Effects of Effleurage

The effects of effleurage are generally related to the dynamic effect of touch on the body.  Depending on where the stroke is applied, how it is applied (light or deep, slow or fast), the effect can be relaxing or stimulating.  Effleurage creates overall muscle relaxation and assistance of blood and lymph circulation.  It aids in the process of removing waste products from normal cellular metabolism.

Light effleurage elicits only reflexive effects, while deep effleurage may elicit reflexive and mechanical effects.

Effects of light effleurage:

Initially there is a reflexive parasympathetic nervous system response that is relaxing due to the client's perception of touch.  (Accessing the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system shuts down the sympathetic trunk.)

Secondary effects of relaxation include:

• decreased heart rate
• vasodilatation (increase in the circumference of the blood vessels due to relaxation of the smooth muscle that lines them, which can lead to decrease in blood pressure.)
• decreased respiration
• overall muscle relaxation and body relaxation

Light effleurage can also help relieve pain possibly through the gate theory or counter-irritation theory which is based on the observation that stimulating an area of pain or adjacent to pain will suppress the sensation of pain and therefore other sensations can over ride pain, increasing release of endorphins. 

Effects of Deep Effleurage

Assists venous blood circulation and lymphatic flow which may assist with the reduction of edema when applied proximal to the edema, with the strokes going toward the body's core.

Increases arterial and capillary circulation, which increases the exchange of gasses and nutrients at the site and aids metabolism of the skin and superficial tissues.

Generates heat through friction of the skin resulting in an increased peripheral circulation.

Mechanical effect of deep effleurage:

Assists with the flow of venous blood and lymphatic fluid when applied in the direction of circulation.  Assists in renewed nutrition and removal of waste products.

Compresses and stretches the fascia layer between the superficial muscles and the subcutaneous layer of tissue.

warms superficial tissue due to skin friction.

Assists with desquamation of dead skin cells.

Effects on the nervous system:

Light effleurage stimulates the receptors of the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system, which results in a reflexive, generally relaxing response. 

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