Continued from February / March Issue
Scratching: Stimulates cardiovascular, neurologic and lymphatic circulation. Deep, medium and light pressures of scratching each have different effects. Light scratching affects the lymphatic system. Medium scratching excites and tonifies the muscles and nerves of the skin. Deep scratching penetrates into the tissues. It stimulates the skin’s nerve end-fibers that play an important role in nervous system activity.
Clasped Hands: Stimulates the circulation and tone of the intercostals muscles, diaphragm and the organs, heart, pericardium, lungs, pancreas, liver and spleen. It also strengthens the back muscles.
Compression: Spreading and applying pressure to deeper muscle tissue, it invokes the relaxation response. Compression enhances blood flow and softens the tissues.
Joint Mobliation: This helps increase range of motion within the joint. The movements are smaller and directed inward. This technique is used on all the joints: neck, elbows, hips, feet, toes, tail, etc.
Kneading: Kneading is the process of bunching up the skin and coat, gently lifting it off the body and releasing it back onto the body. It is a very powerful way to increase the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids within deeper tissues. Along with the coat and skin, kneading stretches the layers of fat under the skin and the sheaths of connective tissue around the muscles.
Skin Rolling: Skin Rolling is a variation of KNEADING. Skin rolling increases blood flow through the tissues and supports elastin, the chemical that helps the skin to be resilient, supple and “elastic”. Skin Rolling moves lymphatic fluid which in turn will move through the lymphatic system in support of the immune system. It also releases the fascia so it can function in the manner that it is supposed to.
Frictioning: Frictioning is used to help break down connective tissue or adhesion found in the fascia. The adhesions could be a result of previous injury or inflammation. Frictioning has significant roles in Sports and Geriatric PetMassage. Greater pressure or faster movement will induce more heat, and more circulation. Frictioning is performed on all the joints and surrounding tissue.
Finger Flicking: Finger Flicking improves circulation by drawing blood to the surface. It is extremely useful for athletes before an event. It induces muscle tone and strengthens muscles because it stimulates the muscles to contract.
By Julia McHale
Reiki Master,
Pet Massage Practitioner CanineMasssge
Part 2 of a 3 part seiries.