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Two factors define the physiological effect of massage on humans.
1. Local, mechanical factor - expressed by mechanical acceleration of venous blood drainage, some degree of lymph drainage acceleration, passive exercise for soft tissues, and breaking down deposits of calcium in soft tissue and stimulation of its removal from the body.
2. Reflex factor - the main power of massage therapy is its reflexive therapy. By mobilizing skin, connective and muscular tissue, we deform the proprioreceptors, which in turn creates action potentials (electrical activities) that through neurological pathways reaching motor and vasomotor centers. As a reflex (involuntary reaction of organs and systems to original stimuli) the body responds by expressing all positive changes that I mentioned earlier, in order to reach these results we must perform all sets of therapy in the inhibitory regime.
In order to reach results, and to avoid injury from applying vigorous pressure, we must utilize the following definition.
1. Pressure has to be significant (gradually increasing to the maximum extent) but must avoid activating the pain analyzing system. Given the fact that pain is a somewhat subjective sensation and cannot be measured like weight, or blood, we have to design the pressure by consulting our client. The moment when the individual's threshold of pain is determined, the therapist can properly increase pressure to the determined level
2. If the applied pressure causes protective muscular contraction reflex, and even if the client encourages you to continue or increase it, you must reduce the pressure and restart the process of gradually increasing pressure to the maximum point that will avoid muscular reflex contraction.
1. Client position: Face up. Spread the lubrication effleurage manner over all areas of foot
2. Squeeze each toe between fingers and thumbs while continue to massage toes under pressure. (perform 3-5 strokes for each toe) It is very important to start the full-body stress management massage session from the toes. Toes are the most distal parts of the body from the centers (brain and heart) and they are the very ends of the capillary network. Therefore, by massaging only the toes we cause significant reduction of sympathetic activities.
3. As tightly as possible surround the foot with both hands and squeeze down the foot, 3-5 strokes from the toes towards the ankle. Please be aware that all strokes are performed exclusively towards the heart and dragging the hands back to the start position is not appropriate.
4. With one hand, support the lateral side of foot. With the thenar area of other hand, massage in-soles/arch area of foot 3-5 strokes from just under the ball of the foot down towards the table
5. While compressing the tendon channels between fingers and thumbs, under pressure, massage each channel 3-5 times (towards the ankle)
6. With the tips of fingers, under pressure, massage around the malleolus (ankle bone) 3-5 times.
1. Spread the lotion in a hand after hand effleurage manner on all areas of shin (3-5 movements)
2. While surrounding the shin and squeezing tighter, continue 3-5 strokes in a hand after hand Freccion
3. With both thumbs, under pressure, initiating from the ankle area and finishing approximately at the knee, massage the soft tissues on each side of the tibia bone $5 times
4. Place both thenars on either side (lateral and medial sides) of the shin. While squeezing between thenars, under pressure in a hand after hand circular motion, massage the lower leg from bottom up 3-5 times.
5. Change position to stand in front of the shin. While surrounding shin with both hands, perform hand after hand effleurage (arms will crlss cross during this techniques) 3-5 times
6. While squeezing shin by surrounding hands, proceed from the bottom up in the manner that one hand wilt perform a circular molion white the other hand trails after in a straight squeeze from the bottom up. Perform this 3-5 times
7. Turn back to initial position toward the face of client. Under pressure, with both thumbs, massage around the patella.
1. Spread the lotion in a hand after hand effleurage manner on all areas of thigh (3- 5 strokes)
2. Continue with hand after hand Freccion (3-5 strokes)
3. Keeping wrists and arms extended, apply pressure with the dorsal part of the fingers in a hand after hand manner 3-5 strokes. (Make sure to massage the proximal, middle, and lateral portions of the quadriceps)
4. With both thumbs under pressure, starting from just proximal to the knee, massage each portion of the quadriceps area 3-5 strokes.
