In this blog I thought it would be a good to introduce some of the
different massage techniques used by sports massage therapists, the benefits of
these techniques and some of their physiological effects. The four techniques I
am going to cover are; effleurage, petrissage, frictions and tapotement. There are
other techniques but I thought I would focus on just these four initially
rather than bombard you with too much info in one go.
Almost all massage techniques are carried out with the main pressure
being directed towards the heart. This helps increase venous and lymphatic flow
and ensures that no pressure of blood is being pushed against closed valves
causes any damage to blood vessels. The only exception to this is where short
strokes are aimed at stretching muscle fibres. Because the strokes are limited,
there is no risk of pressure being built up
Effleurage
The first technique I’m going to talk about is effleurage. Effleurage is
always used at the start of massage and consists of a variety of stroking
movements, usually carried out with the whole palm of the hand and fingers (but
can be carried out with the forearm), which may be used with varying pressure
according to the purpose and stage reached during the massage.
The basic movements comprise stroking with firm pressure using a wide
surface area of the palm of the hand and fingers. On the return, the
therapists' hands maintain, light contact and avoid the path taken on the
upward stroke. As with all massage, the hands must be relaxed and moulded round
the natural contours of the recipient's body. Effleurage is always used to
commence any massage session and it has a wide range of purposes that you need
to focus on:
- Introducing touch to the client
- Putting the client at ease
- Warming the tissues
- Increasing blood flow
- Stimulating peripheral nerves
- Muscle relaxation
- Palpating tissues
Effleurage should be carried out in a rhythmical and relaxed manner
starting with light touch at the start of a session and building up to deeper
pressure for increased circulation and stretching of tissues later in the
massage. It should not be rushed as it is during this phase you need to begin to
focus on any abnormalities in the tissues that may require further attention
later in the massage. If the movements are performed too quickly, this will not
help the client relax and if a "tender" area is missed, it will
almost certainly be more painful when discovered using deeper techniques later!
Effleurage is also used to complete the massage finishing with light stroking
to relax the patient, particularly if movements that are more painful have been
used beforehand.
Petrissage
Petrissage (or kneading) is used on deeper tissues for mobilising
fluids, stretching muscle fibres, and inducing relaxation. Some of these
techniques are specifically aimed at only deeper tissue and are therefore both
ineffective and difficult to perform on narrow parts of the limbs. You must
therefore pay particular attention, as with all massage techniques, as to what
your purpose is when kneading petrissage is a powerful technique that is
particularly effective in mobilising fluids in very deep muscles and applying a
good stretch to the fibres involved.
Frictions
Frictions may be used for exploratory purposes, or for deeper and
sometimes more painful movements aimed at breaking down lesions, separating
muscle fibres, and even breaking down recent scar tissue. When performing
frictions for exploratory purposes we tend to use the sensory pad of the thumb
to "grasp" the skin and to move this over the underlying surface to
feel for any abnormalities (trigger
points) to the tissue concerned. This allows us to palpate,
particularly around joints and feel for smaller abnormalities in the tissues.
When performing frictions for the purpose of separating muscle fibres, breaking
down lesions and scar tissues, firstly the client must be warned that these
procedures may indeed be painful or at the very least uncomfortable. They only
need to be carried out for a very short while. Using vigorous frictions for any
longer than this may have a particularly detrimental effect by irritating and
even causing inflammation.
Tapotement
Tapotement movements are generally rapid, rhythmic
movements by the hands, originating from a relaxed wrist, which strikes the
body briskly and alternately, usually at a rate between 4 to 10 strikes per
second. The differences come from what part of the massage therapists’ hand is
used, as well as the depth of pressure applied.
At the end of a relaxing massage session, the
stimulation provided by tapotement brings the client back to a more grounded
consciousness and, if done well, does not agitate the body to a point of stress
or nervousness.
Categories
of Tapotement
· Hacking - This is perhaps the most familiar form of tapotement, often seen in films, especially in sports warm-up scenes. The therapist's hands are held outstretched with palms facing each other. Wrists are kept loose. Both hands alternately strike the client's body, with wrists having a slight rotation as hands rise and fall in rapid succession. Only the ulnar border of hand, and to some extent the tips of the three medial fingers, touch the body. The fingers and hands should remain relaxed at all times.
· Pounding/Pummeling -
The main difference between hacking and pounding or pummeling is that the
therapist's hands are held in a soft fist with the little finger portion of the
hand making contact with the clients body.
· Cupping -
In cupping, the therapist forms the palmar aspect of his or her hand into a
cup-like shape, by slightly flexing the fingers. These "cups" are
then struck against the client's body. The palm of the hand does not touch the
body. Only the outer edges that form the rim of the cup come in contact with the
client. There is often a distinctive "clop, clop" sound that results
when performed correctly.
· Tapping -
Tapping is the lightest and most gentle of all the percussive movements and is
often performed at a slower rate than the others. The therapist's hands are
loose and relaxed. Only the tips of the fingers are used to gently tap the
area. This movement can be used on the more delicate areas of the body such as
the head and face.
· Plucking -
In plucking, the client's skin is gently picked up by the thumb and fingers of
each hand in a kind of light pinching or pecking motion. The tissue is picked
up and released in rapid, alternating movement, using both hands.
Benefits
of Tapotement
1. Tapotement has a hyperemic effect. That is, it increases local blood circulation, which, in turn, helps to warm and soften the underlying tissue. The skin will feel warm to the touch and appear flushed. It is often used to help warm-up an athlete prior to an event.
2.
With this technique, nerve endings are stimulated, which produce tiny muscular
contractions, resulting in an overall increase in muscle tone. This is thought to
happen because of the stroke pressure being registered by the muscle's
mechanoreceptors in the fascia and Golgi tendon organ. A reflex action follows,
resulting in the contraction of both voluntary and involuntary muscles.
3.
Cupping, specifically, can be used over the upper and middle back to loosen
mucous in the lungs, and has been helpful with those suffering from cystic
fibrosis. Any client appearing to have respiratory problems should be cleared
first by his or her physician to make sure massage is appropriate for his or
her condition.
4.
When used in combination with other massage techniques, tapotement helps to
reduce fatty deposits and tone flabby muscle areas
So, there you have a brief introduction of four
massage techniques used by sports massage therapists. If you have any questions
then feel free to email or write in the comments section.
For sports
massage bookings in swansea, visit www.jamiepughperformance.co.uk
