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Therapeutic Massage




2011
Dr: Mosab
What is massage?
•   Massage is a mechanical stimulation of
the tissues by means of rhythmically applied pressure and
   stretching
Massage is a systematic manual application of pressure and
   movement to the soft tissue of the body--the skin, muscles,
   tendons, ligaments, and fascia (the membrane surrounding
   muscles and muscle groups).
• The most important tools in massage are:
– The clinicians hands
– The setting
– The patient’s comfort
– Knowing which type of massage to use
2011
Dr: Mosab
Why massage is used

• To increase flexibility, coordination, venous
  return , and blood flow
• to decrease neuromuscular excitability and pain
• To stimulate circulation
• To facilitate healing and restore joint mobility
• To remove lactic acid and edema
• To treat pursitis, tendonitis, muscle spasm



Dr- mosab-2011
Purpose
• Manipulates the body’s tissues to:
       –   Reduce muscle spasm
       –   Promote relaxation
       –   Improve blood flow
       –   Increase venous drainage




2011
physiological effects of
              massage
    The physiological effects of Massage include:
1- Mechanical
2- physiological
      - on the circulatory system
      - on the nervous system
      - on the musculoskeletal system

3- psychological
Mechanical effects of
                        massage
• Mechanical effects are always accompanied by some
  reflexive effects

•   Mechanical techniques stretch a muscle, elongate fascia, or
    mobilize soft tissue adhesions

•      Effects muscle and skin




2011
The Muscular System
• Relieves , tension, and stiffness
• Improves muscle tone
• Increases flexibility and range of motion of joints
• Improves the flow of nutrients to muscles and joints
• Reduces scar tissue
• Breaks down or prevents adhesions
• Enhances freedom of movement
• Prevents muscular atrophy, resulting from inactivity caused by
  injury, age, surgery, or illness
• Increases physical confidence
• Relieves cramps and muscle spasms
• Reduces pain and swelling
The Skeletal System

•   Improves posture/body alignment
•   Relieve stiff joints
•   Decreases inflammation
•   Restores range of motion (increasing joint movement)
•   Releases joint strain (releasing tight muscles and tendons)
•   Releases restrictions in the fascia (connected tissues)
•   Improves the circulation and nutrients of your joints
The Circulatory System
• Increases blood flow (to tissues and organs), which can relieve
  much muscular and joint pain (especially associated with
  swelling)
• Increases the flow of oxygen and nutrients (to cells and tissues),
  improving and relieving congestion throughout the body
• Increases the number of red blood cells, especially in cases of
  anemia
• Lower blood pressure
• Reduces heart rate (helps develop a stronger heart)
• Elimination of metabolic waste
The Nervous System
• Stimulates Nervous System = boosting energy
• Calms the Nervous System = relaxing
  -- Massage may have a sedative, stimulating or an
  exhausting effect on the nervous system depending on the
  type and length of massage treatment given
• Relieves restlessness and insomnia
• Relieves pain due to pinched nerves
• Decreases chronic pain
• Stimulates the release of endorphins (the body's natural
  painkiller)
psychological effects of massage
• Increases awareness of mind-body connection!
• Massage can help you become more aware of where you are
  holding tension, as well as where you have tight muscles or
  painful areas
• Massage reduces mental stress and Decreases angry feelings
• Promotes better sleep and sleep patterns
• Massage induces mental relaxation
• Fosters peace of mind
• Massage helps improve concentration
• Provides mental clarity
• Revitalizes your mind
Indications
•   Increase blood flow
•   Facilitate healing
•   Increase range of motion
•   Remove edema
•   Alleviate muscle cramps
•   Stretch scar tissue/adhesions
•   Decrease pain

© 2005
Contraindications
•   Acute inflammatory conditions
•   Severe varicose veins
•   Open wounds
•   Skin infections
•   Failed or incomplete fracture healing
•   Thrombophlebitis , Thrombosis
•   Pregnant women
•   Immediately after surgery

2011
Treatment Considerations & Guidelines
• Need to know underlying pathology
• Need to know basic massage principles (must have manual
  dexterity, coordination, & concentration).
• Hands must be clean, warm, dry & soft. Nails must be short
  and smooth. Hands should be warm.

• Must obtain correct positioning that will allow for relaxation,
  prevent fatigue & permit free movement of arms, hands, &
  body.
• Must obtain good posture to prevent fatigue & backache.
• Weight should be evenly distributed on both feet.
• You must be able to fit your hands to the contour of the area
  being treated.

  2011
Points for Consideration
       • Pressure regulation should be determined by the
         type & amount of tissue present. Also, pressure is
         governed by the condition & which tissues are
         affected.

