Truck Jockey

[Liam]

I have a client who jockeys trucks for a living. He gets in and out of tractor trailers all day long, at least 30 trucks a day. He has short legs and has moved the seat up as far as possible and used pillows but still is reaching for the pedal. He basically pushes the gas pedal in with the ball of foot and toes on right foot. He is stretching out fron the right hip to reach the pedal. He does not use a pillow anymore because he can never get his low back comfortable. Just getting in and out of the truck is work for him! His complaint is in the area of right upper thigh, hip and glute. I have worked on him a couple visits now, full body with concentration on glutes,abductors,adductors,psoas, pectineus etc...client also stated that a few weeks ago he was walking on a cobblestone sidewalk that was upheaved. I am doing stretching after massage as well. Any ideas as to more specific work I can be doing? I suggested a chiro also, as I feel his pelvis may be rotated. Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[timdvrs]

finally - a question where my own short little legs come in handy, lol!

Encouraging the muscles to do the opposite of their daily activities should bring relief. I would say that you need to balance out the work on the right side by releasing the left. Next time you are in your car, put the seat all the way back and mimic the stretch he does. You will feel the muscles on the left that are counmassageplanet.netalancing his repetitive use of the right; these muscles are the ones that need the stretching.

On the table, have him bring his right knee to his chest as you do a slow sustained stretch of the left leg. Work on lengthening the muscles and fascia that have shortened and tightened in the lower left quadrant.

For self-care, as he is getting in the trucks, he could allow his left leg to hang (as though it were injured and he is limping up steps) and do most of the pulling up with his right leg. This can also be done on stairs. Before arising in the morning, a good stretch would be to lay in his right side and let the left leg hang over the side of the bed.

hth

 

[KelseyS]

cicerone, that's amazing! Thank you for sharing it all.