The most well known type of western massage is Swedish Massage. This is a staple of all massage therapy schools and one of the first techniques taught. It is a wonderful, relaxing therapy with many benefits.
Swedish Massage involves long broad strokes with medium pressure, kneading strokes, gentle shaking/jostling of tissues and limbs, and joint movements called Range-of-Motion. The pressure of the technique is light to medium firm.
Caution: Excessive pressure can cause damage to tissues or overwhelm the heart by increasing blood pressure. There is no "Deep-Swedish Massage" technique. "Deep-pressure" techniques are always used in motions opposite to Swedish Massage and away from the heart (example starting at the shoulder and ending at the elbow or wrist).
The long strokes promote circulation throughout the body by gently pushing blood back towards the heart. The increase of circulation carries nutrients and much needed oxygen to all cells within the body while returning the blood back to the organs from the limbs to remove cell waste and carbon dioxide.
The kneading strokes pump blood through the muscle tissues which can free up stagnant fluids that may be contained or trapped within the muscles. The squish and release of the muscles mimics the use of the muscles as they squish and release arteries and veins and pushes blood through the arteries and veins. The arteries and veins contain one way valves to help move the blood in one continuous loop through the body and keep the blood from flowing backwards.
Shaking and jostling relax the muscle tissues by over stimulating sensory cells within the muscles, and Range-of-Motion relax the joints and allow the synovial fluid that surrounds each joint to flow between the cartilage that covers the bones. This synovial fluid carries both nutrients and oxygen to the cells contained in each joint.
Increase of nutrients and oxygen to each cell in the body helps strengthen the immune system and repair injuries.
These techniques are safe for almost everyone with very few exceptions.
Pregnant women may receive Swedish Massage but should not lie on their stomach even and especially in the first trimester without special bolsters or pregnancy pillows that keep pressure off of the abdomen.
People with high or low blood pressure should be cautious and must inform the therapist prior to the session. People with blood clots should have the area with the blood clot avoided and all areas further from the heart from the blood clot avoided and must inform the therapist prior to the session.
People on Coumadin should not receive Swedish Massage.
