I am practising massage on a largish client who has a good covering of fatty tissue. I presume this fatty tissue deposit is within the subcutaneous fascia above the epimysium (deep fascia) of the muscles. This leads me to believe that the higher the person's BMI the greater the separation there is of the skin from the muscle tissue. Therefore how much influence will muscular adhesions, spasms affect the mobility or elasticity of the skin?
In other words will muscular tensions still be detectable via palpation (effleurage/stroking) of the skin and indicated by reduced elasticity and/or intermittent dragging or juddering of the skin? And, if not, (which is what i think) how can you detect underlying muscular anomalies that need treatment when the fatty tissue creates this speration?
Alexander
-- Edited by Alexander on Monday 11th of March 2013 04:39:48 AM
I dont think there has been any research on muscle spasm affecting skin elasticity.
Muscle tension, adhsions, thickening can be detected throuhg the skin, but its very subjective
the reaosn we do the screens i because they are more objective than what we feel, dont worry to much abot what you feel until you are well practcised and you will often find the screening results marry up with what you feel, but not always.
Cheers for the helpful response though unfortuately it doesn't quite fully answer my query. Basically should I be able to detect muscle tensions etc on a fat person the same as a lean person or will the fat layer reduce the ability to feel these as I have to palpate through a layer of very mobile fatty tissue?
