Swedish massage also stimulates the skin and nervous system and soothes the nerves themselves at the same time.
It stretches the ligaments and tendons keeping them supple and pliable. Swedish massage shortens recovery time from muscular strain by flushing the tissues of lactic acid, uric acid, and other metabolic wastes. The massage aims at directing strokes towards the heart and increases circulation without increasing heart load. The main purpose of Swedish massage is to increase the oxygen flow in the blood and release toxins from the muscles. "Petrissage" is used to warm up the muscles with a kneading action, "Effleurage" a gliding technique for warming up or flushing the area, "Tapotement" (also called percussion) is a striking action for separating adhesions and cross-linkages and "Friction" is rubbing specific tissue usually using the thumbs. French terms are used to denote techniques.
Deep tissue therapy uses a unique phalange movement which is similar to how you iron your clothes.
Manual manipulation of muscle, connective tissue and ligaments are used to remove restrictions and adhesions.