5. Change position to stand in front of the thigh. While surrounding thigh with both hands, perform hand after hand effleurage (arms will criss cross during this techniques) 3-5 times
6. Place hands on thigh so that the fingers and thumbs form a diamond shape. Apply initial pressure with the fingers, and perform Petrissage #1 kneading techniques. Fingers grab the tissues first circling in towards the thumbs and then pushing back away from the thumbs under pressure. Make sure to knead 3-5 times in each area of the thigh.
7. Continue with Petrissage #2. The motion of the fingers is the same, but hands move one after the other in an oscillating manner.
8. Place hands flat (thumbs closed next to fingers) on either side (medial and lateral) of the thigh just proximal to the knee. Apply initial pressure, and perform Freccion action pulling with the one hand and pushing with the other. (the hands cross over 3-5 times)
9. Turn your back to the patient's/client's head, beginning on the medial side of the knee, ending at the client's hip, brush/comb the thigh hand after hand 3-5 times
10.Turn back to initial position toward the face of client. Keeping fingers slightly spread, and tilt fingers at an angle to the body. Begin lightly bouncing hand after hand, perform ax technique over all areas of thigh.
1. Confirm that at least 2 hours has passed since the last time the client has eaten. In the case that the client is female, confirm that she is not pregnant. Ask the client to draw up his/her knees, feet flat on table. Stand in front of the stomach, feet apart
2. Keep hands flat on the stomach and at all times across from each other. Effleurage in a clockwise motion, with left hand sliding over the top of the right arm as the hands circle around the stomach.
3. Continue this motion with Freccion pressure.
4. Spiral Iron - Left hand on top of the four fingers of the right hand. Begin at the navel, spiral motion larger to the edges of stomach area, then spiraling smaller back to the navel.
5. Tuck thumbs under the palms of the hands and perform cross freccion across the abdominals.
6. Stand facing towards the client's feet. Use the ulnar edge of the right palm and the fingers of the left hand to slice and grab diaphragm muscle under the left side of client's rib cage in a hand after hand manner 3-5 times. For the right side, use ulnar edge of the left palm and the fingers of the right hand.
7. Stand in front of stomach and perform final effleurage. Return the client's legs to the extended position.
Please remember - when working on a female client, we should not directly mobilize the gland tissue (not direct massage on breasts), but we should try to target the muscular structures around those areas.
1. Divide the chest into 4 lanes. With both hands perform effleurage starting on the Iower part of the ribcage, and ending under the clavicles. Alternate effleurage over the 2 middle lanes with effleurage over the 2 lateral lanes 3-5 times
2. Perform friction in the same manner as step 1
3. Beginning with the lane closest to you, perform hand after hand (friction) for 3-5 strokes before moving to the next lane.
4. Place the left hand on top of the flat right hand. Perform ironing Friction beginning with the lane closest to you for 3-5 strokes before moving to the next lane.
5. Stand with feet apart in front of the chest. In a "hand after hand manner", comb the left intercostal side from lateral to medial.
6. In a 'hand after hand manner", comb the right intercostal side from lateral to medial.
7. Stand above the client's head. Perform reverse Friction by pulling from the Iateral sides of the lower ribcage to the middle; then straight up towards the client's head. Place hands one the lateral sides of ribcage and pull straight up over the outside lanes of the chest. (3-5 alternating pairs).
8. Return to initial position stance (next to client's torso) and perform the final effleurage.
1. Effleurage the lotion over all areas of the hand.
2. At the nail bed, grasp each phalange between fingers and thumbs and perform massage by squeezing along the finger under pressure. (perform 3-5 strokes for each finger)
3. While compressing the tendon channels between fingers and thumbs, applying pressure, massage each channel 3-5 times (Begin at the metacarpophalangeal joint, end at the wrist)
1. Client's arm should be in pronated position, so that the dorsal side of arm is up towards the ceiling. Spread the lotion in a hand after hand effleurage manner (3- 5 strokes)
2. Continue with hand after hand Friction (3-5 strokes)
3. Perform back of the fingers Friction 3-5 strokes for each lane of the arm (medial, central, and lateral portions of the dorsal side of the arm)
4. Extend the client's elbow and flip the arm over to a supine position. Perform steps 1-3 on the ventral side of the forearm.
