Effleurage
Definition: A succession of light or deep stroking or gliding motions
following body contours, applied by passing the flat of the hand or other flat
surface such as the forearm, over a portion of the body or body part.
Light effleurage is generally relaxing and has only
reflexive effects. Deep effleurage has more mechanical effects.
Effleurage dynamically affects the body mainly via its stimulation of the
nervous system. Deeper strokes can also positively influence circulation.
Applications:
Effleurage can be applied with full hands or parts of the
hand or arm (fingers, fists or forearm) depending on the body part being worked
on and the desired effects.
The surface applying the stroke must be able to conform to
the body part and remain fully in contact of the body part being worked on..
You must be able to maintain the same contact and amount of pressure for the
duration of the stroke.
Variations:
Light Effleurage - superficial touch, accessing the skin only. Full
hand contact with very little pressure. No visible rippling of the skin.
No noticeable pressure to an observer's eye or the client. On the limbs,
the stroke moves distal to proximal to assist venous return and lymphatic flow.
On the back, the stroke can be applied from shoulders to ilium or ilium to
shoulders, but the stroke should follow a pattern.
a. continuous effleurage - full hand contact the entire
length of the stroke - one hand following the other, ulnar side (little finger)
leading.
b. V-shape both hands to conform to the contour of the
legs or body part with one hand following the other
Deep Effleurage - access a deeper level to the subcutaneous layer of the
skin, which is the fascia covering the superficial layer. This stroke
creates a very slight ripple of the skin. If the muscle tissue moves, you
have compressed too deep and have progressed to a friction stroke.
Technique -Fast, slow, long or short, depending on the desired physiological
effect. Faster and shorter are stimulating while slower and longer are
more relaxing.
Use the palms, fingers, fingertips, full thumb and forearms in any of the
following variations: horizontal, vertical gliding or stroking, shingling, thumb
effleurage, t- stroke, bi-lateral tree stroking. It is not the hand
variation, but the depth and rhythm of the stroke that determines the effect of
the effleurage.
Keep you hands soft and pliable.
Move hands towards the heart with gradually deepening pressure, using massage
oil. Then return the hands lightly keeping contact with the
body.
Gliding- applied lightly or deeply using full hand contact working
side-by-side as on the large surface of the back. Vary by having one hand
following the other or reinforcing hand (one on top of the other) or some other
surface such as the forearm.
Alternate Hand- light or deep applied alternately with one hand contacting
the body as the other follows.
Shingling - one hand following the other while working longitudinally in an area
such as one side of the back or leg.
Fanning- stroking outward in a three-stroke fan shape from a single point often
used for draining after friction massage.
Tree stroking or branching - hands start at the center line and move outward,
while creating the shape of a tree. Alternate hand movements are generally
more stimulating that gliding movements
Technique:
Place both hands on the part of the body that is closest to
you. Glide toward the center of the body toward the heart
with gradually deepening pressure. Apply oil before you
assess the tissue or after. Return hands to start and keep
contact with the body. Repeat.
