*Swedish Therapeutic Massage*
Massage can be traced back to a Chinese system of manipulation dating back over 5,000 years. However the most common massage in Europe these days is Swedish massage. In the early 19th century a Swede, Henreich Ling, developed a scientific system of massage based on physiology.It was accepted by the medical proffesion in 1899 when Sir William Bennett inaugurated a Massage Department at St Georges Hospital, London. The massage can be defined as the manipulation of soft tissues for therapeutic purposes. There are four types of manipulations used, they are:
1) Effluerage - Long stoking movements used at the beginning and end of a massge.Efflerage is used to spread the immolient (often oil), warm the area, and to allow the client to get used to the feel of the therapist. This movement is gentle.Effleurage movements follow the direction of venous return, towards the heart.
2)Petrissage - This covers a number of different movements including kneading, skin rolling, Picking up , wringing, knuckling, and frictions. generally these techniques lift tissues away from underlying bone or compress tissues into the underlying bone.
3) Tapotement - These are movements which should be springy when they strike the body. They include hacking, clapping, beating and pounding. They are used to encourage blood flow to and from the area.
4) Vibrations - These are trembling movements which, when performed accross an area are known as running vibrations. They are used to release muscles which are 'stuck' to other muscles, known as adhesions.