Technique is very important in Swedish massage, and the therapist should
carefully avoid any abnormalities in a client. If a client has had surgical
replacement, pins, or wires, or conditions like edema, inflammation,
osteoporosis, rheumatoid or osteoarthritis, disclocations, scoliosis,
spondylolisthesis, spondylosis, or hypermobility where movements are restricted.
Prior to beginning stretches or mobilizations, the client should warm up unless
rocking or vibration is used in a massage prior to the stretches and
mobilizations. A form of warm up is through small amounts of activity, as this
will may the tissues more easily molded and stretched without harm coming to
them. The reason warm ups are performed is because when muscles and tissues are
warm, they become extremely flexible and akin to clay they are easy to safely
stretch. Tissues that are cold, on the other hand, are stiff and not easily
shaped. This makes them more as a hazard as they will easily tear or be harmed.

Movements to avoid are ones that are bouncy or ballistic because they take away
many benefits to movements when they produce contracted muscles. Many ballistic
movements will even produce irritation, possibly tearing the fascia, tendons,
muscle, or ligaments. These movements should not cause pain in the client, to
avoid this pain they need to be calm and sweeping. A static stretch is good to
use, as it will prevent overextending. In these stretches, the client should
inhale before starting the stretch, and exhale actually coming into the stretch.