Massage Flashcards
Effleurage purpose
- Aid venous and lymphatic return, interchange of tissue fluid, removal of chemical irritants
- Restore mobility of tissue interfaces
- Passively stretch muscle fibres
- Increase muscle tone (deep effleurage)
- Decrease muscle tone (light effleurage)
Petrissage purpose
- To aid venous & lymphatic return, removal of chemical irritants, and the interchange of
tissue fluid - To increase mobility and length of fibrous tissue.
- To restore mobility between tissue interfaces.
- To improve the appearance and mobility of subcutaneous tissue.
- To increase extensibility and strength of connective tissue.
- To provoke somato-visceral reflex effects.
Friction purpose
- To stimulate local circulation.
- To aid removal of chemical irritants.
- To restore mobility between tissue interfaces.
- To restore mobility to specific anatomical structures
Tapotement purpose
- To stimulate local circulation & muscle tone.
- To provoke muscle and tendon reflexes & a general stimulatory effect.
- To aid peristalsis (vibration).
Transverse friction purpose
- To produce a widthways stretching across the collagen fibres to lengthen the cross-bridges
between them, restoring inter-fibre mobility. - To produce local hyperaemia, aiding the resolution of inflammation.
- To reduce pain as a result of a counterirritant (i.e., pain gate effect & the resorption of
metabolites). - Promotes movement and remodelling of healing tissue.
- Stretches fibrous tissue.
- Prepares the structure for manipulation.
Myofascial release purpose
- To elongate and soften the connective tissue
- To lengthen restricted fascia
- To decrease pain
- To improve function
Techniques to aid muscle spasm/overactivity
encourage relaxation
- effleurage
- petrissage
- gentle MFR
avoid transverse frictions
Techniques to ease anxiety
those that encourage relaxation / not painful
- effleurage
- petrissage
avoid transverse frictions + MFR
techniques to aid tightness (also scarring)
superficial stretching techniques:
- MFR
- transverse frictions
- skin rolling
if muscle tightness:
- picking up
- wringing
- kneading
techniques to aid tenderness
petrissage techniques
transverse frictions if tenderness is localised e.g MCL
techniques to aid swelling
petrissage eg. kneading
effleurage distal to proximal -> to lymph nodes
techniques to aid soft tissue thickening
aim = to mobilise tissue
- kneading
- picking up
- wringing
- transverse frictions
skin rolling + MFR if thickening is superficial
5 things to ensure patient modesty
- draping
- averting eyes + stand w/ towel in between them + assessor
- only remove what clothing is necessary
- informed consent
- when moving clothing use towels to do so
5 things to ensure infection control (from self)
- cut + unvarnished fingernails
- no open wounds
- hair tied back/off collar
- bare from elbows down
- fit for practice/not sick
5 contraindications to massage
- open wounds
- infectious skin diseases
- active cancers
- recent bruising
- broken bones
