Everyone must have heard of massage therapy, right? There are many benefits to massage therapy, and you can find various types of massage rooms everywhere in daily life. So, do you know how to perform a few simple massage diagnostic techniques? This article will introduce you to a few slightly more special massage diagnostic techniques that are easy to learn but have good results. If you're interested, let's learn together.
There are many massage diagnostic techniques. Some simple diagnostic techniques are already known by many people. If you master some slightly more complex diagnostic methods, it will be even better. Below are several massage diagnostic techniques that are slightly more challenging but not difficult if you put a little effort into practicing. The results will be significant.
Head and Neck Tilt Test
The patient sits with the head slightly tilted back and the chin turned towards the affected side. After taking a deep breath and holding it, the doctor presses down on the patient's chin with one hand to provide resistance. The other hand feels the patient's radial artery. If the pulse weakens or disappears, it is positive, which is often seen in anterior scalene muscle syndrome.
Neck Extension Test
The patient sits upright and relaxes. The doctor stands behind the patient, cupping their hands at the patient's occiput, and slowly lifts the patient's head upwards. If the patient's neck and shoulder pain and numbness are relieved, it is positive. This test is often used as an indication of whether cervical symptoms require traction.
Vertebral Artery Torsion Test
This test requires the patient to sit down and relax their neck. The doctor stands behind the patient and uses both hands to stabilize the patient's head. Then, the patient is asked to turn their neck and tilt their head back as much as possible. If the patient feels symptoms such as dizziness, vertigo, and nausea, it is positive.
Neck Bending Test
In this test, the patient sits with their legs extended and bends their neck, trying to bring their chin as close to the chest wall as possible and hold it for about one minute. If the patient feels lower back and leg pain, it is positive, indicating compression of the lumbar nerve root.
Supine Abdominal Test
The patient lies supine with the heels of the feet supporting the pillow, arching the abdomen, and lifting the lower back and pelvis off the bed. At the same time, the patient coughs. If it causes lower back and leg pain or sciatica, it is positive, indicating compression of the lumbar nerve root.
Femoral Nerve Traction Test
The patient lies prone with the affected limb bent at a 90° angle. The doctor lifts the lower leg of the affected limb or continues to flex the knee joint. If there is radiating pain along the femoral nerve, it is positive.
Double Knee and Hip Flexion Test
In this test, the patient lies down and the doctor lifts the patient's legs close to the abdomen. If the patient feels pain, it indicates a problem with the lumbar or sacroiliac joint. If pressing down on one side of the lower limb causes pain, it indicates damage to the sacroiliac ligament or joint disease.
Pelvic Separation or Compression Test
The patient lies supine, and the doctor uses both hands to press on the wings of the iliac bone and applies outward pressure (separation) or inward compression. If there is pain, it is positive, indicating sacroiliac joint disease, pubic symphysis separation, or pelvic fracture, etc.
