Kurre Ostrom Tantra The Swedish Massage | Page 5

patient.
      In giving the Swedish movements special attention i\
s directed to the natural functions of joints and
muscles. This is not the case with any other kind of exercise, consequen\
tly the sensation and value of
promiscuous movements can never be the same.
      When movements are necessary over painful parts of \
the body, the patient must sometimes judge
how much he can bear.
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      An operator who is not able to explain the physiolo\
gic action of every manipulation or movement he
uses is liable to do more harm than good to the patients.
      The Swedish movement treatment can better adapt itself to all conditions\
than any other treatment.
      Finally, the aim of the Swedish treatment is, by a careful manipulation \
of muscles and joints, to
restore to good health such as are in any way diseased. The force of suc\
h manipulations can be
estimated and the extent of their duration fixed .
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MASSAGE
      The word Massage is a derivation from the Greek massein, or the French masser, which both mean:
to knead . A male operator is called a masseur, a female operator, a masseuse.
      Massage is a scientific treatment, by certain passive systematic manipulations, \
upon the nude skin of
the human body .
      Dr. Mezger, of Amsterdam (now practicing in Wiesba\
den, Germany), and his two pupils, the
Swedish physicians Berghman and Helleday, were among the first to apply \
the massage treatment
scientifically. Their method is now used throughout Europe. According to\
Mezger, massage is a
scientific treatment -- i.e., based upon the anatomy and the physiology of the human body; his
manipulations are certain -- that is, given or fixed, so that an uninstr\
ucted person can not pick up the
treatment -- it is an art that can not be self-acquired; all manipulatio\
ns are passive -- i.e., applied to the
patient without his assistance or resistance; the manipulations are also\
systematic -- i.e., they are arranged
so as to act systematically upon the different tissues of the human body\
.
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      Dr. Mezger divides the massage treatment into four \
principal manipulations:
l 1. EFFLEURAGE.
l 2. FRICTIONS.
l 3. PÉTRISSAGE.
l 4. TAPOTEMENT.
     
Fig. 1 -- Stroking with One Hand.
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1. EFFLEURAGE (STROKING)
      This manipulation consists of centripetal (toward the body or heart ) Strokings .
      It is performed in four different ways:
l ( a ) Stroking with the palm of one hand.
l (b ) Stroking with the palms of both hands.
l (c ) Stroking with the thumb.
l (d ) Stroking with the tips of the fingers.
      STROKING WITH THE ONE HAND (see Fig. 1) is used u\
pon the extremities, the back of the head,
and in single massage of the neck (Gerst's method).
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      STROKING WITH BOTH HANDS is used upon the lower ext\
remities of adults, upon the chest (see
Fig. 2) and back, also in double massage of the neck.
     
FIG. 2. -- Stroking with Both Hands.
      STROKING WITH THE THUMB (see Fig. 3) is used betw\
een two muscles, or between a muscle
and a tendon; also frequently to reach the interossei in the hands and the feet.
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      STROKING WITH THE TIPS OF THE FINGERS (see Fig. 4)\
, or the last two phalanges, is
principally
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FIG. 3. -- Stroking with the Thumb.
used around the joints (in cases of sprains, etc.), the fingers confor\
ming themselves to the shape of the
part to be worked upon.
     
FIG. 4. -- Stroking with the Tips of the Fingers.
      The strength of the manipulation, stroking, varies \
from the slightest touch to the strongest
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FIG. 5. -- Friction with the Thumb.
FIG. 6. -- Friction with the Tips of the Fingers.
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pressure; even with one hand on top of the other, if necessary.
      The aim of all STROKINGS is to increase the circulation in the venous blood-vessels and the
lymphatics, thereby causing absorption .
     
FIG. 7. -- Kneading with the Two Thumbs.
2. FRICTIONS (FRICTION)
      Are firm, circular manipulations, always followed by centripetal strokin\
gs . As a rule, they are
performed over one group of muscles at a time.
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      Friction is given in three different ways:
l (a ) Friction with the thumb.
l (b ) Friction with the tips of the fingers.
l (c ) Friction with the one hand.
      FRICTION WITH THE THUMB (see Fig. 5) is used upon\
the extremities, but also upon smaller
surfaces; as, for instance, around the knee-joints and upon the facial m\
uscles