Date: 21.11.18

Location: Plymouth Marjon University

Total amount of hours: 22

In this session a client who is aged 19 and plays for a lacrosse team and has complaints of tightness in his calf muscles.

Treatment began by using effleurage to warm up the muscle before any deep tissue techniques were applied. Next, petrissage techniques were used which included kneading and wringing to help to get deeper to the muscle. Using these techniques helped to identify any tightness within the muscle.

Similarly to the previous session with this client, stretching techniques were applied after examining how the clients ROM at the ankle had improved since the previous session. The gastrocnemius was stretched using METS with the client positioned with their feet off the end of the bed. The stretch was applied by pushing the client’s foot into dorsiflexion and asking the client to resist the pressure applied by pointing their toes (plantar flexion) by using around 30-40% of their maximal effort. After holding this for 30 seconds, the client was then told to relax as the amount of force applied to the ankle was increased before asking them to inhale and repeat the process. This is to be repeated 3-5 times.

The soleus muscle was then stretched. To do this, the client was still positioned face down on the bed with the knee flexed to a 90 degree angle and the foot relaxed. To stretch the soleus muscle, the forearm over the sole of the clients foot to help force the foot into dorsiflexion whilst asking the client resist against this force for 30 seconds. This stretched and helped to contract the soleus muscle. This was repeated three times on each leg with more force being applied each time to push the muscle to a new barrier.

After the session, the client was then able to achieve a better range of movement within the gastrocnemius and soleus.

An ankle and knee assessment can be carried out to help determine whether there are any further issues with the joint, muscles or ligaments.