5. With both thumbs under pressure, massage the ventral side of the forearm area 3-5 strokes for each portion.
6. Extend the client's elbow and flip the arm over to a supine position. Perform step 5 for the dorsal part of the forearm
7. Continue to effleurage while changing position to stand in front of the forearm. While surrounding forearm with both hands, perform hand after hand effleurage (arms will criss-cross during this techniques) 3-5 times
8. Perform petrissage #1, (3-4 kneadings on one area of forearm before moving to another area) on the dorsal part of the forearm
9. Perform petrissage #2 (3-4 kneadings on one area of forearm before moving to another area) on the dorsal part of the forearm
10. Turn the forearm and hand onto the ulnar side (the thumb should face the ceiling) Perform petrissage #9 (While squeezing forearm between fingers and thumbs, proceed from the bottom up in the manner that one hand will perform a circular motion while the other hand trails in a straight squeezing manner from the bottom up. Repeat the movement 3 to 5 times.
11. Support lower arm with thigh and perform guitar action (shake muscle quickly, one hand after the other) on the inner portion of the lower arm.
1. Fold the arm to 45° in the elbow
2. Position stance to be in line with the upper arm. Perform hand after hand effleurage.
3. Continue with hand after hand friction
4. Change position to stand with feet apart across the bicep muscle
5. Perform petrissage #1 on the biceps
6. Perform petrissage #2 on the biceps
7. Change position to stand in an opposite position across from the triceps muscle
8. Position fingers underneath the posterior of the upper arm near the elbow, and thumbs on the anterior. Squeeze the upper arm between thumbs and fingers, and perform petrissage #1 on the triceps
9. Perform petrissage #2 on the triceps
1O. Perform guitar technique with both hands (one hand stationary in one place on the biceps, other hand moving up and down the triceps)
11. Perform final effleurage
1. Client position: Face down. Using the thenars, perform friction in a circular motion on both sides of the heel.
2. While the right hand supports the heel continue to massage the left side only.
3. Do the opposite of Step # 2
4. Continue to massage the heel in circular friction motion with both hands.
1. Spread the lotion in a hand after hand effleurage manner on all areas of calf (3-5 strokes)
2. Continue with hand after hand Friction (3-5 strokes)
3. Keeping wrists and arms extended, apply pressure with the dorsal part of the fingers in a hand after hand manner (back of the fingers Friction) 3-5 strokes. (Make sure to massage the proximal, middle, and lateral portions of the calf)
4. Applying pressure with both thumbs, starting from just proximal to the heel, massage each portion (proximal, middle, and lateral) of the calf area 3-5 strokes.
5. Continue to effleurage while changing position to stand in front of the calf. While surrounding calf with both hands, perform hand after hand effleurage (arms will criss-cross during this techniques) 3-5 times
6. Perform petrissage #1 on all areas of the calf
7. Perform petrissage #2 on all areas of the calf
8. Perform cross-friction on the calf 3-5 times from heel up to back of the knee
9. Perform guitar technique on the inner portion of the calf muscle.
10. Effleurage
1. Please do not apply pressure directly on the back of the knee. Spread the lotion in a hand after hand effleurage manner on all areas of hamstrings (3-5 strokes)
2. Continue with hand after hand Friction (3-5 strokes)
3. Perform back of the fingers Friction 3-5 strokes. (Make sure to massage the proximal, middle, and lateral portions of the hamstrings.)
4. With both thumbs under pressure, starting from just proximal to the knee, massage each portion of the hamstrings area 3-5 strokes
5. Continue to effleurage while changing position to stand in front of the hamstrings. While surrounding hamstrings with both hands, perform hand after hand effleurage (arms will criss-cross during this technique) 3-5 times.
6. Perform petrissage #1 kneading techniques on all areas of the hamstrings. Make sure to knead 3-5 times in each area of the hamstrings
7. Continue with petrissage #2.
8. Perform cross-friction action 3-5 times on the hamstrings
9. Turn your back to the patient's/client's head, beginning just proximal to the rear of the knee, ending by the gluts, brush the hamstrings hand after hand 3-5 times.
