Body Mechanics & Foot Stances
This is the use of the body that is safe, energy-conserving, and reduces physical stress or strain.
What is body mechanics
This French term, also called Gliding, refers to horizontal strokes used to increase blood circulation and spread lotion.
What is effleurage?
This is the general term for lying down, which is the position most clients are in to receive a massage.
What is recumbent?
This level of pressure uses only the weight of the hands or arms, not the practitioner's body weight, and is appropriate for palliative care.
What is light / gentle pressure?
This is defined as a condition that could be aggravated by massage, such as allergies, diseases, or medications.
What is a contraindication?
This asymmetric stance is used when the target area is toward the side of the body, featuring a lead foot and a trailing foot
What is the archer stance?
This static stroke is the first stroke of a massage, used to give the client a chance to get used to your touch
What is the resting stroke?
When a client is lying on their back with the anterior surface of the body facing upward, they are in this position.
What is supine?
This term describes a non-harmful, unintended, but predictable effect, such as soreness or fatigue, that occurs after a session and affects approximately 10% of clients.
What are side effects?
Contagious disease, a widespread infection (usually indicated by fever), or a medical emergency all fall under this classification of inadvisable conditions.
What is an absolute contraindication?
This term refers to adapting the work environment and tools to fit the worker, which is likened to "setting up the stage"
What is ergonomics?
This technique, also called percussion, involves rhythmic, springy blows applied at a fast rate and is especially useful for athletes pre-event.
What is tapotement?
When a client is in the prone position, bolsters should be placed in front of these body parts.
What are the ankles?
This level of pressure is more likely to cause side effects and is typically associated with methods such as Rolfing and trigger point therapy.
What is deep / heavy pressure?
Clients taking these blood-thinning medications, such as Warfarin or Heparin, require the use of light pressure during massage to minimize the risk of bruising.
What are anticoagulants?
The application principles suggest flexing these two joints, often indicated by the phrase "Drop It," to lower the center of gravity
What are flexing the hips and knees
This stroke involves a bending force and rhythmic rolling, lifting, squeezing, and wringing of soft tissue.
What is petrissage?
These are the three main areas that must be covered on all clients, regardless of gender, using draping linens.
What are the genitals, gluteal cleft, and chest/breast area?
These physiological effects result from mechanical stress (such as tension, bending, or compression) that directly influences the soft tissue.
What are mechanical effects?
These are areas that require light to no pressure because they contain structures like nerves, blood vessels, organs, and glands that are not well protected by bone or muscle.
What are endangerment sites?
The "Suck It" or "Tuck It" movements are ways to engage this muscular area, which is vital for the ability to control the position and motion of the trunk.
What is the core?
This type of friction is typically applied in a direction perpendicular the the soft tissue fibers in areas like musculotendinous junctions to activate tissue repair.
What is deep cross-fiber or transverse friction?
This is the term used in healthcare settings to classify the semireclining position based on the degree of torso elevation.
What is the Fowler position?
This type of mechanical force is a sliding force, usually created by compressing and gliding two surfaces against each other, as occurs in friction techniques.
What is shear?
A suspicious mole, a lesion, a rash, or an acutely inflamed area are examples of conditions that make receiving massage inadvisable only in this specific area.
What are local contraindications?
This is the minimum amount of open space required around all sides of the massage table to allow the practitioner to stand or sit comfortably.
What is 3ft.?
This variation of Effleurage involves the application of light pressure with the weight of the fingers or hands gliding down the body.
What are nerve strokes?
When the client is lying supine, proper positioning requires these accessories to be placed in these two locations.
What are bolsters behind the cervical spine and knees
This type of mechanical force, which is a combination of push and pull, is introduced during techniques like Petrissage (Ocean Waves) and aims to target connective tissue changes and fluid movement.
What is torsion / twisting?
Because massage promotes vasodilation, combining it with these drugs can lead to adverse effects like dizziness, fainting, or a dangerous drop in blood pressure.
What are blood pressure medications?
This foot stance is used when the target area is in front of the body, and requires the feet to be just wider than hip width.
What is the horse stance?
Static, ischemic, and gliding are the three types of this force or method used to apply pressure into the body against underlying structures.
What is compression?
If a client in the prone position has lower back pain, a pillow may be placed here to reduce excessive curvature in the lumbar spinal region.
What is under the abdomen or hips?
This elongating or lengthening force is created by pulling objects in opposite directions and is applied during techniques like stretching and myofascial applications.
What is tension?
Long-term use of these medications can have this effect on connective tissues, necessitating the use of gentler massage techniques.
What are steroids?
This working height for the massage table is generally recommended because many techniques involve downward pressure or compression.
What is lower?
This stroke, which includes vibration, rocking, and shaking, is defined as any effect that varies in a back-and-forth or reciprocating manner
What is oscillation?
This technique is used to secure the sheet when a client changes positions, and the practitioner should inform the client the sheet is being secured beforehand.
What is the anchor method?
This term describes the number of times or speed techniques are repeated; a slow application is more relaxing/calming, while a quick one is more stimulating.
What is rate?
Clients taking Opioids may have an altered sense of this, requiring the therapist to use gentle techniques to prevent unintentional injury.
What is pain perception?
This application principle requires the practitioner to arrange their joints vertically as much as possible when applying compression.
What is stacking the joints?
This technique involves moving a joint through its normal measurement in degrees and is used to relieve tension, stiffness, and improve joint flexibility.
What is range of motion?
When helping a client turn over from prone to supine, the practitioner should anchor the sheet edge nearest them and lift the sheet to form this shape while instructing the client to turn over.
What is a tent?
This is the approximate time frame for the onset and duration of common, predictable side effects like soreness or fatigue following a massage session.
What is 12 hours afterward and last about 36 hours?
This definitive action is advised if a client presents with a fever.
What is never massage?
What term describes the heightened self-awareness and focused attention given to present moments, which includes both exteroception and introception?
What is mindfulness?
This technique occurs when the practitioner presses a muscle against the underlying bone to prevent the stretch from spreading beyond that point.
What is pin and stretch?
This is the recommended size for a knee bolster if a client in the supine position experiences lower back discomfort.
What is 8 inches?
In the rare adverse event rhabdomyolysis, traumatized muscle cells release this protein, which can disturb blood chemistry and potentially damage the kidneys.
What is myoglobin?
Since these medications can cause sedation and diminish muscle tone, gentle and supportive massage techniques are preferred to prevent injury.
What are muscle relaxers?