Chiromassage

Chiromassage is an independent method of therapeutic and preventive massage, which is presented by the Spanish school INMASTER - Institute Masaje Terapeutico (Institute of Manual Therapy). The term "chiromassage" itself (a combination of two words: "chiro" - hand and "massage") was first registered by naturopathic doctor V. L. Ferrandis. In 1918, he proposed the technique of "chiromassage", which represented a synthesis of the most effective techniques of the European and Eastern massage systems, American chiropractic and kinesiology at that time. In the 60s of the 20th century, the massage technique evolved and became very popular. In 1990, on the basis of the Ferrandis school, the concept and philosophy of a new school under the leadership of Enrique Castells Garcia were fully formed, which was called the Institute of Manual Therapy - INMASTER.

Massage technique is understood as a set of manipulations that affect any of the anatomical systems - nervous, vascular, muscular and articular. They can be directly affected and stimulated by massage movements.

The institute's program highlights the following basic techniques: neurophysiological massage, which affects various aspects of the nervous system and its main functions; hemolymphatic drainage, which affects the vascular system, and chiromassage (the technique of which was updated by a new team of authors).

Chiromassage is a technique of influencing the muscular system of the body and its main functions.

By using chiromassage techniques, it is possible to increase the elasticity of muscle fibers and their contractile function, increase muscle mass, slow down muscle atrophy, and increase the flow of oxygen to tissues.

In chiromassage there is a wide variety of manipulations (techniques) and their distribution according to schemes. There are basic and additional techniques.

The main technique is the technique that has the main physiological effect in this technique. About 50% of the time is allocated to this technique during massage. In chiromassage, the main technique is kneading. This technique is often called passive gymnastics. According to their functional purpose, kneading is divided into muscular-vascular, neuromuscular and muscular-articular depending on the physiological effect on muscle tissue and the method of their implementation. Muscular-vascular kneading improves blood and lymph flow, increases tissue oxygen supply. Muscular-articular kneading improves muscle contractility and has a pronounced lifting effect. Neuromuscular kneading has a deep relaxing effect and reduces muscle hypertonicity.

Additional techniques are considered to be techniques that enhance or weaken the physiological effect of the main technique, or prepare tissues for them, or establish balance between systems.

Additional techniques:

• friction (rubbing, stroking);
• vasoconstriction - a technique that has a direct effect on the outflow of venous blood and lymph;
• passes - a technique used to relieve pain, reduce nervous excitability, and improve nerve conduction;
• percussion - a striking technique that causes vibrations in the deep layers of tissue; used to activate regenerative processes, improve tissue trophism, and muscle contractile function;
• vibration.

Due to the large number of possible manipulations (massage techniques) that have a specialized effect on the skin, connective tissue, muscles, joints, and their combinations (there are more than a hundred options for kneading alone), chiromassage allows you to solve a wide range of problems in facial skin care, approaching each patient individually. This is the fundamental difference between the chiromassage method and other massage techniques.

In addition, chiromassage does not lead to addiction - the sensitivity of receptors (extero-, proprio-, angio-, intero-) does not decrease, since the irritation coming to them is always completely different.

The following aspects of chiromassage are distinguished, i.e. possible levels of work and impact:

• muscular-articular aspect,
• muscular-vascular aspect,
• neuromuscular aspect.

Chiromassage consists of three parts:

• preparation (introduction) phase - takes up 20% of the total time and consists of additional techniques;
• the main phase - 50-60% of the total time, in which kneading is used;
• exit phases - 20% of the total time.

To obtain the maximum effect of the given technique, it is necessary to adhere to certain rules of constructing the massage:

1. Determine the purpose of the massage taking into account the collected anamnesis.
2. Create an individual plan taking into account the characteristics of the patient’s nervous, vascular, and muscular systems.
3. Observe a certain sequence of influence on various systems. First, use techniques that lead to relaxation, relaxation of the patient (it is allowed to use techniques from other massage techniques, for example, from neurosedative, hemolymphatic drainage massage), at the next stage, use techniques that improve blood and lymph flow, after which they move on to the main work with the muscular and joint systems.
4. Determine the intensity of the impact

Purpose of chiromassage

The duration of chiromassage is about 60 minutes, the time depends on the characteristics of the patient's nervous system, on his psycho-emotional state. It is recommended to change the massage scheme from session to session to avoid adaptation to tactile effects and to get the maximum result. Massage is prescribed in courses of 10-15 procedures with a frequency of every other day or every two days. A maintenance course can be carried out once a week or twice a month. Indications for the use of chiromassage:

1. Deformational type of aging - lifting and correction of the face oval.
2. Improving muscle tone.
3. Fine-wrinkle type of aging - correction and prevention of the appearance of expression wrinkles.
4. Care for hypersensitive skin prone to erythema.
5. Correction of facial muscle asymmetry associated with injuries and stressful situations.
6. Pastosity and swelling of the soft tissues of the face.

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