Definition

Noun: A kneading movement used in massage, where the skin and underlying muscle tissue are gently lifted, squeezed, and released.

Usage

"Petrissage" is a technical term used primarily in the contexts of massage therapy, physiotherapy, and anatomy. It describes a specific, hands-on technique.

Examples

• The therapist applied petrissage to the client's tight shoulder muscles to improve circulation.
• A common form of petrissage involves rolling the skin and muscle between the fingers and thumb.
• The benefits of petrissage include relieving muscle tension and breaking down adhesions.

Advanced Usage

• In professional description: The term is often used to detail a treatment plan or technique within a clinical or therapeutic setting.
  • The treatment protocol included five minutes of effleurage followed by deep petrissage on the lumbar region.

Variants and Related Words

• Knead (verb): To work and press into a mass with the hands. This is the general action from which "petrissage" is derived.
  • Knead the dough until it is smooth. (Note: This is the culinary use; the therapeutic action is similar.)
• Effleurage (noun): A different massage technique involving long, gliding strokes, often used before or after petrissage.
• Tapotement (noun): A percussion-based massage technique involving tapping or striking movements.

Synonyms

• Kneading
• Muscle kneading
• Compression (in a therapeutic context)

Notes on Meaning

"Petrissage" refers specifically to the therapeutic technique. It is not used for the action of kneading bread or dough in a culinary context, for which the verb "knead" is used.

Noun

1. massage of the skin which is gently lifted and squeezed