Swedish Massage
Swedish massage traditionally
incorporates
effleurage, petrissage and compression.
Effleurage is a smooth, gliding stroke that generally initiates
a Swedish
Massage treatment. It is often performed with the broad palm
surface of
both hands, but can also use the thumbs, fingers, or knuckles.
It is used to
relax soft tissue (muscles, ligaments, tendons, and connective
tissue) for
deeper work as well as being an exploratory stroke, which enables
the
massage therapist to examine the texture and quality of the tissues
in which
will be worked. Effleurage has the beneficial effect of
increasing the circulation of blood and lymph in the body.
Petrissage consists of wringing, squeezing, rolling and
kneading
(like kneading bread dough) the muscles, using one or two hands,
the thumbs, or the fingers. Petrissage often follows effleurage.
It encourages circulation
in the deeper veins and lymph vessels of the body. This increase
in
circulation has the benefit of bringing nutrients - digestive
food particles and
oxygen - to cells to help them grow and repair. It also helps
remove waste
products that are released by the cells into the blood.
Compression is the deepest of all strokes. It consists of
deep circular or
transverse movements with the pads of the thumbs or fingers to
soft tissue so
that the underlying layers of tissue actually rub against one
another. This
stroke is a powerful tool in breaking down adhesions that form
in the body
from such processes as formation of scar tissue. Additionally,
friction
causes an increase in blood flow (local hyperemia) to the massage
area,
which aids circulation to provide increased
nutritionand realignment of muscle fibers.
Home
Copyright © 2003
All rights reserved.
For More Information
contact us at
[email protected]
|
|
|
|