ADVANCED POSTERIOR TECHNIQUE:
Back, Glute & Leg (Right Side Only)

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1.  Back Stroke:

• Practitioner Position: 

Stand at S1 facing the foot of the table at a 45-degree angle towards the left with your standing foot against the recipient’s shoulder/upper arm. Standing foot right, working foot left.

• Sarga Wrapping Technique:

Harness / Double or Single Shoulder Wrap. 

• Stroke Direction & Foot Mechanics: 

Begin at the upper trapezius with your toes facing the head of the table and “grasp” the trapezius tissue with the pad of your foot/toes. Follow a slight crescent shape around the medial border of the scapula. At the lower angle of the scapula, your toes will begin to face the foot of the table at a 45-degree angle towards the left. Continue over the lumbars until the top of the foot reaches the sacrum. At this point use your medial heel to engage the lateral border of quadratus lumborum. Finish with a slight pivot, extending through your heel to gently traction the sacrum.

• Target Tissue:

Trapezius, rhomboids, erector group, quadratus lumborum, thoracolumbar fascia.  

• Considerations & Contraindications: 

Do not apply direct downward pressure on the secondary curve of the lumbar spine, especially if the recipient has lower back considerations (See Bolstering & Recipient Body Positioning). Bolster appropriately if the recipient has large breasts or breast implants. 

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2.  Back Stroke flow into Glute & Upper Leg, Distally:

• Practitioner Position:

Stand at S1 facing the foot of the table at a 45-degree angle towards the left with your standing foot against the recipient’s shoulder/upper arm. Standing foot right, working foot left.

• Sarga Wrapping Technique:

Harness / Double or Single Shoulder Wrap.

• Stroke Direction & Foot Mechanics:

Instead of finishing at the sacrum, continue leading with the ball of your foot over the posterior iliac crest and into the tissue between the lateral edge of the sacrum and the greater trochanter. Drop into the gluteal fold, leading with your heel, then continue down the upper leg, targeting hamstrings with the pad of your foot/toes and the lateral IT band with your medial heel. Finish before the knee (your forefoot may cross the knee, but with little to no pressure).

• Target Tissue:

Trapezius, rhomboids, erector group, quadratus lumborum, thoracolumbar fascia, gluteal tissue, deep hip fan, hamstrings, IT band.

• Considerations & Contraindications:

Do not apply direct downward pressure on the secondary curve of the lumbar spine, especially if the recipient has lower back considerations (See Bolstering & Recipient Body Positioning). Bolster appropriately if the recipient has large breasts or breast implants.​

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3.  Glute & Upper Leg, Distally flow into Lower Leg, Distally:

• Practitioner Position:

First S2, then S3. Stand at S2 facing the foot of the table at a 45-degree angle towards the left. Standing foot right, working foot left.

• Sarga Wrapping Technique:

Harness / Double or Single Shoulder Wrap.

• Stroke Direction & Foot Mechanics:

Lead with the ball of your foot over the posterior iliac crest and into the tissue between the lateral edge of the sacrum and the greater trochanter. Drop into the gluteal fold, then continue down the upper leg, targeting hamstrings with the pad of your foot/toes and the lateral IT band with your medial heel. Instead of finishing at the knee, drop your left heel to the table (proximal side of the knee joint) and make sure that you have a very firm grasp on the opposing end of your Sarga Strap. Transition your bodyweight into the left heel, being careful not to drop too much pressure into the back of the recipient’s knee! Then carefully and smoothly transition your right standing foot from S2 to S3. Continue down the lateral lower leg, tracing the fibula with your medial arch and ending at the Achilles tendon (or over the heel and into the arch of the recipient’s foot if you have enough reach).

• Target Tissue:

Thoracolumbar fascia, gluteal tissue, deep hip fan, hamstrings, IT band, gastrocnemius, soleus, Achilles tendon, plantar fascia. 

• Considerations & Contraindications:

​Do not apply pressure directly on the knee joint.

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4.  Glute Frog:

• Practitioner Position:

Stand at S3 facing the foot of the table at a slight angle. Standing foot right, working foot left.

• Sarga Wrapping Technique:

​Bend the recipient’s knee into “Frog position” and drape appropriately. Wrap recipient’s ankle with the Sarga Strap. Keep both ends of the Sarga Strap in your hands to mobilize the recipient’s leg at the hip.

• Stroke Direction & Foot Mechanics:

Begin with the pad of the foot/toes in the space between the lateral edge of the sacrum and the greater trochanter. Slowly glide over the greater trochanter, targeting the deep hip fan attachments, ending at the gluteal fold. Throughout the entire stroke, slowly mobilize the recipient’s leg at the hip with your Sarga Strap.

• Target Tissue:

Deep hip fan attachments, glutes, hamstrings.

• Considerations & Contraindications:

​Be aware of client security and drape appropriately and/or engage the recipient to secure the draping. Be mindful of knee & hip injuries and/or replacements. Omit stroke entirely if necessary. Never apply pressure directly on the knee joint!

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5.  IT Frog - 2 Variations:

• Practitioner Position:

Stand at S3 facing the foot of the table. Standing foot right, working foot left.

• Sarga Wrapping Technique:

Same as “Glute Frog” above. 

• Stroke Direction & Foot Mechanics:

Variation 1: Start above the greater trochanter, more laterally than “Glute Frog”, continue down the IT band and finish with a slight pivot into the back of the knee with gentle pressure, leading with the lateral edge of your foot. Throughout the entire stroke, slowly mobilize the recipient’s leg at the hip with your Sarga Strap. Variation 2: Reposition the recipient’s leg so that it is more medial. The stroke is similar to Variation 1, but with a more direct contact on the hamstrings.

• Target Tissue:

Deep hip fan attachments, glutes, hamstrings.

• Considerations & Contraindications:

​Be aware of client security and drape appropriately and/or engage the recipient to secure the draping. Be mindful of knee & hip injuries and/or replacements. Omit stroke entirely if necessary. Never apply pressure directly on the knee joint!

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6. Medial Upper Leg, Distally - 2 Variations:

• Practitioner Position:

Stand at S3 (opposite the side of the body you are working), facing the head of the table. Standing foot left, working foot right. Option to brace recipient's pelvis with the medial side of your standing leg.

• Sarga Wrapping Technique:

Double or Single Shoulder Wrap.

• Stroke Direction & Foot Mechanics:

Variation 1: Start at recipient’s lateral gluteal fold, leading with the heel. Drop into the gluteal fold and fade into your medial arch aiming for ischial tuberosity. Continue down the medial hamstrings via a pivoting action with your heel and the ball of your foot. Stop above the knee. Variation 2: Start above recipient’s greater trochanter, leading with the heel, between the edge of the sacrum and the greater trochanter, aiming for ischial tuberosity.

• Target Tissue:

Medial hamstrings, posterior adductors.

• Considerations & Contraindications:

​Do not apply pressure directly on the knee joint.

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