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Autonomic Nervous System- The body system that regulates involuntary body function using the sympathetic "fight/flight/fear response" and the restorative parasympathetic "relaxation response." The sympathetic and parasympathetic systems work together to maintain homeostasis through a feedback loop system.
Body Mechanics- Use of the body in an efficient and biomechanically correct way.
Body/Mind- The interaction between thought and physiology that is connected to the limbic system, hypothalamic influence on the autonomic nervous system, and the endocrine system.
Bodywork- A term that encompasses all the various forms of massage, movement, and other touch therapies.
Boundary- Personal space that exists within an arm's length perimeter. Personal emotional space is designated by morals, values, and experience.
Care or Treatment Plan- The plan used to achieve therapeutic goals. It outlines the agreed objectives; the frequency, duration, and number of visits; progress measurements; the date of reassessment; and massage methods to be used.
Chemical Effects- The effects of massage produced by the release of chemical substances in the body. These substances may be released locally from the tissue, or they may be hormones released into the general circulation.
Chronic- A term that describes the type of disease that develops slowly and lasts for a long time, sometimes for life.
Chronic Pain- Pain that persists or recurs for indefinite periods, usually for longer than 6 months. It frequently has an insidious onset, and the character and quality of the pain change over time. It frequently involves deep somatic and visceral structures. Chronic pain usually is diffuse and poorly localized.
Circulatory- Systems that depend on the pumping action of the skeletal muscle such as the arterial, venous, respiratory, etc.
Client Information Form- A document used to obtain information from the client about health, preexisting conditions, and expectations for the massage.
Chronic Spasm- Alternating involuntary contraction and relaxation of a muscle.
Comfort Barrier- The first point of resistance short of the client's perceiving any discomfort at the physiologic or pathologic barrier.
Compensation- The process of counterbalancing a defect in body structure or function.
Compression- Pressure into the body to spread tissue against underlying structures. Also referred to as the exertion of inappropriate pressure on nerves by hard tissue such as bone.
Concentric Isotonic Contraction- Application of a counter force by the massage therapist while allowing the client to move, which brings the origin and insertion of the target muscle together against the pressure.
Confidentially- Respect for the privacy of information obtained during therapeutic sessions and all other time spent with clients.
Connective Tissue- The most abundant tissue type in the body; it provides support, structure, space, stabilization, and scar formation.
Contraindication- Any condition that renders a particular treatment improper or undesirable.
Counter Pressure- Force applied to an area that is designated to match exactly ( isometric contraction ) or partly ( isotonic contraction ) the effort or force produced by the muscles of that area.
Counter Transference- The personalization of the professional relationship by the therapist in which the practitioner is unable to separate the therapeutic relationship from personal feelings and expectations for the client.
Cream- A type of lubricate that is in a semisolid or solid state.
Cross-Directional Stretching- Tissue stretching that pulls and twists connective tissue against its fiber direction.
Deep Transverse Friction- A specific rehabilitation technique that creates therapeutic inflammation by creating a specific, controlled reinjury of tissues by applying concentrated therapeutic movement that moves the tissue against its grain over only a very small area.
Depth Of Pressure- Compressive stress that can be light, moderate, deep or varied.
Direction Of Ease- The position the body assumes with postural changes and muscle shortening or weakening, depending on how it has balanced against gravity.
Drag- The amount of pull ( stretch ) on the tissue ( tensile strength ).
Drape- Fabric used to cover the client and keep the individual warm while the massage is given.
Draping- The procedure of covering and uncovering areas of the body and turning the client during the massage.
Dysfunction- An in-between state in which one is not healthy but also not sick. The state that a muscle, etc. is in when it is not functioning properly.
Eccentric Isotonic Contraction- Application of a counterforce while the client moves the jointed area, which allows the origin and insertion to separate. The muscle separates against the pressure.
Edema- An accumulation of excessive water in cells, tissues, or various membranes.
Effleurage (Gliding Stroke)- Horizontal strokes applied with the fingers, hand, or forearm that usually follow the fiber direction of the underlying muscle or fascial planes.
