Effleurage is a massage stroke used to warm up the muscle before deep tissue work using petrissage.

This is as soothing, stroking movement used at the beginning and the end of the facial massage. It is also used as a linking move between the different strokes and movements.

Effleurage can be either firm or light without dragging the skin and is performed using either the padded parts of the finger tips or the palmar surface of the hands.

Effleurage works as a mechanical pump on the body to encourage venous and lymphatic return.

See also

• Swedish massage

Manipulative therapy