Massage Strokes Flashcards
Name 3 contraindications of effleurage (按撫法).
- pitted / marked edema
- gross swellings
- open wounds
What are the general effects of effleurage?
easier to take in and expel waste products as it increases the permeability of cell membrane
Name 5 contraindications of petrissage (揉捏法).
- cold, atrophied, acutely inflamed and injured muscles
- open wounds
What are the four techniques in petrissage?
- one-handed
- two-handed
- open C / closed C
- sifting
What is petrissage?
lifting and/or kneading the tissues with light to deep pressure
What are the general effects of petrissage?
- pumping response in the muscle to move fluids and waste products in and out of the muscles and tissues
- lifting: separate the muscle fibers; pulling: lengthens the muscle
Name 2 areas we do sifting.
chest and inner thigh
What is the use of sifting?
softens superficial fascia
What stroke should be done before applying petrissage/friction?
effleurage or passive touch
Is petrissage most effective on muscle tissue, fascia or ligaments?
muscle tissue
Name two contraindications of compression.
- Injured tissues
- open wounds
Where is the most useful area to apply compression?
Areas where it is hard to lift the muscle, e.g. - the shoulder blade
- parts of the back
- joints
Name the general effects of applying the following strokes:
1. broad and flat strokes with the flat of your hand
2. the edge of your hand or elbow
- a diffused effect
- a focused effect
Name three uses of compression.
- stimulate fluid activity by compressing over joint
- tone/strengthen muscle and stimulate the nervous system with lift-press application
What are the general effects of compression?
- separate and lengthen muscle fibers by pressing tissues toward underlying bone and penetrating the subcutaneous layer
What is effleurage?
using the flat hand passing over the skin and muscle with light to moderate pressure, one of the most used strokes
What is compression?
using the flat/balled hands to press directly into the underlying tissue
What is friction?
sustained pressure in a focal area at a moderate-to-deep level
Name 5 contraindications of friction.
- inflammation
- painful areas
- fresh scars
- open wounds
- acute injury
Name 9 techniques of friction.
- direct pressure
- cross fiber friction
- cross fascicular frction / raking
- linear friction
- circular friction
- skin rolling
- rubbing
- chucking
- twisting
What are the 5 general uses of friction?
- warm the tissue
- break up adhesions / prevent adhesions during active stages of scar formation
- release restrictions between tissue layers
- stimulate localized circulation
- lengthen muscle fibers
What are the uses and general effects of rubbing, chucking, and twisting?
Uses: warm tissues, introduce mobility
Effects: build up heat in surface tissues
What are the uses and general effects of direct pressure?
Uses: adhesions, tender points, trigger points, acupressure
Effects:
- Often applied to musculotendinous junction to relieve stress points (common areas of microtrauma and overstretching)
- temporary ischemic response
We may repeat the application, but we shouldn’t maintain direct pressure over _____ seconds as it may cause muscle guarding or bruising and impede circulation.
15 seconds
What are the uses of cross-fiber friction?
Uses: release adhesions, knots, and reorganize scar tissues
What technique should we apply before using cross-fiber friction? Should we use cross-fiber friction on healthy tissues?
direct pressure; no
What are the uses of cross-fascicular friction / raking?
release stubborn hypertonicities
What are the uses and general effects of linear friction?
Uses:
- separate muscle group borders
- release bound connective tissues
Effects: lengthen muscle fibers and fascia
What are the uses and general effects of circular friction?
Uses: mobilize structures, warm underlying tissues, very engaging effect on nervous system, use in acupressure and Shiatsu applications
Effect: relive superficial guarding patterns
What are the uses and general effects of skin rolling?
Use: assess the pliability of skin and fascia
Effects: warm the skin adhesions or fascial tissue
What are the 6 techniques of tapotement (叩撫法)?
- tapping
- slapping
- hacking
- cupping
- pincement
- pounding / beating
What are the main uses of tapotement?
- stimulate weak/atrophied muscles
- stimulate the nerves
What are the effects of heavy tapotement or prolonged lighter application?
dilate the blood vessels
What are the 4 contraindications of tapotement?
- muscle spasm
- muscle cramp
- sore muscles
- severe hypertonicity
What is the use of tapping?
sedative effect
Where should we use slapping?
abdominal muscles, pectorals, and inner thigh (not on faces or haunches = loins)
