Massage Mechanics Flashcards
Types of massage
Wellness or clinical
Wellness massage
Used as a form of self-care to reduce stress, promote relaxation and function and decrease pain.
Clinical massage
Used as a form of healthcare to help people with specific health issues.
Pressure
The application of gliding or non-gliding force.
Compression
Pushing or downward pressure.
Traction
Decompression
Ideal direction of downward force
45 to 90 degrees.
Tissue displaced by light pressure
Superficial adipose tissue and fascia.
Body parts used in light pressure
The weigh of the arms and hands.
Uses for light pressure massage
To apply lubricant, for the beginning and end of a massage and for frail clients.
Tissue displaced by medium pressure massage
Superficial muscle and fascial layers. Adjacent joints may move.
Strength used for medium pressure massage
Strength of the arms and hands as well as the weight of the upper body.
Uses for moderate pressure massage
Most wellness massage.
Tissue displaced by deep pressure massage
Deeper muscles and their fascial layers.
Strength required for deep pressure massage
Strength of the upper and lower extremities as well as the weight of the upper body.
Endangerment site
Area containing structures that are vulnerable to injury; includes nerves, blood vessels, organs and glands.
Main endangerment sites
Anterior neck, abdomen, lower back, armpit, popliteal space.
Structures within the anterior neck
Thyroid, carotid, jugular, vagus and spinal accessory nerves and the brachial plexus.
Vulnerable structure within the abdomen
Liver, bladder, small bowel, aorta and cysts.
Vulnerable structures within the lower back
The kidneys.
Vulnerable structures of the axilla
Brachial and axillary arteries, axillary and cephalic veins.
Axilla
Armpit
Vulnerable structures of the popliteal space
Popliteal artery and vein, tibial and peroneal nerves.
Physical forces which can be applied during massage
Compression, tension, bending, shearing, torsion.
Tension
Elongation or lengthening.
Bending
Compression and tension force applied simultaneously, usually bending a tissue into a C-shape.
Shearing
Sliding force in which two surfaces glide against one another.
Torsion
Twisting or rotational force used in petrissage.
Excursion
Distance travelled during a technique.
Rate
Speed at which a technique is applied.
Rhythm
Pattern or regularity of techniques.
Sequence
Order in which techniques are arranged. Generally applied in structured multiples of 3.
Routines
All of the sequences applied within a session.
Contraindication
Condition that could be aggravated by massage.
