Final answer:
Effleurage is the type of massage that involves light, gliding strokes designed to relax soft tissue. It activates Merkel cells and tactile (Meissner) corpuscles associated with light touch perception in the skin.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of massage that uses light, gliding strokes or circular motions made with the palms of the hands or pads of the fingertips is called effleurage. This technique is one of the four fundamental strokes in Swedish massage and is characterized by its soft, long, and flowing strokes that are designed to relax soft tissue and facilitate the movement of lymph fluids in the body. These strokes engage the receptive fields of Merkel cells and tactile (Meissner) corpuscles, which are involved in light touch sensing, found in the stratum basale of the epidermis and encapsulated endings of the skin, respectively.