Manipulation- Skillful use of the hands in a therapeutic manner. Massage manipulations focus on the soft tissues of the body and are not to be confused with joint manipulation using a high-velocity thrust.

Massage Chair- A specifically designed chair that allows the client to sit comfortably during the massage.

Massage Routine- The step-by-step protocol and sequence used to give a massage.

Massage Table- A specifically designed table that allows massage to be done with the client lying down.

Matrix- The intercellular substance of a tissue.

Mechanical Methods- Techniques that directly affect the soft tissue by normalizing the connective tissue or moving body fluids and intestinal contents.

Moderate Pressure- Compressive pressure that extends to the muscle layer but does not press the tissue against the underlying bone.

Motor Point- The point where a motor nerve enters the muscle it innervates and causes a muscle to twitch if stimulated.

Muscle Spindles- Structures located primarily in the belly of the muscle that respond to both sudden and prolonged stretches.

Musculotendinous Junction- The point where muscle fibers end and the connective tissue continues to form the tendon; a major site of injury.

Myofibril- A very small longitudinal fiber found in skeletal or cardiac muscle fiber.

Nerve Impingement- Pressure against a nerve by skin, fascia, muscles, ligaments, or joints.

Neuromuscular- The interaction between nervous system control of the muscles and the response of the muscles to the nerve signals.

Neuromuscular Mechanism- The interplay and reflex connection between sensory and motor neurons and muscle function.

Neurotransmitter- A messenger chemical in the synapse of the nerve.

Norepinephrine- A neurochemical that functions in a manner similar to epinephrine but that is more concentrated in the brain.

Oil- A type of liquid lubricant.

Opportunistic Invasion- Potentially pathogenic organisms are found on the skin and mucous membranes of nearly everyone that do not cause disease until they have the opportunity, such as in a depressed immunity.

Origin- The attachment point of a muscle at the fixed point during movement.

Osteokinematic Movements- The movements of flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, and rotation; also known as physiological movements.

Palpation- Assessment through touch.

Parasympathetic Autonomic Nervous System- The restorative part of the autonomic nervous system. The parasympathetic response often is called the relaxation response.

Passive Joint Movement- Movement of a joint by the massage practitioner without the assistance of the client.

Passive Range Of Motion- Movement of a joint in which the therapist, not the client, effects the motion.

Pathology- The study of disease.

Petrissage- Kneading; rhythmic rolling, lifting, squeezing, and wringing of soft tissue.

Phasic Muscles- The muscles that move the body.

Physical Assessment- Evaluation of body balance, efficient function, basic symmetry, range of motion, and ability to function.

Physiologic Barriers- The result of the limits in range of motion imposed by protective nerve and sensory function to support optimal performance.

Positional Release- A method of moving the body into the direction of ease ( the way the body wants to move out of the position that causes pain ); the proprioception is taken into a state of safety and may stop signaling for protective spasm.

Postisometric Relaxation- The state that occurs after isometric contraction of a muscle; it results from the activity of minute neural reporting stations called the golgi tendon bodies.

Postural Muscles- Muscles that support the body against gravity.

Prime Movers- The muscles responsible for movement.

Professional Touch- Skilled touch delivered to achieve a specific outcome; the recipient in some way reimburses the professional for services rendered.

Prone- Lying face down.

Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF)- Specific application of muscle energy techniques that uses strong contraction combined with stretching and muscular pattern retraining.

Proprioreceptors- Sensory receptors that detect joint and muscle activity.

Pulsed Muscle Energy- Procedures that involve engaging the barrier and using minute, resisted contractions ( usually 20 in 10 seconds ), which introduces mechanical pumping.

Range Of Motion- Movement of joints.

Rapport- The development of a relationship based on mutual trust and harmony.

Reciprocal Inhibition- The effect that occurs when a muscle contracts, obliging its antagonist to relax in order to allow normal movement to take place.

Recovery Massage- Massage structured primarily for the uninjured athlete who wants to recover from a strenuous workout or competition.

Referred Pain- Pain felt in an area other than the source of the pain.

Reflex- An involuntary response to a stimulus. Reflexes are specific, predictable, adaptive, and purposeful. Reflexive methods work by stimulating the nervous system ( sensory neurons ), and tissue changes occur in response to the body's adaptation to the neural stimulation.

Reflexive Methods- Massage techniques that stimulate the nervous system, the endocrine system, and the chemicals of the body.

Reflexology- A massage system directed primarily toward the feet and hands.

