Cindy W.
Bogalusa, LA

"I purchased my Fomentek Bag from my physical therapist. I had surgeries and the use of your product has saved me. I cannot sleep or exercise without it..."

Rosemary G.
Albany, NY

MASSAGE TECHNIQUES USING THE FOMENTEK™ BAG? By Duane Brassette

The Fomentek™ hot water bag is a large and sturdy transparent bag (18"x24") that is filled with 2 gallons of warm water (108° to 113°F) directly from the sink faucet either at home or in a therapist's office. The Fomentek™ bag is placed on the massage table and the client is laid on the bag. The bag conforms to every contour of the body and the feeling of warmth to the client is immediate as the surface of the Fomentek™ bag is a great heat conductor and is in direct contact with the body. The therapist can massage the client while the client lies on the bag. Using the Fomentek™ bag during the massage enhances several massage techniques. Massage oils will not harm the Fomentek™ bag and EMF's are not an issue as this is not an electrical product.

Fill the large Fomentek™ bag 1/3 full with warm water (instructions included). Place the large Fomentek™ bag crossways near one end of the massage table with the fill spout facing down. Have the client lay supine with just enough of the Fomentek™ bag sticking out above the shoulders to reach to the top of the client's ears, thereby supporting the skull with the rounded edge of the Fomentek™ Bag . The therapist then stands beside the table and inserts the hand closest to the head of the table into the upper corner of the Fomentek™ bag with the palm up. As the therapist's hand and arm enter the bag, the client's body rises slightly due to the increased volume. As the therapist's arm enters the bag, the therapist may use the other hand to gently support the client's head. This skin contact and slight pressure reassures the client and gives the client "permission" to relax the neck muscles. The next step is for the therapist to push his/her arm deeply into the Fomentek™ bag. Now the therapist, gently at first, explores the client's back with the fingertips, feeling for areas of greater density or "knots" as they are sometimes called. After briefly pausing at each position, the therapist relaxes his/her hand and moves to another position of the back and repeats the frictioning procedure several times across the back and upper shoulders. By providing soothing heat, touching the areas that hurt, and acknowledging by thought and movement, the therapist communicates with the client that the therapist knows where the client hurts. This is much better than waiting until the end of the massage to address back pain. The therapist can continue frictioning with the Fomentek™ bag in this position, move on to other muscle groups while the client soaks up the heat, or proceed immediately to the next Fomentek™ bag assisted technique, hyperextension of the spine.

SHARING THE WARMTH
Fomentek™ bags have been on the market for 15 years. They have gained popularity among massage therapists because they are so easy to use and deliver heat in a safe and comfortable manner. Clients often express interest in purchasing the product once they feel it on their back. Most therapists who use Fomentek™ bags buy them directly from the factory in lots of 5, 12, 24, or 36 at wholesale prices. The bags are retailed to clients. Benny Vaughn, noted massage educator, has endorsed the Fomentek™ bag and is quoted as saying, "By providing your client with the opportunity to purchase a cost effective, easy-to-use hydrotherapy modality, the therapist will ensure compliance that enhances and supports massage therapy outcomes"

BACK

 

HYPEREXTENSION OF THE SPINE
With the client supine - on a large FOMENTEK™ bag which is vertically aligned with the table as mentioned above, the therapist stands at the head of the table. The therapist, with palms up, pushes his/her hands into the two top corners of the FOMENTEK™ bag as far as possible, pushing both hands toward the lumbar region. The motion should be smooth and steady. When the fingertips reach the small of the back, the therapist cups the hands for a couple of seconds allowing the fingertips to come into contact with the back through the FOMENTEK™ bag. The hands are then withdrawn about one inch and the maneuver is repeated. This sequence of cupping-relaxing-withdrawing-cupping-relaxing-withdrawing continues until the therapist's fingertips have reached the upper thoracic or lower cervical region. The technique should be repeated several times as necessary until the spine articulates freely. It is not uncommon for the therapist to hear "oooh’s" and "aaah’s" of delight as the work is done. If the therapist chooses to "strip" the muscles upward in a continuous move, it is recommended that a few drops of massage oil be put into the FOMENTEK™ bag every third filling. Oil serves to lubricate the walls of the bag which slide against each other when employing this technique.

CONTINUING THE MASSAGE
By now the client's back muscles have been heated and kneaded, flexed and relaxed. The client feels warm and is truly prepared to lie quietly as the therapist addresses other muscle groups. The FOMENTEK™ bag can, at this point, be placed beneath the client's chest or abdomen (prone). Many clients enjoy the luxury of having their feet wrapped in a FOMENTEK™ bag during massage. If, on the other hand, the therapist wishes to continue the massage without the FOMENTEK™ bag, it is a simple matter to place the still warm FOMENTEK™ bag aside. Storing the FOMENTEK™ bag in a styrofoam ice chest between sessions enables the FOMENTEK™ bag to retain its heat for the next client.

UPPER BACK HEATING AND FRICTIONING
Fill the large FOMENTEK™ bag 1/3 full with warm water (instructions included). Place the large FOMENTEK™ bag crossways near one end of the massage table with the filled spout facing down. Have the client lay supine with just enough of the FOMENTEK™ bag sticking out above the shoulders to reach to the top of the ears, thereby supporting the skull with the rounded edge of the FOMENTEK™ bag. The therapist then stands beside the table and inserts the hand closest to the head of the table into the upper corner of the FOMENTEK™ bag with the palm up. As the therapist's hand and arm enter the FOMENTEK™ bag, the client's body rises slightly due to the increased volume. As the therapist's arm enters the FOMENTEK™ bag, the therapist may use the other hand to gently support the client's head. This skin contact and slight pressure reassures the client and gives the client "permission" to relax the neck muscles. The next step is for the therapist to push his/her arm deeply into the FOMENTEK™ bag.
Now the therapist, gently at first, explores the client's back with the fingertips feeling for areas of greater density or "knots" as they are sometimes called. After briefly pausing at each position, the therapist relaxes his/her hand and moves to another position of the back and repeats the frictioning procedure several times across the back and upper shoulders.
By providing soothing heat, touching the areas that hurt, and acknowledging by thought and movement, the therapist communicates with the client that the therapist knows where the client hurts ... so much better than waiting until the end of the massage to address back pain. The therapist can continue frictioning with the FOMENTEK™ bag in this position, move on to other muscle groups while the client soaks up the heat, or proceed immediately to the next FOMENTEK™ bag assisted technique, hyperextension of the spine.