MENTALIS MASSAGE

Myofunktional Exercise  Collect ion

Application:

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This exercise will be applied in a progressive state of Mentalis problems as, for example, with habitual cramps and long-term symptomatic, spastic or substantial tissue shortening of the region below the oral fissure, (Anatomy, Area I, 12, [10, 11]).

The aim is a Spasmolysis and stretching of tissue.

The therapy aims at three case categories of disfunctions:

1. a. Shoving upwards the supramental soft tissue with  

        engorging the lip region to form a torus.

1. b. Shoving upwards and ‘screwing-in’ of the lower

       lip between the front teeth bows.

2.     Pushing up of the supramental soft tissue in case

        of an insufficient mouth slit closure. This

        includes posttraumatic and postsurgical 

        situations.

3.     Curling in the horizontal chin cross fold, as well

        with habitual overstressing in the complete

        Orbicularis region (see also paragraph

        (Discussion”).

Contents:

This exercise comprises a manipulated (foreign or self) soft tissue massage.

Materials:

-Not mandatory- Vaseline, skin ointment.

Procedure:

- Previous exercises: See also annotations in the text; else case specific ORBICULARIS- or UPPERLIP- exercises.

-Starting position: ,M’-POSITION.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 The molar teeth are gently set upon each other. With an sufficient Oral Fissure closure the ,M’-Position is maintained, in a case of insufficiency preferably the Orbicularis should be activated

-2 The index finger (greased) is positioned horizontally beyond the lower lip.

-3 The finger now glides with slight, distinct pressure downwards across the skin of the chin.

-4 this massaging movement is repeated.

- Step-by-step-description:

-1 The molar teeth are gently set upon each other. With an sufficient Oral Fissure closure the ,M’-Position is maintained, in a case of insufficiency preferably the Orbicularis should be activated

-2 The index finger (greased) is positioned horizontally beyond the lower lip.

-3 The finger now glides with slight, distinct pressure downwards across the skin of the chin.

-4 this massaging movement is repeated.

Characteristics:

Stretching, passive stretching aid, massage, manipulation.

Remarks:

The described method can indeed be applied for entirely different clinical pictures (see paragraph APPLICATION).

In combination wit other exercises for this target area the degree of mouth slit closure should be met with.

As the ,M’-POSITION will have to become the starting position this will obligatorily require a preceding training phase of correct Rima Oris closure.

Discussion:

The case categories described in paragraph  ‘APPLICATION’ are including those cases which entail particularly unfavourable secondary symptoms – as , for example deformation of hard tissue structures - .

The described application can not be regarded as a functional exercise and, thus, should  be made use of  only in combination only with one of these as, for example, the ,L’-POSITION.

The measure should chiefly be carried out by the therapist. In case of marked tendencies for tensions within the target area the patient himself may be briefed and trained.

The here discussed exercise distinguishes itself from the MENTALIS STRETCH by the aspect that here no neuromuscular actions are involved.

In as systematic procedure it would be recommendable to link up the exercises in the following manner:

MENTALIS MASSAGE, MENTALIS STRETCH, ,E'-EXERCISE.

Instructions:

We stated that the chin has spasmodic tendencies and through that is causing damages in its vicinity.

So we will have to terminate these tensnesses. And as these are so vigorous  that simple muscle exercises – which later on we will have to go through –  taken by themselves do not solely help along the chin and its muscles have to get a cramp solving massage.

Ands as it would mean too expenditure if we would each time do that in our meetings this will now mean:

Do it yourself!

The molar teeth are set upon each other very slightly.

The digit finger is positioned horizontally below the lower lip softly greased.

With gentle and distinct pressure it then glides down across the skin of the chin. It smoothes down the chin towards the tip.

The massaging movement is repeated as often as we have agreed.