1. With both hands perform effleurage on all areas of glutes (3-5 strokes).
2. Continue in a Friction action, alternating 3-5 times.
3. Hide one thumb in the palm of the other hand fold the fingers at the metacarpophalangealioints. Keeping wrists straight and arms extended. Perform backs of the fingers Friction on the left side gluts, 35 strokes. Repeat for the right side.
4. Stand with feet apart in front of gluts and perform petrissage #1 on all areas of the gluts.
5. Continue with petrissage #2
6. Return to initial stance and perform effleurage.
7. Perform ax tapotement on all areas of gluts.
1. Spread the lotion in an effleurage along paravertebral zones from L5 to C1. With both thumbs applying pressure (friction), massage paravertebral muscles from L5 to C1.
2. Stand above client's head, hook all fingertips under occipital ridge and massage insertions of neck muscles.
3. Making sure forearms are parallel with the client's body, apply pressure with both fists on upper trapezius and perform circular kneading
4. Stand with feet apart in front of the neck, and surround client's neck, with both hands, Perform Petrissage #3 by applying side to side circular sweeps, "hand after hand" motion.
5. In a hand after hand manner, sweep the right-side neck and upper trapezius; then perform guitar technique on the top of the trapezius.
6. Repeat step 6 for left side.
7. Shake in a guitar manner finger after finger top of the trapezeous.
8. Perform effleurage following by friction action on all areas of the back
9. Beginning with the lane closest to you, perform hand after hand (friction) for 3-5 strokes before moving to the next lane.
10. Place the left hand on top of the flat right hand on the lower back in the first of the 4 lanes. Perform ironing Friction over each lane for 3-5 strokes before moving to the next lane.
11. Hide one thumb in the palm of the other hand, fold the fingers at the metacarpophalangeal joints. Place the backs of the fingers on the client's lower back, such that the hand closest to the spine will cover that lane and the outside hand will cover the lateral lane. Keeping wrists straight and arms extended, perform backs of the fingers Friction on the left side lanes for 3-5 strokes. Repeat for the right side.
12. Stand with feet apart in front of the back. Perform petrissage #1 and #2 on all areas of the back, staying 3-4 kneading/rotations with gradually increasing pressure on each area before moving to the next area. Please remember that most people carry a lot of stress in the upper trapezius region; therefore, on these areas perform petrissage for 8-1O kneadings/rotations.
13. Return stance to initial position and perform effleurage 3-5 (alternating pairs)
14. Stand with feet apart in front of the back and using both hands, pinch and lift the skin in a hand after hand manner over all areas of the back. Motion should be as fast as possible.
15. Cup both hands as if to hold water in them, then place cupped palms on the client's back. Starting out with light gentle tapping with gradually increasing strength, perform alternating fast striking techniques on all areas of the client's back. Motion should be as fast as possible.
16. With fingers slightly spread and tilted down to the client's back (4th & 5th fingertips will strike the client) perform ax tapotement techniques on all areas of the back.
17. Stand in front of client's left shoulder/corner of table. Massage ribs by pulling in a hand after hand manner, using finger tips to rake the intercostals muscles. Repeat for other side. Change position to stand above client's head. Place hands flat on the lateral sides of client's lower part of the ribcage area.
18. Perform reverse friction by pulling hands medially to the paravertebral zones, then straight up towards the client's head, letting hands disconnect as they come over the shoulders. Place hands on the lateral sides of the ribcagie and pull straight up, following the outside back lanes, over the scapular areas. Repeat this for 3-5 alternating pairs.
19. Return to initial stance position next to the client's back. Perform waves technique by applying initial pressure at the lower back and massaging with all fingers of both hands up the back, disconnecting as hands slide off the upper trapezius. Repeat the motion 3 to 5 times.
20. Effleurage. Repeat the motion 3 to 5 times.
21. Place one hand flat on the right side upper back and gently shake from side to side for about ten seconds. Repeat the same technique on the left side.
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