Front or back first?

[Ryskag]

Hello all.

This is my first post here, so please be gentle with me lol.

I recently had a massage, and asked the therapist doing it, if she would mind working on my front first, then finishing off with my back. The therapist was very happy to work that way for me, although her usual method is to start with the back first. I was wondering what the general consensus of opinion is, and why each therapist works the way they do. Do you have a preferred system of work, and does it throw you if the client asks for something different, and why do you work the pattern that you do, is there a special reason for it?

I personally prefer to finish with strong movements and percussive treatment on my legs and back that leave me tingling when I leave, rather than sleepy, how about everyone else?

Richard

 

[XxDevilxGirlxX]

Hi Richard, and welcome!

I personally like to start with my clients on their fronts, ie working on their backs first. I find that this is helps them to relax quicker - it can be a bit intimidating, particularly if it is your first treatment, to lie on your back.

Starting with the biggest area, the back, helps the client relax quicker and so the massage can be more effective.

However, I am quite happy to start where ever my client would like!! I always make it clear to my clients that it is their treatment, and they should give me feedback to make sure it is an enjoyable and effective treatment.

I usually work back and neck, back of leg 1, foot, back of leg 2, foot, turn over, front of leg 2, foot, front of leg 1, foot, abdomen, right arm/hand, left arm/hand, upper chest and neck/occipital area.

The whole treatment can be adapted to be either stimulating, or relaxing, so either front or back first wouldn't be a problem!

Karen x

 

[Scary Halloween Mask]

Thank you Karen,

As I am a bit quirky, and don’t actually like my head or feet done ( I don’t even like them touched really) I guess it would at least disrupt the pattern for most therapist. I do have to emphasise that the therapist who treated me was not at all perturbed, and was very happy to pander to my little nuances, resulting in a first class experience, but I have been to others much less accommodating. My therapist echoed your words regarding it was my experience, but I do feel that to get the very best from any treatment, the therapist should be happy and enjoy giving the treatment. I appreciate that it is a job at the end of the day, but I would hope to find therapist who see it as helping people, and do enjoy their work. I would hope that the therapist who treated me got at the very least satisfaction from her work, and that she enjoyed our discussions and the beginning of a kind of professional friendship. Perhaps that is another topic lol

I think I will have to work on the head and feet thing, as I am assured I am missing a lot, but I will work on it SLOWLEY lolol.

Richard x

 

[Marcos]

I personally was trsined to start with the client on their back, ie front first, and work upper chest, arm1, arm2, abdomen, leg1, leg2, turn client, leg 1, leg 2, back, as this allows the client to relax fully as they can see where you are and what you are doing to start with.

I've only been qualified for 6 months but have yet to be asked by a client to start on their back, but would be fine with this as they are the one who is paying for my time and 'expertease' on this.

 

[qogzbzir]

I actually love massaging peoples feet - I didn't think it was something that I would like doing, and used to dread it when I was training, but now it is one of my favourite areas! Hands seem to fit round feet so perfectly, it is a strange thing! Most clients really enjoy it too - it is extremely relaxing once you settle into it.

Is it because you think it will tickle? A firm touch by the therapist will not tickle at all - ask someone you know and trust to try.

I know how you feel, I am not a great lover of having my head messed with, but I have become more used to it over time!

And I also agree with you regarding both parties actually enjoying the treatment. It makes the whole thing so much more worthwhile. I like to have quite a chat with my clients - also helps the relaxation and trust.

Karen x

 

[TimothyRayburn]

different techniques do have different rules:

lomi - back first
thai - front, side, back, seating
chinese - seating, back, front
hawaiian pulsing - head, front, back

some techniques are always done face up - like craniosacral or reflexology

but, of cource, you have to adapt each treatment to clients medical condition and needs

 

[LeeLee]

Karen,

On the issue of trust, I suppose that an added dimension is the fact that if you are new to a therapist, then being able to see them, and look at them as you converse, will help to make the person receiving the massage more at ease, especially during the beginning. I don’t necessarily think that eye contact would be possible, but when you are face down the first time the therapist lays hands on you, it must add to any apprehension. I have not thought of it that way before, but I cant help but wonder if subconsciously there is an element of that in it?

No, second thought, I think I will go with Paul, it is the best bit last, and the tingle I like to leave with lol

 

[naedlugcigbixqeoa]

I've just changed from starting supine to starting prone - the only reason is, I finish off gently massaging the clients forehead, temples and face. I don't think really at the end of the day you have to be too perscriptive - it depends on how you "see" your client i.e. sometimes I look at a client and think front first because they seem to have a need to talk for the first few minutes (unloading)

 

[Your Gorgeousness]

Back first, it relaxes the central nervous system. so you have them where you want them right from the start

 

[wyldfyr]

Hi La touche,

Does it throw you out of synch if they ask for their front first, and would you try to dissuade them if they did?

Of course, I could reply “are they where they want to be” lol , but then I am only looking from the clients point of view (big smile and a saucy wink from Richard)

 

[Empress of Trolls]

Hi

I start with the back, really relaxes the client...

hugs

 

[zzcvrvps]

I do Shiatsu and Reiki, so clothes on. I like to start front first, because the client can see what I am doing... in case they are wondering if I am "safe". But at times I have a feeling that face down first is better for them, so I do it that way. With Shiatsu I always start with checking the energy of the meridians on the abdomen, so they are face up for at least a few minutes.
However, I am happy to accomodate to wishes of the client about what to work first or not to work.

