The grandparent of modern western methods of massage therapy, Swedish massage is
made up of five different strokes, including effleurage, petrissage, friction,
tapotement, and vibration. The technique and effectiveness of these strokes can
be determined by the intention, touch, depth, pressure, excursion, speed,
rhythm, continuity, duration, and sequence qualities. It can also be employed
either passively or actively, and can be used on either articulated body
sections or for joint mobilizations. The movements that are active may be
resisted or assisted.

Using Swedish massage has many positive benefits, including the fact that it
decreases pain. Also, Swedish massage will allow a client to relax and enable
him or her to rehabilitate more quickly. Another benefit is that it will
increase the circulation of the client and alleviate some of the soreness in the
client's muscles, and pain is reduced by Swedish massage. Flexibility is
extended and maintained by use of Swedish massage, and range of motion, too.

Yet another area that is positively benefited by the application of Swedish
massage is that is will allow the client to not have to guard his or her muscles
as much. Mobility will also be affected, with the muscular tone surrounding a
joint being reset. Synovial fluid production will also be encouraged to generate
more. Lastly, Swedish massage will give a client more kinesthetic consciousness,
better body alignment, better body posture, and better assessment of tissues on
the part of the therapist.