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Massage
Massage Strokes
Effleurage Petrissage Friction Tapotement Vibration
Massage Routines
Back Massage Foot Massage
Basics of Massage
15 Laws of Massage Posture, Positioning, and Hands
Definitions of Direction Terms
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Effleurage
Any stroke that glides over the skin without attempting to move
the muscle beneath. Apply firm even pressure. Effleurage strokes
are usually directed toward the heart.
l Is used more than any other stroke
l Usually begins and ends each treatment
l Used as a bridge between many strokes
l Accustoms the patient to the touch of the operator
l Allows the operator to search for areas of spasms and
soreness
l Allows the operator to become familiar with the condition of
the patient's muscles
l Increases circulation to the skin and more superficial
muscles Bilateral Effleurage
Start at the lower back with one hand on each side of the spine.
Go towards the upper back, all the way to the shoulders. While
returning to the lower back go along the sides of the back. To
give a deeper massage lean your body weight into the massage.

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Alternating Hand Effleurage (Shingles)
Start with one of your hands to the side of the spine at the lower
back. Move that hand forward 6-8 inches and then follow it with
the other hand. Remove the hand that is in the front and place it
behind the other hand. Do this several times to slowly work your
way up the back (to get to the top of the back should take atleast
12-14 cycles).


Raking
Start with your fingers besides the spine at the bottom of the rib
cage. Have one finger inbetween each rib with your lower finger
between your last rib. With your fingers inbetween the ribs
follow the ribs all the way down to the side of the back and then
return back to the spine. Repeat this all the way to the top of the
rib cage. Move up one rib at a time
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Nerve Strokes
Lightly run your fingertips all over the back

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Petrissage
A stroke that picks up the muscle and squeezes it. Usually done
with two hands, alternating between each hand, but can be done
with one hand.
l Milks the muscle of waste products
l Can help to free adhesions
l Increases circulation and nutrition to the muscle
l Along with effleurage can be considered a complete back
massage


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Friction
Friction is a stroke that pokes through the skin and massages the
underlying muscles. While doing friction "put on the skin like a
glove" to reach through it and massage the muscles. Ask the
patient frequently if you are deep enough or if you are too deep.
Always do friction on the opposite side of the spine from where
you are standing. Strokes are usually done in the direction of the
muscle fibers
l Works the deeper tissues
l Breaks up adhesions
l Breaks up "knots"
l Increase circulation to the muscles Thumb Friction
Small circles made with the thumb
Fingertip Friction
Small circles made with the fingertips of both hands joined by the
index fingers
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Cresting Friction
Small circles made with the part of your fingers inbetween your
knuckles
Palm Friction
Small circles made with the palm
Alternating Thumb Friction
With both thumbs side by side bring one thumb forward while
bringing the other back. Then bring the one back while bringing
the other forward. When going shallow go faster and slower
when going deeper

Cross Fiber Friction (Peeling)
Use the part of your palm near your thumb as a "potatoe peeler".
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Try to "peel" the skin back and forth going across the fibers of
the muscle instead of with the fiber of the muscles.
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