Massage Therapy Techniques

Wringing Massage Technique

Swedish massage techniques are the base to most massage therapy courses. In massage therapy there are several different techniques that can used to help relieve pain and increase relaxation. In general massage may be broken down into six categories of basic techniques according to Outcome – Based Massage(Andrade &Clifford 2001).

Massage techniques fall into one of the following categories:
-Superficial Reflex Techniques
-Superficial Fluid Techniques
- Neuromuscular Techniques
- Connective Tissue Techniques
- Passive Movement Techniques
- Percussive Techniques

Here is a brief overview of the many of the massage techniques a massage therapist will use to help you decrease stress and relax.

Superficial Reflex Techniques

The purpose of these techniques is to decrease anxiety, increase arousal, decrease local resting tension or increase local muscle tension.

Static Hold

This technique is the least stimulating of the reflex techniques. Basically the massage therapist has motionless contact with the clients’ body with minimal force. This technique on its own has a very strong effect to decrease anxiety and reduce tension. It is used when movement causes pain, in an acute state or with sexually abused clients.
This technique is used at the beginning of treatment when the massage therapist places his / her hands over top of the client who is properly draped from head to feet.

Fine Vibrations

This technique is a fast oscillating (wavering) or trembling movement that is produced on the client’s skin and results in very little disruption of superficial tissue.
This technique is used for both acute and chronic pain.

Superficial Fluid Techniques

These massage techniques serve to promote increase the return of lymph .  They also allow the massage therapist to introduce you to their touch so you can get a “feel” for your treatment.

Superficial Effleurage

Superficial Effleurage is a gliding motion. Effleurage allows the massage therapist to introduce you to their touch so you can get a “feel” for your treatment. It is commonly used after very specific and deep work to help improve circulation.

Superficial Lymph Drainage

This technique is a non – gliding technique performed in the direction of lymphatic flow. Most of the time the strokes are toward the heart. This technique is used with people who suffer from lymphedema .

Neuromuscular Techniques

Neuromuscular massage techniques are those techniques affect muscle tension.  Petrissage,   muscle stripping, specific compression, wringing and muscle squeezing are are forms neuromuscular techniques.

Petrissage

Petrissage is sometimes referred to kneading. similar to what what is done with dough in preparation for making a pizza.

Petrissage is a technique in which tissue is compressed, sheared and released with drag lift and glide.

Stripping

Muscle stripping  is a very slow and deliberate gliding technique that is applied in the direction of muscle fibres. It helps to control myofascial trigger points .

It helps to “smooth out” “tight” muscles by lengthening the fascial layer of muscle.

specific compression

This technique is a non gliding technique that is applied to a specified area on muscle, tendon or connective tissue. It is also sometimes referred to ischemic compression. This type of technique is very beneficial for trigger point release.

Muscle Squeezing

Muscle squeezing is exactly what it says it is. Generally your therapist will grasp a muscle or muscle group between either a hand or both hands and squeeze. Pressure will be light to moderate.

Sometimes this technique is used with out oil at the beginning of a treatment.

Wringing

Picture yourself wringing out a wet towel. Well this very much the same action occurring with this technique. You can find this technique done on the arms, legs and back.

Connective Tissue Techniques

These techniques promote changes to connective tissue. An example of this would the fascial covering of the muscle. These techniques include skin rolling, myofascial release and direct fascial techniques. You can find more information about these techniques here.

Passive Movement Techniques

These techniques use passive motion to treat restricted tissue and other structures. These passive techniques include shaking and rocking.

Shaking

Sometimes shaking is referred to as “jostling” in sports massage . Basically it is soft tissue that is moved back and forth over underlying bone with very little joint movement. The idea behind this technique is to wake up the nervous system in preparation for work to be done. This technique is included a part of a pre-event sports massage routine.

Rocking

Rocking is a gentle repetitive oscillation of the pelvis or torso by pushing the body from one side to another. Picture in your mind lying face down and your therapist gently pushing your hips on the right side so that you move slightly to the left. as he /she continues this motion your body becomes like a wave from head to toe.

Percussive Techniques  “Tapotement”

Tapotement techniques are repeated light striking. Pincement, hacking and pounding would be a couple of the percussive techniques.

Pincement

In this technique the thumb and index finger gently pinch and lift your tissues lightly. most of the time this technique is used on the face.

Hacking

In hacking the the palms face each other while the fingers and wrists are loose. The therapists makes contact with your skin using the the outside of the fifth finger to make contact.

Pounding

In this technique the therapists hands are positioned in a loose fist. the action is similar to that pounding of a door in anger; however there is no anger involved here. This technique is very effective for working on bigger muscles such as the gluteus maximus.

There are many massage techniques a massage therapist has to choose from. To see some of these techniques in action watch this massage techniques video.

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Reference for this article

Outcome-Based Massage: Carla -Krystin Andrade, Paul Clifford,                    Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Publishers 2001, ISBN 0-7817-1743-4