Massage therapy can be defined in different ways. Recently, the
Ottawa panel defined massage as ‘soft tissue and joint manipulation
using the hands or a handheld device’. This definition also
included (spinal) manipulation and the use of mechanical devices.
Another definition of massage is ‘a systematic manipulation of the
soft tissues of the body with rhythmical pressure and stroking to
prevent, develop, maintain, rehabilitate, or augment physical
function or relieve pain’. Most massage styles consist of one or
more of the following actions: effleurage (a gliding or sliding
movement over the skin), petrissage (lifting, wringing or squeezing
of soft tissues in a kneading motion, or pressing or rolling of the
tissues), friction (penetrating pressure applied through the
fingertips), tapotement (strike the tissues at a rapid rate) and
vibration