INFORMATION SHEET

SWEDISH MASSAGE

LEARNING OBJECTIVE:
At the end of this information sheet, you will be able to learn the Basic Techniques used
in Swedish Massage.

SWEDISH MASSAGE
Is a scientific treatment by a certain passive of a systematic manipulation upon
the nude skin of the human body with the objective of maintaining balanced
circulation.

PEHR HENRIK LING (1776 1839)

The Father of Swedish Massage. He is a Swedish Fencing Instructor.

5 MANIPULATION TECHNIQUES OF SWEDISH MASSAGE

1. EFFLEURAGE derived from the word effleurer meaning to

flow or glide.
2. PETRISSAGE derived from the word petrir meaning to
knead or mash.
3. FRICTION derived from the word frictio meaning to rub.
4. TAPOTEMENT derived from the word taper meaning light
blow (Percussion).
5. VIBRATION shake.

PURPOSE OF EFFLEURAGE:

1. It is used to introduce touch and for applying lubricant.

2. It is used on virtually every type of body surface that is why it is excellent for
assessing and exploring surfaces and underlying tissues.
3. It is used to begin and end a massage because it is so proficient at moving blood
and lymph.
4. It is used to help push the blood towards the heart, giving it an adequate supply
to pump in all body parts.
5. It can be used between other stroke to prepare for a deeper massage and to
flush out toxins and metabolic waste after using other strokes making it the
preferred transition stroke.
6. It is used to eliminate discomfort in a painful area.
7. It is used to soothe an area after deep work.

BENEFITS OF EFFLEURAGE:

1. Relaxes the client.

2. Warms bodily tissue and makes them more extensible.
3. Create length in a muscle if applied with fiber direction.
4. Soothe places that are too painful before hard work.
5. Soothe an area after hard work.
6. Calms the nervous system when finished slowly.
7. Stimulate the nervous system when done quickly.

Date Developed:
San Pedro January 2017
Technological Swedish Massage
Institute Developed by:
Ellistel A. Lagac
Massage Therapy NC II
 8. Aids in the movement of wastes out of congested areas.
9. Increases blood supply and lymph circulation.
10. Soothe tired body muscles.
11. Relieves insomnia.

PURPOSE OF PETRISSAGE:

1. A manipulation of choice to milk or detach the tissue of metabolic waste and draw
new blood and oxygen into the tissue.
2. To stretch and broaden the tissue.
3. To reduce muscle stiffness.
4. To stimulate the release of pain relieving substances such as endorphins.

BENEFITS OF PETRISSAGE:

1. Working out metabolic waste.

2. Relieving general fatigue.
3. Mechanically relaxes and lengthens the muscle.
4. Reducing muscle soreness.
5. Addressing tensions under the surface.
6. Improving cellular nutrition.
7. Reducing local swelling.
8. Softening superficial fascia.
9. Increasing blood flow.
10. Stimulating the nervous system.
11. Producing analgesic.

PURPOSE OF FRICTION:

1. To generate heat.
2. Often used to areas which have little or no blood supply such as ligaments and
tendons. Deep friction is suited for areas that lack muscle bulk such as the ankle.
3. To treat muscular, tendons or ligaments injuries (when using deep transverse
friction).
4. To promote proper skin formation.
5. To loosen tight nodules.

BENEFITS OF FRICTION:

1. Relaxing the muscles.

2. Promotes venous blood flow.
3. Improves glandular action of the skin.
4. Dilates capillaries.
5. Improves scar formation by reorganizing collagen.
6. Loosen stiff joints.

PURPOSE OF TAPOTEMENT:

1. To diminish nervous activities.

Date Developed:
San Pedro January 2017
Technological Swedish Massage
Institute Developed by:
Ellistel A. Lagac
Massage Therapy NC II
 2. To stimulate glandular and circulative functions.
3. To loosen phlegm confection in the lungs.
4. To reach deeper tissues.
5. To stimulate soft tissue areas such as buttocks or thighs.
6. Used in muscular areas such as legs and hips that may absorb more force in the
delivery and thin tissue or delicate areas as the face that requires smaller, lighter
tap.
7. To finish an area or end the massage.