Electrical- Chemical Functions- Physiologic functions of the body that rely on or produce body energy; often called chi, prana, and meridian energy.
End-Feel- The perception of the joint at the limit of its range of motion. The end-feel is either soft or hard.
Entrainment- The coordination of movements or their synchronization to a rhythm.
Entrapment- Pathological pressure placed on a nerve or vessel by soft tissue.
Essential Touch- Vital, fundamental, and primary touch that is crucial to well-being.
Facilitation- The state of a nerve in which it is stimulated but not to the point of threshold, the point at which it transmits a nerve signal.
Fascial Sheath- A flat sheet of connective tissue used for separation, stability, and muscular attachment points.
Feedback- A noninvasive, continual exchange of information between the client and the professional.
Friction- Specific circular or transverse movements that do not glide on the skin and that are focused on the underlying tissue.
Gait- Walking pattern.
Golgi Tendon- Receptors in the tendon that sense tension.
Growth Hormone- A hormone that promotes cell division; in adults it is implicated in the repair and regeneration of tissue.
Healing- The restoration of well-being.
Health- Optimal functioning with freedom from disease or abnormal processes.
Heavy Pressure- Compressive force that extends to the bone under the tissue.
Hemorrhage- An escape of blood through ruptured or unruptured vessels.
Histamine- A chemical produced by the body that dilates the blood vessels.
Homeostastis- Dynamic equilibrium of the internal environment, various functions, and chemical compositions of the body through processes of feedback and regulation.
Hormone- A messenger chemical in the bloodstream.
Hyper- Excessive or above normal.
Hyperkinesia- Excessive muscular activity.
Hypersensitivity- An exaggerated response to a stimulus or foreign property.
Hyperstimulation Analgesia- Diminishing the perception of a sensation by stimulating large-diameter nerve fibers. Some methods used are application of ice or heat, counter irritation, acupressure, acupuncture, rocking, music, and repetitive massage strokes.
Hypertonic- The existence of a greater level of tension.
Hypo- Used in prefix form; meaning below normal or deficient.
Hypotonic- A tissue that possesses a lesser degree of tension.
Hypoxia- Below normal levels of oxygen.
Impingement Syndrome- Conditions that involve pathological pressure on nerves and vessels.
Indication- A therapeutic application that promotes health or assists in the healing process. When there is justification to work an existing condition with a positive outcome.
Inflammatory Response- A normal mechanism, characterized by pain, heat, redness, and swelling, that usually speeds recovery from an infection or injury.
Insertion- The muscle attachment point that is closest to the moving joint.
Intuition- Knowing something by using subconscious information.
Ischemia- Local anemia of a tissue due to obstruction of the blood supply.
Isometric Contraction- A contraction in which the effort of the muscle or group of muscles is exactly matched by a counter pressure, so that no movement occurs, only effort.
Isotonic Contraction- A contraction in which the effort of the target muscle or group of muscles is partly matched by counter pressure, allowing a degree of resisted movement.
Joint- End-Feel- The sensation felt when a normal joint is taken to its physiological limit.
Joint Kinesthetic Receptors- Receptors in the capsules of joints that respond to pressure and to acceleration and deceleration of joint movement.
Joint Movement- The movement of the joint through its normal range of motion.
Lengthening- The process in which the muscle assumes a normal resting length by means of the neuromuscular mechanism.
Lesion- A wound or injury creating a pathogenic change in tissues.
Lubricant- A substance that reduces friction on the skin during massage movements.
Lymph
Lymphatic Drainage
Lymph nodes, also incorrectly called "Lymph glands" (they do not secrete anything and are therefore not glands), are components of the lymphatic system. Lymph nodes act as filters, with an internal honeycomb of connective tissue filled with lymphocytes that collect and destroy bacteria and viruses. When the body is fighting an infection, these lymphocytes multiply rapidly and produce a characteristic swelling of the lymph nodes. Humans have approximately 500-600 lymph nodes. Clusters of lymph nodes are found in the underarms, groin, neck, chest, and abdomen.
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