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Swedish Massage Glossary of Terms
Active assisted movement- Movement in a
joint in which both the client and therapist produce the motion together.
Active free movement- Movement of a
joint freely through its range of motion, unassisted: done by client alone.
Acute-signs and symptoms happen quickly,
last a short amount of time and then disappear.
Adhesion- Abnormal adherence of collagen
fibers within connective tissue to surrounding structures following trauma
or stress; as a result of surgery. restrict the normal elasticity of these
structures as well as the transfer of electrolytes and other fluids.
Autonomic Nervous System- The body
system that regulates involuntary body functions such as action of glands,
smooth muscles and the heart. It consists of the sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous system.
Atrophy- Wasting away or decrease in size
of something, due to disease or other factors such as nutrition or lack of
use.
Beating - a form of heavy tapotement
usually using the fist.
Chronic- disease or condition that
develops slowly and lasts for a long time.
Compression- Massage petrissage stroke,
applied with fist, palm, heel of hand or fingertips; used to spread tissue
against underlying structures; can vary in pace and depth.
Connective tissue- The most abundant type
of tissue in the body, providing support, structure, framework, space,
stabilization and scar formation; binds structures together.
Contraindications- factors that indicate
that the treatment is not advised, unless further evaluation by a physician can
recommend a treatment plan.
Desquamation- The shedding of epethelial
tissue; mainly the skin as in exfoliation.
Effleurage- gliding stroke; does not
access the muscle layer; following the fiber direction of the underlying muscle
Friction- circular or transverse
technique that focuses on the underlying tissue.
Gate Theory- A hypothetical mechanism
that diminishes pain. There is a gate through which pain impulses travel.
Pain signals travel to the Central nervous system on unmyelinated nerve
pathways, which are a slower route to the brain. Pressure, touch,
vibration, and temperature signals travel on the faster myelinated nerve
pathways. These signals will arrive first and block out the sensation of
pain.
Golgi Tendon Receptors- receptors in the
tendons that sense tension; found mostly near the junction of tendons and
muscles. It will trigger a central nervous system response which will
inhibit muscular contraction when the tendon is in danger of tearing due to
excessive tension.
Hyperemia- an excess of blood in an area
or body part; usually indicated by red, flushed color or heat in the area.
Hyperesthesia- Unusual sensitivity to
sensory stimulus, hyper irritalbility, or increased muscular sensitivity to
pain.
Hypertonicity- Excess muscle tone
Hypertrophy- An increased size in muscle
or thickening of muscle tissue in response to increases stress.
Inflammation- characterized by pain,
heat, redness, swelling; usually as a result of an injury or infection.
Ischemia- Local and temporary
decrease in blood flow to an area.
Kneading- Petrissage; rhythmical lifting
of tissue; rolling or squeezing; pulling away from underlying tissue.
Mechanical Effect- based on structural
changes in the tissue; primary effects created manually; as a direct result of
the application of the technique.
Myofascial- affecting the connective
tissue of the body
Muscle spasm- a non-voluntary contraction
of the motor unit of a muscle; usually causing a contraction without shortening
the muscle; can be a result of mental, physical, emotional, chemical stress.
Peristalsis- Successive muscular
contractions along the wall of a hollow muscular structure such as the movement
of food through the intestine and colon.
Petrissage- kneading; rhythmic rolling,
lifting, squeezing, wringing of sort tissue.
Proprioceptor- a receptor located in
muscles, tendons or joints that provides information about body movement an
position.
Reflexive effect- secondary effects that
occur as a result of the massage technique but we do not cause directly or
manually.
Scar tissue- tissue that results
from healing of wounds; It is composed of collagenous fibers which will restrict
normal elasticity of tissue involved.
Stroke- a technique of therapeutic
massage; applying to the surface or deeper structures of the body.
Tapotement- percussive movement that are
applied to the body, rhythmically.
Vibration- fine, coarse tremulus movement
that creates reflexive responses |
