Massage Therapy Massage Techniques 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which Swedish massage stroke involves long, gliding strokes applied with the palms?
- Effleurage (Correct answer)
- Petrissage
- Tapotement
- Friction
Correct answer: Effleurage
Effleurage consists of long, flowing strokes used to introduce touch, warm tissue, and apply lubricant.
Question 2: Petrissage techniques primarily affect which tissue component?
- Muscle belly and superficial fascia (Correct answer)
- Periosteum
- Joint capsule
- Lymph nodes
Correct answer: Muscle belly and superficial fascia
Petrissage—kneading, wringing, and squeezing—targets the muscle belly and superficial fascia to reduce tension and improve circulation.
Question 3: Which massage technique uses small, circular, cross-fiber movements applied directly to a tendon or ligament?
- Cyriax friction (Correct answer)
- Tapotement
- Effleurage
- Vibration
Correct answer: Cyriax friction
Cyriax (transverse/cross-fiber) friction is applied perpendicular to tissue fibers to break down adhesions in tendons and ligaments.
Question 4: In neuromuscular therapy (NMT), the therapist applies sustained pressure to a trigger point for how long before releasing?
- 8–12 seconds (Correct answer)
- 1–2 seconds
- 30–60 seconds
- 2–3 minutes
Correct answer: 8–12 seconds
In NMT, the therapist holds sustained ischemic pressure on a trigger point for 8–12 seconds, then releases, repeating until the point deactivates.
Question 5: Which direction should effleurage strokes be applied to best support venous return?
- Toward the heart (centripetal) (Correct answer)
- Away from the heart (centrifugal)
- Laterally across muscle fibers
- In a circular pattern around joints
Correct answer: Toward the heart (centripetal)
Effleurage applied centripetally—toward the heart—follows venous flow and assists in returning blood to central circulation.
Question 6: Tapotement is contraindicated directly over:
- The spine and kidneys (Correct answer)
- The deltoid muscle
- The gastrocnemius
- The trapezius
Correct answer: The spine and kidneys
Tapotement should not be applied directly over bony prominences such as the spine or over organs like the kidneys.
Massage Therapy Massage Techniques 1
Which Swedish massage stroke involves long, gliding strokes applied with the palms?