Therapeutic massage often refered to as swedish massage is the manipulation of the soft tissues (skin, muscles, tendons and ligaments) of the body. It is a firm massage and has a set routine of techniques that vary from deep pressure to stimulate the body's systems, to a slower, more superficial movement to assist relaxation. There are four basic movements used in Therapeutic Massage:
Effleurage: relaxes and stretches the superficial muscles of the body.
Petrissage: kneading and squeezing of superficial and deeper muscles and soft tissue.
Friction: breaks down adhesions between tissues and relaxes muscle fibres.