Massage Techniques

Effleurage

  • Intent

    • Promote circulation through capillary network

    • Stimulate Parasympathetic Nervous System

    • First contact with client

    • Flush tissues of blood & lymph; skin contains almost 30% of all blood & lymph

    • Reduce pain

    • Raises temperature of tissue

  • Mechanical Effects

    • Pressure flushes the superficial tissue of skin

      • Increases expansion of capillaries & movement of blood

    • Promotes collections of interstitial fluids

    • Removes toxins that break down during friction & petrissage

  • Neurophysiological Effects

    • Increases Mechanoreceptor Stimulation

      • Pressure, Motion & Compression Receptors

        • Increase parasympathetic stimuli reducing stress & anxiety

        • Reduces pain sensation

        • Reduces muscle contraction

  • Contraindication & Precautions

    • Skin infection, open pustules, or contagious skin conditions

    • Recent wounds or operations; danger is stretching scar tissue

    • Varicose veins in advanced stage

    • Hyperaesthetic patient- acute sensitivity to touch

    • Neuritis (Inflammation of nerve)

    • Neuralgia (stabbing or burning due to damaged nerve

    • Toward inflamed areas or bacterial inflammation

    • Distal to acute inflamamatory conditions

Friction

  • Beneficial

    • Adhesion

    • Golgi Tendon Organs

    • Muscle Dysfunction

    • Scar Tissue

  • Physiology

    • When Phospholipid are damaged causes the release of Satelite cells which begin to knit together damaged cells

    • Satelite cells & Fibroblasts begin to knit together the damaged area and will form new Collagen FIbers to replace the old

    • Cellular repair can only occur in the resting phaase thus the importance of altering exercise patterns

  • Physiology Adhesions

    • Water makes up 45 - 75% of total body weight

      • 2/3 is intracellular fluid within cells, & 1/3 is extracellular fluid

      • Main component of extracellular fluid is the interstiltila fluis that bathes cells

    • Interstitial Fluid

      • Quite thin & flows easily around & over cells

        • Movement is generated by muscle contraction, respiration, & pressure

      • Reduced muscle contraction, damaged tissue fragments or even bacteria can reduce the flow

      • Result is the formation of an Adhesion (Adhering together of tissues)

    • Application

      • Performed with pads of the fingers

    • Contraindication

      • Overworked muscles

      • Recent surgeries

      • Morbid states in tissue

    • Transervse Friction

      • Application of motion transersrly across muscle fibers

      • Forms:

        • General Cross Fibering: Applied with thumb & thenar eminence across groups of muscle

        • Local Cross Fibering: Applied primarily w/ thumb or knuckle

    • Mechanical Effect

      • Can physically separate fibers that are adhered to one another

      • Micro trauma causes an inflammatory state that increase circulation & aids in repair to the area

      • Increases temperature resulting in increase metabolic activity in cell; primarily the result of warm blood from the body core warming the area

      • Friction stroke may also break cross-linking of granulation & scar tissue of collagen fibers & allows for a more pliable healing to occur

    • Neurophysiological Effects

      • Can elevate GTO stimulation due to pressure on tendon & increases temperature

        • Result in increased mechanostimulation can reduce motor stimulus to the muscle reducing contraction

Petrissage

  • Physiology of Circulatory

    • Transports nutrients, heat, & waste throughout the body via a network of specialized vessels containing blood cells

    • Components

      • Arteries: Carry blood away from the heart

      • Veins: Carry blood toward the heart

      • Capillaries: Tiny vessels that connect arteries to veins & facilitate the exchange of nutrients, waste, & gases at the cellular level

    • Order: Heart - Artery - Arterioles - Capillaries - Venules - Veins - Heart

    • Movements

      • First Pump: Main driver is heart

      • Second Pump: Through contraction & relaxation of skeletal muscle

        • Valves are located in veins open in only one direction allow blood flow toward heart

  • Petrissage

    • “To knead tissues of the body”

    • Intended to affect deeper layers of capilary beds in muscle tissue

  • Indications & Contraindications:

    • Indications: Petrissage is used to improve blood and lymphatic circulation, particularly in thicker muscles.

