These tutorials will look at these three fundamental movements to give you a basic understanding of what is involved in massage.

For a more detailed understanding we recommend you purchase the book on which these tutorials are based - An Introduction to Massage by Louise Tucker (Holistic Therapy Books, Cambridge, UK). You can buy this and other books by Louise.

Friction
The name friction, like many others used in massage comes from a Latin word, fricare, which means to rub or rub down. Friction techniques are all variations of rubbing and they work by compressing tissue against bone. It is often used for close work on a small area on specific areas of tightness.

How to do it ?
Place thumbs or fingers, particularly the balls / pads of the thumb, on the section of the body to be worked. Apply firm pressure from your body and circle the tissue immediately below the thumbs slowly and deeply. Try to imagine the tissues below the surface of the skin and how the rubbing movement pushes them against other muscles and against the bones creating fiction. The thumbs can be rubbed up and down or held in a static position. Fingertips can also be used if the therapist finds them to be more effective.

Once the small area has been thoroughly worked move to another section. The therapist should not be moving rapidly across an expanse of flesh but deliberately and slowly focusing on a small section at at time, moving along the length of a muscle.

Depending on the type of skin / individual's requirements the therapist will need to adjust the length of time spent on each small area in order to prevent rubbing for too long and causing soreness. The effect should be one of heat and friction.

Cross-fibre friction is a variation of this technique in which the therapist works across the muscle at right angles to the fibres instead of along the length of the muscle. This helps to stretch the muscle fibres and release tension. It is used extensively by physiotherapists in the treatment of injuries.

When to use it ?
Friction is a method used for focusing on a particular problem area. It is especially useful for releasing tension in muscles and for loosening tightness around joints. It is not recommended for use all over the body because it is time consuming and tiring for the therapist. Cross-fibre friction is frequently used in sports massage. It is also used on small muscles where petrissage is not appropriate. On tight muscles friction can be very painful, so caution is vital in the care of the client.

What does it do ?
Friction movements heat up the local area, improve circulation, promote lymph drainage, stimulate the nerves and loosen tightness in the muscles. Working very closely with the muscles helps to break down any local 'knottiness' or lumpiness. Cross-fibre friction helps stretch the muscle fibres and release any tension held in the muscle; it also allows the therapist, particularly in sports massage, to work close to a damaged or inflamed area without touching it, because working on one section of muscle helps stretch the rest of the muscle.