Basic Massage Techniques
Updated: May 21, 2021
Touch
Stationary contact
Touch is placing hand, finger, ore forearm on the client WITHOUT movement in any direction
Touch constitutes the first & last contact with the client
The pressure exerted may vary from very light to very deep depending on the intention (superficial touch or deep touch)
Superficial (Light) Touch
Evenly distributed weight
Soothe & provide a comforting, healing connection
Deep Pressure Touch
Performed with one finger, thumb or several fingers or entire hand
Can also be used is heel of hand, knuckles or elbow
Deep touch is calm, anesthetize or stimulate the body
There are 5 basic Swedish Massage Techniques
Effleurage or Gliding
Varying amounts of pressure or contact according to the desired results
Pressure becomes firmer as the hand slides smoothly over the surface of the body
Generally, the first & last technique used on the area of the body
Used to asses superficial & deeper tissues
4 classifications of this stroke
Petrissage or Kneading
The skin & muscular tissues are raised from their ordinary position & squeezed, rolled or kneaded with a firm pressure
Happens in a circular direction, on large areas of the body
2 classifications of this technique
Vibration
Continuous trembling or shaking movement to a fixed point or along a selected area of the body
Nerve trunks & centers are chosen as sites for application of vibration
Typically used on larger muscles
Rate of vibration should range from 5-10 times per second
Friction
Several massage strokes designed to manipulate soft tissue
One layer of tissue is moved over or against another
Makes muscles more pliable
There is 2 categories of friction movements
There are 3 types of movements with friction
There are 7 friction techniques
Percussion or Tapotement
Movements are made from the wrist with two hands in alternation
The muscles first contract & then relax as the fingers, or the part of the hand applying the technique(s) are removed from the body
Stroke the muscle transversely
5 types of percussion
Four Classifications of Effleurage or Gliding
Ethereal Body or Aura Stroking
This is done with long, smooth strokes
Glide the length of the body, coming very close to but NOT actually touching the body's surface
Usually done in one direction
Intention is to affect energy fields that surrounds or permeate the body
Feather (Nerve) Stroking
Movements are very light pressure, with long, flowing strokes
Usually done from the center outward
2-3 strokes have a slightly stimulating effect on the nerves
Superficial Gliding
Generally applied prior to any other movements
Conforms to the body so that equal pressure is applied
Slow, gently, & rhythmic movements
Allows therapist to asses the body area being massaged
Deep Stroking
Uses enough pressure to have a mechanical effect on the body
Applied with the thumb, braced fingers, knuckles or forearm
Most valuable when applied to the muscles
Strokes follow the direction of muscle fibers
Deep gliding helps to palpate deeper muscles
Two Classifications of Petrissage or Kneading Movement
Skin Rolling
Used in specific areas, where you pick up an entire section of muscle or muscle group and roll it between the thumb and fingers
Only the skin & subcutaneous tissues are picked up
Stretching the underlying fascia
Effective for identifying taut bands of muscle fibers & there embedded trigger points
Sift through the fibers to find any tension or restrictions
Fulling
Grasp the tissue & gently lift & spread it out
Helps make more space between the layers of tissue or muscle fibers
Softens the superficial& deep fascia
Categories of Friction
Superficial Friction
Brisk effleurage-like stroke using a quick back & forth movement
Intended to warm the area
Stimulate superficial circulation
Performed with the thumb over a small area or the palm of one or both hands over a larger area
Creates heat & warms the superficial tissues
Deep Friction
Moving more superficial layers of flesh against the deeper tissues
Types of Movements with Friction
Circular Friction
Fingers or palm of the hand move the superficial tissues in a circular pattern over the deeper tissues
Intended to produce heat & stretch & soften fascia
Used to warm the area in preparation for more specific or deeper work
Valuable for palpating an area when assessing the condition of the underlying tissues
Cross-Fiber Friction
Applied in transverse direction across the muscle, tendon or ligament
Applied with the tips of the finger or the thumb directly to the specific of a lesion
Broadens & separates the fibrous tissues
Longitudinal Friction
Hands move in the same direction as the tissue fibers
Friction Techniques
Compression
Rhythmic pressure movements directed into muscle tissue
Done prior to deeper work, being done to help prime, or warm up the tissue & muscle that is going to receive the deeper work
Rolling
Rapid back & forth movement with the hands
The flesh is shaken & rolled around the axis of the body part
Wringing
Back & forth movement in which both hands are placed a short distance apart on either side of the limb & working in opposite direction
This resembles that of wringing out a washcloth
Stretching & twisting the flesh against the bone
Stretch & warm the connective tissue
Chucking
Involves the flesh being grasped firmly in one or both hands & moved up & down along the bone
Series of quick movements along the axis of the limb
Shaking
Gently shaking a relaxed body part so the flesh flops around the bone
Shaken laterally or horizontally
Observe where the body moves freely & where it seems to be stiff
Jostling
Grasping the entire muscle, lifting it slightly away f rom its position & shaking it quickly across its axis
Most effective after muscles have exerted themselves (workouts or competitions)
Done when the muscle is in a shortened & relaxed position
Rocking
This is a push & release movement
The body is pushed away slightly & allowed to roll back completely at a rhythmic rate
Types of Percussion or Tapotement
Tapping
This is the lightest, most superficial
Mainly used for the face & sensitive areas
Slapping (Spatting)
Rhythmic, glancing contact with the body
Applied with a flattened palm & fingers
Produces a crisp smacking sound, when done correctly
Cupping (Clapping)
Used by respiratory therapist to help break up lung congestion
Most often employed over the rib cage
Form a cup by keeping fingers together slightly flexed & thumb help close the side of the palm
Hollow popping sound
Hacking
Rapid striking movement that can be done with one or both hands
When both hands are used, the hands can strike alternately or together
Quick, glancing strike is made with the little ginger on the ulnar side
This causes a slight vibrating effect
Beating
This is the heaviest & deepest form of percussion
This is done over the dense muscular areas of the body
Hands are held in a loose fist, making contact with the ulnar aspect of the hands
This is done either together or alternately
The result is a rebounding whiplike action of the hands & wrist
Other Massage Strokes & Stretches
The J-Stroke
Applies stress to the fascia
Often directed towards the Golgi tendon apparatus or spindle cells
Usually done with one or both thumbs
The direction is usually toward the insertion, but can be revered
Direction is determined by palpating fascial preference of bind & ease
Begin near muscle attachment & make light contact with the skin from the muscle towards the tendon attachment site, & move toward the muscle body
Cross-Handed Stretch
Manually stretches the fascia & underlying muscle
Sense restrictions in the fascia & determine a direction to apply the stretch
Steady, sustained pressure, maintaining the tissue stretch for an extended, adequate amount of time
As you reach a barrier, the tissue will soften & shift, allowing your hands to approach the next barrier
Traction
This is a longitudinal stretch, usually of an extremity
Stretch and release fascial restrictions gently throughout the limb
Engaging all the fascial components of the limb, any restriction can be gently stretched and released
When restriction is sensed, hold the body part or limb in that position until the barrier releases