Deep transverse friction Transverse massage is applied by the finger(s) directly to the lesion and transverse to the direction of the fibers. It can be used after an injury and for mechanical overuse in muscular, tendinous and ligamentous structures. Pressure is applied with the ball of the practitioner's thumb or fingers to the patient's skin and muscle. Friction is usually slower in effect than injections but leads to a physically more fundamental resolution, resulting in more permanent cure and less recurrence. Whereas steroid injection is usually successful in 1- 2 weeks, deep friction may require up to 6 weeks to have its full effect.

The main effect of deep friction massage is to apply shear forces to underlying tissues, particularly at the interface between 2 tissue types (eg, dermis-fascia, fascia-muscle, muscle-bone interfaces). Deep pressure keeps superficial tissues from shearing so that shear and force are directed at the deeper tissue surface interface. Deep friction massage frequently is used to prevent or slow adhesions of scar tissue.

The technique is often used prior to and in conjunction with mobilization techniques. In minor muscular tears, friction is usually followed by active movement, in ligamentous tears by passive movement and in tendinous lesions by active unloaded movements until full resolution has been achieved. It is vital that transverse massage be performed only at the site of the lesion. The effect is so local that, unless the finger is applied to the exact site and friction given in the right direction, relief cannot be expected.

However, pain during friction massage is usually the result of either a wrong indication, a wrong technique or an unaccustomed amount of pressure. Friction massage applied correctly will quickly result in an analgesic effect over the treated area and is not at all a painful experience to the patient.

Relief of pain It is a common clinical observation that application of local transverse friction leads to immediate pain relief - the patient experiences a numbing effect during the friction and reassessment immediately after the session shows reduction in pain and increase in strength and mobility. The time to produce analgesia during the application of transverse friction is a few minutes and the post-massage analgesic effect may last more than 24 hours.

Pain relief during and after friction massage may be due to modulation of the nociceptive impulses at spinal cord level: the "gate control theory". The centripetal projection into the dorsal horn of the spinal cord from the nociceptive receptor system is inhibited by the concurrent activity of the mechanoreceptors located in the same tissues. Selective stimulation of the mechanoreceptors by rhythmical movements over the affected area thus ‘closes the gate for pain afferent’.

Friction also leads to increased destruction of pain provoking metabolites, such as Lewis's substances. This metabolite, if present in too high a concentration, provokes ischaemia and pain. It has also been suggested that prolonged deep friction of a localised area may give rise to a lasting peripheral disturbance of nerve tissue, with local anaesthetic effect

Effect on connective tissue repair Connective tissue regenerates largely as a consequence of the action of inflammatory cells, vascular and lymphatic endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. Regeneration comprises three main phases : Inflammation; proliferation (granulation) and remodeling. Friction massage may have a beneficial effect on all three phases of repair. Friction stimulates phagocytosis That gentle transverse friction, applied in the early inflammatory phase enhances the mobilization of tissue fluid and therefore increases the rate of phagocytosis.

Friction stimulates fibre orientation in regenerating connective tissue: During the maturation, the scar tissue is reshaped and strengthened by removing, reorganising and replacing cells and matrix. It is now generally recognized that internal and external mechanical stress applied to the repair tissue is the main stimulus for remodeling immature and weak scar tissue with fibers oriented in all directions and through several planes into linearly rearranged bundles of connective tissue. Transverse friction massage imposes rhythmical stress transversely to the remodeling collagenous structures of the connective tissue and thus reorients the collagen in a longitudinal fashion.

Friction prevents adhesion formation and ruptures unwanted adhesions As transverse friction aims basically to achieve transverse movement of the collagen structure of the connective tissue, cross-links and adhesion formation are prevented. At a later stage when strong cross-links or adhesions have formed. The technique is then used to soften the scar tissue and to mobilize the cross links between the mutual collagen fibers and the adhesions between repairing connective tissue and surrounding tissues This, together with the produced local anesthesia, prepares the structures for the mobilizations that apply longitudinal stress to the structures and rupture the larger adhesions.

Friction induces a traumatic hyperemia. Forceful deep friction produces vasodilatation and increased blood flow to the area. It may be hypothesized that this facilitates the removal of chemical irritants and increases the transportation of endogenous opiates resulting in a decrease in pain. Such a forceful friction, resulting in traumatic hyperemia is only desirable in chronic, self perpetuating lesions.

Deep Transverse Friction Massage –Transverse or Cyriax method used to treat muscle, tendon, ligaments and joint capsules –Goal is mobilization of soft tissue –Generally precedes activity –Movement is across the grain of the affected tissue –Avoid treatment with acute injuries –Treatment will produce numbing effect allowing for exercise mobilization

Acupressure Massage –Based on Chinese art of acupuncture –Physiological explanation and effectiveness may be based on pain modulation mechanisms – can utilize acupuncture points in treatment –Locate through measurement of electrical impedance or palpation –Small circular motions are used to treat points (pressure to tolerance of athlete = generally more pressure = more effective treatment) –Treatment time ranges from 1-5 minutes –Can treat one or more points, working distal to proximal –Will produce dulling or numbing sensation results lasting from minutes to hours