Deep Transverse Massage

Deep transverse friction
Transverse massage is applied by the finger(s) directly

to the lesion and transverse to the direction of the fibres. It
can be used after an injury and for mechanical overuse in
muscular, tendinous and ligamentous structures. Friction is
usually slower in effect than injections but leads to a
physically more fundamental resolution, resulting in more
permanent cure and less recurrence. Whereas steroid
injection is usually successful in 1- 2 weeks, deep friction
may require up to 6 weeks to have its full effect.
• The technique is often used prior to and in conjuction with
mobilisation techniques. In minor muscular tears, friction
is usually followed by active movement, in ligamentous
tears by passive movement and in tendinous lesions by
active unloaded movements until full resolution has been
achieved.
• It is vital that transverse massage be performed only at the
site of the lesion. The effect is so local that, unless the
finger is applied to the exact site and friction given in the
right direction, relief cannot be expected.
• However, pain during friction massage is usually the result
of either a wrong indication, a wrong technique or an
unaccustomed amount of pressure. Friction massage
applied correctly will quickly result in an analgesic effect
over the treated area and is not at all a painful experience
to the patient.
Relief of pain
• It is a common clinical observation that application of local tansverse
friction leads to immediate pain relief - the patient experiences a numbing
effect during the friction and reassessment immediately after the session
shows reduction in pain and increase in strength and mobility. The time
to produce analgesia during the application of transverse friction is a few
minutes and the post-massage analgesic effect may last more than 24
hours.
• Pain relief during and after friction massage may be due to modulation of
the nociceptive impulses at spinal cord level: the "gate control theory" .
The centripetal projection into the dorsal horn of the spinal cord from the
nociceptive receptor system is inhibited by the concurrent activity of the
mechanoreceptors located in the same tissues. Selective stimulation of the
mechanorecptors by rhythmical movements over the affected area thus
‘closes the gate for pain afference’.
• Friction also leads to increased destruction of painprovoking metabolites,
such as Lewis's substances. This metabolite, if present in too high a
concentration, provokes ischaemia and pain.
• It has also been suggested that prolonged deep friction of a localised area
may give rise to a lasting peripheral disturbance of nerve tissue, with local
anaesthetic effect.
Effect on connective tissue repair
• Connective tissue regenerates largely as a
consequence of the action of inflammatory cells,
vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells, and
fibroblasts. Regeneration comprises three main
phases : Inflammation; proliferation (granulation)
and remodelling. Friction massage may have a
beneficial effect on all three phases of repair.
Friction stimulates phagocytosis
• That gentle transverse friction, applied in the early
inflammatory phase enhances the mobilisation of
tissue fluid and therefore increases the rate of
phagocytosis.
Friction stimulates fibre orientation in regenerating
connective tissue:
• During the maturation, the scar tissue is reshaped and
strengthened by removing, reorganising and replacing cells
and matrix . It is now generally recognised that internal
and external mechanical stress applied to the repair tissue
is the main stimulus for remodelling immature and weak
scar tissue with fibres oriented in all directions and
through several planes into linearly rearranged bundles of
connective tissue. Transverse friction massage imposes
rhytmical stress transversely to the remodelling
collagenous structures of the connective tissue and thus
reorients the collagen in a longitudinal fashion.
Friction prevents adhesion formation and ruptures
unwanted adhesions
• As transverse friction aims basically to achieve
transverse movement of the collagen structure of
the connective tissue, crosslinks and adhesion
formation are prevented . At a later stage when
strong crosslinks or adhesions have formed. The
technique is then used to soften the scar tissue and
to mobilize the cross links between the mutual
collagen fibres and the adhesions between
repairing connective tissue and surrounding
tissues . This, together with the produced local
anaesthesia, prepares the structures for the
mobilizations that apply longitudinal stress to the
structures and rupture the larger adhesions.
Friction induces a traumatic hyperemia.
• Forceful deep friction produces
vasodilatation and increased bloodflow to
the area. It may be hypothesised that this
facilitates the removal of chemical irritants
and increases the transportation of
endogenous opiates resulting in a decrease
in pain. Such a forceful friction, resulting in
traumatic hyperemia is only desirable in
chronic, self perpetuating lesions.

• Deep Transverse Friction Massage
– Transverse or Cyriax method used to treat muscle,
tendon, ligaments and joint capsules
– Goal is mobilization of soft tissue
– Generally precedes activity
– Movement is across the grain of the affected tissue
– Avoid treatment with acute injuries
– Treatment will produce numbing effect allowing for
exercise mobilization

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Deep transverse friction

Transverse massage is applied by the finger(s) directly

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