BENEFITS OF TAPOTEMENT:

1. Stimulates nerve ending initially becoming more sedative as it continues.

2. Aids in congesting the lungs by loosening and mobilizing phlegm in the
respiratory tract.
3. Increases local blood flow.
4. Access deeper structures as hip rotators.
5. Creates an ultra sound effect manually.
6. Relieves pain.
7. Desensitize a hypertensive area after a few minutes of tapotement stimulation.

PURPOSE OF VIBRATION:

1. To reawaken the bodys prime condition.

2. To restore a balance circulation.
3. To increase the power of the muscles to contract. (sometimes therapists use an
electrical device to apply vibration)
4. To elicit pain.

BENEFITS OF VIBRATION:

1. Enhances general relaxation.

2. Increases circulation.
3. Stimulates muscle spindles thus creating minute muscle contraction.
4. Relieves pain.
5. Relieves upper respiratory tract congestion, including sinus congestion.
6. Stimulate peristalsis of the large intestinal tract.
7. Stimulates synovial fluid production in joints when applied with traction.
8. Access deeper structure such as hip rotators.
9. Reduces trigger and tender point activity.

Date Developed:
San Pedro January 2017
Technological Swedish Massage
Institute Developed by:
Ellistel A. Lagac
Massage Therapy NC II
LOCAL CONTRA INDICATIONS

EFFLEURAGE:
1. Gross swimming
2. Hairy skin
3. New sore tissue

PETRISSAGE:
1. Atrophied muscle the shrinking in size of some part or organ of the body,
usually caused by injury, disease or lack of use.
2. Acute inflammation extremely serious, severe or painful.

FRICTION:
1. Acute inflammation
2. Neuritis inflammation of the peripheral nerves, characterized by sensory or
motor disturbances that may take the form of pain (often burning)
3. Recent injuries
4. Osteo and rheumatoid arthritis.
5. Muscle lacking innervations (paralysis)

TAPOTEMENT:
1. Delivered with too much force, it can bruise the client.
2. Application immediately after exercise, because it can activate muscle spindles
and stimulate cramping.
3. Muscle cramping.
4. Atrophied muscles.
5. Insomnia
6. Neuritis
7. Bony area such as cranium. Brain might be damaged or shocked.

VIBRATION:
1. Head.

Date Developed:
San Pedro January 2017
Technological Swedish Massage
Institute Developed by:
Ellistel A. Lagac
Massage Therapy NC II
VARIATIONS OF EFFLEURAGE:
1. Heart Transition forming a heart while moving your hands on the
back of the client.
2. Butterfly Transition forming a butterfly while moving your hands
at the back of the client (Reverse Effleurage)
3. Knuckling use of 4 fingers.
4. Fist Rolling hand in fist-like position being pushed gently on the
muscles.
5. Raking use of two fingers running across the spinal column.
6. Arm Ironing use of the arm running from the waistline up to the
shoulder taking care not to touch the scapula.

VARIATION OF PETRISSAGE:
1. One hand inverted C formation
2. Two hand inverted C formation
3. Ocean Wave done in the abdomen side.
4. Alternate Thumb Kneading kneading alternately using the thumb.
5. Alternate Palmar Kneading kneading alternately using the palm.
6. Pulling

VARIATIONS OF FRICTION
1. Super facial warming
2. Cross Fiber
3. Ulnar sawing back side where the scapuls is located.
4. Deep Transverse friction
5. Chuckling fingers spread and used in the in-betweens of the rib
cage area.

VARIATIONS OF TAPOTEMENT:
1. Tapping use of the finger tips and phalanges.
2. Cupping hands should be in a cup-like position.
3. Function use of the fingers in standing position.
4. Pinchment pinching the muscles.
5. Hacking chopping motion.
6. Beating just like knocking on a door.
7. Pounding
8. Quacking chopping motion but fingers have sounds during the
process.

VARIATIONS OF VIBRATION:
1. Fine vibrating the back in small areas.
2. Jostling foot and leg is held up while being jolted sideways.
3. Rocking pushing the buttocks sideways in a gentle motion.

Date Developed:
San Pedro January 2017
Technological Swedish Massage
Institute Developed by:
Ellistel A. Lagac
Massage Therapy NC II