Massage Techniques Flashcards
Effleurage
Gliding movements that follow the contours of the body.
Variations of effleurage
One, two or alternate handed and nerve stroke.
Uses for effleurage
To introduce touch, spread lotion and assess tissues.
Nerve stroke
Variation of effleurage in which the weight of the hands is used to apply light pressure down the body.
Petrissage
Technique which involves compression, lifting and wringing of the skin.
Thumb placement in petrissage
Alongside fingers.
Friction
Technique in which two surfaces are rubbed against one another.
Variations of friction
Superficial warming, rolling, wringing, transverse, chucking, circular
Superficial warming
The hands are placed on the skin, then moved briskly. Can also be performed with the ulnar surface or a towel.
Rolling friction
Fingers apply compression, then the hands move back and forth in opposite directions with mild traction between the hands.
Wringing friction
The fingers wrap around an extremity, then the hands move quickly back and forth creating traction.
Transverse friction
The thumb or heel of the hand compresses the treatment area, then the skin is moved back and forth over the fibers.
Chucking friction
The thumb or fingertips compress the treatment area. The skin moves parallel to the treatment area.
Circular friction
The client’s skin is moved in a circular pattern over the joints and bony areas.
Compression
Non-gliding pressure application; can be sustained or rhythmic.
Tapotement
A repetitive striking motion which can be applied lightly or firmly with varying speed.
Variations of tapotement
Tapping, pincement, hacking, quacking, cupping, pounding, clapping, diffused.
Tapping
Fingertips strike the skin.
Pincement
The tips of the fingers and thumb are used to strike, grasp, lift and release the skin. Kleenex motion.
Hacking
The ulnar surfaces of the hands rhythmically move up and down with a flexible wrist. Fingers held apart to produce vibration.
Quacking
A variation of hacking in which the hands face each other with the fingertips touching.
Cupping
Edges of the cupped hands face down and the hands strike the skin.
Pounding
The ulnar sides of a loose fist strike muscular areas. Can also be done with the knuckles face down; called rapping in that case.
Clapping
The fingers and palms are held open, facing down. The fingers are held firmly together while striking the skin.
Diffused
The relaxed hand is laid on the client’s skin, then the other hand is used to strike it with a loose fist.
Vibration
Motion in which constant contact is maintained.
Fine vibration
The skin is compressed slightly, then vibrational movements are applied.
Jostling
Grasp the muscle, joint or extremity and move vigourously.
