Swedish Massage Techniques

A Swedish massage typically involves a person being covered with a sheet and the area that the massage therapist is working on is uncovered. The therapist then applies a type of oil or cream to help reduce friction on the skin as they rub the area using a series of different techniques (Rapaport et al, 2010). Also the room is usually dimly lit with relaxing music or use a sound machine to mask any unwanted noise (Rapaport et al, 2010). These techniques are effleurage, petrissage, kneading, tapotement, and thumb friction (Rapaport et al, 2010). Effleurage is derived from the French word, effleurer, meaning “to glide.” When using this stroke the hands are meant to slide over the skin loosening the tissue to prepare for deeper tissue work (Fund, 2010). Pretrisage comes from the French word patrir which translates “to knead.” In this stroke the therapist uses the webbing between the index finger and the thumb to work areas such the calf (Fund, 2010). Kneading is a stroke that can be used to help fluids flow in the body reducing inflammation and swelling. Tapotement comes from an Old French term tapir, which translates to “light blow.” This essentially means the body is struck with the hand, such as with a closed fist or the side of the hand and immediately pulled off the muscle (Fund, 2010). Thumb friction is used with little or no lubricant. It can either follow the direction or go perpendicular to the muscle fibers and uses the thumb, elbows, or the heel of the hand (Fund, 2010).
This type of massage and others have been shown to increase the amount of white blood cells, which are the cells that attack pathogens in the body (Rapaport et al, 2010).
It has also been shown that a massage can decrease pain that people might have and therefore improve their lives. It is also beneficial for preterm infants by decreasing their length of stay in the hospital and increasing their weight gain (Rapaport et al,
2010).