Swedish Massage Glossary of Terms

Active assisted movement- Movement
in a joint in which both the client and therapist produce the motion together.

Active free movement-  Movement
of a joint freely through its range of motion, unassisted: done by client
alone.

Acute-signs and symptoms happen
quickly, last a short amount of time and then disappear.

Adhesion- Abnormal adherence of
collagen fibers  within connective tissue to surrounding structures
following trauma or stress; as a result of surgery.  restrict the
normal elasticity of these structures as well as the transfer of electrolytes
and other fluids.

Autonomic Nervous System-
The body system that regulates involuntary body functions such as action
of glands, smooth muscles and the heart.  It consists of the sympathetic
and parasympathetic nervous system.

Atrophy- Wasting away or decrease
in size of  something, due to disease or other factors such as nutrition
or lack of use.

Beating - a form of heavy tapotement
usually using the fist.

Chronic- disease or condition that
develops slowly and lasts for a long time.

Compression- Massage petrissage
stroke, applied with fist, palm, heel of hand or fingertips; used to spread
tissue against underlying structures; can vary in pace and depth.

Connective tissue- The most abundant
type of tissue in the body, providing support, structure, framework, space,
stabilization and scar formation; binds structures together.

Contraindications- factors that
indicate that the treatment is not advised, unless further evaluation by
a physician can recommend a treatment plan.

Desquamation- The shedding of epethelial
tissue; mainly the skin  as in exfoliation.

Effleurage- gliding stroke; does
not access the muscle layer; following the fiber direction of the underlying
muscle

Friction- circular or transverse
technique that focuses on the underlying tissue.

Gate Theory- A hypothetical mechanism
that diminishes pain.  There is a gate through which pain impulses
travel.  Pain signals travel to the Central nervous system on unmyelinated
nerve pathways, which are a slower route to the brain.  Pressure,
touch, vibration, and temperature signals travel on the faster myelinated
nerve pathways.  These signals will arrive first and block out the
sensation of pain.

Golgi Tendon Receptors- receptors
in the tendons that sense tension; found mostly near the junction of tendons
and muscles.  It will trigger a central nervous system response which
will inhibit muscular contraction when the tendon is in danger of tearing
due to excessive tension.

Hyperemia- an excess of blood in
an area or body part; usually indicated by red, flushed color or heat in
the area.

Hyperesthesia- Unusual sensitivity
to sensory stimulus, hyper irritalbility, or increased muscular sensitivity
to pain.

Hypertonicity-  Excess muscle
tone

Hypertrophy- An increased size in
muscle or thickening of muscle tissue in response to increases stress.

Inflammation- characterized by pain,
heat, redness, swelling; usually as a result of an injury or infection.

Ischemia-  Local and temporary
decrease in blood flow to an area.

Kneading- Petrissage; rhythmical
lifting of tissue; rolling or squeezing; pulling away from underlying tissue.

Mechanical Effect- based on structural
changes in the tissue; primary effects created manually; as a direct result
of the application of the technique.

Myofascial- affecting the connective
tissue of the body

Muscle spasm- a non-voluntary contraction
of the motor unit of a muscle; usually causing a contraction without shortening
the muscle; can be a result of mental, physical, emotional, chemical stress.

Peristalsis- Successive muscular
contractions along the wall of a hollow muscular structure such as the
movement of food through the intestine and colon.

Petrissage- kneading; rhythmic rolling,
lifting, squeezing, wringing of sort tissue.

Proprioceptor- a receptor located
in muscles, tendons or joints that provides information about body movement
an position.

Reflexive effect- secondary effects
that occur as a result of the massage technique but we do not cause directly
or manually.

Scar tissue-  tissue that results
from healing of wounds; It is composed of collagenous fibers which will
restrict normal elasticity of tissue involved.

Stroke- a technique of therapeutic
massage; applying to the surface or deeper structures of the body.

Tapotement- percussive movement
that are applied to the body, rhythmically.

