Archived Newsletters 2010-01-07 MASSAGE
MASSAGE - Pressure
makes us tense and tension can cause illness and pain. Massage helps to break
the circle of stress by relaxing taut muscles and stimulating the systems of
the body to work efficiently
One technique used in Swedish massage is electrical
vibration: it is designed to stimulate a sluggish system, tone slack muscles
and encourage weight loss.
Many couples find
giving one another massage a natural expression of trust and affection. It
creates a feeling of closeness and often stimulates and deepens sexual
pleasure.
Gently knead the
temples with the thumbs, using circular movements about 2.5 cm (J in)
in diameter. Spread a little oil on temples and forehead. With the thumbs or
the tips of the first fingers, make light strokes starting from the centre of
the forehead out to the temples.
To relieve tension in
the scalp and face, lay the palms over the head and temples. Their light
pressure establishes contact, and if it is maintained for several minutes, it
soothes and reassures the person being massaged. This technique is a
gentle beginning to doing massage at home.
Kneading: use
the fingers and thumbs to knead the muscles of shoulders and neck. Everyone is
tense here, so pressure should be gentle at first and slowly increase.
Kneading: clasp
the hands firmly round the arm (or leg) and knead the whole limb, moving
gradually along it. Spend time especially on wrists and ankles.
Encircle arm with
thumb and index finger of both hands. With gentle pressure slide the hands
towards the elbow about six times.
Petrissage: support
the head and neck with one hand, and massage the neck muscles with the
fingertips of the other hand, with small, circular movements.
Effleurage: stroke
lengthways up the body towards the shoulders, using moderate pressure through
the whole palm of the hand, warming the tissues and toning circulation.
Kneading: support
your partner's hand in yours, palm upmost. Use the knuckles of your other hand
to knead the palm.
To relax thigh
muscles, firmly roll the leg between the hands, moving them along the limb in
opposite directions.
To relax the neck
muscles, support the head between the hands and gently push the chin towards
the chest. (It is vital for the person being massaged to be quite relaxed.)
The long, smooth
movements of the hand calm and reassure. They also help to redistribute
accumulations of fluid in the body and to encourage the pores in the skin to
open.
Form the hand into a
claw shape, and using fairly firm pressure, massage the whole scalp with a
pincer movement. (This is good for hair and scalp problems).
Petrissage: stretch
hands over the chest and stomach, massaging with moderate pressure and making
contact with the body mainly through the heel of the palm.
Friction: using both
thumbs, apply friction to the soles of the feet, in a deep, lengthways stroking
movement.
Lightly clasp foot
round the instep, and using the thumb and index finger of the other hand,
gently pull the toes. Start from the base of each toe and work to the tip,
making a half twist, one way, then the other. This refreshes tired feet.
Massage may be
prescribed by a doctor to help the body to recover fully from the effects of an
accident or a fracture.
Q Is the massage carried out for cosmetic purposes the same as the one used for medical treatment? A If massage is
employed to help someone lose weight, it may be very similar. However, facial
massage, which is helpful for wrinkles, skin tone and tension, is very light.
The muscles of the face are thin, and the rich supply of blood and lymph vessels
respond better to light stroking motions than to pressure, which would almost
certainly be painful.
Q Are mechanical massagers safe and useful? A Electrical vibrators
can be very helpful, especially to a person giving massage who tires easily, or
to anyone who wants to massage him- or herself. The vibration can accomplish
many of the same effects as manual massage and is very useful for breaking up
deposits of fat and improving the blood circulation.
The best vibrators,
though expensive, are the ones which strap on to the back of the hand, allowing
the sensitivity and contact of the hands to perfect the movement.
Do not use vibrators
on or directly over bony areas, and make sure that any vibrator is in good
order, properly wired with an external earth.
Q I've heard that massage is good for tired feet. Could I learn to massage my own feet? A Yes, you could
certainly learn to massage your own feet: the only problem is whether you can
reach them comfortably and hold the position for long enough.
As an alternative,
there are a couple of useful aids. One is a carved wooden shaft that you roll
back and forth under your feet. putting your weight on it. The other is a pair
of special sandals whose upper soles consist of hundreds of little rubber
spikes. Simply walking on the sandals is a good massage. A similar effect can
be achieved by walking barefoot out-of-doors whenever possible.
We instinctively respond
to aches and pains by rubbing the uncomfortable area. Massage therapy has
amplified and refined that natural reaction to bring relief to sufferers from
pain and tension.
The purpose of massage Most people who seek
massage voluntarily do so to obtain relief from pain and muscular tension,
much of it caused by the demands of life. Some medical conditions are the
result ofthis stress, and in many others it is a contributing factor. Massage,
properly applied, not only relaxes tension and soothes pain but can affect the
whole body and, indirectly, mental and emotional states.
How massage works Massage has two main
actions, one relaxing, the other stimulating, and it can be adapted to produce
the desired over-all effect. A person suffering from cold hands and feet and
pain in the legs while walking obviously has poor circulation. This could be
aggravated by tension, with a general over-contraction of muscles reducing the
flow of blood, or to prolonged immobility, lack of exercise, obesity or nervousness.
