Swedish massage is a popular form of massage mostly used in table massage. This is normally what is taught in American massage therapy schools. Some schools, depending on the state they are located in, give classes on other types of bodywork as well during the beginning certification classes. Others offer additional types of bodywork only in advanced and continuing education classes.

A Sweden-born gym instructor named Pehr Henrik Ling (1776-1839) is the father of this type of massage. He is also the father of physical therapy. He taught his techniques at the Royal Central Institute of Gymnastics in Stockholm, Sweden from 1813-1839. He taught his students movements and stretches to relax people, improve circulation and improve range of motion.

This popular type of massage has 5 categories of strokes:

Effleurage

Petrissage

Friction

Vibration

Tapotement

Lubricants are needed to perform this type of massage.

Within each category, there are variations of the strokes. Some of the strokes are used in chair massage but all are used in table massage.

Mastering the massage strokes takes a lot of time and practice. It is best to learn them through watching an experienced massage therapist, such as your massage school instructor. I am a visual learner and my instructor was fabulous in showing me some of the strokes over and over again, ever so patiently! Practice as often as you can until they are perfect.

Effleurage is the first category in Swedish massage. You use effleurage to apply lubricant, whether oil, cream, lotion, or powder. This stroke is also used to get the client used to your touch.

The word for this stroke is a French word meaning to glide or flow. That is exactly what you do--you glide your fingers, hands or forearms over an area of the body, slowly, letting yourself sink down deep into the skin and the underlying muscles. Repeat this several times in the same area and follow the shape of your client's body with this stroke over the entire body part you are working on.

This is a good stroke for palpating the tissue and feeling for any tightness in the muscles and soft tissues.

This beginning stroke moves lymph and blood and gets the soft tissues warmed up and prepared for additional strokes. Sometimes it is the only stroke you need to perform as a massage therapist to make a client's pain go away.

It is the stroke that not only starts a massage, but also ends it. That is correct. Once all of the other massage strokes have been completed, you will once again perform this stroke to finish off the massage.

It can be performed with one hand or two. When working on the arms and legs, the most important thing to remember is to make sure the blood flows toward the heart and not away from it to promote venous blood flow. So you would start from the bottom of the area such as the foot or hand and move up to the next joint.

The second most important thing to remember about this stroke is to perform it slowly, allowing your fingers to sink down deep into the tissue. Really let the client feel it. Don't be rough. Just move slowly and deeply. It will really benefit the client that way.

Petrissage is a French word for kneading. Performed after effleurage, you knead the client's soft tissue by taking it firmly in your hand and lifting it and then squeezing, letting go, and grasping more tissue and repeating the process all the way across the body part.
This is most effective on the tissues when it is done firmly and slowly. Repeat this several times using the same technique and then change to another variation of this type of stroke.

Everyone loves a good back massage. While I perform variations of this kneading stroke on the back during table massage, a good deal of my clients doze off. From personal experience, this portion of the back massage feels so good that I don't want it to end and many clients feel the same way.

This empties the soft tissues of waste and toxins and allows them to fill with freshly oxygenated blood to nourish them. This stroke also flattens and stretches the tissues.

There are several variations such as one or two-handed, fulling, and skin rolling to name a few.

Again, the best way to learn Swedish massage strokes is by watching your massage instructor perform them.

The word friction comes from a Latin word that means to rub. This stroke is the next step in table massage after petrissage. It is also known as compression because you push down and squeeze the tissue together.

The compression stroke increases circulation and is good for massaging bony areas like the ankles, knees and the back of the neck, along with tendons and ligaments.

This type of stroke includes superficial warming, deep compression, chucking wringing, rolling, cross-fiber, and circular.

You can lightly slide your hands back and forth across the client's skin to warm it for superficial warming. The skin reddens as new blood flows into the skin.

Cross-fiber is moving your fingers or the heels of your hands across the pattern of fibers on the muscles, perpendicular to them. Cross-fiber is great for treating muscle injuries. It is important to know what direction the muscle fibers run prior to using this technique. Anatomy is so important to know in massage therapy.

Vibration comes from a Latin word that means shaker. It is fast shaking, trembling, and slower rhythmic rocking using your fingertips, hands, and sometimes electrical appliances.

A word of caution--Always be careful of the electric cord if this is the route you choose. I, myself, do not use electric vibrators on clients as they can create an uncomfortable numbness for the client and they can damage the massage therapist's hand nerves.
The variations are rocking, coarse, and fine. The fine variation of this stroke works very well to stimulate the digestive system and promote what is known as peristalsis.

