Dendrodoctor: MASSAGE! Massage is the therapeutic practice of manipulating the muscles and limbs to ease tension and reduce pain! Purpose:Massage therapy is to target the source of the body's pain via eliminating tense muscles, increasing flexibility, and providing relaxation to the affected muscles as well as the body as a whole. Basic Movements Initially Introduced:. 💆🏻EFFLEURAGE 💆🏻‍♂PETRISSAGE 💆🏻FRICTION 💆🏻‍♂ TAPOTEMENT EFFLEURAGE:French word meaning "to skim" or "to touch lightly on", is a series of massage strokes used in Swedish massage to warm up the muscle before deep tissue work.PETTRISAGE:An effective massage technique in which deep pressure is applied to tissue and underlying muscle. Petrissage is used to free up movement of tissues and muscle by treating muscle knots or spasms. The petrissage massage technique uses a squeezing technique in which can alleviate muscle spasm. FRICTION:Massage technique used to increase circulation and release areas that are tight; particularly around joints and where there are adhesions within the muscles or tendons. TAPOTEMENT: A specific technique used in Swedish massage. It is a rhythmic percussion, most frequently administered with the edge of the hand, a cupped hand or the tips of the fingers. There are five types of tapotement including Beating, Slapping, Hacking, Tapping and Cupping!