       • Each stroke must have equal pressure & time
         (rhythm present).

       • Duration depends on pathology, size of area, speed
         of motion, age, size, & condition of athlete.
          – Some areas may take 30 minutes.


2011
• If swelling is present in an extremity, treatment
         should begin proximally.

       • Massage should never be painful, except possibly
         for friction massage. It should not cause
         ecchymosis.

       • Direction of forces should be applied in the
         direction of the muscle fibers.
       • Each session should begin & end with effleurage.


2011
• Make sure the patient is warm and in a comfortable,
         relaxed position.

       • The body part may be elevated if necessary.

       • Pressure should be in line with venous flow.




2011
Effects on skin

• Increase skin temperature
  • Friction massage can loosen adhesions
  and soften scars
  • Toughens yet softens the skin

Effects on muscle(s)

•  Increases blood flow to skeletal muscle.
•  Retard muscle atrophy but does not increase strength or
  bulk of muscle
• Increase range of motion

2011
Modes of Therapeutic Massage

•   Stroking
•   Effleurage
•   Friction
•   Kneading
•   Wringing
•   Picking up
•   Hacking
•   Shaking & Vibration
2011
Stroking - Stroking is performed with the whole hand or
  fingers. It comprises the usage of relaxed hand over the
  patient's skin with a rhythm and pressure that produce a
  relaxing effect.

  Effleurage - Effleurage is performed by spreading and
  moving the hands with pressure and speed, to gain relaxation
  and lymph drainage.

  Kneading - Kneading involves alternate compression and
  release of the part to be manipulated.

  Picking up - Picking up involves lifting up of tissue from
  underlying bone, releasing it after squeezing it.
  2011
Wringing -Wringing technique lifts up the tissue and applies a
 twist to enhance stretching effect.

  Friction - Friction is a small movement applied with thumb
  or finger where pressure is applied from superficial to depth
  of the tissue.

  Hacking - Hacking is performed with extended forearm and
  striking the skin using the side of the hand .

  Clapping -Clapping is done by striking the skin with cupped
  hands.

  Shaking and Vibration -Shaking and vibration involves
  gentle strokes of shakes and vibrations respectively
Effleurage
• Use at the beginning and end of the massage
• Stroking of the skin
• Performed with palm of hand
   – Stimulates deep tissues
• Performed with fingertips
   – Stimulates sensory nerves
• Superficial, rhythmic stroking:
   – Contours the body or relates to direction of underlying
     muscles
• Deep stroking:
   – Follows course of veins & lymph vessels
© 2005
Effleurage
• May be performed slowly for relaxation or rapidly to
  encourage blood flow & stimulate the tissues

• Performed in rhythmic manner
• One hand should always be in contact w/ skin
• Light effleurage is performed at beginning & end of massage
  or may be used between petrissage strokes
   – At beginning – relaxes patient & indicates area to be
     treated
   – At end – calms down any irritated areas


2011
Technique/ Procedure
– Effleurage
• The therapist provides light
or deep strokes of the palms
and fingers
• Unidirectional circular motions
(Distal to proximal)
should be made moving
towards the heart
• Generous lubrication is
required
Petrissage
- Lifting & kneading of skin, subcutaneous tissue, & muscles
– Repeated grasping, pressure, lifting and rolling
of muscle tissue with the thumbs and fingers

– As if “kneading” the muscles
– Performed from the distal to proximal portion
of the muscle, Performed with fingers or hand

– Kneading performed either parallel or
perpindicular to the muscle fibers
– Little lubrication is required
Friction Massage
 • Indications

 – Loosen adhesions, aid in edema absorption, reduce local
    muscular spasm
 – Produce a reflex effect to remove “knots

 • Contraindications
 – Acute inflammation5,6,7
 – *Refer to Hoffa contraindications5,6,7

2011
Friction Massage
• Superficial tissue manipulation over a small area

• Technique/ Procedure
– Uses the tips of the fingers, thumb, or heel of the hands
– A small circular motion of deep pressure is provided
– The skin is moved over the underlying tissues
– Lubrication is not recommended5,6,7




2011
Friction

• Transverse:
   – Applied with thumbs or fingertips stroking the tissue
     from opposite directions
   – Can use elbow, end of rolling pin, etc. for larger areas
   – Reaches deep tissues
   – Begin lightly and then move to firmer strokes
   – Muscle should be placed in relaxed position
   – Should be avoided in acute conditions
   – Effective in tendonitis or other joint adhesions
2011
Tapotement


