Strokes that we use as Remedial Massage therapi
sts.
As previously mentioned, a remedial massage is different from a relaxation massage.
Indeed, a remedial massage aims to speed up the recovery process from an injury or musculoskeletal dysfunction.
Therefore, in a remedial massage, we use a bigger variety of strokes, and we can dive them into static, and dynamic.
As per result, static strokes, don’t involve the client’s movement, like DIP.
On the other hand, dynamic strokes require a resistance or a movement of the client’s body, like MET for example.
Indeed, in the table below, we can find a list of strokes that remedial massage therapists use.
| MFTT – Myofascial Tension Technique | Applied skin on skin with oil-based cream. The same principle is used in dynamic cuppings. It aims to break the fascia connecting the skin to the muscles, reducing cutaneous tensions and improving muscle and joint mobility. |
| DIP – Digital Ischemic Pressure | DIP is a stroke that consists in applying pressure on a Trigger Point. So, by applying this pressure, as therapists, we aim to reproduce pain within a comfortable zone (7 out of 10 at worst). As the pressure is applied the pain will decrease and the muscle will increase its mobility and length. |
| MET – Muscular Energy Technique | MET is a manual therapy that uses the gentle muscle contractions of the patient to relax and lengthen muscles and normalize joint motion. So, as therapists, we passively stretch the joint of the client to a safe level, and then we ask the client to meet our resistance to the movement. As per result, the muscle will increase their lengthening. |
| PNF – Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation | PNF techniques include passive stretching and isometric muscle contractions. Therefore, the PNF protocol involves a specific pattern of contracting, stretching, and relaxing. |
| Cross Fiber Friction | Cross fibre friction is a firm pressure applied perpendicular to the fibre direction. |
In conclusion, not all of these techniques can be used during one treatment.
In fact, before applying a technique as therapists we have to evaluate the body tensions and the needing of the clients.
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Giovanni La Rocca
Giovanni moved to Melbourne, Australia, from Italy in 2008 and became a citizen in 2017. He started studying massage therapy in 2016, then completed a Bachelor of Health Science in Clinical Myotherapy in August 2024. During those years, he also specialised in Thai Massage and Manual Lymphatic Drainage for presentations like Lipedema and Lymphoedema. Nowadays, he runs his clinic in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, where he integrates movement therapy into his practice to enhance overall well-being. He also values meditation, having completed several Vipassana courses. Committed to continuous learning, he aims to share his expertise in integrated therapies to help others achieve balance and resilience.