Tapotement

[Lion Sack]

Hopefully the answer to my query is not an obvious one, with lack of knowledge on my part...like, "DUH!" LOL.

Some background info: One of the horses I work on suffers from a painful L-severe degenerative stifle (would be our knee joint). I've been working on him once per week since December, and then twice per week since March. I combine therapeutic massage with Reiki.

I've just started doing some more intense work on him (which he's now allowing because we've built trust and a bond). So, I'm doing very light ROM and tapotement. Well, the amazing thing is that he tolerates the tapotement far better than even light palpation. He completely drops his head in relaxation. Even as I thump over his stifle.

My wondering is this: why does he tolerate levels of tapotement easier than light to medium palpation? I know what tapotement does but am wondering if the result has something to do with the superficial nerves. As in, it's less painful because it bypasses the superficial nerves, going deeper with the vibration of tapotement (?).

Anyone experience anything similar with a client that is a lot of pain? TIA for any insights.

*Edit: for typos

 

[Angel S]

From my days training harness horses for racing - the horses my ex and I trained were generally lame, lazy, crazy, and broken down wrecks by the time we got them. SO, as a consequence I spent a great deal of time with my hands all over the critters healing what I could in whatever manner they would allow. Most of that entailed tapping, slapping, heavy friction on legs, hocks, hips and stifles. For me, it worked and they all responded well both physically and on the track.

One of the things all of them seemed to enjoy the most was tapping. It stimulates the blood flow and does it without thoroughly "lighting up" the sensitive nerves in the areas of injury. Plus, the horses I worked on would tend to appreciate a more equine touch - they just don't do loving strokes and generally kneading to one another when they are allowed to care for one another in a herd type situation.

Hope that helps.

J

 

[Michelle =)]

Thanks, AnastasiaB! I could easily repsond to your great reply in more depth but I would end up hijacking my own topic into something that needs to be posted in the animal therapies section. :

The horse I'm referencing is a Standardbred rescue and has not had the best human experiences prior to his current existance. I'd love to chat with you more about your knowledge. I do understand, though, from your reply that the horses you worked with preferred more of an equine touch which includes tapping (vibration/tapotement). Many humble thank yous.

I'm actually doing tapotement on the painfully diseased joint area - which he is tolerating better than therapeutic palpatory strokes - do you think it bypasses superficial nerves?

Since I'm asking about taptement in regard to clients that are in pain (not just specific to horses or other animals), and the possible relation to superficial nerves, I'll behave and wait in hopes of more replies. :roll:

 

[Victoria<3]

maybe the rhythmic resonance is some form of cell-memory, like a heartbeat in the womb kind of thing......


oooooh, i'm stretchin here now t102 :mrgreen:

 

[Abi]

Dependent on the length of time tapping is done, it can have a numbing effect on the nerves in the area, thus a decrease in pain - also an increase in circulation thus decreasing inflammation - applies for humans as well as critters.

 

[Pearl]

oooooh, i'm stretchin here now t102 :mrgreen:

:mrgreen: ...thanks!

Dependent on the length of time tapping is done, it can have a numbing effect on the nerves in the area...

Hey thanks, that sounds logical.

In this particular case, I'm not doing tapotement in one area for any length of time (applying and moving along at a nice & easy pace, from head to hoof)...spending the same amount of tapotement time on the stifle as I do the rest of the body. The key is that it really seems to have an instant overall relaxing effect for him (even over the injury).

In contrast, I have other horse clients that are not in-love with tapotement.

Maybe it has something to do with bodies that are in their head a lot (intelligent, over thinking and possibly worriers)...sort of interrupting that brain nerve communication function temporarily. I don't know...now I'm stretchin' here, LOL.

 

[Cookie_Cohen]

Thanks again for humoring me!!

 

[mikiq10]

This is very interesting. I have somewhat similar observations about tapotement. And I have wondered about them...

I do massage on approximately 12 children a month. They are in a medically fragile children's unit of a long-term care facility of a hospital. Most of the children there, and all the children I work on, have either had traumatic brain injuries or have severe Cerebral Palsey. They have extremely limited verbal communication; virtually no words, some laugh. I have observed that they all can show pleasure/displeasure by smiling, laughing, relaxing, moaning or pulling away/grimacing/crying/seizing.

They all love tapotement. And a majority respond more positively to it than anything else.
The thing that makes tapotement different from other massage strokes is the rythm and resonance/percussive vibration. So, I don't know the why, but I have certainly made a similar observation.

Noel

 

[Mr. Artless]

Thanks!

Thanks, seekingequanimity. What amazing work you are doing! I'm glad to know I'm not the only who is finding the same response to tapotement in similar situations. You've inspired me to delve into this a little deeper...will continue my research further.

 

[Corn]

Kindred & Seeking,

Cool experiences for both of you. Seeking, my autistice client for whom I do primarily craniosacral LOVES tapping, cupping, and slapping when he's in the mood. [Adult male, 59, autistic since age 5, blind since age 8]. He takes hold of my hands and "flaps them up and down over the top of his chest until I comply with one of the above techniques. The grin and giggles I get from him are so utterly fabulous because I know it's what he wants.

Sorry if that hijacked the thread.....

 

[puppysyndrome]

Cool experience for you, too, AnastasiaB...thanks for sharing, that's awesome...you've just added more fuel to my tapotement fire!

No apologies necessary, I don't think you hijacked, lol.

 

[A B]

Got me a Bonger...oooooo, creates fabulous tapotement! ...usually come in pairs, I know, but one - and only one - was gifted to me. I'm gonna have to invest in a pair now. t023

 

[filmmaniac111]

Great discussion, you guys are making me re-think tapotement.
I have slowly drifted towards mostly slow deep kneading.
Almost completely abandoning percussives, thinking that it was irritating and only for pre exercise use..

Good one

 

[swingwig]

A second Thank You!

I got away from tapotement in the spa setting because one of my fellow therapists said it isn't appropriate...now I know that she wasn't necessarily on base about more than just tapotement - but that is another story.

Anyway, I am going to reintroduce it into my work...

Thanks again...the thread just keeps living on ;0)