therapeutic massage Flashcards
• Manipulates the body’s tissues to:
✓Reduce muscle spasm
✓Promote relaxation
✓Improve blood flow
✓Increase venous drainage
• Broad range of massage theories, techniques, and
effects
Purpose of the therapeutic massage
2 types of massage
basic strikes and myofascial release
Basic Strikes:
✓Effleurage
✓Pétrissage
✓Friction
✓Tapotement
✓Vibration
what are the 5 basic strikes massage?
Basic Strikes:
✓Effleurage
✓Pétrissage
✓Friction
✓Tapotement
✓Vibration
Myofascial Release:
✓ J-Strokes
✓Focused Stretching
✓Skin Rolling
✓Arm Pull / Leg Pull
✓Diagonal Release
what are the 5 myofascial release
Myofascial Release:
✓ J-Strokes
✓Focused Stretching
✓Skin Rolling
✓Arm Pull / Leg Pull
✓Diagonal Releas
“Stroking of the skin”
• Spread massage lubricant
• Use at the beginning and end of
the massage
effleurage
slow strokes for relaxation
superficial
✓Elongates muscle fibers
✓Stretches fascia
✓Forces fluids in the direction of the stroke
• towards the heart
deep
“Lifting and kneading”.
- Frees adhesions: stretches and separates muscle fiber, fascia, and scar tissue.
- If only technique is used, it may be performed without the use of lubricant.
pétrissage
“Deep pressure”.
- Circular: Use a circular motion with thumbs, elbow, or a commercial device.
- Transverse Friction: The thumbs or fingertips stroke in opposite directions.
- Effects muscle mobilization, tissue.
friction
“Tapping or pounding” of the skin.
- Variations: Hacking, Cupping, Pincement (pinching), Rapping, Tapping.
- Performed with a light, fast tempo.
- Promotes muscular and systemic relaxation and desensitization of irritated nerve endings.
tapotememt
“Rapid Shaking”.
- Increases blood flow and provides systemic invigoration of tissues.
- Mechanical devices available.
vibration
Stroking and stretching of tissues:
- Relax tense tissues.
- Release adhered tissues.
- Restore tissue mobility.
- Clinician receives cues and feedback from the patient’s tissue, indicating the appropriate strokes and stretches.
- Specialized training in myofascial release techniques is needed to become proficient in these skills.
myofascial release
- One hand places the adhesion on stretch.
- Other hand’s 2nd and 3rd fingers stroke in the opposite direction forming a ‘J’.
- Mobilize scar tissue.
J-strokes
- Heel of one hand in the area of restriction.
- Heel of other hand crossed in front.
- Stretch the tissue using slow, deep pressure.
- Reduces superficial or deep adhesions.
Focused Stretching
Use fingers and thumb to lift and separate the skin from the underlying tissue (similar to Pétrissage).
- Roll skin between fingers noting restriction.
- Lift skin and move it in the direction of the restriction.
- Reduces superficial myofascial adhesions.
skin rolling
Grasp extremity proximal to wrist
• Apply gentle traction that is in line with anterior deltoid
• Continue to abduct 10- 15 degrees until full abduction is reached
• Stretches large areas of fascia
arm/leg pull
One clinician grasps the leg proximal to the talocrural joint
• Other grasps the opposite arm proximal to the wrist
• Keep extremities horizontal to each other
• One moves the limb until adhesions are felt while the other stabilizes the extremity
• Stretch large area of fascia
Diagonal Release
4 types of physiological effects
cardiovascular
neuromuscular
pain
psychological
✓Increase blood flow, histamine release, and temperature
✓Decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
cardiovascular
✓Increase flexibility, decrease neuromuscular excitability (relaxation), edema reduction, and stretch muscle and scar tissue
neuromuscular
✓Activate the spinal gate and the release of endogenous opiates
pain
✓Reduces patient anxiety, depression, and mental stress
psychological
