Massage Therapy techniques generally address the soft tissues for the purposes of palliative and stress management issues. Massage therapy may include techniques as, stroking, kneading, gliding, percussion, friction, vibration, compression, passive or active stretching within the normal anatomical range of movement; effleurage; petrissage or tapotement.
Techniques may be applied with or without the aid of lubricants, salt or herbal preparations, hydromassage, thermal massage or a massage stones that mimics or enhances the actions possible by human hands. The purpose of the practice of massage is to enhance the general health and well-being of the recipient.
Massage does not include the diagnosis of a specific pathology, the prescription of drugs or controlled substances, spinal manipulation or those acts of physical therapy that are outside the scope of massage therapy.