Artemis

 

[bones50]

For Swedish massage I do the front first and end with the back, as this is the 'best bit' - which gives you the tingle, RichardE.

For aromatherapy I start on the back ( as la touche said, working down the spine first stimulates the CNS so the client relaxes whether they want to or not!) and end with the face.

It's all a matter of personal choice in the end, but a therapist will do what he/she was taught to do unless the client asks otherwise, so you might want to know which college they went to!

Personally, I would run a mile from a therapist who wouldn't, or couldn't adapt their routine to the client's needs.

 

[Jippee]

As a very belated postscript to this discussion on whether to start with the client face up or face down, I was surprised to see a relatively new ‘Swedish massage’ DVD in which the client is required to turn over twice. The sequence begins with the client supine, and the therapist works on the front of the legs and the abdomen. The client is then asked to turn over so that the therapist can work on the whole of the back of the body (including back of legs and buttocks). The client is then asked to turn for a second time and the massage finishes with the chest, neck and face.
I have had massages from several therapists who have asked me to start face up, and from several therapists who have asked me to start face down. But I have never had a routine ‘Swedish’ massage from a therapist who has asked me to turn over twice. I would have thought that asking the client to turn over twice would be less relaxing than being asked to turn once. I would be interested to hear whether any of the therapists on this forum have been taught routines which require the client to turn over twice.

Alan

 

[Your Worst Nightmare :D]

From a slightly different perspective (sports massage), I don't have a set plan and go with the flow.

I often start with back and shoulders then go to sidelying for better work on upper traps, scalenes,deltoids, and upper pecs (much easier with ladies). This means going from one sidelying postion to the other - but it only takes a few seconds.

Imay thento go back to prone, and do SI joint, QL, glutes, piriformis, followed by hams, adductors, gastroc/soleus. Then supine to do quads, knees, peroneals, tib ant etc. Depending on what I find I could then go sidelyingfor more work on TFL, ITB or whatever needs. Might even then go supine, for some neck work. I'm likely to finishin a sitting position and do some more on the neck, shoulders, levator scapula etc.

In fairness, this is a general sports massage so the aim is to service the muscles and ligaments - few fall asleep on me!

I find its better to move the client so that you can get to the right parts.

I'd get bored if I followed a sequence, but that's me - and I wouldn't be reacting to what I find.

 

[bucbkkiv]

I think that the last contribution is taking the thread off at a tangent, because there are very big differences between ‘sports massage’ and general relaxation massage (the differences would probably be a suitable topic for a separate thread !) We normally discuss ‘sports massage’ in the separate ‘sports therapies’ forum !

As far as ‘sports massage’ is concerned, I would agree with what Mel Cash states in ‘Sports and Remedial Massage Therapy’:



I would definitely agree that a sports massage therapist needs to be confident about treating clients in a side-lying position: indeed, this is a compulsory element of the LSSM practical exam. And a client who is suffering from problems in the ITB, TFL or medial soleus should certainly be expected to turn into a side-lying position during the treatment.

But the previous posts on this thread (and on the similar thread entitled ‘Swedish massage sequence’) all appear to have been directed to therapists offering general relaxation massage, rather than remedial massage designed to treat specific problems. And the massage DVD to which I referred certainly appears to be aimed at novice therapists rather than remedial therapists. I still think that clients who have made a booking at a spa, salon or clinic for a ‘general massage’ will only expect to turn once, and that for a general massage (as distinct from a sports massage or remedial massage), it is unnecessary to turn the client twice, let alone ask them to change position repeatedly in the way that might be required in a sports massage.

Alan

 

[smeqjujqimtigyezk]

if ever im performing a relaxing massage im always aware of how the client will feel after the treatment in relation to driving etc.

With this in mind I usually start by massaging their back and legs, so they get a good 30/40 mins of pure relaxation, and then turn them over and do front of legs, arms etc, which usually helps them come round and not feel too groggy at the end.

In the past I have started on the front, at the clients request, but at the end of the massage after finishing on the back have found that the client is in such a deep sleep its been difficult to wake them and then have to give them a cup of coffee to make sure they can drive home safely!

 

[Jasmine(:]

Hey,
We are taught in college to start on the back as it relaxs the client and gets them ready for the full body massage. But thats what we are taught in college but once we go out into the world on your own you dont have to follow the way you were taught you can do it which ever way you feel and which ever way your client wishes the massage to be.

 

[loaomzina]

Thanks for the contribution Richard, I think that takes us almost full circle as in my first post I wrote "I personally prefer to finish with strong movements and percussive treatment on my legs and back that leave me tingling when I leave, rather than sleepy, how about everyone else? " lol

I guess at the end of the day, it is down to personal preference, and as it is obvious that most therapists are happy to go along with the wishes of the client, it just goes to show how a common treatment is enjoyed so differently by various people.

Isn’t diversity a wonderful thing!

RichardE

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[vnedmuvoidaiyaeec]

wen doin full body i tend to do
head
face+neck
chest
arm+hand1
tummy
leg+foot1
leg+foot2
arm+hand2
turn:
leg1
leg2
back