|  | Alternative Medicine | Other Alternative Medicine

Techniques to Rub Someone's Back

A good back rub is relaxing and soothing, and can even help sore muscles recover from strain or stress. If you are giving a loved one a back rub, you'll have the satisfaction of providing a much-appreciated service. However, different people benefit from or prefer different kinds of back-rub techniques.

  1. Effleurage

    • Effleurage is the most common back-rub technique. Use your entire open hand. Begin by gently placing your hand on the person's back, starting with the fingertips and gradually going to the heel of your hand. Make sure your hand is relaxed. Do not hold your fingers together. Slowly, gently and firmly start stroking the person's back. Pay more attention to areas of the back that feel bumpy, which indicates they have a lot of knots or tension in the muscles. You can also do this technique with just the heel of your hand. Put a little more pressure in the heel of your hand and rub the same way.

    Stripping

    • Your thumb will play a large role in the stripping technique. It is better to use this technique around a person's shoulders and shoulder blades. With your thumb, apply a fair amount of pressure right under the shoulder blades. Rub your thumb back and forth in one long line, going the entirety of the shoulder blade. Also apply this method to the lateral muscles and going from the shoulders to the back of the neck.

    Forearms

    • Your hands are not the only parts of your body you can use to give a massage. Try using your forearms. This technique works the same way as effleurage, except you can use some of your own body weight to help supply pressure. Take care not to dig your elbows into the person's back. Make sure your hands are relaxed when giving this back rub. If your hands are clenched in fists, it will tighten the muscles in your forearms.

    Trigger Point

    • Trigger points are annoying, painful muscle knots. You can use a specific technique to eliminate them. You can even do trigger point massage on yourself. Find the spot that is the trigger point. Using two or three of your fingers, apply a large amount of pressure and begin rubbing in circles or up and down. The pressure should be enough to be slightly uncomfortable. Do this technique on each trigger point for at least 30 seconds.

Other Alternative Medicine - Related Articles