THE COMBINED MASSAGE EXERCISE
No. 8
Massaging down both sides of the lower back alternately,
with the back of each hand; at the same time turning the trunk
to the right and left.
Detailed Description
Position—Standing erect, with chest thrown forward and
shoulders back, but without strain, heels about five inches apart
and with the feet either pointed slightly outward to each side
or parallel to each other, arms hanging loosely at sides.
Without altering position of legs and feet, turn the trunk
around to the right so that, if possible, the chest and shoulders
are facing squarely to that side, then turn it to the left, then to
the right again, and so forth, alternately. During this movement
of the trunk, stroke continually downward over each side
of the back from the end of the shoulder blade to the buttocks
with the back of each hand alternately. The hands are not
clenched, but only half closed. After one stroke is executed
that hand is lifted slightly outward from the body and placed
underneath the shoulder blade to begin stroking again. The
same movement obtains with the opposite hand alternately.
Thus the hands come into contact with the tissues only when
moving downward on the back (Fig. 8 A, B, C and D). The
speed should be about one stroke a second.
This exercise done five times will take about twenty seconds.
If counting each time the trunk is turned to either side, it
will be ten counts.
