Tip 144. Methods of Massage
The methods of massa
g
e are as varied as its b
e
nefits. There are five fundamental modes of manipulation in massa
g
e. These a
r
e effleurage
(stroking), friction (rubbi
n
g), petrissa
g
e
(kneading),
t
apotment (percussion)
a
nd vibration (shaking or
t
rembling).
1. Effleurage:
This involves sli
d
ing wi
t
h the hands,
using long
even strokes over the surface of the body. Effleurage is performed in five ways,
namely str
o
king with (I)
palms of two hands; (ii)
the palm
of one hand;
(iii) the kn
u
ckles;
(
iv) the ball of the
thumb and (v) the finger tips. Effleur
a
ge increases
blood circul
a
tion and soo
t
hes the ner
v
ous system. It also wa
rm
s and relaxes. It is very helpful in atrophied
condition of
the skin.
2. Friction:
The mov
e
ments, which
are circular
in nature are performed with the help of the th
u
mb and tips
of fingers or
the palm of the hand towards the joi
n
ts or around the joints.
F
ric- tion limbers up joints, tend
o
ns, and muscles and f
a
cilitates the r
e
moval of d
e
posits by b
r
eaking them. It also helps in re
d
ucing swelling after nerve inflamm
a
tion.
3. Petrissa
g
e:
This is
t
he
p
rocess of
k
n
eading, pressing and rolling of the tissues and is
performed with one
or both hands, with two thumbs or with thumbs and fingers.
One should apply heavy pressure
for deep kn
e
ading and light pressure for superficial kneading.
Petrissage is a treatment of the muscles. It increases n
u
trition, stre
n
gthens muscles, relieves intestinal congestion
a
nd helps elimination
of the pois
o
ns. It boos
t
s long activity and cellular respiration,
eliminates
f
atigue poisons and tones up n
e
rve endings.
4. Tapotement:
This involves hacki
n
g,
t
apping, cla
p
ping and b
e
ating and is
achieved by striking
the
body rapidly. Short and quick
blows are
g
enerally given from the wrist. Tapo
t
ement helps in
atrophied c
o
ndition of t
h
e muscles.
I
t increas
e
s blood supply, soothes nerves and strengthens muscles.
5. Vibrations:
This is
a
c
hi
ev
ed by rapi
d
ly shaking t
h
e pressing
mov
e
ments by use of the hand or fi
n
gers on the body. Vibrating hand should move constantl
y
. This is be
n
eficial
in ne
u
ritis and ne
u
ralgia after the inflammatory stage is over. It stimulates circula
t
ion,
glandular activity and nervous plexuses. It
also helps in bowel movement.
Another form of massage helpful in most elements is the vi
b
ratory mas
s
age. This c
a
n be done
by trained persons only.
The vibratory muscles is
more efficiently administered by a special, electric
a
lly operated machine.
Tip 145. When to Watch Out Duri
n
g Exercise.
Vigorous exercise of a
n
y kind should not be taken for an h
o
ur and a half
after eating,
nor immediately before meals. Weak patients and th
o
se suffering
from serious diseas
e
s
like
cancer, hea
r
t trouble, tu
b
erculosis a
n
d asthma
should not un
d
ertake vigorous exercise except under the s
u
pervision of
a competent physician. If
exercising
makes you tired, stop
immediately. The purpose of exercise should
b
e to make you feel refr
e
s
hed and relaxed and not tired. T
h
e most important rule a
b
out the fitn
e
ss plan is to
start with very light exercise and
to increase
t
he effort in
g
radual and
e
asy stages.
The sense
o
f well being
will begin a
l
most immediately.
One can start off with a brisk walk f
o
r 15 to 20 minutes. A c
o
mfortable sense of tired
n
ess
should be t
h
e aim. It is valueless
an
d possibly
h
armful to become exha
u
sted or seri
o
usly short
of breath.
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