What is Massage?

What is Massage?

Massage is a collective term for various manual techniques applied to connective tissue and all its structures. It is considered one of the oldest forms of treating various diseases. Each of us has often used it without realizing: Painful areas of the body, when we bump ourselves, are intuitively rubbed or pressed with the hand to provide relief from pain and discomfort.

The origins of the word massage can be found in Greek (massein: to knead), Hebrew (massa: to touch), and Arabic (massah: to rub, stroke).

There are different types of massage, yet they mostly operate on the same principles.

Classic Massage

The techniques in classic massage are divided into four categories:

• Strokes (Effleurage)

• Kneading (Pétrissage)

• Friction (Friktion)

• Tapping (Tapotements)

Each of these categories contains different techniques with varying effects, which can be combined in a treatment plan. Additionally, there are other techniques that cannot be clearly assigned to the aforementioned categories. Therefore, it is sensible to utilize additional categories:

• Skin Mobilization

• Vibrations, Sawing Grip

• Shaking and Rolling

Functional Massage

The principle of functional massage is to connect and combine manual contact and joint movements. This involves kneading/stretching the muscle parallel to the fiber direction while simultaneously extending the massaged muscle.

Transverse Frictions

Transverse frictions are a specific deep-impact massage used to dissolve local adhesions and stickiness. Especially at muscle-tendon junctions and tendon-bone junctions (insertion points), ligaments, and the capsule-ligament apparatus are very effectively treatable, but also muscle belly, tendon, and tendon sheaths are accessible tissues for transverse frictions.

James Cyriax is especially noteworthy with his specially developed Deep Friction Technique.

Sports Massage

Sports massage refers to types of massage used in sports. It distinguishes between pre-activation massage and post-activation massage. The pre-activation massage serves as preparation for the respective sporting activity, with goals depending on the specific sport. After physical exertion, the post-activation massage helps accelerate and optimize the athlete's recovery.

It is also often used to minimize and reduce the effects of muscle soreness after physical exertion.

Trigger Point Massage

Discussed in detail individually along with dry needling

Every type of massage can stand independently, but for optimal treatment and therapy results, they can always be combined.