MASSAGE THERAPY – Strokes & Movement & Functions – Flashcards
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What are the 6 Basic Massage Strokes?
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Gliding/Effleurage, Kneading/Petrissage, Compression, Vibration, Percussion/Tapotement, Friction
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Describe Gliding/Effleurage
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Elongated slow stroke sliding across the surface of the skin
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What is the effect of Gliding/Effleurage?
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WARMS/PREPARE the tissue, when directed toward the heart it ASSITS THE RETURN OF BLOOD & LYMPH through the veins & lymph systems, increases heat which DECREASES MUSCULAR TENSION, with less pain people are better able to relax
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How do you apply Gliding/Effleurage?
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Use lubricant, keep wrists and hand relaxed, keep joint stacked
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Describe Kneading/Petrissage?
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Rhythmic series of intermittent COMPRESSIONS COMBINED with a grasping and lifting action that pulls the tissues away from the bone. After lifting the tissue, the full hand is used to squeeze the tissue as it rolls out of the hand while the other hand prepares to lift additional tissue and repeat the process
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What is the effect of Kneading/Petrissage?
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Good for tight areas/reducing tone, softens and CREATES SPACE around muscle fibers making the TENDONS MORE PLIABLE, support circulation because it squeeze the tissues and aids in fluid exchange, increase ELASTICITY & health of tissue
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How do you apply Kneading/Petrissage?
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Amount of force vary but with thicker tissues more pressure, applied to an individual muscle or a group of synergistic muscles, each stroke should move to a slightly different spot so that you don't grasp the same exact tissue twice, applied with soft hands that squeeze, lift and release the tissues in an alternating rhythm, speed depend on how much tissue can be lifted
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Describe Compression?
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A pressure to soft tissues without any slip at 90 degree angle or tissue manually pressed together against the bone using both hand on each side of the bone
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What is the effect of compression?
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Used to INCREASE CIRCULATION and to warm the tissues by compressing the arteries and stopping the flow of OXYGENATED blood, pressure builds up behind the blockage as the heart continue to pump, and when the compression is released a larger amount of blood rushed forth with higher force. RESTORES MOVEMENT AND CIRCULATION to the muscles which REDUCE MUSCULAR TENSION.
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How do you apply Compression?
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Simply touch the client and gradually apply pressure using proper body mechanics for the compression to slowly sink into the client's tissues. Lean but not push to sink farther into the tissues without any extra effort.
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Describe Vibration?
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HIGH FREQUENCY SHAKY HAND MOVEMENT that can be used to break up monotony of massage, variations include ROCKING (smooth rhythmic pushes to slowly rock a limb or entire body with 2 hands) and JOSTLING (wavelike snaking motion with 1 hand)
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What is the effect of Vibration?
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WAKE UP NERVES AND STIMULATE NERVE ACTIVITY . After several minutes, the reflexive effects of relation begin, pain decrease, circulation increase, muscle tension decrease
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How do you apply Vibration?
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Can be difficult or fatiging to apply because you have to keep your shoulder, arm, wrist and hand very relaxed while moving them very fast. Rest you relaxed fingers on the side of the client and move your wrist and hand with a gentle nervous trembling motion
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Describe Percussion/Tapotement?
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FAST RHYTHMIC STROKE using both hands, like rapid drumming. Can be applied with cupped hands, the medial side of open hands, medial side of both fists or fingertips
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What are the effects of Percussion/Tapotement?
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STIMULATE SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM and causes superficial VASOCONSTRICTION, pain relief and relaxation. Great in sport setting
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How do you apply Percussion/Tapotement?
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RHYTHMIC PERCUSSIVE strokes are delivered very quickly with a relaxed springy rebound (bouncing off the client) while constantly moving around to avoid striking the same spot repeatedly. keep wrist and hand relaxed using legs with knees bended to move around.
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Describe Friction?
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MULTIDIRECTIONAL stroke that can be applied SUPERFICIALLY or DEEP with completely different methods and effects. Two variation SUPERFICIAL (open hands sliding across and rubbing the skin) or DEEP (deeper localized application of pressure without slip)
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What are the effects of Friction?
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With SUPERFICIAL, to CREATE HEAT and increase blood flow to the treated area. With DEEP, to INCREASE CIRCULATION to the deep fascia and MUSCLE TISSUES, breaks up fascial adhesions and scar tissue
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How do you apply Friction?
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With superficial, stroke is moderately fast around a few inches along the skin using thumbs, finger or palms. With Deep, stroke is apply slowly without slip PERPENDICULAR to the length of muscle fibers or in CIRCULAR MOTION using thumbs, finger, forearm
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How do you apply Butterfly effleurage?
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Cap shoulders with hands, slightly pushing to feet, fingers follow along shoulder to neck, hands to back of neck and slowly glide fingers up back of neck to occiput
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What is 3rd eye?
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Static pressure
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What is Tree Stroke?
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Broadening slow stroke, start with flat hands in the mid region then spread laterally
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What are the 6 factors that determine the application of massage movements?
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Intention, direction, speed, length, duration, pressure.