In the former case, the massage would be designed to relax the tissues,
producing an over-all relaxation with a sedative effect, and as tension was
removed the circulation would respond. In the latter example, the object of the
massage would be to stimulate the the tissues and the circulation
simultaneously, to increase tone and speed up a sluggish metabolism.
The healing effect of
massage is to make the superficial tissues of the body relax or return to
normal, so that they stop bombarding the spinal cord with abnormal nerve
signals. This relieves pain and tension and prevents them from establishing a
'vicious circle’ of reflexes, in which, for example, persistent tension and
hunching of the shoulders can create headache and nausea, which in turn give
rise to more tension.
Western (or Swedish) massage The Western approach,
sometimes called Swedish massage because it has always been popular there, is
the best known and most often used. It is characterized by the various types of
strokes and the use of oil and talcum powder to reduce friction against the
skin. The technique, used mainly by physiotherapists, masseurs and beauticians,
can be summarized in four main actions:
Effleurage: Stroking
lengthways up the back, chest and limbs, with a light to moderate pressure
exerted by the whole of the hand. The effect is to warm the tissues, reassure
the person who is being massaged and tone the circulation. It is especially
valuable for redistributing accumulations of fluid in the limbs and abdomen and
for encouraging the pores in the skin to open to allow proper elimination.
Petrissage: A
firmer stroke with moderate to deep pressure, and most of the contact made
through the heel of the palm, one hand reinforcing the other.
Kneading: Deep
manipulation, directed especially at stiff, contracted areas. It can be done
with the thumbs only, or between thumb and fingers, with a gesture like
kneading dough. When the skin and subcutaneous tissues-those just under the
skin-are picked up, pulled away from the body and rolled between the thumb and
fingers, the action is known as skin rolling. It is especially useful for
joints such as the wrists, ankles and elbows and helps to remove possible
accumulations of waste products.
Friction: A
series of deep, often circular motions, using thumbs, knuckles or fingertips.
Pressure is concentrated on a small area through repeated strokes and is as
deep as necessary without causing pain. Relaxation of tense muscles marks the
time to move on to another area: prolonging massage at the same point would
re-stimulate the muscle.
Massage at home: This requires towels, a pillow, oil, talcum powder and a fairly hard surface to lie on: the floor is suitable (with firm cushions or a mattress), provided that the person massaging can work comfortably in a kneeling position. The session should last about 20 minutes. Start on the back, since most tense muscles are there, and it is the easiest part of the body on which to work. Oriental massage Oriental massage is
becoming much more popular in the West, because of the widespread interest in
acupuncture, to which it is related. Its object is to balance the flow of chi or
vital energy along the meridians or energy pathways, since Oriental medical
theory holds that all deviations from good health involve imbalances and lack
of harmony in the 14 major meridians which have points on the surface of the
body.
With a thorough
knowledge of the anatomy of the meridians and acupuncture theory it is
possible to treat pain or other disorders at a distance from the actual place
of the discomfort, and to deal with functional disturbances such as constipation
or headache, even though the affected organs are deep within the body.
The acupuncture points
to be used are chosen on the basis of symptoms and massaged with the thumb or
fingertip. When the intention is to sedate or calm overactive regions, the
manipulation is a deep, firm pressure. When a sluggish energy flow needs toning
up, a light, scrubbing stroke is used.
Connective tissue massage This form of massage
uses very heavy and often painful pressure, applied by thumbs. Fists, even
elbows, with the aim of breaking down and releasing longstanding contractions
and distortions of the body's connective tissue.
Posture reflects a
person's attitude to life, and may be adversely affected by stored tensions as
a result of psychological disturbance, repressed feelings, or habitual
patterns of movement which imbalance the body. The best known of therapies
directed at undoing these patterns are called Postural Integration and
Rolfing, both developed in America.
When not to massage There are some
conditions which could be made worse by the use of massage, and others in which
it could be actively dangerous. Acute inflammatory conditions due to bacterial
infection, recent sprains or wounds, and states due to contagious diseases
should not be massaged. Circulatory problems such as severe varicose veins
should be referred to a doctor, and anyone with a heart condition should seek medical
advice before receiving massage. It should be avoided in the case of internal
diseases such as ulcers and hernias, in any illness needing complete bed rest,
and, finally, in skin conditions, because it can cause them to spread.
Taken from The Marshall Cavendish A – Z GUIDE IN WEEKLY PARTS - DOCTOR’S ANSWERS – FOR ALL YOUR QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR FAMILY’S HEALTH - PART 41, MASSAGE, Page 1136 to 1140. Copyright Marshall
Cavendish Ltd 1981, Published by Marshall Cavendish Partworks Ltd, 58 Old
Compton Street, London WIV 5PA, England
NOTE: While every
reasonable precaution has been taken to ensure that the information presented
here accords with current medical knowledge, personal circumstances vary so
enormously that it is not possible to be sure that all advice given is right
for every individual. So if you have any health problem, you must discuss it
with your doctor.
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