Massage Buzz

Massage Basics:

It’s good to review and get back to the basics. In arts trades and athletics, drilling in the elementary disciplines gives a firm footing for building monumental works.

Most of westerner style massage therapy consists of some of these base strokes from the Swedish gymnastics. Actually, come to find out, the development of “Swedish” massage was much to the influenced of Tui na and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Anyways, back to the fundamentals…

Effleurage: (French for skimming the surface) Long and short flowing, gliding strokes used to spread oil/lotion on the area of the body to be worked. Hands/ forearms flow smoothly over the body warming the recipient to practitioner’s touch. Flow generally directed toward the heart, distal to proximal, i.e. away from the center of the body and to the center (heart). Very slow, light pressure effleurage is quite relaxing. Fast superficial strokes can be livening. Moreover, endless combinations of light moderate and deep pressure strokes can be used to affect connective tissues, nerves and the whole body while promoting circulation and peace.

Petrissage: (French-to knead) the kneading, lifting, pulling and squeezing of the skin/muscle. Loosens bound muscle from underlying tissues, relaxes, and increases blood flow. Primarily, petrissage is used on thicker muscles like the trapezius, lats, thighs and calves.

Tapotement: (French- to pat) Tapotement is rhythmic, drumming patting done with loose fingers, hands, sides of hand or closed hand used chiefly on the large, broad muscles of the body. When done vigorously, tapotement has a stimulating affect on the nervous system. However, when prolonged, light tapotement can relax and calm the receiver. Tapotement is often used by nurses to help loosen mucus in treatment of bronchitis sufferers. CAUTION, Forceful pounding over the small of the lower-back, the area above the kidneys, should be avoided.

Compression: Downward pressure typically applied by the palm, heal of hand, fist, forearm, elbow or knee into soft tissue at a 45 – 90 degree angle. Used to spread the muscle belly causing a sense of stretch to tissue and nerve endings. Deep compression can be uncomfortable; and so, avoid forceful pressure when relaxing massage is the goal. Compressive force is often used in pain relief to pinpoint knotted tissue and reduce ischemic pain, from decreased blood flow in an area.

Props goes out to Sandy Fritz for her contribution of good textbooks, like the fundamentals of therapeutic massage, for the massage profession.