The practice of massage : its physiological effects and therapeutic uses / by A. Symons Eccles.

Date:
1895
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The practice of massage : its physiological effects and therapeutic uses / by A. Symons Eccles. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    semi-flexed and the thigh slightly abducted and rotated outwards, the sole of the foot, calf, inner side of the knee and thigh, are also lightly and briskly rubbed, then, re-covering the limb and exposing the foot and ankle only, the more detailed treatment of the foot is given. Supporting the sole of the foot in the palm of the left hand, the heel resting in the semi-flexed fingers, friction over the dorsum of the foot and the front and outer surface of the ankle is performed in much the same way as that of the back of the hand. The tips of the fingers and their whole palmal surface must be employed in the friction of the numerous depressions and irregularities of surface on the upper and outer aspects of the foot and ankle, then deeper pressure may be practised by means of the thumb, the foot being flexed, extended, abducted, and adducted so as to expose as great a range of surface as possible to the centripetal pressure of the thumb, fingers, and palm, which must all be brought into play. The upper and outer surface of the foot and ankle having thus been well rubbed and kneaded, the masseur, standing with his back to the patient and sup- porting the dorsum of the foot with the right hand, then proceeds to rub the sole of the foot, from the toes to the heel; no gentle effleurage is permissible here lest the patient be irritated by any tickling sensation. When it is desired to practise very firm kneading of the sole of the foot, the operator