A Textbook Definition of Therapeutic Massage
Therapeutic massage is the scientific art and system of assessment and systematic, manual application of a technique to the superficial soft tissue of the skin, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and fascia, as well as to the structures that lie within the superficial tissue, by means of the hand, foot, knee, arm, elbow, and forearm. The manual technique involves systematic application of touch, stroking (effleurage), friction, vibration, percussion, kneading (pétrissage), stretching, compression, or passive and active joint movements within the normal physiologic range of motion. Also included are adjunctive external applications of water, heat, and cold for the purposes of establishing and maintaining good physical condition and health by normalizing and improving muscle tone, promoting relaxation, stimulating circulation, and producing therapeutic effects on the respiratory and nervous systems and the subtle interactions among all body systems. These intended effects are accomplished through the physiologic energetic and mind/body connections in a safe, nonsexual environment that respects the client's self determined outcome for the session.
P36 - Mosby's Fundamentals of Therapeutic Massage 2nd Edition by Sandy Fritz, Mosby inc., St Louis, 2000
