Friction

• Friction is a stroke that penetrates through the skin and massages the deep muscles. When you friction the patient your hand keep contact with the patient’s skin (like a glove) and you reach through it massaging the muscles. Ask the patient often if you are deep enough or if you are too deep. Remember to always friction on the opposite side of the spine from where you are standing. Strokes are done in the direction of the muscle fibers and following the blood circulation.
•  Works the deep tissues
•  Breaks up adhesions and "knots"
•  Increase circulation to the muscles
• Finger Friction
• Small circles made with the fingertips or with the thumb
• Palm Friction
• Small circles made with the palm
• Cross Fiber Friction
• We call a cross fiber friction any friction that is done cross-wise the muscle fiber and not along the fiber.