• “Tapping or pounding” of the skin
• Variations:
       –   Hacking
       –   Cupping
       –   Pincement (pinching)
       –   Rapping
       –   Tapping
• Performed with a light, fast tempo
• Promotes muscular and systemic relaxation and
  desensitization of irritated nerve endings
2011
• Vibration

– Hands or fingers are placed firmly over the treatment area
– Fine rhythmical trembling is produced
from the entire forearm into the hands
– Hands should remain in constant contact
with the athlete6,7
– No lubrication is required




© 2005
Historical Perspective
• Dating back to the ancient Olympians
• Late 1980’s
     – American Massage Therapy
• 1992
     – National Certification Examination for
       Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork


© 2005
Purpose
• Manipulates the the body’s tissues to:
   –     Reduce muscle spasm
   –     Promote relaxation
   –     Improve blood flow
   –     Increase venous drainage
• Broad range of massage theories, techniques,
  and effects


© 2005
Types of Massage
•   Basic Strokes:    •   Myofascial Release:
•   Effleurage        •   J-Strokes
•   Pétrissage        •   Focused Stretching
•   Friction          •   Skin Rolling
•   Tapotement        •   Arm Pull / Leg Pull
•   Vibration         •   Diagonal Release



© 2005
Effleurage
• “Stroking of the skin”
• Use at the beginning and end of the massage
• Superficial:
   – slow strokes for relaxation
• Deep:
   – Elongates muscle fibers
   – Stretches fascia
   – Forces fluids in the direction of the stroke
           • towards the heart

  © 2005
Pétrissage
• “Lifting and kneading”
• Frees adhesions:
     – Stretches and separates muscle fiber, fascia, and
       scar tissue
• If only technique used, it may be performed
  without the use of lubricant


© 2005
Friction
• “Deep pressure”
• Circular:
     – Use a circular motion with thumbs, elbow, or a
       commercial device
• Transverse Friction:
     – The thumbs or fingertips stroke in opposite
       directions
• Effects muscle mobilization, tissue
  separation, and trigger points
© 2005
Vibration
• “Rapid Shaking”
• Increases blood flow and provides systemic
  invigoration of tissues
• Mechanical devices available




© 2005
Myofascial Release
• Stroking and stretching of tissues:
   – Relax tense tissues
   – Release adhered tissues
   – Restore tissue mobility
• Clinician receives cues and feedback from the
  patient’s tissue
   – This indicates the appropriate strokes and stretches
• Specialized training in myofascial release
  techniques is needed to become proficient in these
  skills
© 2005
J-Strokes
• One hand places the adhesion on stretch
• Other hand’s 2nd and 3rd fingers stroke in the
  opposite direction forming a ‘J’
• Mobilize scar tissue




© 2005
Focused Stretching
•   Heel of one hand in the area of restriction
•   Heel of other hand crossed in front
•   Stretch the tissue using slow, deep pressure
•   Reduces superficial or deep adhesions




© 2005
Skin Rolling
• Use fingers and thumb to lift and separate the
  skin from the underlying tissue
     – Similar to Pétrissage
• Roll skin between fingers noting restriction
• Lift skin and move it in the direction of the
  restriction
• Reduces superficial myofascial adhesions
© 2005
Arm Pull/Leg Pull
• Arm pull (example):
• Grasp extremity proximal to wrist
• Apply gentle traction that is in line with
  anterior deltoid
• Continue to abduct 10-15 degrees until full
  abduction is reached
• Stretches large areas of fascia
© 2005
Diagonal Release
• One clinician grasps the leg proximal to
  talocrural joint
• Other grasps the opposite arm proximal to
  wrist
• Keep extremities horizontal to each other
• One moves the limb until adhesions are felt
  while the other stabilizes the extremity
• Stretch large area of fascia
© 2005
Physiological Effects
• Cardiovascular
  – Increase blood flow, histamine release, and temperature
  – Decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure
• Neuromuscular
  – Increase flexibility, decrease neuromuscular excitability
    (relaxation), edema reduction, and stretch muscle and scar
    tissue
• Pain
  – Activate spinal gate and the release of endogenous opiates
• Psychological
  – Reduces patient anxiety, depression, and mental stress
 © 2005
Preparation
•   Table
•   Linens and pillows
•   Massage lubricant
•   Patient position
•   Masseuse position



© 2005
Traditional Massage
• Apply massage medium with light, slow
• Build to deeper effleurage
• Pétrissage
• Wipe medium before applying deep friction
  (if applicable)
• Reapply pétrissage and deep effleurage
• End with light effleurage
© 2005
Preparation
• Elevate the body area
• Apply massage lubricant to the skin
• Clinician is positioned distal to the extremity




© 2005