Refractory Period- The period after a muscle contraction during which the muscle is unable to contract again.

Rehabilitation Massage- Massage used for severe injury or as part of intervention after surgery.

Remedial Massage- Massage used for minor to moderate injuries.

Resourceful Compensation- Adjustments made by the body to manage a permanent or chronic dysfunction.

Rocking- Rhythmic movement of the body.

Safe Touch- Secure, respectful, considerate, sensitive, responsive, sympathetic, understanding, supportive, and empathetic touch.

Sanitation- The formulation and application of measures to promote and establish conditions favorable to health, specifically public health.

Scope Of Practice- The knowledge base and practice parameters of a profession.

Sexual Misconduct- Any behavior that is sexually oriented in the professional setting.

Shaking- A technique in which the body area is grasped and shaken in a quick, loose movement; sometimes classified as rhythmic mobilization.

Skin Rolling- A form of petrissage that lifts the skin.

S.O.A.P. Charting- A problem-oriented method of medical record keeping; the acronym soap stands for subjective, objective, assessment, and plan.

Soft Tissue- The skin, fascia, muscles, tendons, joint capsules, and ligaments of the body.

Somatic- Pertaining to the body.

Somatic Pain- Pain that arises from stimulation of receptors in the skin ( superficial somatic pain ) or in skeletal muscles, joints, tendons, and fascia ( deep somatic pain ).

Spasticity- A state of increased muscle tone with exaggerated muscle tendon reflexes.

Spindle Cells- Sensory receptors in the belly of the muscle that detect stretch.

Sporadic- Occurring irregularly or haphazardly.

Stimulation- Excitation that activates the sensory nerves.

Strength Testing- Testing intended to determine whether a muscle is responding with sufficient strength to perform the required body functions. Strength testing determines a muscle's force of contraction.

Stress- Any substantial change in routine or any activity that forces the body to adapt.

Stressors- Any internal perceptions or external stimuli that demand a change in the body.

Stretching- Mechanical tension applied to lengthen the myofascial unit (muscles & fascia ); two types are longitudinal and cross-directional stretching.

Stroke- A technique of therapeutic massage that is applied with a movement on the surface of the body, whether superficial or deep.

Subluxation- An incomplete dislocation creating contact between joint surfaces.

Subtle Energies- Weak electrical fields that surround and run through the body.

Suffering- An overall impairment of a person's quality of life.

Superficial Fascia- The connective tissue layer just under the skin.

Superficial Pressure- Pressure that remains on the skin.

Supine- The position in which the client is lying face up.

Sympathetic Autonomic Nervous System- The energy-using part of the autonomic nervous system, the division in which the fight-or-flight response is activated.

Symptoms- The subjective abnormalities felt only by the patient.

Systemic Massage- Massage structured to affect one body system primarily. This approach usually is used for lymphatic and circulation enhancement massage.

Tapotement- Springy blows to the body at a fast rate to create rhythmic compression of the tissue; also called percussion.

Tapping- A type of tapotement that uses the fingertips.

Target Muscle- The muscle or groups of muscles on which the response of the methods is specifically focused.

Techniques- Methods of therapeutic massage that provide sensory stimulation or mechanical change of the soft tissue of the body.

Tendon Organs- Structures found in the tendon and musculotendinous junction that responds to tension at the tendon.

Therapeutic Applications- Healing or curative powers.

Therapeutic Change- Beneficial change produced by a bodywork process that resulted in a modification of physical form or function that can affect a client's physical, mental, and/or spiritual state.

Therapeutic Relationship- The interpersonal structure and professional boundaries between professionals and the clients they serve.

Tonic Vibration Reflex- Reflex that tones a muscle with stimulation through vibration methods at the tendon.

Touch- Contact with no movement.

Touch Technique- The basis of soft tissue forms of bodywork methods.

Traction- Gentle pull on the joint capsule to increase the joint space.

Transference- The personalization of the professional relationship by the client.

Trauma- Physical injury caused by violent or disruptive action, toxic substances, or psychic injury resulting from a severe long-or short-term emotional shock.

Trigger Point- An area of local nerve facilitation; pressure on the trigger point results in hypertonicity of a muscle bundle and referred pain patterns. Muscle fibers in this area have gone through injury and have not completely healed and when touched present moderate to severe pain.

Vibration- Fine or coarse tremulous movement that creates reflexive responses.

Wellness- The efficient balance of body, mind, and spirit, all working in a harmonious way to provide quality of life.