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Thursday, December 15, 2011

Team Franscican Center: Swedish Massage



Kristin Pitstick

Spa Manager

Over the course of the next few months we will be taking a closer look at several different types of massage. As per last month’s newsletter, we now know that there are over 100 styles of massage and bodywork techniques available today. This month we will be high-lighting one of the most popular types of massage in the United States: Swedish massage.


Swedish massage was developed by a Swedish fencing instructor named Per Henrik Ling. How did he get the idea for this massage? When he was injured, he reportedly “cured” himself using tapping (percussion) strokes around the affected area. Later, he developed the technique we currently use today. Thankfully some-time during the 1850s, Swedish massage was brought to the United States by two brothers: Dr. Charles and Dr. George Taylor.


Swedish massage involves the use of hands, forearms or elbows to manipulate the skin, muscles, and underlying tissues to improve overall health and wellness. The specific techniques used in this massage involve the application of gliding strokes, friction, kneading, and percussion on the soft tissues of the body. This type of massage may also include active or passive movement of the joints (stretching). The benefits? Some include increased blood and lymph circulation, muscle relaxa-tion, increase joint range of motion, and a decrease in stress.

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