- Client is lying on the side opposite to be stretched and moves her body to the edge of the table.
- Guide her top leg to hang off the edge of the table (knee needs to clear the table; some clients will not be able to do this).
- Therapist must stabilize the pelvis with his/her body to prevent rotation or over-arching of the lower back.
- Gently press down on the leg to be stretched and push up on the torso to help separate it from the pelvis.
This stretch will also get some fibers of the tensor fascia latae and ilio-tibial band. (To stretch the quadratus lumborum the client’s upper arm must be above the ribs, reaching up towards her head). If letting the leg hang is too painful, arrange a chair for the ankle to rest on for about a minute, then see if the leg can hang without pain. Clients should be instructed to do this as an unassisted self-stretch by letting the leg hang off the edge of a bed. Remember that to stretch a muscle we must do the opposite of the muscle's action.
