Massage Basics

The effects of massage can be categorized into two groups, mechanical and reflexive.

Mechanical benefits are manifested directly and can be witnessed immediately. These direct effects happen when blood & lymph are mechanically pushed back to the heart causing an increase uptake/removal of wastes and the delivery of fresh nutrients to the area.

Oxygenated blood rich in nutrients enters the tissue while deoxygenated blood leaves. Photo taken from: wikieducator.org

Reflexive benefits are less obvious because they indirectly influence organs via the nervous system. Some of the general benefits of massage include: increased system functioning, increased range of motion (ROM), injury and disease prevention, decreased feeling of anxiety and stress, increased feeling of well-being and body awareness.

Body awareness is important for healthy functioning because it addresses problems that may have been ignored otherwise. Body awareness comes when we are aware of our physical pains and have greater knowledge of our individual somatic feelings. As a massage therapist, I act as a facilitator to help others increase their body awareness.

The effect of massage is highly dependent on which strokes are being used during a session. There are five distinguishable strokes in Swedish massage. Swedish massage is one of the most common types of massage performed in the United States and because of this I have used this modality to express the basics of massage. In one way or another all modalities have similar strokes that are called by different names.

I. The first stroke is effleurage. This is a lengthening stroke that is commonly used as an introduction to the session. Effleurage is a superficial stroke.

II. Next, we have petrissage. This stoke encourages the movement of blood and lymph from deeper tissues. It is a circular kneading stroke.

III. Friction is another stroke that is used to draw new blood flow and heat to superficial tissues. This is an excellent stroke to use to quickly warm up an area.

IV. Vibration is a stroke used to release tension and break chronic holding patterns in the body.

V. The last stroke is tapotement, this stroke is also referred to as a quick chopping or beating motion of the hands. This stroke tones muscles and increases circulation.

*Please note that the effect of pettrissage, friction, vibration and tapotement are dependent on the depth of pressure, rate of speed and duration of the stroke.

As a massage therapist I perform hours of massage daily. To prevent injury and avoid the overuse of my hands I use proper body mechanics in every one of my sessions. By using proper technique, I can give a longer more effective massages.

Here are some tips for giving a great massage:
-Don't muscle your massages! Instead, utilize your body weight in the massage. Doing this will help avoid muscle fatigue and allow a more relaxing  massage for both you and the person receiving the massage.
-Avoid hyper-extending your fingers, thumbs or wrists. This will help you avoid conditions such as arthritis and prolong your ability to give an excellent massage.
-Check in with pressure! This means you don't assume the pain tolerance of others. Using a pain scale can be an effective way to achieve an optimal pressure. For instance a 1, is too little and a 7 is just right. At a 7, you have achieved a "hurts so good" pressure.

-In order to give sufficient pressure during a massage you need to be aware of your surroundings and your body position. Never reach up to give a massage. Instead, make sure you are able to lean into the massage. If the person is too tall have them sit down while you stand or lay down while you kneel.
-Use different tools. Tools for massage include palms, fists, knuckles, forearms, elbows, etcetera. Smaller tools like fingertips should be used for smaller areas like the hands or feet. Larger tools like the forearm work great for the back.
-Always end with lighter strokes that awaken the body. Ending with strokes that awaken the body will give the person receiving the massage a sense of closure and grounding.

Enjoy these new found skills! Please feel free to ask me any questions about the basics of massage.