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Effleurage

{{short description|Type of massage stroke in Swedish massage}}

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{{lang|fr|Effleurage}}, a French word meaning 'to skim' or 'to touch lightly on', is a series of massage strokes used in Swedish massage to warm up the muscle before deep tissue work using {{lang|fr|petrissage}}.{{cite book |last=Scheumann |first=Donald W. |chapter=Swedish massage |pages=36–37 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7TGouoYckFwC&pg=PA36 |title=The Balanced Body: A Guide to Deep Tissue and Neuromuscular Therapy |date=2007 |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |isbn=978-0-7817-6308-0}}{{cite book |last=Archer |first=Patricia A. |chapter=Effleurage |pages=25–26 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bTjJAjdjn3IC&pg=PA25 |title=Therapeutic Massage in Athletics |date=2007 |publisher=Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |isbn=978-0-7817-4269-6}}

This is a soothing, stroking movement used at the beginning and the end of the facial and/or body massage. It is also used as a linking move between the different strokes and movements. {{lang|fr|Effleurage}} is basically a form of massage involving a circular stroking movement made with the palm of the hand.{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

{{lang|fr|Effleurage}} can be firm or light without dragging the skin, and is performed using either the padded parts of the finger tips or the palmar surface of the hands. Lotion may or may not be used. The process works as a mechanical pump on the body to encourage venous and lymphatic return by starting at the bottom of the limb and pushing back towards the heart. This will have more success with this once all the muscles in the area are warmed up and loose. It consists of four sub-categories:{{citation needed|date=December 2023}}

  1. Ethereal or aura strokes
  2. Feathering, or nerve-stroking
  3. Superficial {{lang|fr|effleurage}}
  4. Deeper {{lang|fr|effleurage}}

Usage

{{lang|fr|Effleurage}} is one of the five components of Swedish massage and is used at the beginning and end of a massage session, as well as between other massage techniques.{{citation needed|date=July 2023}} Regardless of the reason for use, {{lang|fr|effleurage}} is always performed in a circular motion from light to medium pressure. The {{lang|fr|effleurage}} may vary in speed, direction, and time of the procedure.{{Cite web|title=Swedish Massage Therapy Techinques|url=https://www.amcollege.edu/blog/5-techniques-of-swedish-massage-amc-miami|accessdate=2023-05-05|work=amcollege.edu}} {{lang|fr|Effleurage}} is part of a type of massage called myofascial relaxation, which is used for carpal tunnel syndrome.{{cite journal |last1=Elliott |first1=Rex |last2=Burkett |first2=Brendan |title=Massage therapy as an effective treatment for carpal tunnel syndrome |journal=Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies |date=July 2013 |volume=17 |issue=3 |pages=332–338 |doi=10.1016/j.jbmt.2012.12.003 |pmid=23768278 }} In some cases, effleurage can be used to reduce labor pain.{{cite book |doi=10.5220/0009467601350141 |chapter=The Effect of Effleurage Massage on the Intensity of Primigravida Stage I Labor Pain Latent Phase |title=Proceedings of the International Conference on Health Informatics and Medical Application Technology |year=2019 |last1=Maharani |first1=Sri |last2=Ginting |first2=Raynald Ignasius |last3=Tarigan |first3=Layari |last4=Ginting |first4=Ginting Rosita |last5=Yosepha |first5=Desideria |pages=135–141 |isbn=978-989-758-460-2 |s2cid=239321725 }} Clinical studies have shown that Swedish massage can reduce chronic pain, fatigue, joint stiffness.{{citation needed|date=December 2023|reason=Can't just claim that unnamed "clinical studies" say something; must cite specific ones saying it.}} However, the effect of {{lang|fr|effleurage}} in relieving muscle fatigue or during recovery from sports injuries is insignificant.{{cite journal |last1=Young |first1=Ryan |last2=Gutnik |first2=Boris |last3=Moran |first3=Robert W. |last4=Thomson |first4=Rex W. |title=The Effect of Effleurage Massage in Recovery From Fatigue in the Adductor Muscles of the Thumb |journal=Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics |date=November 2005 |volume=28 |issue=9 |pages=696–701 |doi=10.1016/j.jmpt.2005.09.015 |pmid=16326239 }}{{cite journal |last1=Tiidus |first1=P. M. |last2=Shoemaker |first2=J. K. |title=Effleurage massage, muscle blood flow and long-term post-exercise strength recovery |journal=International Journal of Sports Medicine |date=October 1995 |volume=16 |issue=7 |pages=478–483 |doi=10.1055/s-2007-973041 |pmid=8550258 |s2cid=25829700 }}

See also

References

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Category:Massage