Other Therapies from the Emotional Tap

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Other Therapies from the Emotional Tap

Swedish massage is defined in large part by the original strokes that compose its method: effleurage (stroking), petrissage (kneading), tapotement (striking), and frictions (rubbing), with vibration added later. The man who adopted the French names to denote the basic strokes was Dutch practitioner Johan Georg Mezger (1838-1909). The term Swedish Movement System was transposed to Swedish Massage System sometime during the second half of the 19th century.

Massage strokes

Effleurage works on the flow of lymph, the blood back to the heart and the circulation. Useful for fatigue, aids absorption of waste and broken-down products, helps healing processes and increases the nutrition of the tissues, nourishes the skin, thereby improving its function.

Stroking works on the nerve endings for relaxing or stimulating a client depending on the stroke used.

Pressure manipulations work on muscles increasing their circulation, which in turn improves their nourishment, helping to restore and improve tone, particularly after excessive exercise. Best on the abdominal massage.

Wringing, picking up and skin rolling work on loosening muscles and maintaining skin elasticity.

Frictions work on absorption of inflammatory products, so increase mobility when used around joints and breaks down tension. Other uses are to loosen scar tissue and stimulate the spinal nerves. Avoid causing a deadening sensation from too much pressure.

Percussion works on stimulating the nerves and muscles leaving the client with improved muscle tone, feeling exhilarated and with glowing sensations. Can be used to loosen mucus on the lungs thereby improving gaseous interchange and allowing more oxygen to be taken to the muscles. It stimulates deep organs in the abdomen.

Vibrations and shakings work on nerves and organs, stimulating or soothing depending on the manipulation. They loosen mucus in the lungs and stimulate the abdominal organs, helping constipation, sluggish liver and poor digestion.

However, there are just a few contraindications that apply to massage generally and all these must be considered before performing a treatment.

¨ Tumours or unrecognisable lumps.

¨ Avoid varicose veins, phlebitis, or thrombosis.

¨ Acute inflammatory conditions.

¨ Rheumatoid arthritic joints.

¨ Swollen ankles due to other causes than long periods of standing.

¨ Grossly swollen limbs.

¨ During the early stages of pregnancy.

¨ Avoid the abdomen or sacral areas immediately prior to and during a period.

¨ Neuritis and neuralgia.

¨ Acutely painful areas.

¨ If the client has a raised temperature.

¨ Skin diseases.

¨ Avoid especially hairy areas due to discomfort.

¨ Diarrhoea, high blood pressure or hernia.

¨ Lung disease.

¨ Over unhealed and recently healed wounds and scars.

¨ Avoid boils, carbuncles, or round septic conditions.

¨ Haemophilia.

¨ Older clients with a tendency to arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

¨ Loss of skin sensation.

¨ Low blood pressure.

¨ Glandular obesity.

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