Massage Flashcards
Therapeutic massage effects
- Assessment
- invigorate the body
- promote relaxation
- promote superficial blood flow
- increased pain threshold
- can promote lymph flow to reduce edema
- increased soft tissue extensibility
- decreased scar tissue
- restore joint mobility
Massage indications
- Pain
- muscle spasm
- edema
- scar tissue adhesions
- headache
- muscle soreness
- to increase local bloodflow
- to assist with lymph drainage
Massage contraindications
- arteriosclerosis
- thrombosis
- embolism
- acute phlebitis
- severe varicose veins
- cellulitis/skin infections
- acute inflammation
- cancer
- open wounds
Therapeutic massage vs rubdown
- therapeutic= relating to tx for a disease or disorder. Pt required as part of treatment
- Relaxation= pt desires rubdown to relax muscles or self due to overwork or tension
- required vs desired
reflexive effects
- massage seems to act on local sensory and motor nerves as well as the CNS
- Capable of inducing sedation
- slow, gentle, rhythmic and superficial effleurage may relieve tension & relax musculature
- attempts to exert effects through the skin and superficial connective tissues via sensory receptors (reflex effects of the ANS)
- Pain, circulation, and metabolism
Mechanical effects
- mechanical effects are always accompanied by reflexive effects but with an inverse relationship
- muscle elongation and mobilization of soft tissue adhesions
- increases blood flow to skeletal muscle
- may retard muscle atrophy following injury
- increases skin temp
Resting poisiton
placing hands on client
- used to enter their space
- open, relaxed hands
Effleurage description/purpose
- A motion gliding lightly over the skin without attempting to move deeper tissues
- purpose:
- to accustom pt to touch
- to apply lube
- to increase skin circulation
- to increase rate of metabolic exchange in the periphery
Effleurage technique
- Stroke is made with the heel of the hand, fingers slightly bent and the thumbs spread
- stoking should be light at first
- once unidirectional stroking has been established it should be maintained through tx
- movement should be toward the heart
- contact with the pt should be maintained at all times to enhance relaxation
Kneading or Petrissage description/purpose
kneading of soft tissue that presses and rolls the muscle under the fingers or hands
- Purpose:
- to increase venous and lymphatic return
- to press metabolic waste products out of the target tissue
- break up adhesions between the skin and underlying tissue
- loosen adherent fibrous tissue
- increase elasticity in the skin
Kneading or Petrissage technique
- Application of pressure by repeatedly grasping and releasing the muscle tissue in a lifting and rolling motion
- should move distal to proximal
- knead parallel to or at right angles to muscle fibers
- can also use skin rolling
Compression
Compress down into tissues, press tissues into underlying bone
compression technique
- lift-press method
- disconnect from body with each stroke
- provides stimulatory effect to muscle spindle
- use point of thumb, fingers, palm/heel of hand, fist, knuckles, forearm
- apply compression at 90 degrees to tissue
vibration
- used to stimulate muscle
- acts of the GTO to cause reciprocal inhibition
- Technique:
- begins with compression
- use forearm muscles in rhythmic motion
Shaking
- Relaxes muscle groups or whole limbs
- influences muscle spindle systems and joint proprioceptors
- technique: lift and downward or side-to-side movement
rocking
- Soothing, rhythmic motion using whole body
- stimulates vestibular system as well as muscular system
- technique:
- up/down, side/side movement of body
- find pts natural rhythm
Tapotement or percussion
- Percussion movements; series of brisk blows
- administered with relaxed hands with rapid, alternating movements
- Purpose:
- stimulate subcutaneous tissues
- increase circulation
- stimulate peripheral nerve endings
Hacking
alternate movements with ulnar border of hands
slapping
alternate slapping with fingers
beating
using half closed fists and beating with the hypothenar eminence of the hand
Tapping
using the tips of fingers
Cupping
using a concave cup formed by the fingers, thumb and hand together (used mostly for postural drainage)
Friction
- Small, deep movements to select tissue
- utilizes shear forces
- used to break up adhesions
- no lubricant used
Direction of stroke
- Gliding: horizontal
- kneading: vertical lifting
- compression: vertical pressing down
- vibration: down then back and forth in direction of fibers
- Friction: vertical pressing down then back and forth across fibers
- percussion/tapotement: vertical, abrupt snapped down