Connective tissue massage corresponds to reflex therapy, which triggers a response in the organs, musculoskeletal system and skin through the cuti-visceral reflex arc. After palpation, the therapist works the connective tissue with tangential traction stimuli. Connective tissue massage fulfills therapeutic and diagnostic functions.
What is connective tissue massage?
As a rule, the beginning of the actual massage is the processing of the pelvic region. Later, the operations are devoted to the whole back and finally involve the abdomen. Connective tissue massage is a subcutaneous reflex therapy, which was created in 1929 by physiotherapist E. Dicke. At that time, she suffered from a disability that could have necessitated leg amputation. She treated her severe back pain by firmly stroking the sacrum and iliac crest. As a result, she felt tingling and stinging in her ailing leg, even though the limb was actually numb from a clinical standpoint. From these experiences Dicke developed the massage technique. The basic assumption of the method is the observation that diseases of the internal organs cause tension differences in the connective tissue of the subcutis. These tension differences are felt and corrected by the masseur. Manual stimulation therapy works with tangential tensile stimuli. The skin technique meets the subcutaneous technique and the fascia technique in this procedure. The treated zones trigger a reflex response of the organs, musculoskeletal system and skin through the cuti-visceral reflex arc. The best known subform of connective tissue massage is segmental massage. Clinically, connective tissue massage fulfills both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.
Function, effect and goals
The basis of any connective tissue massage is a palpation of the tissue. The therapist must assess the fluid content of the tissue, identify any rheumatoid nodules in the subcutaneous tissue, and identify any differences in muscle tension. Palpatory findings may include subcutaneous turgor changes, adhesions, sensory disturbances, or scar disturbances. The affected areas are stimulated by the therapist after the findings about a lower tension by a special massage technique, which should bring about a balance in the tension structure. The connective tissue massage influences not only the local tissue, but also reaches distant zones, such as organs and organ functions. As a rule, the massage is performed twice or three times a week. Each session lasts about ten to 15 minutes. Various complaints respond particularly well to the massage technique. The most important indications for connective tissue massage include inflammation-related gastrointestinal disorders and inflammation-related liver or gallbladder complaints. Other pains of various kinds are also said to be positively influenced by massage, for example migraine or menstrual cramps. In rheumatic diseases, the massage technique relieves joint pain. In the field of cardiovascular diseases and vascular diseases, the connective tissue massage can positively influence non-inflammatory venous diseases, such as varicose veins, in addition to circulatory disorders of the legs. Thus, connective tissue massage therapeutically influences autonomic regulatory mechanisms and restores normal tone in connective tissue, internal organs, muscles and nerves or vessels through the cuti-visceral and cuti-cutaneous reflex arc. The first reaction to the massage corresponds to hyperemia represents the first reaction. In the course of the treatment the tissue elasticity normalizes. Vasomotor activity, secretion and motility normalize. The connective tissue zones as the starting points of the massage correspond mainly to Head‘s zones. They are divided into head zones, bronchial zones, arm zones, stomach zones and liver zones. In addition, there are heart zones, kidney zones, intestine zones, genital zones and bladder zones or vein–lymph zones. As a rule, at the beginning of the actual massage is the processing of the pelvic region. Later, the work is devoted to the whole back and finally includes the abdomen. Different techniques are used for the treatment. In the two-dimensional techniques, the therapist moves the subcutaneous tissue with the thumb and fingertips. In the skin technique, he superficially displaces the tissue in the displacement layer of the skin. The subcutaneous technique requires stronger traction.The fascia technique has the strongest pull of all the techniques and is equivalent to working the edges of the fascia with the fingertips.
Risks, side effects and dangers
When performed by an experienced therapist, connective tissue massage does not pose any risks or dangers in the strictest sense. However, patients find the procedure painful. A bright and clear cutting sensation in the treated tissue area sets in. The higher the tension in the tissue, the stronger the cutting sensation. Temporarily, wheals sometimes form on the skin. Not everyone should participate in a connective tissue massage without hesitation. Contraindications to the technique include acute inflammation, acute asthma attacks or heart disease and tumors. Acute fever, injuries or myositis and thrombosis are also considered contraindications. In all vascular diseases, massage should be performed exclusively in consultation with the attending physician. The same applies to acute inflammations, infectious diseases, bleeding tendencies or circulatory problems. In the meantime, the massage method has proved to be particularly productive in the case of diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Spinal syndromes, rheumatic diseases, arthroses and traumas are thus considered indications for connective tissue massage. Some diseases of the internal organs are also among the typical indications. These include, for example, respiratory diseases or diseases in the urogenital area. Vascular diseases such as functional arterial circulatory disorders, arteriosclerosis or post-thrombotic syndrome are also possible indications. Equally successful has been the treatment of neurological disorders such as paresis, neuralgia or spasticity. In case of doubt, a doctor should always be consulted in order to assess any risks and exclude undesirable side effects. In the meantime, the massage technique has been further developed and has thus become a part of the subcutaneous reflex therapy according to Häfelin.
