5 Rocking Sacrum

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Indications

Spasm or tightness in the erector spinae muscles. Decreased ROM of the spine.

Cautions

Do not do this soon after an injury or back surgery.

Do not do this if it causes or aggravates pain.

Practice good body mechanics. Keep your thumb in alignment with your forearm so you don’t put a shear force on your metacarpal phalangeal joint.

Technique

Rock the sacrum laterally with one hand – your hand cradles the sacrum with the heel of your hand on one side of the sacrum and your fingers on the other side.

While rocking the sacrum press the thumb of your other hand medially for a few seconds or longer on each spinous process from L5 to T1 to stabilize them from rocking. This creates movement in the facet joints and intervertebral disc between the vertebrae you are stabilizing and the one below it that is rocking.

Your intention is to open the joints at each intervertebral segment.

 

I have seen some students have difficulty doing this technique because they need to have their hands do two different things. One hand is mobilizing the spine by rocking the sacrum, and the other hand is trying to stabilize the spine at one spot. It can be like trying to rub your head and pat your stomach, then trying to pat your head and rub your stomach.
If you find this difficult to do at first keep practicing, as the technique gets easier with practice, and your clients will enjoy how it feels.

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