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EffleurageDefinition: A succession of light or deep stroking or gliding motions following body contours, applied by passing the flat of the hand or other flat surface such as the forearm, over a portion of the body or body part. Light effleurage is generally relaxing and has only reflexive effects. Deep effleurage has more mechanical effects. Effleurage dynamically affects the body mainly via its stimulation of the nervous system. Deeper strokes can also positively influence circulation. Applications: Effleurage can be applied with full hands or parts of the hand or arm (fingers, fists or forearm) depending on the body part being worked on and the desired effects. The surface applying the stroke must be able to conform to the body part and remain fully in contact of the body part being worked on.. You must be able to maintain the same contact and amount of pressure for the duration of the stroke. Variations: Light Effleurage - superficial touch, accessing the skin only. Full hand contact with very little pressure. No visible rippling of the skin. No noticeable pressure to an observer's eye or the client. On the limbs, the stroke moves distal to proximal to assist venous return and lymphatic flow. On the back, the stroke can be applied from shoulders to ilium or ilium to shoulders, but the stroke should follow a pattern. a. continuous effleurage - full hand contact the entire length of the stroke - one hand following the other, ulnar side (little finger) leading. b. V-shape both hands to conform to the contour of the legs or body part with one hand following the other Deep Effleurage - access a deeper level to the subcutaneous layer of the skin, which is the fascia covering the superficial layer. This stroke creates a very slight ripple of the skin. If the muscle tissue moves, you have compressed too deep and have progressed to a friction stroke. Technique -Fast, slow, long or short, depending on the desired physiological effect. Faster and shorter are stimulating while slower and longer are more relaxing. Use the palms, fingers, fingertips, full thumb and forearms in any of the following variations: horizontal, vertical gliding or stroking, shingling, thumb effleurage, t- stroke, bi-lateral tree stroking. It is not the hand variation, but the depth and rhythm of the stroke theat determines the effect of the effleurage. Keep you hands soft and pliable. Move hands towards the heart with gradually deepening pressure, using massage oil. Then return the hands lightly keeping contact with the body. Gliding- applied lightly or deeply using full hand contact working side-by-side as on the large surface of the back. Vary by having one hand following the other or reinforcing hand (one on top of the other) or some other surface such as the forearm. Alternate Hand- light or deep applied alternately with one hand contacting
the body as the other follows.
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