The Top 5 Functional Swedish Massage Techniques

Swedish massage is the most loved and is considered the ‘bread and butter’ in the massage world. The most commonly asked and performed massage technique, Swedish massage requires pressing the fixed muscles to provide maximum relief. However, unlike other massage therapies like deep tissue massage, sports massage and pregnancy massage and more, Swedish massage is actually made up of five distinctive strokes. It is these 5 strokes that will make sure that you get most from your Swedish massage and achieve the optimumstate of calmness.

1. Effleurage

A French word meaning “to touch lightly”, the Swedish massage begins with the effleurage strokes. The muscles are stroked with grazing touches in the beginning. Strokes long, sweeping, rhythmic warm the targeted muscles and make sure that the clients are relaxed with the massage therapist’s touch. With effleurage, massage therapist comes to know about the tender muscles that are swelled and can get inflamed if stress or pressure is given.

2. Petrissage

‘Petrissage’ in French basically means ‘to knead’. Just like a person kneds a dough, muscles are kneaded by rolling and pressing. Petrissage technique in Swedish massage loosens the muscles, increases the blood flow to the targeted muscle. The rhythmic pressure from Petrissage helps to improve muscle tone, reduce pain and improve the process of digestion.

3. Friction

Swedish massage requires the targeted muscles and body parts to be relaxed. Yet, in Swedish massage tension is considered a really good thing.

After the gliding of effleurage and kneading technique of petrissage, the targeted muscles require a little friction. Deeper that effleurage and petrissage and creating the benefits of deep tissue massage, friction technique in Swedish body massage requires creating friction against the muscle grain. A Swedish massage therapist uses her or his fingertips, thumbs, heels to address the pain and massage away any soreness.

Friction even breaks down the fatty deposits when the strokes are moved to and fro on the muscles of the body.

4. Tapotement

In this technique, the muscles are tapped rapidly and repeatedly with a very loose fist or a cupped hand. These movements are for a very short period of time and are done on the fleshy part of the body. Performed at the end of the Swedish massage, tapotement works best on muscles that are already relaxed. Tapotement is one of the best Swedish massage strokes for stimulating exhausted muscles and can even help in loosening the mucus in the lungs for those who recuperating from colds.

5. Vibration

The final technique of the Swedish massage, vibration movements of Swedish massage can range from 5 to 20 seconds over a targeted area. By applying incessant contact, the vibration touch can soothes aggravated nerves, amplifies relaxation and creates a sense of reinvigoration.

These Swedish massage techniques offer many health advantages and like various other reliable massage techniques, these techniques go a long way to improve the complete health, contentment and comfort.