Swedish Massage Strokes

• 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

•  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

•  Deeper muscle relaxation
•  Capillary dilation longer
  lasting

•  Same as light effleurage
•  Very hairy skin
•  New scar tissue
•  Venous stasis

• 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

• 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

•  Acute inflammations
•  Neuritis
•  Recent injuries
•  Osteo and rheumatoid arthritis-especially
  acute stages
•  Muscles lacking innervation(paralysis)
•  Debilitating neuromuscular
  dysfunction such as MS, ALS, MD.

•  Myofascial releasing-separating
  adhered fascial planes
•  Broadens and stretches
  muscle fibers
•  Increases muscle 

•  Decreases tension through
  stimulating Golgi tendon reflex
• Increases circulation
• Creates hyperemia

•  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

•  Heats skin
•  Warms tissue

•  Vasodilatation
•  Relaxes muscles

•  Stimulation of tired muscles
•  Relaxation of hypertonic
  muscles

•  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

•  sedates nervous system
•  reduces pain(gate theory)
•  relaxes muscle 

•  Increases synovial activity
•  Increases circulation

•  Stimulates organs
•  Reduces muscle guarding
•  Rejuvenating  tired
  muscles

• 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