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Introduction to Massage Therapy

The word Massage is a derivation from the Greek massein, or the French masser, which both mean: to knead. A male operator is called a masseur, a female operator, a masseuse.

Massage is a scientific treatment, by certain passive systematic manipulations, upon the nude skin of the human body.

Massage involves working and acting on the body with pressure – structured, unstructured, stationary, or moving – tension, motion, or vibration.

Massage can be applied manually with the hands, fingers, elbows, knees, forearm, feet, or a massage device or mechanical aids.

Therapeutic massage involves manual manipulation of soft tissue including the tendons, ligaments and muscles. Manipulation may include rubbing or pressing on the muscles with the hands, forearms or elbows.  Different styles of massage may also include various techniques, such as tapping, kneading or holding pressure on a specific area of the body.

Just like a mechanic has many different tools and tricks for keeping your car running smoothly; massage therapists have a dozen different techniques and complementary therapies to keep the human body healthy, happy and balanced.

Massage is thought to be the oldest form of medical therapy practised on the human body. The different types of massage and the various techniques that encompass them stem from our most celebrated civilizations and their traditional beliefs ancient Greek and Rome, ancient India and China.

Dr. Mezger, of Amsterdam, and his two pupils, the Swedish physicians Berghman and Helleday, were among the first to apply the massage treatment scientifically. Their method is now used throughout Europe. According to Mezger, massage is a scientific treatment — i.e., based upon the anatomy and the physiology of the human body; his manipulations are certain — that is, given or fixed, so that an uninstructed person cannot pick up the treatment — it is an art that cannot be self-acquired; all manipulations are passive — i.e., applied to the patient without his assistance or resistance; the manipulations are also systematic — i.e., they are arranged so as to act systematically upon the different tissues of the human body.

Dr. Mezger divides the massage treatment into four principal manipulations:

  1. EFFLEURAGE.
  2. FRICTIONS.
  3. PÉTRISSAGE.
  4. TAPOTEMENT.
  1. EFFLEURAGE (STROKING)

This manipulation consists of centripetal (toward the body or heart) Strokings.

It is performed in four different ways:

(a) Stroking with the palm of one hand.

(b) Stroking with the palms of both hands.

(c) Stroking with the thumb.

(d) Stroking with the tips of the fingers.

STROKING WITH THE ONE HAND is used upon the extremities, the back of the head, and in the single massage of the neck (Gerst’s method).

STROKING WITH BOTH HANDS is used upon the lower extremities of adults, upon the chest and back, also in the double massage of the neck.

STROKING WITH THE THUMB is used between two muscles, or between a muscle and a tendon; also frequently to reach the interossei in the hands and the feet.

STROKING WITH THE TIPS OF THE FINGERS or the last two phalanges is principally used around the joints (in cases of sprains, etc.), the fingers conforming themselves to the shape of the part to be worked upon.

The strength of the manipulation, stroking, varies from the slightest touch to the strongest pressure; even with one hand on top of the other, if necessary.

The aim of all STROKINGS is to increase the circulation in the venous blood-vessels and the lymphatics, thereby causing absorption.

1. FRICTIONS (FRICTION

Are firm, circular manipulations, always followed by centripetal strokings. As a rule, they are performed over one group of muscles at a time.

Friction is given in three different ways:

(a) Friction with the thumb.

(b) Friction with the tips of the fingers.

(c) Friction with the one hand.

FRICTION WITH THE THUMB is used upon the extremities, but also upon smaller surfaces; as, for instance, around the knee-joints and upon the facial muscles.

FRICTION WITH THE TIPS OF THE FINGERS is used around the joints, the thumb often supporting the hand.

FRICTION WITH THE ONE HAND is used upon the larger surfaces and fleshier parts, like the thigh, arm proper and lumbar region of back.

All FRICTIONS should be centripetal, and should always be followed by centripetal strokings, as the aim of this manipulation is to transform pathologically changed parts into a condition that will permit them to be incorporated into the healthy tissues, and thence be absorbed by the veins and lymphatics.

 

  1. PÉTRISSAGE (KNEADING)

This manipulation is performed in such a manner as to cause a double centripetal pressure on a tissue (muscle or tendon), at the same time raising it up from its normal point of attachment.

There are three different kinds of Pétrissage:

(a) Kneading with the two thumbs.

(b) Kneading with the thumb and fingers.

(c) Kneading with the two hands.

KNEADING WITH THE TWO THUMBS is used to reach individual muscles.

KNEADING WITH THE THUMB AND FINGERS, which manipulation is called PINCHING, is also used to reach individual muscles, but is preferred on a deep-seated tissue.

KNEADING WITH BOTH HANDS, called SQUEEZING, is used upon the lower extremities, and upon the arm proper of adults.

The aim of the manipulation KNEADING is to reach the separate muscles with a firm double pressure and expose them to an action similar to that of FRICTION.

  1. TAPOTEMENT (PERCUSSION)

This manipulation is always performed by the operator’s wrist, the hands striking quickly.

We have four different kinds of Percussion:

(a) CLAPPING is performed with the palms of the hands. It is used to act upon the skin and the superficial nerves and vessels.

In clapping it is advisable to spread a towel over the skin to avoid stinging.

(b) HACKING is performed with the ulnar border of the hand. It is used around nerve centers and upon the muscles.

(c) PUNCTATION is performed with the tips of the fingers. It is used upon the head and in circles around the heart.

(d) BEATING is performed by the clenched hand. It is used upon the glutei and upon the lower extremities over the sciatic nerve.

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