massage

Rubbing, kneading, and tapping of body parts. It has been called the world's oldest therapy. It is used by exercisers to warm, stretch, and relieve tension in muscles prior to and immediately after strenuous activity. Massage may increase blood flow through muscle, helping the body to remove lactic acid that has built up during strenuous exercise. Many people also use massage to relieve fatigue and pain caused by injury to muscles and soft tissues. Massage may orientate collagen fibres in scar tissue so that subsequent stretching is less likely to result in an injury. Many experts believe, however, that massage has little beneficial effect on recovery and, if used immediately after injury, can be harmful.

Massage often forms part of a weight-reducing regime in health clinics. Some masseurs claim that, by stimulating circulation, massage can decongest tissue and help remove fat. A special form of massage, called connective tissue massage, is directed at pummelling surplus flesh in an attempt to break up hard, adhesive fat, and flatten unsightly bulges. However, the massage itself will not reshape or slim the body.

Other common forms of massage used by exercisers and slimmers are:

• CROSS FRICTIONAL MASSAGE, in which the masseur applies firm pressure for short distances across the line of the muscle or tendon growth. It is thought to break down scar tissue
• DEEP MASSAGE, in which a firm pressure is applied to treat deep muscle injuries
• DEEP STROKING, performed by moving the pads of the thumbs along the length of a muscle, starting from the point farthest from the heart and moving towards it. Deep stroking moves blood and lymph through the muscle, removing fluid built up during exercise. This type of massage can be painful, causing tension that can be relieved by another form of massage called jostling
• EFFLUAGE (OR EFFLEURAGE), consisting of superficial or deep stroking movements, administered with the flat of the hand and fingers. It stimulates circulation of the blood and lymph
• FANNING, in which the masseur begins with hands together, then spreads them out to cover a muscle by moving away from a central point out to the edges of the muscle. Fanning is applied to muscles such as those of the chest and abdomen which radiate from the body's centre. It provides equal pull and pressure over the whole muscle to improve circulation
• JOSTLING, in which a relaxed muscle is grasped at its fixed attachment point (the origin) and shaken gently back and forth. The stroke continues all the way down the muscle to the opposite point of attachment (insertion) and then back again
• KNEADING, in which groups of muscles are held between the thumb and fingers of both hands and squeezed. Each hand works alternately in a rhythmical way up and down the muscle in a manner reminiscent of kneading dough. Kneading is used to assess the state of muscle tension. It may also help to pump blood and tissue fluids through muscle, accelerating recovery by helping to remove the waste products of exercise
• LOCAL CROSS-FIBRE STROKE, is a gentle but deep massage applied with the thumb or fingertips across muscles in which there are problem areas that feel hard. It is used during rehabilitation but not on newly injured areas
• TAPOTEMENT, massage technique in which the fingertips, palms, and sides of the hands create tapping and slapping movements. It stimulates circulation and helps to remove the waste products to exercise.

Although massage may be beneficial, it can also be harmful if applied incorrectly: massage of recently damaged tissue may disturb a clot and cause further internal bleeding. People suffering from heart, circulatory (e.g. varicose veins), or skin problems should not subject themselves to a massage.