Gastrocs stuck in flexion

[Buzzy]

I just worked on a client that had this problem and I've never seen this before nor heard of it.

He was supine and lifted up his right leg and flexed his ankle just enough to contract the gastrocs and then released. Funny thing is, his gastrocs wouldn't relax until he hyperextended his foot and then his toes. I suppose it was painful, but he didn't appear in pain when he did this. After he demonstrated this with his right leg, he insisted he now had to do it to the other leg as well and the same thing happened.

Anyone else experience this with a client?

 

[Lady Luck]

Hmmm

Yeah, I have had this occur several times with my clients. I often use cross fiber friction and compression to the belly of the muscle to assist in the release of the hyperflexed muscle......trust me it works almost 100% of the time. If I have hot stones prepared, I sometines apply hot stones to the affected area to begin the release process. I also apply some passive stretching to the area to encourage further relaxation. From there, the client seems to feel much better. I then continue on with my massage as usual. Hope that assists you some.

Blessings and Light-
Johnny

 

[Megan H.]

I will try that with him next time, but he says it happens anytime he hyperflexes at the ankle. This wasn't just a cramp; his gastrocs were still in full contraction after he relaxed his foot. Don't know if I made that clear in the initial post. He used to see a chiropractor regularly before he moved here about a month ago and has only had one other massage.

 

[Erika]

I would also try postisometric relaxation and stretching with this client after the manual treatment of gastroc. After your client (in supine position) demonstrates the contraction and then releases from the flexed position, kneel or get into a very low lunge at the foot of the table. Place the palm of your hand over the plantar surface of the foot, including the toes, and ask your client to push against your hand. Resist the flexion for 5 seconds or so and then employ a passive stretch from the same position, holding the stretch for 15-20 seconds. Repeat several times. I have great success with PIR. It's worth a try.