Special Populations and conditions:

Seated Massage: suitable for the workplace, during pregnancy, with the elderly, in public area...

• Brush down
• Traps to lower back effleurage
• Petrissage on shoulders
• Friction up alongside spine/ up spine of scapula/ along top of shoulders/up back of neck and along base of occiput
• Double palm press
• Reinforced palm press
• Loose fist pressure up erector spinea
• Upper arm massage
• Stretches
• Tapotement: Hacking, cupping, praying hands
• Head/scalp massage

Lymphatic drainage:
Lymphatic drainage is used to help with oedema. Massage contraindicated for pitted oedema – do LMD instead.
Divide body into four segments for work towards lymph sites at groin and armpit. Light pressure, Start nearest to lymph node site and work down the limb but towards lymph nodes. So proximal to distal but in direction of heart.... Use pillows to raise limbs while working, crude vibrations and stretches may help with work.
Techniques: Thumb screws (popiteal), stationary circles (achilles), palm circles, finger circles (on limbs). Lymph drains through left thoracic duct. Chest – pressure on inhale – resist expansion . Left Thoracic Duct – pump on exhale. Fist on navel – pumping on exhale

Pregnancy massage: Avoid massaging women who have a risk or history of miscarriage when they are trying to conceive.
First Trimester: It is often recommended not to massage during the first three months of a pregnancy but it is often 2 months before people confirm they are pregnant and some people keep it secret even after that. Positioning of client is not crucial in this phase.
Rest of Pregnancy: Lie client on their side. Bolster as necessary. Relaxin is in the system at this stage so avoid full range of motion movements and over stretching of ligaments, especially in the pelvic area. Oedema may be a problem towards the end. Perform lymphatic drainage.
After birth massage can be very supportive – relaxing strokes.

Infant Massage: Improved bonding between baby and person massaging. Infants may have a preference for some strokes, not be happy with some areas of the body being worked…. Keep eye on baby’s response.
15 minutes duration
Light pressure

Elderly massage: Usually 30 minute duration, light/ superficial strokes, with range of motion activities incorporated. Important to observe condition of skin, foot massage very supportive in older adults. Seated and through clothes may be preferred options but be guided by client.

Chronically ill: Referral and in conjunction with medical team, be informed on pathology/ possible side-effects. Positioning may be important/duration/pressure of strokes.

Athletes: Pre-event, post-event, inter-event, recovery and maintenance massage
Every massage must be designed to suit the individual, the sport and the condition of the athlete.
Pre-event is up-tempo and usually incorporates stretching. End with Tapotement.
Inter-event will involve compressions, shaking, short effleurage strokes, stretches.
Post-event massage should use long, slow, light effleurage strokes and stretches. End with effleurage.
During recovery (at least 6 hours after activity) and maintenance massage therapeutic work can be done.
New strokes: Squeezing, wringing petrissage on gastrocnemius, compressions, soft tissue release, myofascial release, cam and spindle, Deep friction work into origins and insertions of muscles, at bony points, Working with muscle in shortened position with or without stretches, pinching friction on ITB, adductors, hamstrings with or without rocking etc…