Jostling is another word for the coarse variation. Jostling loosens muscles that surround joints. Rocking is comforting to the client, much like when you rock a baby to sleep. You use your hands to rock the client's body or a specific body part on the table. This can relax the client, increase circulation, relieve pain, and relieve congestion in the upper respiratory tract.

Tapotement is from a French word meaning a light blow. This Swedish massage stroke category is repeated strikes of the hands on a body part delivered with rhythm. There are six main types that you should be taught in the practical portion of your massage therapy class.

These are the most popular Swedish massage movements in massage therapy school for the students to learn and practice. Talk about fun--It is so much fun to hear the students trying out all of these noise-making strokes in class on each other!

Variations of this popular stroke are tapping, slapping, cupping, hacking, pinching, and soft-fisted beating. The names sound sort of violent, but they are not. They should always be done lightly and should not hurt at all. Make sure that you learn them well in massage school before attempting them on clients.

A word of caution--Do not apply this type of stroke on any endangerment site on the body, such as the lower back area where the kidneys and floating ribs are located.
Tapping and slapping on the back are great when the client's lungs are congested. This can help the phlegm to release.

If you don't want to use quite as much force or noise, a diffused variation of this Swedish massage stroke can also be used.

To do this, lay one hand flat on the body part to be worked on. Strike your flat hand with the other hand using the form of strike of your choice. This is best when used over the abdomen to protect the organs that are not covered with bone.

Here are some massage therapy tips:

The first type of massage you will be performing in your practice will most likely be Swedish massage, which means table and not chair massage. Until you take some classes in chair massage and other types of massage, this will be your only option in most states. In Texas, Swedish massage is the only type of massage that you learn in basic massage school.

1. When performing table massage, make sure your hands are warm. Wash them in warm water, not cold, prior to massage.

2. Never pour massage oil or lotion directly on the client. Always pour it in your hand and rub both hands together to warm the lubricant. Your client will be much happier if you do this.

3. Keep the room temperature fairly warm since clients will be undressed when you perform Swedish massage. 74 degrees Fahrenheit is a good starting temperature. In the summer, do not blast the air conditioner on your client.

4. Play calming massage music or sounds of nature during your massage on a CD. Use the repeat button on the CD player so you do not have to stop the massage and push buttons on the CD player.

5. Remember to use bolsters or pillows under the knees and ankles when appropriate. Your client's comfort is important.

6. Prior to performing massage, make sure that you that the client fills out a client intake form and that you interview him/her to make sure that there is no reason why the massage should not take place. Remember your list of contraindications from massage school and follow them.

7. Always wash your hands in between clients.

8. Always change sheets in between clients.

9. Wipe down your massage table according to what you learned in massage school at least once a week. If any body fluids come in contact with the table, wash it immediately.

10. Make sure that you have massage therapy liability insurance before you touch your first client.

11. Keep current by reading the latest massage magazines.

12. Take as many continuing education classes as you can. Keep learning all of the latest techniques.

As you gain experience, you will be able to think of a lot of massage tips to help other new massage therapists.

Here are some useful back massage techniques:

The back is usually what clients prefer to have massaged, both in chair massage and in table massage.

Your technique should be a slow and determined one, allowing your hands to sink down deep into the layers of soft tissue and muscle for the greatest effect. Do not use a light touch but be sure and ask the client if you are using too much pressure. Some clients love deep tissue massage and others cannot take much pressure.

Full-handed kneading is easiest during table massage. The client's clothes are off and massage cream has been applied to the skin. The soft tissue of the back can be picked up, squeezed, and released, one hand at a time, all the way across the back. This is a petrissage stroke and it feels so good, especially if your back is hurting.
If the client is in a massage chair, you can still do full-handed kneading. The clothing does not allow you to grasp as much soft tissue as in table massage but it still feels good on the back. You may have to use a little more pressure in order for the client to feel it as well as in the table massage.

One of the better back massage techniques used in chair massage is ironing. Ironing is a type of effleurage. Using the bony portion of your forearm, glide all the way down the client's back, just as if your forearm were an iron. Do not glide back up. Repeat this stroke three or four times for maximum effect.

Other types of effleurage are more difficult to do on the back in chair massage because of the clothing. Effleurage using the palms of the hands gliding down the back works pretty well if the clothing is not too bulky. This can also be done with the fists.