Vibration- fine, coarse tremulus
movement that creates reflexive responses

Stroke	Purpose/Uses	Mechanical effect	Reflexive effect	Contraindications
LIGHT EFFLEURAGE Gliding, Fanning, Tree branching, shingling etc.	Transitioning Spreading oil Evaluating tissue		Relaxes muscles (parasympathetic nervous system) Relieves pain (Gate control theory, endorphins) Increases arterial and capillary circulation Increases vasodilation (slowing heart rate and blood pressure)	Hyperesthesia Marked or pitted edema Gross swelling Open wounds distal to inflammation or infection
DEEP EFFLEURAGE Knuckling,		Increases venous and lymphatic flow removing wastes, reducing edema Improves nutritional status of tissues Increases arterial and capillary circulation, bringing nutrients Warms superficial tissue Desquamation of dead skin	Same as above Deeper muscle relaxation Capillary dilation longer lasting	Same as light effleurage Very hairy skin New scar tissue Venous stasis
PETRISSAGE Picking up, wringing, kneading, open C/closed C, alternating thumb, squeezing, lifting, skin rolling (lifting tissue away from underlying structures)	Used after effleurage Relieves congestion Reduces swelling Digestive disorders Muscle shortening Spastic paralysis Fatigue	Stretches muscle fibers and stimulates muscle tone, broadens fibers Breaks up adhesions Increased circulation and waste elimination Moves interstitial fluid	Slow-relaxes nervous system Fast-stimulates NS Increases glandular activity of skin Increases peristalsis when done over abdomen Affects proprioception	Atrophied muscles Flaccid paralysis Acute inflammation
DIRECT PRESSURE FRICTION Compression	Use after tissues have been warmed up Hypertonic muscles Treatment massage Deep tissue work	Compresses and spreads tissue Temporary ischemia Mobilizes muscle/tendon junction	Reduces pain and spasm Hyperemia Increases peristalsis when done over abdomen	For all frictions: Acute inflammations Neuritis Recent injuries Osteo and rheumatoid arthritis-especially acute stages Muscles lacking innervation(paralysis) Debilitating neuromuscular dysfunction such as MS, ALS, MD.
LINEAR OR CIRCULAR FRICTION	same as above	Myofascial releasing-separating adhered fascial planes Broadens and stretches muscle fibers Increases muscle	Decreases tension through stimulating Golgi tendon reflex Increases circulation Creates hyperemia
Cross fiber friction	Use only after a thorough warming of involved tissue Apply at right angles to scar/fibrotic tissue Superficial tissue must move over underlying structure Apply frequently enough to have an impact	Breaks up adhesions Assists in realigning scar tissue	Relaxes muscles by stimulating Golgi tendon reflex
Heat rub friction		Heats skin Warms tissue	Vasodilatation Relaxes muscles
TAPOTEMENT Tapping, Pincement, Slapping Hacking, Cupping, Beating, Pounding	Stimulation of tired muscles Relaxation of hypertonic muscles	Loosens mucus in thoracic cavity	Stimulates nervous system, muscles, vessels Enhances muscle tone via contract-relax response Increases circulation Stimulates organs through low back Increases gaseous exchange Stimulates skin and glandular activity	Muscles is spasm or cramping Spastic paralysis Atrophied muscles Flaccid paralysis Insomnia, neurasthenia or complete exhaustion Neuritis or painful conditions Over bony area No heavy tapotement over the kidneys No heavy tapotement over low back in pregnancy or menstruation
FINE VIBRATION Static or moving	Relaxation		sedates nervous system reduces pain(gate theory) relaxes muscle	same as tapotement
COARSE VIBRATION Static or moving		loosens ligaments	Penetrating stimulation
JOSTLING/SHAKING		Increases synovial activity Increases circulation	Stimulates organs Reduces muscle guarding Rejuvenating  tired muscles	same as tapotement
SWEDISH GYMNASTICS Active free, active assisted, passive, resistive		Stretches muscles and ligaments Increases circulation and nutrition Increases waste elimination Loosens adhesions Increases ROM and flexibility	Stimulates NS Increases blood pressure and temperature	Torn ligament, tendon or muscle Unhealed fracture Post surgery Heart conditions ( active and resistive) Acute injuries