    • Contraindications:

      • Same as for effleurage but targeting deeper tissues

      • Muscle strains

      • Open wounds

      • Inflammed areas

      • During menstruation

      • Pregnancy

      • Patients with a hernia

  • Rolling:

    • Application: Involves a sweeping motion, upward and lateral with one hand, and upward and medial with the other. Primarily targets superficial layers and aids lymphatic movement.

    • Technique: Maintain contact with the skin, using the heel of the hand and thenar eminence. Ensure foot positioning aligns with stroke movement.

  • Wringing:

    • Application: Directed at intermediate muscle levels.

    • Technique: Hands work in opposition. The hand drawing toward you uses the thumb and index finger to apply pressure, while the opposite hand contacts the heel and palm.

  • Kneading:

    • Application: Compressive technique directed towards the bone, applied primarily to thick muscle masses, especially in the legs.

    • Technique: The heel of the hand compresses tissues directly down and releases pressure without gliding.

  • Picking Up:

    • Application: Often used at the end of a massage, compressing and slightly lifting the tissue from the bone.

    • Technique: Use both hands to gently compress the tissue without impacting the bone, then elevate slightly.

  • Trap Squeezing:

    • Application: Specifically targets the trapezius and levator scapulae muscles.

    • Technique: Apply pressure between the thumb and palm in a sweeping motion across the muscle fibers.

  • Mechanical Effects

    • Breaks down interfiber adhesuons that may be present blocking fluid flow

    • Improved flow of fluid improves nutrient & oxygen distribution

    • Compression of tissue results in movement of fluids with emphasis on interstitial fluids

    • Increase in blood flow warms tissue increasing metabolism

    • Greatest impact on this technique is on the Circulatory System

  • Neurophysiological

    • Compressive forces that moves fluids through the systems of tubes also stimulate specialized receptors

      • Has a similar effect as Effluerage increasing mechanoreceptor stimulation

      • Has soothing effect on nervous system

Tapotement

  • Tapotement

    • Percussive technique directed at the tissues to reestablish slight tone (contraction) in the muscle

    • Pressure varies from lighter on thinner tissues, to heavier on thicker tissues

    • Movement generated from the wrist

    • Hands should never be higher than 1 inch off the tissue

  • Contraindications

    • Adaptive to tissue depth

    • Bony prominences

    • Bone weakness pathologies

    • Heavy application avoided over:

      • Superficial veins

      • Arteries

      • Nerves

      • Medial Upper & Lower Extremity

      • Sciatic Nerve Path

      • Cervical Spine

      • Kidneys

      • Abdomen (except flicking)

    • Over neurological conditions associated neurasthenia or paralysis

  • General Effect

    • To reestablish tone in the muscle by stimulating the muscle spindles located in the muscle belly

Rocking & Shaking

  • Rocking & Shaking

    • Involves rhythmic movements & oscillations

  • Benefits

    • Deep relaxation

    • Improved blood & lymph circulation

    • Enhanced joint mobility & flexibility

    • Release of muscle tension & knots

    • Increase energy & revitalization

    • Balancing the nervous system & promoting overall well-being

  • Contraindications

    • Acute injuries, fractures, or severe medical conditions

    • Pregnancy

    • Adjust pressure & intensity to client’s comfort & condition

  • Principles

    • Rhythem

    • Fluidity

    • Adaptability

    • Synchoronization

Vibration

  • Vibration

    • It involves applying rhythmic or oscillating movements using hands, fingers or specialized massage tools

  • Performing

    • Warm Up

    • Select Appropriate Area

    • Hand Positioning

    • Vibration Technique

      • Static: Gentle continuous pressure while vibrating hands; small & quick to create buzzing sensation

      • Dynamic: For larger areas, apply the same buzzing motion but move hands slightly to cover a broader surface

      • Percussion: For more intense vibration; suitable for muscular tension & stimulating blood flow

    • Duration & Pressure

      • Typically performed for 2-5 mins

    • Communication

Nerve Stroke

  • Nerve Stroke

    • A neurological integrative or communicative stroke used most often after massage to a region of the body

  • Effect

    • Varies per school of thought, variance may be because neuromuscular components are found in the body at all levels & depths