion. The patient should inhale, filling the lungs, while the arms are being raised; exhaling as the arms are lowered. This form of treatment is a very powerful stimulant. It con- sists of certain oscillatory movements, produced through a suc- cession of rapid individual efforts of the operator's hand. There should be little or no perceptible strain upon the arm muscles of the operator. The palm of the hand or the fingers tnust be placed firmly upon the parts to be treated, the arm being held straight and a fine trembling or vibrating move- ment communicated to the hand by the muscles of the upper part of the arm. The movement is somewhat difficult of ac- quirement, but you must persist until the desired movement is acquired, for this is one of the most stimulating and pene- trating of all the methods of Osteopathic treatment, its effect being quite perceptible and almost akin to the effects of a cur- rent of electricity. It has a stimulating and strengthening effect upon the nerves, and acts strongly upon the venous cir- culation and upon the lymphatics. Be careful not to press upon the body with your wrist, as you should use no greater pressure than the weight of your hand. When properly ad- ministered by one hand on the breast, the vibrations should be (distinctly felt by the other hand placed under the back of the patient.
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