Elements of a Swedish Massage

Body Kneads Therapeutic Massage
http://www.bettyechols.com/
Macon, GA
Betty Echols, LMT MT001462
478-256-0331


Elements of a Massage

1. Intent
Plan of action made during consultation.(which can change during a massage)

2. Depth
Distance the hands or fingers make into the tissue.

3. Pressure
Application of force by therapist.

4. Excursion
Distance traveled on the clients body in one stroke

5. Speed
Rate of motion

6. Rhythm
Repetition of strong and weak stokes in massage.

7. Continuity
Uninterrupted succession of strokes or unbroken transition form from one stroke to the next.

8. Transition strokes
Moving from one area to the next smoothly and uninterrupted.

9. Duration
Time spent on one area, which should be only 2/3 minutes. Any more at one time will desensitize the area, or numb it. You may go back to an area many times.

10. Sequence
Succession of stokes: Effleurage, Petrisage, Effleurage pattern.

11. Routine
1. Necessary for delivering the same massage to every client. More or less can be added due to intent.
2. Logical progression that leaves the client with a feeling of completeness.
3. Ensures that every part of the body is massaged properly and thoroughly.
4. Tells me where I am at on the body, when conversation diverts my attention and I forget.
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Whiplash: Front End or Rear End Collision?

Body Kneads, Therapeutic Massage
http://www.bettyechols.com/
Macon, GA
Betty Echols, LMT
478-256-0331

WHIPLASH
Front End Collision or Rear End Collision?

In a rear end collision, the head is thrust backward, and then whipped forward.

... The main muscles that are involved are the sternocleidomastoid, and the scalenes.

The pectoralis minor muscles are important because of the seat belt across the chest.

Drivers pecs are affected on the left side, whereas the passengers pecs are affected more on the right side.

A front end collision involves the splenius capitus, the semisplenius and the upper trapezius fibers.

These muscles are usually found to have sustained a micro avulsion injury where the muscle tears away from the bony attachment site.

These muscles will not be able to function properly to hold the head or turn the head.

A major concern is that without proper treatment this will become chronic, meaning long term,

Time is of the essence. The longer the patient goes without proper treatment, the more they run the risk of the pain becoming chronic.

The amount of damage to the vehicle does not equate to the damage to the passengers.

The symptoms may occur immediately after the accident or may be delayed for several days.

Symptoms include, but are not limited to, headaches, neck stiffness, dizziness, and abnormal sensations such as burning shoulder pain or back pain. Memory loss, concentration impairment and sleep disturbances have been reported.

Massage therapy can help alleviate pain and reduce stiffness.
Massage will relax the muscles that have "drawn up" and will increase blood supply to aid in healing from within.
Besides working on the entire upper body, the specific muscles mentioned above will be worked on individually.