While massage often brings to mind a single practice, it's actually a combination of many techniques serving different purposes. In this article, we discuss basic massage techniques and the advanced approaches used in addition to these techniques.
Basic massage techniques
The classic massage approach is generally built on five basic techniques:
- Effleurage: Light, gliding surface movements. Generally used at the start and end of a session; can help warm the tissue and support circulation.
- Petrissage: Includes kneading, lifting, and squeezing movements of the muscles. Aims to reach deeper tissue and can contribute to reducing muscle tension.
- Friction: Provides deeper, more focused contact with a specific area through circular or back-and-forth movements.
- Tapotement: Rhythmic, light tapping movements; generally aims to create an invigorating effect.
- Vibration: Offers regional relaxation support through vibrating movements.
Advanced approaches
In addition to basic techniques, more targeted approaches can be included in the session as needed:
- Deep tissue work: An approach with more intense pressure, aimed at deeper layers of tissue.
- Trigger point work: A targeted technique that focuses on specific, sensitive points of tension.
- Myofascial release approaches: An approach involving slow, sustained pressure directed at the muscle and the surrounding connective tissue (fascia).
- Assisted stretching techniques: Controlled stretching movements performed with the practitioner's support.
These advanced approaches can also be complemented with instrument-assisted or vacuum-based techniques like Graston sessions and cupping therapy.
How do techniques come together in practice?
A session generally uses not just one technique, but a combination of several. The practice starts with surface-level techniques like effleurage, continues as needed with more targeted techniques like petrissage, friction, or trigger point work, and is completed again with surface-level techniques. Which techniques are used, at what intensity, and in which area is determined individually based on the information you share during the preliminary consultation and a regional assessment.
To plan a personalized approach for you, you can review our Medical Massage or Sports Massage pages, or check out our Graston Technique and Cupping Therapy pages if you're looking for additional support.